Caversham rises from the River Thames, lying on flood plain and the lowest reaches of the Chiltern Hills.

[3] With the exception of the centre of Caversham and Emmer Green, which were traditional villages, much of the development occurred during the 20th century.

[6] It became a popular place of pilgrimage, along with the chapel of St. Anne on the bridge and her well, whose waters were believed to have healing properties.

[7] In the Middle Ages Caversham Manor was one of the demesnes of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and regent during King Henry III's minority.

[8] The medieval community was clustered on the north side of Caversham Bridge east of St Peter's Church, which was built in the 12th century.

The present Caversham Park House, built in 1850, was occupied by BBC Monitoring from 1943 until 2018, analysing news, information and comment gathered from mass media around the world.

[10] Caversham is in the Reading Central parliamentary constituency, currently represented by Matt Rodda of the Labour Party.

The parish historically extended from the banks of the Thames northwards into the Chiltern Hills, and included the area around Kidmore End.

Emmer Green, to the north, is an older village but is generally considered part of Caversham.

Elevations of homes vary from 37m above mean sea level to 92m at the top of Caversham Park, three metres short of the highest point in the east of the area.

Between Mapledurham on the Thames and Caversham Heights, adjoining their respective golf courses is a western narrow outcrop of the northern foothills that reaches 95m AOD.

[26] Caversham including Emmer Green (the north bank) had: 22.1% of its homes being socially or privately rented in 2011, whereas the borough had 42.4%.

[28] A new Heights Primary School [29] took its first pupils in September 2014 in temporary accommodation, and has not yet found a permanent site.

The Education Funding Authority acquired a site (previously residential) in Upper Warren Avenue during 2014, but there was criticism of the choice from local residents.

Following discussions with the EFA, Reading Borough Council was commissioned to work with local stakeholders on alternative sites.

The subsequent consultation showed a clear preference for occupying a small part of Mapledurham playing fields (5%).

It is in trust for recreation purposes and was gifted by the late Mr Hewett to residents of Mapledurham and Reading.

Their main rivals are Caversham Trents FC who also have boys teams competing in many of the same divisions as their AFC counterparts who are also known to use Highdown School as their training ground.

Finally, Caversham Evangelical Church meets at the Youth and Community Centre in Emmer Green.