Things to do in Reading town centre

Compact Reading town centre will keep you entertained during your stay and while there is much to explore more widely, you could easily spend your visit within the radius of the town centre.

You can easily dine your way round the world in Reading town centre, or try coffees from many continents, sip local beers or international brews and dance til your feet ache! Download our Food & Drink Map to help you choose from over 100 businesses.

Reading Museum in the Town Hall is the perfect introduction to life in Reading. It also provides background for an exploration of the Abbey Quarter. Puzzlers should head for one of the town centre's escape rooms.

Reading's nightlife revolves around the town centre with Friar Street and Gun Street the epicentres of bar and nightclub land. You'll also find live music venues, The Hexagon theatre, casinos, an art gallery and cinemas. 

The River Kennet flows through the heart of Reading and is worth exploring from the Abbey walls to the Oracle Riverside. Forbury Gardens is the town centre's green lung. It's great for picnics, bandstand concerts and re-living key moments in Reading's turbulent history.