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Places to stay in West Berkshire
West Berkshire is mainly rural with a population of over 150,000. It is made up of the Kennet valley including the main settlements of Hungerford, Newbury, Thatcham and Theale; the suburban areas to the east bordering Reading; and the rural chalk downlands – part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. About three-quarters of the area is rural and roughly a third of the population live in villages and rural communities. This can make it difficult for those people to get the services they want and need. West Berkshire's population is mainly white and its age profile is similar to the national average. The population will increase significantly over the next 10 years increasing pressure on local services such as housing and transport. The proportion of older people will increase leading to more demand for health and social care services. The area is affluent although there are some poorer neighbourhoods. Unemployment has increased because of the recession but remains below both the national and south-east averages. Employment opportunities are limited for low skilled workers, particularly in rural areas, and the local shops face competition from neighbouring towns.
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