A short publicly accessible stretch of Thames waterfront gives Datchet a clear connection to the river: there are lawns and mature trees, along with wide views of the Thames. The village’s history also includes the village greens, the Church of St Mary and the Datchet War Memorial. Visitors planning a stay will find several points of interest: the village’s character, its architectural history and a stretch of publicly accessible riverside.

The Green and Datchet’s history

Datchet’s older buildings are grouped around The Green. A prominent oak commemorates the jubilee of Queen Victoria. Today’s village greens were created in the 1840s, after a stream was culverted. The date of the 1840s refers to the creation of the greens; the oak and the grouping of older buildings are separate features of the village’s character.

Church and memorial sites

The Church of St Mary is a Grade II listed building. It was rebuilt and extended in the Gothic Revival style between 1857 and 1864. The style revives forms of Gothic architecture. Inside is a brass plaque commemorating Lady Katherine Berkeley, dating from 1559: it comes from a much earlier period than the church’s reconstruction.

The Datchet War Memorial is also Grade II listed. Sir Lionel Henry Cust created it in 1920 as a memorial to the First World War; additions commemorating the Second World War were made later. The memorial commemorates 54 local servicemen who died in the First World War and 30 who fell in the Second World War. Its original construction, later additions and the two groups commemorated give the site its own distinct history.

By the Thames

With its lawns, mature trees and wide river views, the short public stretch of waterfront offers a different focus from the historic buildings. A Parish Council plaque on Datchet’s public Thames waterfront also marks the sites of the 18th- and 19th-century bridges. This allows visitors to appreciate the river connection both through the landscape and through a specific reference to former bridge sites.

Walks and getting there

There are several walking and cycling routes in the Parish of Datchet. A local leaflet maps the public rights of way and provides information about the Countryside Code, parking and connections to other routes. If you would like to use the leaflet to plan your visit, check its availability in advance.

Datchet has its own railway station and is close to the M4. These offer different points of reference for getting there: the station is a local rail connection, while the M4 is a road connection. For a specific train journey, it is worth checking the timetable; if you are planning to drive, you can take the location near the motorway into account.

If you are considering Datchet as a place to stay, ask yourself which focus matters most for your visit: the local history around The Green and the memorial sites, the short public stretch by the river, or access by train or the proximity of the M4. These aspects provide a factual basis for assessing Datchet as a destination and then looking for a hotel for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Sunninghill, Hurley, Ascot, Cookham, Windsor, Old Windsor, Wraysbury, Maidenhead

For the wider travel guide: Windsor And Maidenhead.