Planning a stay or an event at the Royal Berkshire Hotel in Ascot usually starts with a few specific questions. This guide addresses the most common pre-booking concerns—ownership, star rating, wedding costs, distance from London, and the origin of its name—using verified information from the hotel’s operator, wedding marketplaces, and local tourism sources. Each key fact is linked to its source so you can research further with confidence.

Last checked: 2026-08-09

Property name: Royal Berkshire Hotel · Location: Ascot, Berkshire, England · Classification: 4-star country house hotel · Number of rooms: 66 · Era of original building: Early 18th century (Queen Anne) · Former name: The Oaks

Royal Berkshire Hotel at a glance

1 Location

• London Road, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0PP (Exclusive Collection)

2 Bedrooms

• 66 bedrooms across the property (Exclusive Collection)

3 Wedding per-head price

• Wedding packages listed at £150–£185 per person, with a minimum of 10 guests (Bridebook)

4 Exclusive-hire price

• Exclusive use of the hotel for 2027/2028 ranges from £22,000 to £33,000, including all 66 bedrooms (Exclusive Collection brochure)

The snapshot above compresses the facts researchers ask about most. The deeper sections below walk through each question with context, the sources behind each claim, and the practical trade-offs you should weigh before booking.

Who owns the Royal Berkshire Hotel?

The Royal Berkshire Hotel is owned and operated by Exclusive Collection, a UK-based hotel group. According to the company’s official website, it presents the property as a luxury country hotel in Ascot within its portfolio (Exclusive Collection). The acquisition itself is documented in a Wikipedia article on the hotel, which states that Exclusive Hotels acquired the property in May 2011 (Wikipedia). A regional business publication also covered the deal at the time, noting it brought the hotel into Exclusive’s sister brand, EH Venues, alongside Fanhams Hall Hotel (The Business Magazine).

History of ownership

The property’s history extends well beyond its current operator. Wikipedia records that by 1920, Colonel Sir James Nockolls Horlick was shown as the owner, and that the building began its modern hotel use in 1971 after renovation by the Hoffman family (Wikipedia). These details are drawn from an encyclopedia entry rather than primary legal records, so they carry more weight as historical colour than as definitive ownership documentation.

Why this matters: knowing the operator matters because Exclusive Collection’s brand—not the building’s age—determines most of the service standards, booking policies, and wedding packages you’ll encounter.

What is the star rating of the Royal Berkshire Hotel?

The Royal Berkshire Hotel is a 4-star property. This classification appears across the hotel’s own materials and its listings on independent booking platforms (Exclusive Collection). The Visit Windsor tourism directory lists the hotel as open for the full 2026 calendar year and displays an associated Tripadvisor traveller rating, giving local authorities’ endorsement to the property’s operating status (Visit Windsor).

Guest perception impact

Independent reviews on Tripadvisor show a room price range of $153–$338 per night for a standard room, based on average rates (Tripadvisor). Note that these figures are quoted in US dollars by the platform and have not been converted; if you’re budgeting in GBP, check the hotel’s own booking engine for current rates.

The bottom line: the 4-star rating is consistent across official and third-party sources, but the Tripadvisor price range suggests significant variability depending on season and room type.

How much does a wedding cost at the Royal Berkshire Hotel?

Wedding costs at the Royal Berkshire Hotel span a wide range depending on how you hire the venue. A per-head package on Bridebook lists pricing at £150–£185 per person, with a minimum guest count of 10 (Bridebook). At the other end of the scale, the official 2027/2028 exclusive-use brochure from Exclusive Collection lists prices from £22,000 to £33,000—a figure that includes all 66 bedrooms for the full property hire (Exclusive Collection brochure).

Typical wedding packages

Between these extremes, the Guides for Brides directory lists Royal Berkshire wedding prices from £7,500 to £28,000, with a typical price of £15,000 (Guides for Brides). A third independent source, SquareMeal, shows a wedding package at £5,300 based on 50 guests, with additional guests charged at £50 per person (SquareMeal).

Factors affecting price

These three figures are not contradictory; they reflect different-sized weddings. The SquareMeal package assumes 50 guests at roughly £106 per head, while Bridebook’s per-head rate likely covers a fuller package with more inclusions. The £22,000–£33,000 exclusive-use price adds overnight accommodation for all 66 bedrooms, which explains its premium over the £15,000 typical total cited by Guides for Brides.

Regionally, Berkshire hotel wedding venues on Hitched typically range from £117–£196 per person, with an average of £157 (Hitched). The Royal Berkshire’s £150–£185 per-head range sits inside that middle band.

What to watch: any quote you receive should state whether it includes food, drink, ceremony fees, and overnight accommodation. The £5,300 SquareMeal figure and the £22,000 exclusive-use figure likely differ on all three.

“Prices inclusive of food & beverage.”

— Bridebook listing for Royal Berkshire, Sunninghill

How far is the Royal Berkshire from London?

The Royal Berkshire Hotel sits roughly 40 miles (64 km) west of central London by road. The hotel’s location on London Road in Sunninghill/Ascot places it within easy reach of both the M3 and M4 motorways (Exclusive Collection). By car from central London, expect a drive of around an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes depending on traffic.

Travel by train and bus

For rail travellers, the nearest mainline station is Ascot, which is served by South Western Railway from London Waterloo. From Ascot station, a local bus service—the line 1 route—connects towards Sunninghill and the hotel area, with the journey taking roughly 10–15 minutes. Driving from the hotel’s postcode SL5 0PP to Ascot station is under two miles.

The implication: the hotel is far enough from London to feel like a countryside escape but close enough for a same-day return trip, which matters if you’re considering it for a day event or a short break.

Why is it called the Royal Berkshire Hotel?

The “Berkshire” part of the name is geographic, referring to the county in which the hotel sits. The “Royal” prefix comes not from royal patronage of the hotel itself but from the county’s official designation as the Royal County of Berkshire—a title associated with Windsor Castle and the Crown’s long presence in the area. The property was originally known as “The Oaks”, a name tied to the estate’s early history before its conversion to hotel use in the 20th century (Wikipedia).

The takeaway: the name reflects place and status, not a royal seal of approval on the hotel’s services. If you’re choosing this venue because of a royal association, understand the connection is regional rather than direct.

How many bedrooms does the Royal Berkshire Hotel have?

The Royal Berkshire Hotel has 66 bedrooms. This figure is confirmed by the official Exclusive Collection website and by the 2027/2028 exclusive-use brochure, which states that the hire price includes “all 66 bedrooms” (Exclusive Collection). This makes the property large enough to host a full wedding party overnight but small enough to feel like a country house rather than a conference hotel.

Why this matters: the 66-room count directly affects event capacity. If you’re planning a wedding, check how many of those rooms are held in your room block and whether additional rooms can be booked for guests at a preferential rate.

What are the check-in and check-out times at the Royal Berkshire Hotel?

Standard hotel check-in at the Royal Berkshire is typically from 3:00 PM, with check-out by 11:00 AM. These times are standard across most Exclusive Collection properties, though the hotel’s official website is the authoritative source for any seasonal adjustments (Exclusive Collection). If you’re arriving early for an event, the hotel’s guest relations team can usually arrange luggage storage.

Does the Royal Berkshire Hotel have a restaurant?

Yes, the Royal Berkshire Hotel operates an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The hotel’s official website lists the restaurant as part of its dining offerings, and the property is also noted for its afternoon tea service (Exclusive Collection). Given the hotel’s country-house setting, the restaurant also serves as the primary dining venue for weddings and events.

Pros and cons of the Royal Berkshire Hotel

Who is the Royal Berkshire Hotel best for?

Based on its country-house setting, 66-room capacity, and wedding-focused marketing, the Royal Berkshire Hotel suits specific traveller profiles. Couples seeking a romantic countryside escape near London will appreciate the gardens and relatively quiet setting, though the hotel is not remote—Ascot’s racecourse and Windsor are close by. The property also works well for those wanting a 4-star stay within about an hour of London without paying central London prices.

For weddings, the hotel’s flexibility across package types makes it viable for several group sizes. The minimum guest count of 10 on Bridebook allows for intimate elopements, while the exclusive-use model (from £22,000) could suit a larger celebration requiring all 66 rooms. SquareMeal’s package for 50 guests at £5,300 suggests a mid-sized wedding is economically feasible, though you should clarify what that package includes before comparing it to the per-head rates.

“The above prices are the total cost to hire Royal Berkshire exclusively, including all 66 bedrooms.”

— Exclusive Collection, 2027/2028 exclusive-use brochure

Location and getting there

The Royal Berkshire Hotel is at London Road, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0PP (Exclusive Collection). Ascot is the nearest major rail hub, with direct trains to London Waterloo. From the station, the line 1 bus route serves the area, and the hotel is roughly two miles away by road. If you’re driving from London, the property is accessible via the M3 at Junction 3 (Bagshot) or the M4 at Junction 6 (Slough), with a journey time of roughly an hour from central London under normal traffic.

Final note on the Royal Berkshire Hotel

The Royal Berkshire Hotel is a 4-star country house hotel in Ascot, owned by Exclusive Collection, with 66 bedrooms and a wedding business that spans intimate elopements to full exclusive-use hires. Its name reflects Berkshire’s royal county status rather than royal patronage, and its location about 40 miles from London makes it a plausible countryside escape for those who want easy access to the capital.

For most booking decisions, the practical question is not whether the hotel is good—the reviews broadly suggest comfortable, clean rooms—but which pricing model fits your event. Per-head packages at £150–£185 work for smaller parties, while exclusive-use hire from £22,000 suits a full-property takeover. Always request a written proposal from the hotel before comparing prices across directories.

Sources cited

All facts in this article are linked to their sources inline. For the freshest rates and package details, always confirm directly with the hotel before booking.

• Exclusive Collection – Royal Berkshire Hotel official site
• Exclusive Collection – 2027/2028 exclusive-use brochure (PDF)
• Wikipedia – Royal Berkshire Hotel
• Bridebook – Royal Berkshire Hotel listing
• Guides for Brides – Royal Berkshire listing
• SquareMeal – Royal Berkshire Hotel venue page
• Visit Windsor – Royal Berkshire Hotel directory entry
• Tripadvisor – Royal Berkshire Hotel reviews
• Hitched – Berkshire hotel wedding venues price guide