Walk in Oscar Wilde’s Footsteps: Exploring Reading 125 Years On

15th November 2025

This November marks 125 years since the death of Oscar Wilde, one of literature’s most brilliant and tragic figures. While Wilde is celebrated for his dazzling wit and plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband, his story also has a deeply poignant connection to Reading that shaped his later life and inspired one of his greatest works: The Ballad of Reading Gaol. 

In 1895, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years’ hard labour for “gross indecency.” For much of that time, he was held at Reading Gaol, a Victorian prison just a short stroll from today’s town centre. His time there was marked by isolation and reflection, but it also gave birth to some of his most profound writing. 

While imprisoned, Wilde composed the moving letter De Profundis, written to his former lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. After his release in 1897, he penned The Ballad of Reading Gaol, a haunting poem that captures the harsh realities of prison life and the deep humanity of those within it: 

“Yet each man kills the thing he loves, 
By each let this be heard…” 

Explore Wilde’s Reading 

Today, visitors to Reading can follow in Wilde’s footsteps and see how his legacy continues to inspire art and reflection throughout the town. 

The Former Reading Prison

Although closed to the public, the striking red-brick façade of Reading Prison still stands as a powerful reminder of Wilde’s story. You can view it from the riverside and the surrounding streets — a place where history, architecture and emotion intertwine.

Banksy’s “Create Escape”

In 2021, a new chapter was added to Wilde’s Reading story when world-renowned street artist Banksy created his piece Create Escape on the prison’s wall. The artwork depicts a prisoner (believed to be Wilde) escaping with a typewriter in tow. 
Just a five-minute walk from Reading Station, it’s an unmissable photo stop and a modern tribute to the enduring power of Wilde’s voice. 

The Oscar Wilde Memorial Walk 

Running along the River Kennet, just behind the prison, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Walk offers a reflective and beautiful place to wander. The highlight? Two gleaming metal gates designed by artist Bruce Williams, with Wilde’s image etched into them. 

Laser-cut words from Irish poet Paul Muldoon and Wilde’s own moving exclamation upon his release, “Oh, beautiful world!”, adorn the riverside railings. You’ll also find striking red 'love seats' and a bench crafted to the exact size of Wilde’s prison bed.

Reading’s Christmas Lights

This winter, you can even spot a nod to Oscar Wilde in Reading’s unique Christmas light display, which celebrates the town’s heritage. See if you can spot the lit up artwork designed by local artist Martina Hildebrandt and see how Wilde’s legacy still shines through the heart of the town.

Discover Reading’s Creative Spirit 

Wilde’s story is just one of the many threads that make Reading’s cultural tapestry so rich. This November, whether you’re a lover of literature, history or art, come and walk where Wilde once did. Take a leisurely stroll along the river, explore the history, admire the creativity and see for yourself why he exclaimed: 

“Oh, beautiful world!”