Top Things to Do in Reading
Things to Do in Reading
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See what other travellers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings.
Book these experiences for a closer look at the region.
- Bus Toursfromper adult$1,059
- Fun & Gamesfromper adult$17
- Fun & Gamesfromper group (up to 10)$34
- Sporting Eventsfromper group (up to 15)$802
- Historical Toursfromper adult$64
- Full-day Toursfromper adult$53
- Food & Drinkfromper adult$169
- Historical Toursfromper adult$171
- Historical Toursfromper adult$54
- Historical Toursfromper adult$203
Other Top Attractions around Reading
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Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travellers are saying
- Maria L1 contributionNice place for a day out but unfortunately it needs a little bit of care found it a bit run down in places the animal encloses need some work done on them the grounds need some work with some painting updated and in generall the whole place needs a over haul on it but it is an enjoyable day out . .Written 3 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- FergaliciousWargrave, UK24 contributionsWent to Stanlake for a vineyard tour including cheese and wine tasting. WOW!, what a fantastic time we had and great value too! Very interesting and entertaining tour, interspersed with some delicious wine tasting, then ended off with some exquisite cheeses and fabulous wines to match........(great crackers too!!)
As a local to the area, I can only berate myself for visiting sooner, but will definitely be back for another wonderful treat as the weather warms up....... I highly recommend Stanlake Park......fabulous!Written 18 March 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Zoë SEngland, UK195 contributionsTook my two sons (2 and 5) for the day and met some friends as it’s a half way point between our two homes. Wow. It’s beautiful, so clean, well looked after, great outdoor playgrounds and great facilities! We loved the kids being active and outdoors all day.
We hardly moved from the entrance as they enjoyed the bounce pillow, tractor and dinosaurs, then the playground, then the sand and water area etc etc. we walked all the way around and ended at the splash park.
The weather started off wet but dried up and the kids got wet playing in water anyway.
My only gripe….the expense!!! All tickets are £18.95: two and up, all adults, even disabled children or adults….everyone is £18.95 and then you have to pay extras for the train, the animal feed, welly wheels…. I expected the train to be included in the cost and the welly wheels. Either charge less and let others pay extra for those things or include them in the very high price!
We bought some drinks and ice cream at the splash park kiosk and it cost over £20. It was a very expensive day for a park, as beautiful as it is!
We would love to visit again but unfortunately it’s not financially viable for us. Which is a shame!
If you’re wondering whether or not to visit; definitely save and go once at least! Was a lovely day outWritten 18 August 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Pops and the Two JsNorth Chailey, UK12 contributionsBrilliant visit whilst staying in Reading. My 7 year old and I really enjoyed the trail where we had to find the toy rats etc. The museum itself was really well laid out and full of really interesting artefacts. We liked the modernness of having electronic elements such as the games and the seasonal screen at the beginning. Well worth a visit and even better that the entry is free.Written 24 February 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Andy MLisbon, Portugal36 contributionsReading Museum holds a rich treasure trove of artifacts and history of the town.
It reflects the key elements of the town's history, starting with the Roman remains from nearby Silchester. This includes large mosaic floors, plenty of domestic artifacts and lots of information about life in the town.
The next major element in the town's development is around the Abbey, which is richly represented by artifacts as well as maps, pictures and models enabling the visitor to visualise how the Abbey would have appeared in its heyday. (The remains of the Abbey itself are only a few moments' walk away and well presented and explained by numerous information boards).
The museum has plenty of exhibits explaining the town's industrial development in the centuries after the dissolution of the Abbey (and its destruction in the Civil War) and focuses particularly on Huntley & Palmers with a huge collection of colourful biscuit tins from the manufacturer.
Further exhibits track the development of the town as a major transport hub with the arrival of the Canals, Railway and Motorway.
All this is fascinating, assuming you are interested in Reading's history and how it came to be the way it is today, but even if you have no interest in the town at all, the complete copy of the Bayeux Tapestry must be worth a visit for anyone. Embroidered in the Victorian era, this is displayed all around the walls on one floor, complete with translations of the Latin text and explanations of what's going on in each panel. It's like a medieval graphic novel telling a gripping story in 8 colour threads.
I popped into the museum for a look around and easily spent 3 hours exploring it, without seeing everything. And it's all free!Written 22 February 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - OldjackGreater Melbourne, Australia27,929 contributionsForbury Gardens was a picturesque English garden adjacent to the Abbey Ruins and dates back to the time the Abbey was built by Henry 1. It has some interesting features including the Maiwand lion.Written 19 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Rachael PWelwyn, UK5 contributionsSmall but packed full of interesting exhibits. Volunteers were so friendly and enthusiastic. Lots of interactive bits to interest children. We enjoyed going aboard the old passenger aircraft outside, a real blast from the past.Written 15 February 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Adventurers049Brisbane, Australia3,393 contributionsThis canal was very important in the 18's.
These days, it's used by the very many canal boat users.
There are a couple of nice canal walks from the Hungerford wharf.Written 24 September 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - AlbywonSydney, Australia11,904 contributionsFinally spent some time at this station today after only going through on many previous occasions.
Good notice boards and escalators to most platforms.
Easy to work out which way you need to go.Written 20 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - The Codnor TravellerCodnor, UK56 contributionsI travelled to the Madejski Stadium (or the Select Car Leasing Stadium as it is currently known) to watch Reading's Sky Bet League 1 clash against Derby County.
Just a note on the name - Select Car Leasing signed a 10 year sponsorship deal with Reading FC in 2021, and so I imagine that the stadium name is here to stay for at least a decade.
My first impression of the stadium was that it was smaller than I had anticipated. It is by no means small - it has a capacity of 24,161 - but its one of those ground where the upper tiers of stands are nowhere near as high as you think, and so you end up feeling *and indeed, being) much closer to the action
This was certainly the case for me, as I found myself on near enough the back row, right in the middle, of the Sir John Madejski Stand - or East Stand as was. I felt infinitely closer to the action than when I sit in the equivalent position at The City Ground (Upper Brian Clough Stand). It was fantastic!
Another crucial point is the space. You can actually fit an average sized adult on the seats in this stadium! That is something I haven't been used to in a while! Plenty of leg room too.
The concourses are nice and wide, and allow people to actually move about freely, unlike at The City Ground, where they immediately bottle-neck as soon as you have more than 100 people in the building.
There were a good selection of food stalls in and around the stadium, and a decent looking club shop. The whole stadium felt clean and well looked after and I would be glad if circumstance brought me back down here one day.
It's sad what is happening at Reading at the moment, with poor ownership and a season that has so far seen them languishing at the foot of League 1. However, the one thing I will take away from this is that, all these things considered, the atmosphere was really very good.
A sparse attendance of 9,914 made the Stadium look all but deserted at times (particularly the Eamonn Dolan Stand, which appeared to have 14 people in it) but the atmosphere never faltered.
I had a fantastic time, not least of all because Derby County lost.Written 25 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - skye21Guildford, UK267 contributionsVisited to watch Lucie Jones and the Fulltone Orchestra. An amazing concert, the seats are great and suitable for the venue in terms of being able to see the stage. The in house staff were friendly and welcoming. The venue is accessible and there are bars and seating inside before the show starts. The train station is a short walk away and I would visit again.Written 1 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- OldjackGreater Melbourne, Australia27,929 contributionsMost of what is left is ruins but it is well-signed and the history explained . The Abbey was foundered by Henry 1 in 1121 and mostly destroyed by Henry VIII in 1538. Well worthy of a stroll around.Written 20 January 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reading
- The top attractions to visit in Reading are:
- Beale Wildlife Park
- Wellington Country Park
- The Museum of English Rural Life
- Reading Station
- Reading Museum
- The best outdoor activities in Reading according to Tripadvisor travellers are: See all outdoor activities in Reading on Tripadvisor
- The most popular things to do in Reading with children according to Tripadvisor travellers are:
- TimeTrap Escape Rooms
- Knockout Escape Rooms
- Deadlocked Escape Rooms
- Escape Hunt Reading
- The Museum of English Rural Life