Bray, Berkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bray |
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| Village and civil parish | |
 St Michael's Church |
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 Bray
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| Population | 8,425 (2001) 9,110 (2011 Census including Burchett Green, Hawthorn Hill, Oakley Hill and Paley Street) |
| OS grid reference | SU9079 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAIDENHEAD |
| Postcode district | SL6 |
| Dialling code | 01628 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Royal Berkshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
Bray, sometimes called Bray on Thames, is a village in Berkshire, England. It is part of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The village sits right by the River Thames, southeast of Maidenhead. It's known for being mentioned in the funny song "The Vicar of Bray".
Bray is also home to some very famous restaurants. It has two of the nine restaurants in the United Kingdom that have earned three Michelin-starred ratings. The village also has large business places like Bray Studios. This is where the first scary movies from Hammer Horror were made.
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Exploring Bray's Surroundings
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The area around Bray village is much bigger than just the village itself. This larger area is called a civil parish. It includes many other small villages and hamlets. These cover an area of about 24.98 square kilometres. In 2011, about 9,110 people lived in the Bray parish.
Long ago, this area was covered by dense forests. These were part of Windsor Forest. Today, the parish still includes places like Braywick, Holyport, Water Oakley, and Fifield.
Some very fancy houses are located along the river between Bray and Maidenhead Bridge. People sometimes call this area 'Millionaires' row'. To help protect these houses from floods, a large channel called the Jubilee River was dug.
An interesting place is Monkey Island in the River Thames. It's linked to the 3rd Duke of Marlborough. He built two buildings there and decorated them with paintings of monkeys. Today, it's a Grade I listed building and a hotel.
A Glimpse into Bray's Past
The first time Bray was written about was in the Domesday Book. This important book was made in 1086. In it, Bray was called Brai.
How Bray is Governed
Bray is part of the Maidenhead area for national elections. This change happened in 2010. For local decisions, Bray is in the Bray electoral ward. This ward is part of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Delicious Food in Bray
Bray is famous for its amazing restaurants. It has two of the UK's top restaurants, both with three Michelin-starred ratings. A Michelin star is a special award for excellent food.
The Fat Duck
The Fat Duck is run by the famous chef Heston Blumenthal. It opened in 1995 and has had three Michelin stars since 2004. In 2005, it was even named the best restaurant in the world! It also scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in the Good Food Guide for several years.
The Waterside Inn
The Waterside Inn was started in 1972 by brothers Michel and Albert Roux. Now, Michel's son, Alain, runs it. This restaurant also has three Michelin stars. In 2010, it became only the second restaurant outside France to keep all three stars for 25 years.
Getting Around Bray
Bray is located right on the River Thames. It's about 1.5 miles south of Maidenhead town centre. It's also about 5 miles northwest of Windsor. The B3028 road goes through the middle of Bray. The A308 road, which connects Maidenhead to Windsor, runs nearby. The M4 motorway is about 1 mile from Bray. You can also catch a train from Maidenhead railway station, which is about 1.5 miles away.
Important Buildings in Bray
St Michael's Church
The Church of England parish church of St Michael was built in 1293. People believe it replaced an older Saxon church. It has old sculptures, some of which might be from that earlier church. The church is also known for its special memorial brass from 1378. This brass honors Sir John Foxley and his two wives. There's even a local story about a secret tunnel from a cottage to the church, used as an escape route for priests.
Jesus Hospital Almshouses
The Jesus Hospital is a group of red-brick almshouses. These were built in 1609 by William Goddard. Almshouses are homes for older people who need help. This hospital was made to house 34 older people from Bray. It also housed six people from the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, a group Goddard belonged to. A statue of Goddard stands over the entrance. Today, The Donnington Hospital Trust runs Jesus Hospital.
Famous People from Bray
Many well-known people have lived in or been connected to Bray:
- Sylvia Anderson (1927–2016) – She helped create the Thunderbirds puppet show. She was also the voice of Lady Penelope.
- Ian Bairnson (1953–2023) – A Scottish musician.
- Heston Blumenthal (born 1966) – The famous TV chef who runs The Fat Duck in Bray.
- Carol Kirkwood (born 1962) – A BBC weather presenter.
- George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven (1892–1938) – Buried in Bray Cemetery.
- Michael Parkinson (1935–2023) – A well-known journalist and TV presenter.
- Laurie Holloway (born 1938) – A talented pianist and composer.
- Tony Prince (born 1944) – A famous disc jockey.
- Regenbald – He was an important person who worked for King Edward the Confessor and King William the Conqueror. He was also the vicar of Bray.
Bray in Books and Songs
The village is the setting for the famous 18th-century song "The Vicar of Bray". This funny song is about a vicar who kept changing his religious beliefs. He did this so he could stay in his job through different changes in the English church. This story was even made into an opera in 1882 and a film in 1937.
The writer Edward Lear also mentioned Bray in his book More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc:
"There was an old person of Bray,
Who sang through the whole of the day
To his ducks and his pigs,
Whom he fed upon figs,
That valuable person of Bray."
Nearby Places
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Maidenhead | Maidenhead | Taplow | |
| Cox Green |  |
Dorney | ||
 Bray  |
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| White Waltham (part of) Touchen End |
Across Holyport Warfield |
Oakley Green |
