Cool Place of the Day: Cookham, Berkshire
Every day, a new place to discover or explore from coolplaces.co.uk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Cookham, Berkshire
A lovely spot for a day out from London, the pretty Berkshire village of Cookham would be just another well-heeled Thames-side backwater if it hadn't also been the home and often the inspiration for one of the great twentieth-century British painters: Stanley Spencer. Born here in 1891, Spencer was so besotted with this 'village in Heaven' that 'Cookham' became his nickname, and many of his paintings depict his neighbours, often in dramatic poses and various states of undress. Around a hundred of his works are displayed in the gallery devoted to him here that alone makes the village worth visiting. They have declared the 13 months from April 2016 to May 2017 the ‘Year of Stanley Spencer’, with not only events at the Cookham gallery but also major exhibitions at the Hepworth in Wakefield and the reopening of the muralled Sandham Memorial Chapel in Hampshire.
Once you’re done with Stanley, Cookham has a handsome, all-embracing gastropub, the Kings Arms, for lunch, and some enticing independent shops and restaurants as well as a lovely setting on a bend in the river that makes it a great base for walks – Wind in the Willows author Kenneth Grahame also grew up nearby. Head east along the towpath for a three-mile stroll to Maidenhead, and loop back across Cookham Moor and Widbrook Common on the Green Way path for a satisfying two-hour round-trip. The train station at Cookham Rise, half a mile from the village high street, connects to London Paddington.
Cool Places is a website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments