Inside UK village with no shops where houses still sell for more than £1m

21 October 2023 , 07:53

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Streatley is a quaint and idealistic English village (Image: Berkshire Live - Grahame Larter)

Perched by the Thames west of London sits a quaint village many have described as one of the most beautiful places to live in the UK.

But for those whose ears have perked up - there’s a strange catch to this pretty village. Situated in Berkshire, northwest of Reading, Streatley seems like the ideal destination for a permanent escape from the city - except there aren’t any shops.

Homes in the village are flogged for almost £1 million - but to pick up a pint of milk and the Sunday Mirror you will need to head to the neighbouring village of Goring, across the Thames. Despite this, the 1,000 residents appear to enjoy the quiet charm of the historical village.

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11 miles from Reading, the village has beautiful views and for those stuck in the endless hustle and bustle of the city it would serve as an idealistic countryside escape - if you can look past the lack of shops. The innovative locals made small changes to the community, such as turning an old red phone box into a book swap to serve as a mini-library for their beloved town, the Express reported.

London flat for rent for £1,400 a month with bed tucked away in kitchen cupboard

But here's the catch - the high street has no shops (Berkshire Live - Grahame Larter)

The ancient St Mary’s Church dates back over 1,000 years according to its website, and was Grade I listed in 1967. Allegedly the church, which lies near the Thames path, once had Lewis Carroll - world famous author of Alice in Wonderland - preach there in 1864.

Tripadvisor user SurreyGirl64 said of the church: "Gorgeous church tucked behind the renovated Swan Hotel. Historic links to Lewis Caroll. Couldn't get inside to view the interior but outside a beautiful church and Bell tower.” The local primary school also dates back to 1830.

For a pint of milk you need to head across the Thames to Gorey (Berkshire Live - Grahame Larter)

However, Streatley isn't completely empty, and has a range of independent hotels, popular with people trying to get away from the big city for a bit of calm and serenity. If all of this sounds rather appealing and you fancy moving here, a home will set you back on average just over £900,000, according to property website RightMove.

The old school house of the primary school built back in 1830 (Berkshire Live - Grahame Larter)

There isn't an abundance of activities, but the slow pace of life makes it a good place for peaceful walks, and it has a few traditional pubs for a cheeky pint.

Lucia Botfield