Maidenhead facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maidenhead
Market town
Clockwise from top: Maidenhead town hall, bridge on the River Thames, High Street, mosque and St Mary's church
Maidenhead
Population	67,375 (Built-up area, 2021)
OS grid reference	SU889811
• London	30 mi (48 km)
Unitary authority	Windsor and Maidenhead
Ceremonial county	Berkshire
Region	South East
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	Maidenhead
List of places UK England Berkshire 51°31′18″N 0°43′04″W / 51.5217°N 0.7177°W / 51.5217; -0.7177

Maidenhead is a busy market town in Berkshire, England. It's part of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The town sits on the southwest bank of the River Thames, which forms the border with Buckinghamshire. In 2021, about 67,375 people lived in the Maidenhead area. The town is about 43 kilometers (27 miles) west of London and 21 kilometers (13 miles) east of Reading. Maidenhead also gives its name to a special area for choosing a Member of Parliament, which includes nearby villages.

History of Maidenhead

Map of Maidenhead from 1945

Classic Victorian architecture—All Saints' Church, Boyne Hill

Some historians believe that the area where Maidenhead is now was once a small Roman settlement called Alaunodunum. Even though we don't know for sure, there is proof that Romans lived here. Two Roman villa sites have been found, one in Cox Green and another near the town centre. These villas were close to the Camlet Way, a Roman road connecting important Roman towns.

Maidenhead's name comes from "Maiden Hythe," which means "New wharf" or landing place by the river. This wharf was built very early, possibly in Saxon times. In 870, an army of Danes landed here and marched to Reading. The town centre was originally a small Anglo-Saxon town called "South Ellington."

Around 1280, a wooden bridge was built across the river, replacing an old ferry. This new bridge changed the main road from London to Bristol, making it pass through South Ellington. Because of the bridge and a new wharf built nearby, the town grew and became known as Maidenhythe. The earliest record of this name change is from 1296.

The new bridge and wharf helped Maidenhead grow into a busy river port and market town. In the Middle Ages, the town developed along the new road with inns, a guildhall, and a chapel. Maidenhead became a popular stop for coaches traveling from London. By the mid-18th century, it was one of England's busiest coaching towns, with over ninety coaches passing through daily. The Bear Hotel on the High Street is a good example of an old coaching inn still standing today.

King Charles I met his children for the last time in Maidenhead before he was executed in 1649. This meeting happened at the Greyhound Inn, where a bank now stands. When the Great Western Railway arrived, Maidenhead started to grow even more. Roads were improved, and new public services were added. Many new Victorian red brick buildings appeared.

How Maidenhead is Governed

Maidenhead is governed by one main local council called the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. This council looks after services like rubbish collection, parks, and local planning. The main offices for the council are in Maidenhead Town Hall. Some parts of Maidenhead, like Cox Green and Bray, are also part of smaller local areas called civil parishes.

Maidenhead also has its own Member of Parliament (MP). This MP represents the town and nearby villages in the UK Parliament. The former Prime Minister, Theresa May, was the MP for Maidenhead from 1997 until 2024. Now, Joshua Reynolds is the MP for Maidenhead.

Maidenhead's Location and Nature

Maidenhead includes several areas like Furze Platt, Pinkneys Green, and Boyn Hill. It also connects to nearby villages such as Cox Green and Bray. To the east, across the river, is the village of Taplow in Buckinghamshire. To the north are the Cookhams, and to the south is Holyport. The historic towns of Windsor and Eton are to the southeast.

Maidenhead is just west of the Taplow ridge, a wooded hill that rises above the River Thames. You can see the impressive Cliveden House on top of this ridge from many parts of the town. Maidenhead also has a special nature area called Cannoncourt Farm Pit. Here, the largest hand axe from the paleolithic (Stone Age) era in Britain was found! There's also a local nature reserve called The Gullet. Maidenhead holds a UK weather record for the most rainfall in 60 minutes, with 92 mm (about 3.6 inches) on July 12, 1901.

Famous Places in Maidenhead

Maidenhead clock tower outside the railway station

The current Maidenhead Bridge was built in 1777 and cost £19,000. It carries the A4 road over the Thames, connecting Maidenhead to Taplow. All Saints' Church, Boyne Hill, finished in 1857, is a beautiful old church. The Maidenhead clock tower was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and stands outside the railway station. Boulter's Lock is a lock on the River Thames, next to Ray Mill Island. The town also has several statues, like the 'Boy and the Boat' at the top of the High Street.

What Maidenhead is Like Today

Maidenhead has a very long history, but most of its old buildings are gone. The town centre has been rebuilt with offices, technology company headquarters, and apartments. This makes Maidenhead an important business and commuter town in the "Silicon Corridor" (an area with many tech companies).

The town centre is currently being improved. There are plans for new shops and homes, an upgraded railway station, and better connections between parks and the High Street. An old shopping centre is also planned to be replaced with a new area featuring shops, restaurants, and apartments. The Chapel Arches area is being redeveloped, bringing back old waterways and creating a nice waterfront area with new apartments, shops, and cafes. This project is helping to restore the historic feel of that part of the town.

Maidenhead was also the place where the Maidenhead Locator System was created in 1980. This is a special system used by amateur radio enthusiasts around the world.

Community Places

Maidenhead High Street

Maidenhead has many shops, including the Nicholson's Centre. There's also an eight-screen Odeon cinema. The town offers a Shopmobility service, where people with physical disabilities can borrow scooters to get around. The Maidenhead Heritage Centre and Museum, which opened in 1993, tells the story of the town.

In the Boyne Hill area, you can find Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, which has a theatre and hosts many artistic events. Waltham Place Estate is a large organic farm with beautiful gardens. The Reitlinger Open Space is a park named after Henry Reitlinger, a famous art collector.

A new leisure centre, Braywick Leisure Centre, opened in September 2020, replacing the older Magnet Leisure Centre. The town also has community centres, like 4 Marlow Road, which is a youth and community centre offering activities and dance classes.

Getting Around Maidenhead

Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway by Turner (1844) shows an early train crossing Maidenhead Railway Bridge.

The Great Western Main Line and Elizabeth Line trains pass through Maidenhead. You can catch direct trains from Maidenhead railway station to London, Reading, and other towns. The railway crosses the River Thames on Maidenhead Railway Bridge, which is famous for its flat brick arches. There's also a smaller train line, the Marlow Branch Line, that goes from Maidenhead to Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Local bus services are available throughout the town. The A4 road runs through Maidenhead and crosses the Thames on Maidenhead Bridge. The town is also very close to the M4 motorway, which connects to other major roads like the A404(M) and A308(M). These roads help connect Maidenhead to the M40 at High Wycombe.

The River Thames is just east of the town centre. There's also a system of old waterways, called the Maidenhead Waterways, running through the town centre, which are being reopened. The Jubilee River, a flood defence channel, also starts nearby.

Maidenhead was originally planned to be the end of the Crossrail line (now the Elizabeth Line), but it was later extended to Reading. Just 3 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of town is White Waltham Airfield, used for small planes and flight training.

Jobs in Maidenhead

Maidenhead is part of England's "Silicon Corridor" along the M4 motorway, west of London. Many people who live here travel to work in London or nearby towns like Slough, Bracknell, and Reading. Maidenhead has industries like software, plastics, medicines, printing, and telecommunications. The town also has a Jobcentre Plus office, which helps people find jobs and offers career advice.

Sports in Maidenhead

The entrance to York Road, the oldest continuously used senior football ground in the world

Being on the River Thames, Maidenhead is a great place for rowing. The Maidenhead Rowing Club organizes the Maidenhead Regatta, which is an important event for future Olympic rowers. Many winners from Maidenhead have gone on to represent the UK in the Olympic Games.

The town's football team, Maidenhead United, plays at York Road. This is the oldest football ground in the world that has been continuously used by the same team! Maidenhead United won the National League South in 2017, moving up to the National League. The Maidenhead Rugby Club was started in 1921 and is the town's largest sports team, with many different teams for all ages.

Important Organisations and Schools

The local newspaper in Maidenhead is The Maidenhead Advertiser. The Maidenhead Citadel Band of the Salvation Army has been in the town since 1886. The main office for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which looks after war graves around the world, is also in Maidenhead. Many private companies, like the American pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, have offices here too.

Further Education

• Berkshire College of Agriculture is located in Maidenhead.

Most students who want to go to college travel to nearby places like Windsor, Langley, Slough, Henley, or Reading College.

Secondary Schools

Primary Schools

Independent Schools

• Beech Lodge School
• Claires Court
• Herries School
• Highfield School
• St Piran's School
• Redroofs School for the Performing Arts

The closest university is Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe. The University of Reading is also nearby.

Maidenhead in Books

Maidenhead is mentioned briefly in Jerome K. Jerome's funny 1889 book, Three Men in a Boat.

Famous People from Maidenhead

William Grenfell, 1st Baron Desborough was a great sportsman and public servant who helped the town a lot.

Many well-known people have lived in Maidenhead:

• Toby Anstis (born 1968), a children's TV presenter.
• Film directors Roy and John Boulting were born nearby.
• Edd China (born 1971), a TV mechanic and inventor.
• The actress Diana Dors (1931–1984) lived here for many years.
• Broadcaster Richard Dimbleby (1913–1965) lived on Boulter's Island.
• Playwright Sir George Etherege (around 1636–1692) was born in Maidenhead.
• The Spice Girls shared a house in Maidenhead before they became famous.
• Peter Jones (born 1966), a "Dragon" from the TV show Dragons' Den.
• Footballer Andy King (born 1988), who played for Leicester City when they won the Premier League.
• Author Hugh Lofting (1886–1947), who created Doctor Dolittle, was born here.
• Broadcaster Michael Parkinson (1935–2023) lived by the river.
• Athlete Mark Richardson (born 1972).
• Sir Nicholas Winton (1909–2015), who bravely rescued 669 Jewish children from Czechoslovakia before World War II, lived near Maidenhead. There is a statue of him at Maidenhead railway station.