Top Things to do in Reading
What to do and see in Reading, England: The Best Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Reading, United Kingdom including The Museum of English Rural Life, Basildon Park, Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre, Kennet & Avon Canal, Wellington Country Park, Forbury Gardens, Reading Museum, Beale Park, Reading Station, The Hexagon.
Restaurants in Reading
1. The Museum of English Rural Life
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 167 reviews
The Museum of English Rural Life is one of the best things to do in Reading. Whether on your own or with friends and family, discover our new immersive galleries, research our collections, refresh in our café and relax in our garden. Admission is free. The museum houses the most comprehensive national collection of objects, books and archives relating to the history of food, farming and the countryside. The museum galleries and garden were recently redeveloped thanks to Heritage Lottery funding.
Reviewed By ian19542016 - Reading, United Kingdom
A museum that is interesting, informative and educational, suitable for all age groups and best of all admission is free. The story of English rural life is told through a wide range of exhibits from horse drawn wagons large and small, early steam and petrol vehicles agricultural impliments, and items used by country folk in everyday life. For younger visitors there are a number of excellent interactive exhibits. Those of a certain age will recall childhood countryside days out and holidays. The only downside is that parking is very limited so best travel by public transport.
2. Basildon Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,184 reviews
An 18th-century house, a 1950s homeThis is a story of grandeur created, dissolved and resurrected - not once, but twice.Basildon Park is an impressive Georgian mansion, surrounded by glorious parkland, which was lovingly rescued from ruin by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the mid 1950s. The house you see today is a re-creation and restoration of the 18th-century mansion. They restored the elegant interior and scoured the country salvaging 18th-century architectural fixtures and fittings. They filled their comfortable new home with fine paintings, fabrics and furniture, which can still be enjoyed by visitors today.
Reviewed By JohnHodderHobbit - Clitheroe, United Kingdom
Very beautiful house that original and several prosperous, successive owners never fulfilled to its potential as a dynastic home. WW2 offered limited available accommodation to HQ elements (intriguingly claimed for both the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions) prior to their sacrifice in !944. Their basic operations office with a new A/V display is functional, but emotional in context to those who left here to fight. The NT has furnished rooms with appropriate furnishings and displays although the original treasures are long gone. The house volunteer staff are some of the most friendly and informative you could ever hope to meet. Big kitchen and still used for cookery classes in traditional catering menus. Lovely surrounding flower gardens although much now to lawn. Approach to the House is from the public car park via a Yew Tree walk with wooden statuary and a play site for little persons. Particular worthy of mention are the delicious cakes and excellent coffee/tea available in the tea room inside ( jungle animal murals by Riddle ) or sit in outside court in fine weather.
3. Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 316 reviews
Reviewed By rogergardiner - Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Not for wet weather but on a sunny day the circuit of the wall is well worth doing. Handy parking. Take in the 12th Century Church and the amphitheatre. Lovely countryside views. Drinks and food at the Calleva in Silchester.
4. Kennet & Avon Canal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By RosyU - Colombo, Sri Lanka
I have had peaceful walks along the canal. It is really nice to have such a view in the town area. very quiet and peaceful.
5. Wellington Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 615 reviews
Welcome to Wellington, where memories are made. Follow your outdoor imagination and begin a safe adventure with us. Wellington Country Park offers an open air, fun-filled venue for children up to the age of 8 years old. Visit our website for full details.
Reviewed By ElsTraveller - Reading, United Kingdom
I’ve been coming to WCP for the last 6 years and genuinely think it is the best attraction in our area (we live in Reading). The park has a variety of playgrounds to suit different ages. We always enjoy feeding the animals at the farm (especially the crazy goats) and my kids go nuts in the sand and water play area. On our last visit (Thursday 15 April) we stayed the whole day in the park and managed to do about everything (kids are 4 and 6). The park is spotless and well maintained. I love how they’ve made new additions and improvements throughout the years and I always appreciate how the train ride is decorated differently depending on the theme (Easter, Halloween, ...) The picnic selection at the restaurants is good. The hot food not so much. Prices are very reasonable. Staff throughout the park is friendly. Covid-19 remarks - regular cleaning is being done. The train is wiped down after every (yes every!) ride. The jumping pillow was disinfected entirely before first use of the day. - hand sanitising stations were fully stocked - there are 2 food outlets and an ice cream Outlet in the park and I didn’t see big queues at any of them - social distancing was acceptable. Some people get it, some people don’t. The park is doing what they can. I felt safe during our time there. - we booked for 9:30 and walked in without having to queue Wonderful place and fantastic management. Highly recommend.
6. Forbury Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 340 reviews
Reviewed By judi423 - Southampton, United Kingdom
These are really pleasant, well kept gardens not far from the centre of the city. During the summer there seem to be quite a few 'events', so regularly there is something to see and do apart from being a nice place to sit when the weather is fine!
7. Reading Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 357 reviews
Explore our galleries of amazing objects local and global. There’s something for everyone from biscuit tins to beetles, Romans to Rodin. We are a venue for business functions, weddings and live music
Reviewed By Sharp_Glass - Reading, United Kingdom
Great collection of local sourced Roman Artefacts, of particular interest to me. Museum is not too large which I find refreshing as i found I had plenty of time to see eveything which is some case is not possible
8. Beale Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,053 reviews
Beale Wildlife Park was founded in 1956 by Gilbert Beale who created the Child Beale Trust, a charitable organisation, dedicated to the care and conservation of rare and endangered mammals and birds. The Park is a great place to be with fun, adventure, gardens, amazing animals and birds and play areas for all ages - there's even a paddling pool and narrow gauge train! There is free parking on site and lots going on in the wider park too - visit our website for details.
Reviewed By rachellane2018 - London, United Kingdom
Love this place, new additions now including an alligator and lynx and as always the variety of birds are amazing. The staff were very friendly and obviously happy to be open again, lots of information given about the animals. Quirky japanese garden with an amazing array of paraphernalia to look at. Huge queue for cafe but found an ice cream/coffee shop by the lake instead. It was nice to see the train running again and lots of famillies enjoying themselves. Thoroughly recommended !
9. Reading Station
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 716 reviews
Reviewed By _2ndnozzle - Reading, United Kingdom
From Reading Station you can go direct to London (Paddington Ealing Broadway or Waterloo)Newbury (and Newbury Racecourse) Henley, Ascot, Guildford, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport (by coach next to the station)Basingstoke, Winchester, Bournemouth, Bath Bristol, south Wales (Cardiff and Swansea) Bristol, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Penzance, Oxford, Coventry, Birmingham - Airport/ Conference Centre and Birmingham New St) Manchester, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Edingburgh Glasgow plus many places for commuters - Redhill, Reigate, Didcot, Banbury Slough and more
10. The Hexagon
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 212 reviews
Reviewed By M1938SAcarolc
Visited The Hexagon to see Cinderella in Jan 2020..the staff were so helpful and genuinely nice to talk to, we had a great time, so good we booked the next day and a ticket for the end of the year to see another Panto. Seats were comfy only down side I found it a little chilly... But over all a very pleasant experience
