Reading is a vibrant, metropolitan town offering a mix of historical charm and modern amenities. It's easily accessible by train from London and boasts a variety of attractions, from the ancient Reading Abbey ruins to the recently renovated Thames Lido.
Home to the UK's iconic Reading Festival, its growing arts and culture community boasts some of the best entertainment in the country.
Reading's rich and diverse communities are represented by its global food and drink scene, with well-known chains and quirky independents serving everything from street food to fine dining. And, with three shopping centres and a pedestrianised high street jam-packed with household brands and independent retailers, you'll find shopping in Reading rivals some of the bigger cities in the South East.
Reading is ranked the UK's top economic area for economic success and wellbeing, according to factors such as employment, health, income and skills. The Sunday Times has consistently ranked the town in the Top 10 of places to live in the South East and notes that Reading is “one of the UK’s best places to work and do business, with leading businesses in sectors from security software to energy, financial services to mobile technology.”
History & Culture
Known for its enviable reputation during the industrial revolution as a producer of beer, biscuits and bulbs, Reading was an important trading and ecclesiastical centre from the medieval period, with Reading Abbey one of the richest monasteries of medieval England. Adjacent to this site is the historically significant former Reading Gaol, known for its most famous prisoner, playwright Oscar Wilde. Modern day Reading is now best known nationally (and internationally) for its thriving arts and cultural scene, spearheaded by the iconic Reading Festival, held annually on the banks of the Thames.
Highlights:
- Reading Abbey Ruins: Explore the remnants of one of Europe's largest medieval buildings, with its 12th century abbey gateway and significant ruins including King Henry I's burial place. Hosts outdoor cinema and silent disco events in the summer months.
- Reading Museum: Discover the town's history through exhibits, including a full size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry.
- Museum of English Rural Life (MERL): A family-friendly museum exploring food, farming, and the countryside. Check out its quirky social media feeds for an insight into its catalogue of exhibits.
- The Reading Festival: Reading’s iconic rock festival, is the longest-running popular music festival in the UK, running annually since 1971. It has hosted many of the biggest bands in the world over the last 5 decades.
- Readipop: Award-winning three-day music & arts festival held on the banks of the Thames in aid of Readipop charity.
- The Hexagon: a multi-purpose arts venue and theatre with a capacity of 1200, the venue hosts many events including classical music, comedy, dance, drama, pop and rock concerts, plus an annual pantomime featuring CBeebies Mr Tumble himself – Reading resident Justin Fletcher.
- South Street Arts Centre: hosts a diverse range of performances, including fringe theatre, comedy, music, dance, and live literature, catering to both professional and community-based groups.
- Reading Rep Theatre: a producing venue rapidly becoming a leading theatre in the country known for its excellent professional productions.
Nature & Leisure
Reading has over 100 parks and playgrounds, including 5 miles of riverside paths plus 5 local nature reserves and a botanic garden. In the town centre is Forbury Gardens, a public park built on the site of the outer court of Reading Abbey. A recent wave of investment has led to a revitalised leisure scene which includes the instagrammable ‘urban retreat’ Thames Lido spa and restaurant, the modern and airy flagship Rivermead Leisure Centre, the Biscuit Factory independent cinema, plus new bowling alleys and a £20 million development of the Hexagon and Central Library planned.
Highlights:
- The Thames: Enjoy scenic walks and boat cruises along the River Thames.
- Forbury Gardens: A beautiful green space in the town centre, perfect for a picnic or a leisurely stroll.
- Camino de Santiago: The St James' Way is a newly waymarked long-distance walking trail that retraces the steps of medieval pilgrims from central Reading to Southampton. It is an accredited part of the Camino Ingles (English Way), one of the routes of the world-famous Camino de Santiago in north-west Spain.
- Dinton Pastures Country Park: A wildlife haven just outside Reading, with opportunities for walking and birdwatching.
- Harris Botanic Gardens: Tucked away at the far end of the University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus started life as the botanic garden linked to undergraduate and postgraduate studies but has in recent years become primarily a garden for pleasure, managed by a team of volunteers.
- Thames Lido: A spa and leisure centre with swimming, massage, and more.
- Rivermead Leisure Centre: a brand-new flagship development which provides first class leisure facilities as part of the £40m reinvestment into upgrading sport & leisure centres in Reading.
- Escape Rooms: Reading is a UK capital of escape rooms, with several operators offering different themed experiences.
Shopping & Nightlife
Reading is a high-quality shopping destination with a good mix of independent stores and household names in an easily walkable town centre. It features two shopping centres: The Oracle shopping centre (with over 80 stylish stores to explore) and Broad Street Mall, plus the offbeat Harris Arcade and gastronomic hotspot Kings Walk. The popular IKEA superstore is in West Reading on Junction 12 of the M4. Reading also boasts great nightspots including Zero Degrees with its on-site microbrewery, Oakwood Social Club, Sakura and the long-standing favourite The Purple Turtle.
Transport
Reading's location in the Thames Valley to the west of London has made the town an important location in the nation's transport system. Reading train station is one of the largest rail hubs in the UK with direct connections across the country. You can get from Reading to London Paddington in 23 minutes, and the new Elizabeth line links directly to Tottenham Court Road in as little as 43 minutes. The nearest airport is London Heathrow, 25 miles away by road. An express bus service named RailAir links Reading with Heathrow. Reading Buses provide a frequent bus service in Reading. Other bus operators include First, Arriva South East, Stagecoach and Thames Travel.
Schools
Reading School founded in 1125, is the 16th oldest school in England. There are six other state secondary schools and 37 state primary schools within the borough, together with a number of private and independent schools and nurseries. Reading College has provided further education in Reading since 1955, with over 8,500 local learners on over 900 courses. The highly respected University of Reading was established in 1892 as an affiliate of Oxford University.
Sport
Sporting teams based in Reading include Reading Football Club and the London Irish rugby union team, and over 15,000 runners annually compete in the Reading Half Marathon. Reading is also home to another three senior semi-professional rugby clubs; Reading Abbey R.F.C., Redingensians R.F.C. and Reading R.F.C. The Reading Rockets are the town's professional basketball team. Rowing is pursued by the Reading Rowing Club, the Reading University Boat Club, both next to Caversham Bridge whilst Reading Blue Coat School trains in Sonning adjacent to The Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake in Caversham, which provides training facilities for the GB National Squad.
Take a look at our other Area Guides
Sources:
Visit Reading https://www.visit-reading.com/
Reading CIC http://livingreading.co.uk/visit
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Berkshire
Reading Guide http://www.rguide.co.uk/where-to-go-in-reading
Reading Arts http://www.readingarts.com/
