Ascot, Berkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ascot |
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 High Street, Ascot |
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| Population | 11,603 (2001 Census; with Sunninghill) |
| OS grid reference | SU925685 |
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| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ascot |
| Postcode district | SL5 |
| Dialling code | 01344 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Ascot is a town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Windsor, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Bracknell and 25 miles (40 km) west of London. It is most notable as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the Royal Ascot meeting, and is reportedly the 13th most expensive town in England when taking into account the average house price, which stands at £1,019,451 as of June 2021. It is also among the ten most expensive towns in Britain to rent a property. The town comprises three areas: Ascot itself, North Ascot and South Ascot. It is in the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot.
Amenities
Facilities tend to be geared towards the racecourse, but there is a small range of shops in the wide High Street. Most of the expected facilities one would expect to find in a small town are here, including a supermarket, petrol station and many cafes (including a Starbucks and a Costa, a Subway, Tesco Express and Budgens). Most buildings are post-war with flats above the ground floor retail space. Heatherwood Hospital (filming location for Carry on Matron) was at the western edge of the town. Ascot has a station on a bi-section of the railway line from London Waterloo to Reading, Bagshot, Aldershot and Guildford, originally built by the London and South Western Railway and now operated by South West Trains. As a consequence of the frequent service on this line, Ascot is now a commuter centre with its residents in both directions (westwards to Reading and eastwards to London).
Royal Ascot week
The centrepiece of Ascot's year is held in June: Royal Ascot is without doubt the world's most famous race meeting, steeped in history dating back to 1711. The royal family attend the meeting, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage. It is a major event in the British social calendar. Although this has placed Ascot onto the British social map, it has many direct effects on the local community, not least of which are the associated traffic problems. The course is still owned by the crown.
Sport and leisure
Ascot has a Non-League football club, Ascot United F.C., and a cricket club, Royal Ascot Cricket Club which play at Ascot Racecourse.
Economy
Ascot Racecourse employs over 70 full-time staff, which increases temporarily to 6,000 during Royal Ascot week. The village has a variety of businesses located at the Ascot Business Park, opened in 2008, including the UK headquarters of global toy manufacturer Jakks Pacific, in addition to numerous small and medium enterprises. The Chartered Institute of Building, a professional body for those working in the construction industry and built environment, is also based in Ascot.
Notable residents
- Boris Berezovsky (1946–2013), an exiled Russian tycoon, lived and died in Ascot
- Josh Cuthbert (1992–), singer from Union J
- Chris Evans (1966–), English presenter, businessman and producer for radio and television, lives in Ascot
- Sarah Harding (1981–2021), singer, Girls Aloud, born in Ascot
- Nick Hendrix (1985-), actor, born in Ascot
- John Lennon (1940–1980) and Ringo Starr (1940–) of The Beatles, successively lived at Tittenhurst Park, Ascot
- Camilla Luddington (1983–), actress, born and raised in Ascot
- Marti Pellow (1965–), singer of Wet Wet Wet, lives in Ascot
- Adam Roberts (1965–), science fiction author, lives in North Ascot
Images for kids
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Chancel of All Saints' parish church
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