Things to do in Reading

A town full of history at every turn including the abbey ruins, Reading is also blessed with some seriously good parks, perfect for family days out. 

A state of the art shopping centre with over 90 stores, 20 cafés and an 11-screen cinema, make sure The Oracle is on your shopping to-do list! 

From water parks to river cruises, paintball to clay pigeon shooting and trampolining centres to wildlife parks, you’ll never be bored in Reading.

From theatres for thousands to intimate auditoriums and some amazing underground live music spaces – not to mention several outstanding sports grounds – Reading’s entertainment scene is alive and kicking! 

If the food, music and beer festivals don’t do it for you, then the museums in Reading – spanning Greek archaeology, zoology, flying and Reading itself – should do the trick. Plus, there are several impressive art galleries as well! 

From laid-back food festivals to Michelin-star restaurants and cool cafés to romantic French bistros, we’ll help you find the right restaurants in Reading for your tastes and budget.

Whether it’s historic pubs, concept bars or hedonistic nightclubs you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. And most are just a short stroll – or stumble – from our Reading Central hotel.

Like any British town, Reading takes its pubs very seriously indeed. With everything from historic drinking dens to brand new pubs boasting their own microbreweries, we’ll help find the right pub – and beer garden – for you in Reading.

With London Heathrow only 30 minutes away, getting in and out of Reading couldn’t be easier. The town is also home to a bustling 15-platform train station, making travel around the region simple.