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24 hours in Reading
Reading is a great day trip location. Just 23 minutes from London Paddington Station by train and also on the Elizabeth Line, which is free for TFL Freedom Pass holders.
Here’s an example itinerary for a day visit to Reading. Be warned and set your alarm– we’ve packed lots in!
9am: Start your day with breakfast at one of Reading’s best indie cafes
Reading is home to lots of places to eat and drink, with a superb café culture that rivals many other towns – so start your trip (and day) right with a visit to one of our fabulous independent cafes for breakkie. Try CUP for a touch a Greece, Shed for homemade goodness or Gails Bakery or Paul's Patisserie.
10am: Get cultural with Reading’s heritage
After breakfast, why not explore a bit of Reading’s local...Read More
24 hours in Reading
Reading is a great day trip location. Just 23 minutes from London Paddington Station by train and also on the Elizabeth Line, which is free for TFL Freedom Pass holders.
Here’s an example itinerary for a day visit to Reading. Be warned and set your alarm– we’ve packed lots in!
9am: Start your day with breakfast at one of Reading’s best indie cafes
Reading is home to lots of places to eat and drink, with a superb café culture that rivals many other towns – so start your trip (and day) right with a visit to one of our fabulous independent cafes for breakkie. Try CUP for a touch a Greece, Shed for homemade goodness or Gails Bakery or Paul's Patisserie.
10am: Get cultural with Reading’s heritage
After breakfast, why not explore a bit of Reading’s local heritage? Reading Museum is perfectly located right in the centre of town and has the only full size Bayeux Tapestry replica among its relics, while the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) gives a fascinating history of the UK's countryside and people. After you’re topped up your knowledge in the museums, why not walk through 900 years of history at the Abbey Ruins, Reading’s very own ancient ruins and burial place of King Henry I, just around the corner from the main shopping streets. You can even view the ruins as they would have been 400 years ago with the help of AR.
11.30am: Hit the shops
From casual window shopping to serious retail therapy, it’s no wonder Reading is known for its fantastic shopping offer. From high street brands to quirkier independents and household names such as John Lewis, Reading has some of the best shopping in the South East, as well as three indoor shopping centres all within a short walk. There’s always time for a quick mooch, right?
1pm: Have lunch on the riverside
Once you’ve finished with the shops (or just need a pit-stop), head to the Oracle Riverside, where you’ll find a great selection of bars and restaurants dotted alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal, which flows rather scenically through the shopping centre. Providing a picturesque backdrop to a perfect lunch spot, The Oracle boasts some brilliant eateries for even the most discerning foodies, from fast food favourites and chains, right through to fine dining (and everything in between!).
3pm: Test your limits at an Escape Room
Reading is home to some of the best Escape Rooms in the country, offering a total of four top-rated sites with a variety of rooms, themes and difficulties, many of which are easily walkable from the town centre. So, whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned escape artist, there’s a puzzle for you waiting to be solved.
4:30pm: Explore on foot with an afternoon stroll
What better way to clear your head after the escape room excitement, than with a short afternoon stroll around Reading. Reading town centre is just 500 metres from The Thames. Head to the river and sample a small section of the famous Thames Path or take a short circular cruise with Thames River Cruise. Reading's Victorian pleasure gardens, Forbury Gardens, are next to the amazing medieval Abbey Ruins which are open every day. You can continue through to the old Reading Prison site to visit Banksy’s ‘Create Escape’. Popping up in 2020, the artwork shows Oscar Wilde escaping from the Prison with his typewriter. A must-see for any Banksy fan!
6pm: Prepare to be entertained
When the evening comes, there’s no shortage of activities in Reading to keep you amused. Why not try tenpin bowling, darts, or crazy golf at Spinners? Try your hand at cocktail making at The Botanist, or wine tasting at Veeno? For something requiring less energy, check out the Hexagon’s programme of live shows or visit the independent Biscuit Factory for films, terrace and bar.
8pm: Eat, drink and be merry
Foodies, prepare yourselves – Reading has a great selection of restaurants and eateries from every corner of the globe. Burger fans should head for Wendy’s or Honest Burger, while some of the nation’s well-known chains can be found at the Oracle Riverside. If you’re looking for a treat, visit The Reading Room or London Street Brasserie, or if more of an independent vibe is what you’re after, try the Thames Lido, Valpy Street Bar & Bistro or Pepe Sale.
10pm: Sample the nightlife
When it comes to nightlife, Reading has it all. If you’re looking to dance off dinner, try one of Reading's nightclubs such as Lola Lo or the iconic Purple Turtle. Cocktail-lovers should head to Be at One, Milk or Revolution de Cuba, or for more of a relaxed vibe try Malmaison, Market House or the Oakford Social Club. If you fancy a good old-fashioned pint to keep you going into the early hours, visit one of Reading’s traditional pubs such as the Allied Arms, the Ale House, or Zero Degrees with its very own micro-brewery. Just opened, the Rising Sun is a new gastropub and restaurant and Siren Brew Bar serves local beer in a modern setting at Station Hill.
We hope this has inspired you to visit Reading on your next day trip and we look forward to welcoming you soon! Don't forget to take a look at accommodation options if you need a place to stay, or travel options from travelling to, and from, Reading. There’s always so much to do in Reading, so why not make your trip longer and extend your visit to a weekend break?
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Number of results: 515
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Address
Church Lane, Dunsden, READING, Berkshire, RG4 9QDTelephone
0118 948 1111READING
Our beers have been hailed for their quality and consistency since 2003 – winning awards all over the UK. Built on traditional foundations, we’ve continued to evolve and take our beers to the next level. From firkins of classic bitter to cans of New…
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Reading
Metro Bank has opened a different kind of High Street bank. A bank with stores that are open when it suits you, 7 days a week. A bank where you can walk in without an appointment and walk out with a working account, debit card and more. A bank that…
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Address
Forbury Road, READING, Berkshire, RG1 3FDREADING
St James catholic Church is built within the ruins of the great Benedictine Abbey. Today we continue the practice of the monks to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy in Word and Sacrament. The church was built between 1837 and 1840, the architect was A W…
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Address
Reading Road, Winnersh, WOKINGHAM, Berkshire, RG41 5HQTelephone
0118 338 3730WOKINGHAM
With so many handy transport links nearby, our Premier Inn Winnersh hotel is in a great location. You'll only be a five-minute walk away from the Winnersh Triangle train station, making it easy for you to explore Reading. Discover local parks like…
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Address
The Oracle, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2AQTelephone
0118 939 3800Reading
Spanish fashion chain offering on-trend house-brand clothing, shoes & accessories.
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Address
4 Butter Market, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2DPTelephone
0118 950 8313Reading
Hand-making a cup of coffee is an art. It takes time and skill to perfect. That's why every single barista, in every single Costa store is professionally trained in...
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Address
Broad Street Mall, READING, Berkshire, RG1 7QETelephone
0118 958 8293READING
Sushimania offers traditional Japanese cuisine ranging from sashimi, sushi, traditional & modern makis. As well as grilled seafood’s & meats, tempuras, rice and noodles.
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Address
Unit 20 Stadium Way, Tilehurst, READING, Berkshire, RG30 6BXTelephone
0118 942 8390READING
You can visit us on Fridays and Saturdays at our on-site taproom, where we serve a wide variety of beers direct from our warehouse cold store, where our beer is continuously stored between 4-5 degrees, keeping it in the best condition possible for…
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Address
Riverside Level, The Oracle, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1AHTelephone
0118 957 1839Reading
Fantastic promotions, including 2-4-1 cocktails all day every day and mouth watering menu. Slug & Lettuce's guests are taken on...
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Address
Whitchurch Road, Pangbourne, READING, Berkshire, RG8 7DATelephone
07912 068720READING
Meadow Farm Camping is a pop-up campsite for tents only, alongside the River Thames, close to the village of Pangbourne, with 6 pubs within a mile. Pop up loos, Washing-Up Stations with USB charging and cold water on site. BBQs and campfires…
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Address
(Mercure George Hotel), Yield Hall Lane, Reading, RG1 2HFTelephone
0118 957 2802Reading
Welcome to Bhel Puri House, serving the Berkshire community the finest Indian street food. Restaurant and take away serving, vegetarian, fresh juices, desserts and savouries!...
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Address
96 Broad Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2APReading
The UK's Largest Independent Running Store
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Address
18 Cross Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1SNTelephone
0118 951 1114Reading
Beauty salon offering hair cuts, treatments, skin care and more.
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Address
The Oracle Centre, READING, Berkshire, RG1 2AGREADING
Accessorize was first born in 1984 with the opening of our first store in the Piazza, Covent Garden, London. Our founder Peter Simon was inspired from a trip to Paris, where he discovered a small selection of stores selling fashion jewellery that…
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Address
The Oracle, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2AGTelephone
0118 958 5342Reading
The Fragrance Shop is the UK’s leading independent fragrance retailer with over 400 fragrance brands available in more than 200 stores throughout the UK.
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Address
12 Dunbar Drive, Woodley, READING, Berkshire, RG54HAREADING
E bike vineyard tour - English wine is enjoying a boom right now. Join Broomwagon Cycle Tours for a ride through the beautiful Chilterns with a stop at one of the country’s most exclusive vineyards. Nestled in the foothills of the Chilterns, South…
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Address
Gun Street, READING, Berkshire, RG1 2JRREADING
Purple Turtle has been a staple of Reading nightlife for over 30 years, first opening in 1990 and going strong ever since. The bar first opened on Duke Street before moving over to Gun Street when the Oracle was being built in 1997. It is one of the…
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Address
Hardwick Road, Whitchurch On Thames, READING, Berkshire, RG8 7QYTelephone
0118 984 3827READING
Come and enjoy a fascinating walk in the beautiful South Oxfordshire countryside. Lead an alpaca around our alpaca farm which nestles between the edge of the Chilterns and the River Thames. Learn more about these attractive, enigmatic creatures that…
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Address
15, The Oracle Centre, Reading, RG1 2AHTelephone
0118 958 1009Reading
We stock a fabulous range of Sterling silver jewellery, fashion jewellery, accessories and branded watches - including Ice-Watch, Storm and Swatch. We are an independent retailer and are passionate about providing our customers with fashion forward,…
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