Have you considered a UK staycation in Reading? Me neither! To tell you the truth, I didn’t really know much about this southern town until I spent an amazing weekend there, exploring everything it has to offer.
| Press trip |
Located in Berkshire on the banks of the river Thames, Reading is a vibrant, cosmopolitan town within commuting distance of London. Dating back to medieval times, the town has plenty to explore, including ruins, Victorian architecture, and watersports.
One of my favourite things about Reading was how easy it was to get around. Even though it’s the largest town in the UK, pretty much everything is within walking distance.
There are also excellent public transport options with easy bus routes throughout the town. If you fancy heading into London, you can easily catch a train or hop on the Elizabeth line, and you’ll be there within 45 minutes.
Read on to find out how to spend a weekend in Reading.
Things to do in Reading
You certainly won’t be short of things to do in Reading. There’s plenty to see in this town. Here are my top picks.
Take a walking tour
My favourite way to get acquainted with a new place is to take a walking tour. It’s an excellent way to see the town, get your bearings, and learn more from an expert guide.
I visited Reading during the Reading Walks Festival in May. This was a series of 42 walks taking place over five days in the town.
Most of the walks were led by volunteers, ranging from easy meanders around the town to more difficult countryside routes.
Reading is part of the St James’ Way, a long-distance walking trail retracing the steps of medieval pilgrims from Reading to Southampton as part of the Camino Ingles. This makes it an excellent destination if you love walking.
One of the walks we did was run by Terry’s Reading Walkabouts. This not-for-profit organisation is run by the fantastic Terry, a retired chap who runs the walks to raise money for mainly local charities.
We did the ‘Six Bridges and a Bridge Too Far’ walk which took us along the Thames to admire some of Reading’s bridges. Terry really knows his stuff and taught us a lot about the history of Reading which was really interesting.
He’s also really engaging, and I would say a walking tour with Terry is a must-do when in Reading.
Reading Museum
All of the museums in Reading are free to enter, so you must put them on your list if you’re travelling on a budget. Reading Museum is home to collections that tell the story of Reading, and you can easily spend a few hours here. It’s the perfect activity for a rainy day.
One of the most impressive exhibits is the British Bayeux Tapestry. This is a 19th-century replica of the medieval one in Normandy and was constructed by a group of Victorian embroiders who recreated it from photographs.
The tapestry is over 70m long and tells the story of the Norman conquest of England. It is quite a sight and a great way to learn about this piece of history.
Another of the exhibits which I really enjoyed was the Huntley and Palmers gallery. Huntley and Palmers were world-famous biscuit manufacturers based in Reading, and the exhibit shows what factory life was like for the workers at Reading Museum.
There are also over 300 biscuit tins here, each with a different design. My favourites were the carriage created for the King’s coronation and one shaped like a globe.
Thames river cruise
A Thames river cruise gives you the chance to see Reading from the water. We did the Thames Explorer 90-minute cruise with Thames Rivercruise, a lovely meander from Caversham Pier to Mapledurham Lock and Weir.
The boat trip is lovely and tranquil. There is a bar on board where you can get drinks, and the captain tells you a bit about what you’re passing as you go along.
We saw some incredible houses on the river banks, lots of little boats, the rowing club, and even a kingfisher along the way.
Thames Lido
If you want to give wild swimming a go, but you’re not too sure about jumping in your nearest lake, then the Thames Lido is a great introduction to swimming outside. The 25m pool is heated throughout the year to between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, and the temperature is designed to make you feel refreshed and energised while you swim.
The chlorine levels are as low as possible for a more pleasant swim. There are also other spa facilities here, including a sauna, steam room, and a hot tub. You can also indulge in a massage if you want.
There are showers and changing rooms, and we loved the body washes in here, which are unique to the lido. You can also buy these if you want.
It’s a fantastic place to exercise or relax with friends, and we really enjoyed it. After your swim, you can dry off and head to the lido’s restaurant – more on that later!
Reading Abbey ruins
You can’t go to Reading without taking a trip to the impressive Reading Abbey ruins. They are over 900 years old and date back to the time of Henry I’s reign.
The abbey was once of Europe’s largest royal monasteries, and it’s the burial place of Henry I, although his remains have yet to be found. There are on-site information panels to guide you around, and it is free to visit.
They also hold events in the abbey, like music concerts and plays, and I think this would be a wonderful, atmospheric venue to enjoy one of these.
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
The Museum of English Rural Life explores how farming, craft, food, and culture has helped shape our lives in the past up to the present day. There is so much to see in this museum, including farming machinery and crafts.
The displays are interactive and family-friendly, and you could easily spend a few hours here. This is another great spot to visit on a rainy and a free activity to do in Reading.
Festivals
Reading has a calendar of festivals held throughout the year, including beer festivals, water festivals, and music festivals. I’ve already mentioned the Reading Walks Festival, but there was also a food festival on in the centre of town while we were there too.
Try and time your visit with one of these festivals to experience something unique.
Where to eat in Reading
From cool street food vendors to fine dining, there is something for everyone with Reading’s thriving food scene.
Chez Mal Brasserie, Malmaison
Head to the Chez Mal Brasserie inside the Malmaison hotel for a delicious dining experience. Inside, the atmosphere is cool and stylish, with low-level lighting and exposed brickwork.
Custom artwork and hanging filament bulbs add to the industrial feel of the decor. It’s a great place for date night or dinner with the girls.
Now, let’s get onto the food. The menu focuses on locally sourced produce with a contemporary French influence.
We had an amazing three-course meal here, including fillet steaks which were cooked to perfection, and the hot chocolate molten pudding with salted caramel ice cream.
My favourite part of the meal was the crisp gem hearts with gorgonzola and chives. They were just so tasty – if only all salad was that yummy!
Thames Lido
After a dip in the Thames Lido, you can head to the restaurant for a meal and some cocktails. The menu here is Mediterranean-inspired, adding to the holiday feel of the venue.
The restaurant menu changes seasonally, around every three months, so you can visit regularly and try different things.
There’s an open kitchen, a wood-burning oven, and a charcoal grill plus exposed brickwork, tiled flooring, wooden tables, and leather booths. The restaurant has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and is great for couples, friends, and groups.
The food was really different, some of the things on the menu I hadn’t heard of before and I loved this as I like to try new things. I enjoyed scallops to start, followed by the seafood fideua with squid ink, cuttlefish, monkfish, and prawns.
To finish, we shared a vanilla ice cream and a passionfruit sorbet. All of the ice cream is homemade, and this was packed full of flavour for a delicious palette cleanser.
The portions were on the smaller side and were beautifully presented. I enjoyed an Aperol spritz alongside dinner – the perfect setting for one!
Blue Collar Corner
Blue Collar Corner is the place to be over the summer. This independent street food venue is on the site of a former abandoned yard.
There’s a huge beer garden for the summer months, which is covered and heated in the winter, so food here can be enjoyed all year round. It’s set over two floors and has a bar and four street food vendors.
The street food vendors here change every one to four weeks, so you can try something different each time you visit. When we were there, we tried Korean and Georgian street food, both of which were delicious.
We’d never tried Georgian street food before, but it was basically a flatbread with cheese baked into it, and you can’t really go wrong with that! I also enjoyed a glass of Pimm’s, and we sat in the sunshine.
Blue Collar Corner is a great place to spend a few hours eating and drinking with friends on a sunny day.
Where to stay in Reading
Reading has plenty of options when it comes to places to stay. From serviced apartments to business hotels and boutique B&Bs, there’s something to suit every type of traveller.
Novotel Reading Centre
I stayed at the Novotel Reading Centre during my trip to the town. The hotel is popular with business travellers during the week, which means you can get a great deal when you stay at the weekend.
The hotel is modern and stylish. I stayed in one of the executive suites, which had a king-size bed, a sofa area, a coffee machine, and views over the rooftops of Reading.
My room was large, spacious, and comfortable, with everything I needed for the weekend. The hotel’s location is perfect, just a two minute walk from the train station and close to all the sights of Reading.
Breakfast is one of the things that I really pay attention to when staying in a hotel, and this one was brilliant. There were all of the options you’d expect for a full English, plus lots of continental options, including pastries, fruit, cereal, meats, and cheeses.
The hotel also has a fitness suite with weights and treadmills, and a swimming pool, although I was too busy exploring Reading to take advantage of these! There’s also a stylish bar and restaurant, so you don’t really need to leave the hotel if you don’t want to.
Novotel is perfect for solo travellers, couples, groups of friends, and families.
Malmaison Reading
Malmaison Reading is a beautiful boutique hotel in Reading town centre. Close to both Reading train station and the town centre, it’s got a great location for exploring the town.
In the rooms, you’ll find luxe decor, roll-top baths, and huge beds. Choose from a room or a suite with a seating area, desk, and sofa.
All of the rooms have mood lighting, en-suite bathrooms with baths and power showers, a hairdryer, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Choose Malmaison for a romantic stay with your other half or as a special treat to yourself.
If you’re looking for a UK staycation this summer, then I can’t recommend Reading enough. With plenty to see and do and some fantastic places to eat, it’s an excellent destination for a sightseeing break.
