Top 10 watery days out

As befits a town which borders two rivers (and a canal) as well as man-made lakes, Reading has a great range of options for watery days out this summer.

Try out Reading’s two new swimming pools
The Rivermead 25 metre-long pool and its diving pool only opened this summer and feels all swanky new. Palmer Park 25 metre-long pool has been open a year now but still looks like new and has a soft play area attached. 

Water for the littlies
Christchurch Meadows paddling pool is open all summer to help little ones cool down and splash to their heart content. Or the new square at the Huntley Wharf development has fun fountains to run in and out of.

 Lagoona Park 
Want to take on a water-based assault course? Lagoona Park has an aqua park as well as paddleboard and pedalo hire. The watery-theme park is based in one of the  man-made lakes south of the M4. 
Thames Lido 
For something more sedate, Thames Lido offers swim and sauna sessions, swim and dine or some non-member swim slots. You’ll need to pre-book and it is one child per adult. If no kids in tow, then put your feet up and treat yourself to a glass of something or a meal alongside the pool. You could almost be on holiday. 

Thames River Cruise
Reading has its very own river cruises. Thames River Cruise are a family-owned company celebrating 50 years in 2024. They offer a range of circular cruises from their Caversham Pier base or try out one of their popular Sundowner or Afternoon Tea cruises.

MatildA Too
All aboard Matilda Too, the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust’s 12-seat narrowboat which sails from central Reading at the weekends. 

Reading Sailing Club
Join a friendly local sailing club based at one of the former gravel pits east of the town centre. 
Hire a boat on the Thames 
On the island between Reading’s two main bridges, you’ll find Caversham Boat Services. As well as week-long boat hires, they offer day boat and boats by the hour. You wont need to swim across to make a booking. 

Paddle board at Wokingham Waterside Centre
Thames Valley Park, alongside the Thames to the east of Reading town centre, is home to Reading Park Run, large meadows for picnics and games and Wokingham Watersdie Centre.  You can launch your own craft or hire one of their kayaks, paddleboards or 6 seater katakanus.  

Walk the Thames Path National Trail 
Being by the river doesn’t have to be so energetic. Reading has lovely stretches of the Thames Path National Trail for a gentle stroll. You can even make a circular trip out of it by walking east to Wargrave Station or west to Pangbourne and hopping on the train back.