Dorney Manor was mentioned in the Domesday Book, and was famed for honey; it is named after the Saxon for "Island of Bees".

[3] One account of its early history reveals that the then adjoining Boveney manor, at the southern end of the village of Burnham, had an oak tree cut down by an employee.

He defended his conduct by declaring that at a court in Buckinghamshire previously found Dorney to be a royal manor and that the green was therefore common land, so it was legal to cut the tree down.

Owing to the continued use of the land for grazing, the common has panoramic views of Windsor Castle two and a half miles to the east.

Dorney's civil parish council covers minor upkeep, community events and recreational matters.

Dorney is surrounded to the south, east and west by the non-metropolitan county of Berkshire, with a narrow border along its north (with Taplow and Burnham) further towards the heart of Buckinghamshire.

Dorney Reach is a community on a riverside road, almost half of the homes of which are by the River Thames, overlooking Monkey Island.

Lake End includes the Pineapple pub and is the only settled part north of the Jubilee River on the main northward road from the village.

It has a public car park by the Jubilee River which enables access to its towpath and the buildings of Dorney and Lake End.