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'Ascot' is a small town in the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot in the English county of Berkshire. It is most famous as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. The region is split into three distinct areas: Ascot itself, North Ascot (partially in the civil parish of Winkfield) and South Ascot.

Contents

Amenities

Local Schools

Royal Ascot week

Local government

External links

Amenities

Facilities tend to be geared towards the racecourse, although there is sufficient, if limited, shopping available in the wide High Street. Most of the expected facilities one would expect to find in a small town are here, including a supermarket, petrol station and many cafes (including a new Starbucks). Most buildings are post-war with flats above the ground floor retail space. Heatherwood Hospital is located at the western edge of the town. Ascot has a station on a bi-section of the railway line from London's Waterloo station to Reading, Bagshot, Aldershot and Guildford, originally built by the London and South Western Railway and now operated by South West Trains. As a consequence of the frequent service on this line, Ascot is now a commuter centre with its residents in both directions (westwards to Reading and eastwards to London).

Local Schools

One of the local schools in the Ascot area is Charters School, which recently achieved a 'Grade 1 Outstanding' from the Schools watchdog OFSTED.

Royal Ascot week

Main articles: Ascot Racecourse

The centrepiece of Ascot's year, Royal Ascot is one of the World's most famous race meetings, steeped in history dating back to 1711. The royal family attend the meeting, arriving each day in a horse drawn carriage. It is a major event in the British social calendar. Although this has placed Ascot onto the British social map, it has many direct effects on the local community, not least of which are the associated traffic problems.

Local government

Ascot is part of the district administered by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, a unitary authority.

External links

★ Ascot Village Website

★ Royal Berkshire History: Ascot

★ Ascot Racecourse

★ Royal Ascot

★ Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Ascot

★ Photos of Ascot