Maidenhead Tourist Information

Maidenhead , on the River Thames, is 26 miles from London. 

The original settlement, lying about a mile north of the present town, was known as Eletone. Its timber wharf on the Thames was called Mai Dun Hythe (or 'Maidenhuth') and this eventually superceded the town's original name.

When a bridge was built to replace the ferry across the Thames in 1280, the road between London and Bristol, later known as the Bath Road, was diverted to cross it.

Maidenhead was one day's journey from London and as a result developed as a major coaching stop, with many inns located along the High Street.  The current bridge, dating from 1777, is still crossed by the Bath Road (now the A4).  By the 19th century Maidenhead was a popular river resort and was notably ridiculed in Jerome K Jerome's famous book, 'Three Men in a Boat'.

The Thames flows half a mile to the east of the town centre and the Jubliee River flood defence scheme now begins at Maidenhead. Completed in 2002, this hydraulic channel takes the overflow from the Thames to alleviate flooding in and around Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton.

The town has good transport links, standing on the A4 and lying adjacent to Junction 8/9 on the M4 motorway.  Today, Maidenhead lies in England's 'Silicon Corridor' (along the M4) and many residents commute to work in London, Slough or Reading.

Maidenhead's industries include plastics, telecommunications, computer software and pharmaceuticals.

The Great Western Railway (built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1838) passes through Maidenhead, offering links with London and Bristol.  Brunel's Maidenhead Railway Bridge, spanning the Thames, is famous for its flat brick arches.

Maidenhead also remains a significant boating centre

Maidenhead offers a good shopping centre and a mulitplex cinema.