Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 38 min4:47 am – 9:25 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 50 min8:07 am – 3:58 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,653 residentsin the Hermitage & Cold Ash census areaMedian age 42.63,042 households71% of homes owner-occupied36% owned outright9% social rented, 19% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting2.8% unemployment rate65% of adults are economically active, 4,242 in work, 21% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 12%, education 12%, information and communication 11%Getting to work: 47% work from home, 46% go by car, 1% take public transport, 6% walk or cycle55% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages44% of adults hold a degree or higher10% have no qualifications, 4% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 97%Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 22°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 1°C745 mm of rain a year, 21 days with 10 mm or morewettest month November52 days of air frost, 15 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksYewtree Bottomvalley · under a mileFurze Hillhill · 1.0 miNothing Hillhill · 1.2 miFaircross Pondpond · under a mileHarbert's Bottomvalley · 1.0 miOare Commonwoodland · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesSnelsmore Common Country Parkpark · 2.6 mi · 85 haDunstan Greenpark · 3.4 mi · 3 haVictoria Parkpark · 3.8 mi · 6 haSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes35 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19705 of magnitude 3+, 0 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 3.0 on 22 Sep 202041 mi away, Leighton Buzzard, BedsMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Aug 202540 mi away, Thornborough, BucksSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: no mapped risk within 500 m of the centreSource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 5.7 · PM2.5 6.2 · PM10 10 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband97% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband99% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)3,094 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation109 m358 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 104 to 158 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalWest Berkshire Community Hospital3.2 miGP surgeryThe Downland Practice1.8 miPharmacyDownland Pharmacy1.8 miDentistHermitage Dental Centreunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi6 schools3 primary, 2 independent, 1 specialPrimaryHermitage Primary Schoolages 4-11, 186 pupilsunder a mileIndependentDowne Houseages 11-18, 535 pupils1.1 miSecondaryTrinity Schoolages 11-18, 1,349 pupils3.3 miCollegeNewbury College5.2 miUniversityUniversity of Reading14.2 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportSouthampton Airport SOU35 miMajor airportLondon Heathrow Airport LHR35 miRailway stationNewbury Racecourse4.0 miBus stationNewbury Wharf4.0 miBus stops20 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the RG18 postcode district.
