Discover Reading

Reading combines impressive history with riverside landscapes, museums and distinctive trails. Anyone planning a trip to England and looking for a holiday apartment as a base can combine different interests here: the former site of Reading Abbey, the Thames and the Kennet and Avon Canal, walks, cycling connections and cultural discoveries.

Reading Abbey Quarter and the city’s history

The Reading Abbey Quarter encompasses the former site of Reading Abbey. The surviving ruins include the south transept, the treasury, the chapter house, the dormitory, the necessarium and the refectory. The ruins are protected as a Scheduled Monument and are also listed as Grade I buildings. For visitors who appreciate medieval architecture and English history, this area offers many tangible points of interest.

Another distinctive landmark is the Abbey Gateway. The Grade I listed building was an important part of the medieval Reading Abbey, which was founded by King Henry I. The gateway is also associated with the history of Jane Austen: from 1785, she was taught there at Reading Ladies Boarding School and remained a pupil until December 1786. In the Story of Reading Gallery, you can see a scale reconstruction of part of the cloister with original Romanesque carvings.

The city’s history, however, extends beyond the Middle Ages. The Huntley & Palmers Gallery explains how the company pioneered the industrial mass production of biscuits and why Reading became known as “Biscuit Town”. The Museum of English Rural Life focuses on food, agriculture and the countryside. It houses England’s most comprehensive collection of objects, books and archives on these subjects. In the exhibition rooms, visitors can also look for 12 hidden rats – a small discovery feature for families who want to include playful moments alongside historical content.

Rivers, bridges and trails for active days

Reading lies on the Thames and the Kennet and Avon Canal. The Riverside Museum tells the story of the two rivers, the Kennet and the Thames. It is housed in the two listed former waterworks buildings, Screen House and Turbine House. Anyone who wants to experience the waterways beyond exhibitions can include the Thames and Kennet Walk in their travel plans. The route is 3 miles long; a longer version covers 4 miles. The shorter route takes 1 to 1.5 hours, while the longer version takes an additional 30 minutes.

Christchurch Bridge is a car-free bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It connects Reading city centre on the south bank of the Thames with Caversham on the north bank. For cycling, Reading offers a mix of riverside paths, routes through the countryside and inner-city connections. This makes it possible to choose a holiday apartment according to your daily plans: depending on whether culture, walks, cycling tours or riverside landscapes are the main focus, you can plan your preferred location and excursions differently.

City gardens, churches and distinctive places

Forbury Gardens is a Victorian urban garden created at the height of the movement for public parks. The famous Maiwand Lion statue stands in the gardens. Reading Minster, also known as St Mary's Church, is Reading’s oldest church. Mill Arch recalls the former use of the site: the stone arches that remain today formed a wall of the mill, on whose site an operating mill stood from the 12th century until 1963.

Arrival can also be taken into account when getting your bearings. Reading Museum and the Abbey Quarter are just a two-minute walk from Reading railway station and the main bus stops.

Events and pilgrimage route

Reading is also associated with recurring events. Reading Festival takes place annually in Reading, England. Water Fest celebrates and showcases the Kennet and Avon Canal, as well as the attractive and historic places along its towpath. For your travel planning, such events can provide an additional cultural or waterside focus without setting a specific date for your trip.

Anyone looking for a longer walk with spiritual and historical significance will find the beginning of St James' Way in Reading. The long-distance trail runs for 68 miles from Reading to Southampton and follows the route taken by medieval pilgrims. St James' Way is an accredited part of the Camino Inglés, the English Way, a route of the Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain. The official starting point is in front of St James' Church in the Abbey Quarter. Reading is therefore suitable both for an urban cultural stay and as a starting point for a journey centred on a longer trail.

More destinations to research

If you would like to compare other places besides Reading, you can find the next pages here: Pangbourne, Compton, Wokingham, Inkpen, Bradfield, Wickham, Frilsham, Wasing.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Berkshire.