Welcome to Reading, a modern destination with a medieval history. Reading is the departure point for modern pilgrims and walkers retracing the steps of medieval pilgrims along St James’ Way to Southampton and then on to Galicia in north-west Spain to join the Camino Ingles, one of the routes of the world-famous Camino de Santiago.
In 2022, the iconic 'camino' scallop shell waymarking signs have been installed along the whole of its route, from the departure point in Reading to the final destination at God's House Tower in Southampton.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Reading and Caversham were recognised centres of pilgrimage. The focus in Reading was Reading Abbey, which possessed over 230 relics including the Hand of St James, which made Reading the centre of the cult of St James in early medieval England. On the other side of the River Thames was the Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was visited in person by Queen Catherine of Aragon as late as 1532. Both were dissolved in the late 1530s, after which the location of the Shrine of Our Lady was lost to local memory, and has only been re-identified in recent years.
Walking the St James' Way
The St James’s Way is a long-distance walk of 68 miles running from Reading Abbey south to Southampton, and part of the Camino Ingles/English Way, the network of pilgrimage trails that run as far north in England as Durham to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where St James is buried. This route is now marked with 500+ scallop shell signs, symbol of the pilgrims to Santiago, and the yellow arrow to point you in the right Camino.
Our map guide will show you where all the places of historic or pilgrim interest can be found in Reading. Don't miss Reading Abbey Ruins, the Abbey Gate and Forbury Gardens, St James Church and the modern Shrine at St Anne's Church in Caversham, as well as Reading Museum, where you can get your pilgrim passport stamped.
There are 3 places to get your passport stamped at the start of the St James' Way in Reading:-
St James Church (call ahead if possible, 0118 957 4171)
Reading Museum (open Tues – Fri, 10am – 4pm; Sat, 10am – 5pm; closed Sun & Mon)
Carluccio’s, The Forbury, RG1 (open Mon – Fri from 8am; Sat & Sun from 10am, earliest close is 9pm on Sun.)
Stamps all count towards your Compostela. There are also more than a dozen pubs along the route that will stamp your passport. Buen Camino!
Useful information and links
More information on the St James’ Way - Confraternity of St James
Walk the Camino Ingles (English Way) in Galicia - Association of Councils of the Camino Ingles (English Way)
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 Pugin. It is the stratng point of the St James Way, part of the English leg of the Camino de Santiago.
Explore 900 years of history in Reading Abbey Quarter including the burial place of King Henry I, Jane Austen's schoolroom and Oscar Wilde's Gaol. Notably the Quarter includes Reading Museum, St. James' Church, St Laurence's Church, the Forbury Gardens, Reading Gaol and the remains of Reading Abbey. The impressive Abbey Ruins consist of the south transept, the treasury, the chapter house, the dormitory and the refectory.
Built 1902-21, it includes a shrine chapel, re-designed between 1954-58 to include the external squint on South View Avenue for observance by passers-by. This has a large 500-year old oak statue of Our Lady and Child. The shrine was redecorated in 2017 with images reflecting the original medieval shrine, which was lost following its dissolution in 1538 but was located at Caversham manor at Dean's Farm in Lower Caversham.
Situated in Reading’s Victorian Town Hall, the Museum tells the story of Reading from its Saxon beginnings to the high-tech town it is today. Explore ten galleries of historic and artistic objects. Discover archaeology from Roman Silchester and Reading Abbey, view vintage Huntley & Palmers biscuit tins, explore our famous Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, and don’t miss changing exhibitions in the Art Gallery. Take a look in our shop with unique local products, books and gifts.