About

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. The Quarter brings together the unique heritage that exists within the former grounds of Reading Abbey, once one of Europe's largest royal monasteries. The Abbey Ruins and Gateway are both Grade I listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments. 

The impressive Abbey Ruins consist of the south transept, the treasury, the chapter house, the dormitory and the refectory. You can find out more about these areas with our on-site information panels and at the Abbey displays in Reading Museum.

Enjoy a walking tour exploring the heart of medieval Reading led by trained volunteer guides every Saturday from March to September (book on the Reading Museum website). This tour takes you to the highlights of the Abbey Quarter, including the Hospitium where medieval pilgrims stayed, the conserved Reading Abbey ruins and the Abbey Gateway, the grand entrance to the Abbot’s lodgings which became Queen Elizabeth I’s royal palace.