Summary of Top Attractions in Reading
One of the largest settlements in the UK lacking city status, Reading is a university town located 20 minutes to the west of London.
Despite its proximity to the capital, Reading serves as an economic hub in its own right, housing numerous companies within the insurance and information technology sectors.
The town is situated along the Thames River, marking the western terminus of the Kennet and Avon Canal, and in the Middle Ages, it was the site of an influential abbey, the ruins of which can be explored in the central Forbury Gardens.
Oscar Wilde was imprisoned at Reading Gaol from 1895 to 1897 after being convicted of homosexual offences and later penned the Ballad of Reading Gaol during his exile in France.
The prison, which is now designated as HMP Reading, has been preserved and closed its doors in 2013.
Let us delve into the best attractions and activities in Reading:
1. Reading Museum
Located in the neo-Gothic Town Hall, the Reading Museum examines the town’s history, from its origins as a Saxon settlement through the establishment of its medieval abbey, to its industrial growth and developments leading to the contemporary era.
Additionally, a gallery dedicated to the ancient Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) showcases artifacts such as a lifelike bronze eagle, created in the 1st or 2nd century and discovered in 1866. The museum also features items excavated from Reading Abbey, as well as the country’s sole replica of the Bayeux Tapestry, which illustrates the Norman conquest of Britain.
The museum houses artwork by notable figures such as Jacob Epstein and Auguste Rodin in the Windows Gallery, while the Huntley & Palmers Gallery chronicles the biscuit industry that significantly supported Reading’s economy during the Victorian period.
2. Forbury Gardens
Located just a few streets east of the railway station, Forbury Gardens is a well-maintained public park situated within the grounds of the former Reading Abbey, which will be elaborated upon shortly.
After the abbey’s dissolution in the 16th century, the area was left open and eventually repurposed for military purposes during the English Civil War and continued to be used for various military drills during the Napoleonic Wars.
The park was officially established in the mid-19th century, and the prominent monument at its center, the Maiwand Lion, was erected in 1886 in memory of the soldiers from the 66th Berkshire Regiment who lost their lives in the Battle of Maiwand in Afghanistan in 1880. The park boasts a charming bandstand and ample green spaces that attract office workers during lunchtime on pleasant days.
3. Abbey Ruins
Positioned at the southeastern boundary of Forbury Gardens, the ruins of Reading Abbey are nestled among modern structures. Established by Henry I in 1121, the abbey, like many others across Britain and Ireland, was dissolved during the Reformation under Henry VIII in 1538, resulting in the execution of its last abbot, Hugh Cook Faringdon.
Despite nearly 500 years of disuse, the ruins of the abbey are designated as Grade I listed, allowing access to the remnants of the former chapter house.
The hospitium, a dormitory for pilgrims, remains intact and currently serves as a nursery for children. The Gothic abbey gateway located on Abbey Square previously housed a school that was attended by Jane Austen and was restored by George Gilbert Scott in 1861.
4. Basildon Park
A short drive into the Chiltern Hills, northwest of Reading, Basildon Park is a stunning Palladian country house, designed by John Carr, constructed between 1776 and 1783. Following its use as a prisoner of war camp during World War II, the building, composed of honey-colored Bath stone, suffered extensive deterioration in the 1950s and was nearly demolished before undergoing a meticulous restoration led by Lord and Lady Iliffe.
Now maintained by the National Trust, the property is in excellent condition.
Visitors can appreciate the restoration efforts and learn about the Iliffes’ journey in sourcing suitable fittings from across the country.
The Staircase Hall, Octagon Drawing Room, and Dining Room are particularly splendid, and visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea by the fire in the kitchen.
The grounds also feature Lady Iliffe’s Rose Garden, which is particularly delightful in spring and summer.
5. Silchester
Silchester can be explored at a complimentary English Heritage site located ten miles southwest of Reading.
This ancient Roman city was established in the late 1st century atop an earlier Iron Age oppidum, and it was vacated between the 5th and 7th centuries.
The city walls, exhibiting a polygonal shape, were initially excavated in the early 20th century.
The walls are recognized as some of the most intact Roman defenses found in the UK, visible along most of the city’s perimeter, with the most impressive section located on the northern side.
A spring that originates from within the walls previously supplied water for the Roman baths and now flows into Silchester Brook.
Beyond the eastern walls, visitors can walk amid the remnants of Silchester’s amphitheater, which is encircled by earthworks now overtaken by trees and undergrowth.
6. Caversham Court
Located in a conservation area on the north bank of the Thames, Caversham Court encompasses a garden found within the grounds of a previously existing mansion.
Numerous influential families from Reading inhabited this estate after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and remnants of its plasterwork and the 17th-century staircase can be observed at the Museum of Reading.
Though little remains of the original house at Caversham Court, the gardens present the primary attraction of the site.
These beautifully designed gardens descend to the river and feature a variety of mature trees, including an Atlas cedar, a Bhutan pine, a cedar of Lebanon, and a black mulberry.
If visiting in July, one might enjoy a performance during the Reading Open Air Shakespeare Festival, and Cult Screens organizes outdoor film screenings, allowing guests to watch in comfort from bean bags or deck chairs.
7. Museum of English Rural Life
Managed by the University of Reading, this museum is situated at the rear of the London Road campus near the city center.
The attraction was established in 1951, given the university’s historic connections to agriculture, and underwent extensive refurbishment, reopening to the public in 2016. The galleries showcase over 250 years of English rural craftsmanship and are filled with various manual tools, garments, ploughs, antique livestock portraits, carts, and tractors powered by steam and diesel.
The museum also incorporates multimedia exhibits designed to engage younger visitors, who can partake in dressing up in period costumes.
For those unsure about some of the historical machinery, the museum’s staff are available to assist with inquiries.
8. Mapledurham House
Located a few short miles up the Thames, Mapledurham House is an exquisite Elizabethan stately home, completed in 1585 and offering tours on weekdays.
At the time of writing, the house was undergoing refurbishment, restricting access, but if allowed inside, visitors can see authentic 16th-century priest holes constructed to conceal Catholic clergy during an era when their practice was persecuted in England.
Visitors may also explore Mapledurham Mill, initially built in the 1400s and modified over the years.
The mill produced flour until the conclusion of World War II and remains operational.
The building also houses a hydroelectric turbine utilizing an Archimedes screw, contributing its generated energy to the National Grid.
The grounds include the 13th-century St Margaret’s Church and a tea room located in the stables coach house, serving freshly baked scones.
9. Kennet and Avon Canal Walk
Reading is positioned at the terminus of the Kennet and Avon Canal, which snakes through the West Country for 87 miles beginning in Bristol.
This expansive waterway was constructed between 1718 and 1810, primarily used to transport coal and building materials from Somerset to London.
The canal towpath, lined with chestnut trees, offers another opportunity to discover Reading.
During the summer, the waterway bustles with activity and is populated by swans and geese. The towpath guides visitors past the former prison, where a gate displays a quote from Wilde’s “Ballad of Reading Gaol.” At the juncture with the Thames, visitors will connect with the Thames Path national trail.
Continuing eastward leads to the charming village of Sonning, home to the Reading Sailing Club, tea rooms, and local pubs.
10. Museum of Berkshire Aviation
Located in the Woodley district of Reading, the Museum of Berkshire Aviation is a small yet engaging aircraft museum accessible on Wednesdays and weekends.
Housed within a hangar that once belonged to the Woodley Aerodrome, which operated during the early 20th century, the collection features aircraft manufactured by Miles Aircraft (formerly known as Phillips & Powis), situated at the aerodrome during its operational years.
Among the exhibits are globally unique pieces, including a Miles Student jet trainer, an experimental Fairey Jet Gyrodyne, and a Miles Martinet, a World War II target tug.
Additionally, visitors can view a Miles Magister training aircraft, a Fairey Gannet anti-submarine bomber, and a Handley Page airliner.
11. Wellington Country Park
Situated in the Hampshire countryside, seven miles south of Reading, Wellington Country Park is an expansive outdoor recreation area inaugurated in 1974 by the 8th Duke and Duchess of Wellington.
This park encompasses 350 acres of hardwood and softwood forest, interlaced with four nature trails, and serves as a habitat for fallow and red deer.
Furthermore, the park features a 35-acre lake with a cafe located on its shore, alongside a plethora of activities for children during the summer.
Visitors can engage with domestic animals at the animal farm and petting barn, and there are adventure playgrounds, a miniature train, sandpits, a maze, an “enchanted forest,” and a 12-hole mini-golf course.
12. Beale Wildlife Park and Gardens
Located along the Thames near Basildon Park, Beale Wildlife Park opened in 1956 and uniquely combines animal exhibits with attractions for young children and landscaped gardens.
The walk-through aviary houses a variety of birds such as snowy owls, barn owls, blue and gold macaws, spectacled owls, caracaras, and many others.
Visitors can also observe enclosures and paddocks featuring animals such as rheas, alpacas, meerkats, lemurs, prairie dogs, Cameroon sheep, and red-necked wallabies.
In addition to the animal exhibits, the park includes a miniature train, an indoor play area, and a captivating water garden and dry garden adorned with intriguing sculptures and exotic trees, including a ginkgo and swamp cypress.
13. Cole Museum of Zoology
Another museum affiliated with the university, this attraction is linked to Reading’s School of Biological Sciences at the Whiteknights Campus.
The collection, assembled in the early 20th century by the namesake Professor of Zoology, Francis J. Cole, comprises 3,500 zoological specimens, with around 400 on display at any time, organized taxonomically to provide a comprehensive overview of the Animal Kingdom within an hour.
Notable pieces on exhibit include two giant spider crabs, as well as the skeletons of a false killer whale, an Indian elephant, and a five-meter-long reticulated python.
14. The Oracle
For those seeking leisure or interested in a shopping excursion, The Oracle serves as the premier destination in Reading. This shopping center opened adjacent to the Kennet in 1999 and features over 100 retailers, including popular high street labels such as Zara, Topshop, and H&M, anchored by large branches of department stores like House of Fraser and Debenhams.
The Oracle is also renowned for its dining options, accommodating well-known chains such as Wagamama, Five Guys, Starbucks, Pret a Manger, Cafe Rouge, and Nando’s.
For entertainment, a 10-screen Vue cinema ensures access to the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
15. Reading Festival
Recognized as the world’s oldest pop music festival, the Reading Festival takes place at Little John’s Farm during the bank holiday at the end of August.
The festival evolved from the National Jazz Festival in the 1950s and transitioned into a rock-centric extravaganza in the early 1970s.
In recent years, this focus has broadened, with 2018 seeing rapper Kendrick Lamar headline the event.
Historically, non-rock performers have faced difficult receptions, even being forced from the stage under duress from plastic bottle throwers.
Throughout its 50-year history, iconic bands such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Cream, and The Kinks have graced the festival stage. Since 1999, the festival has occurred simultaneously in Reading and Leeds in West Yorkshire.
To ensure attendance, the lineup is typically announced in February, with tickets often selling out by June or July.
