What shall I do in Reading?
Miss Poppy
Posts: 1,217 Forum Member
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I've got to go to Reading for work - but will have a free evening and some free time during the day.
Would be great to have some ideas of what to do - I've already checked out the Reading visitor information site, but there's nothing like info from people who know a place. To give you an idea of my interests
I like - interesting walks (am particularly interested in going along the Kennet and Avon Canal if the weather is good - which direction is it best to set off in? And is there anywhere walkable I can aim for/have tea/walk back etc?
Museums - have seen there's the museum of rural life and then a general Reading Museum
Interesting pubs and cafes - I always like to try out non-chain places when I'm travelling, so any suggestions re pubs and cafes most welcome.
thank you!
Would be great to have some ideas of what to do - I've already checked out the Reading visitor information site, but there's nothing like info from people who know a place. To give you an idea of my interests
I like - interesting walks (am particularly interested in going along the Kennet and Avon Canal if the weather is good - which direction is it best to set off in? And is there anywhere walkable I can aim for/have tea/walk back etc?
Museums - have seen there's the museum of rural life and then a general Reading Museum
Interesting pubs and cafes - I always like to try out non-chain places when I'm travelling, so any suggestions re pubs and cafes most welcome.
thank you!
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Comments
One place to consider is Tampopo. It is a chain, but they only have 5 locations, so fairly small. It is an Asian restaurant similar in style to wagmama.
Or the cultural city of dreaming spires....20 min train ride
That too. What is good about Reading is that it is one of the best place in the country for jobs and it is well connected for London, Oxford and some nice countryside nearby. What is bad about Reading is the town itself.
If there are any other nice towns/villages not too far away and reachable by train, I'd be up for hearing about them.
Is Reading really that bad?
http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/
As well as the canal, you can walk along the Thames path towards Sonning.
As for food, the Oracle has loads of chain restaurants but just outside the Oracle are 2 amazing resturants, Sweeny Todd for pies or sushi mania.
No, not really. People may have a go at Reading but there are many worse places to spend a few days. It's just that it's a little lacking in distinctive character and is too like many other provincial towns. Be grateful that you are going to Reading rather than Slough or Bracknell.
We were disappointed by the pies in Sweeny Todd's though, soggy pastry and very watery and tasteless gravy!
I would agree with this assessment of Sweeny Todds, that place is terrible, I have no idea why it has so many fans, other than the fact that it's cheap. I have been there once, I took the lid off my pie and found a ladybird floating inside!>:( My OH had a game pie (a brave choice I admit) and spent the next 24 hours throwing up:(. Really rude waitress as well. Don't go near the place is my advice.
Myalacarte in Caversham is great for dinner, really good locally sourced food done well. Kyrenia in Caversham does great Greek food and is worth a look.
Pau Brasil over near the hospital is definitely worth seeking out for lunch if you are on the right side of town.
Some good Indians, on the Wokingham Road (Garden of Gulab) and Oxford Road (Bhoj)
Thinking about it though, the best places in Reading tend not to be in the town centre which is overflowing with a wide variety of franchises and chains, fine if that's what you are after, but the real gems tend to be a bit further out.
You could head from town centre east along the Thames (past Tescos then Microsoft campus etc) and on to Sonning / Wargrave / Henley.. at all you can find a good pub for food then stagger back..
Or if you follow the kenet from it's mouth (Tesco again) its an interesting walk, weaves its way through to the oracle shopping centre, then heads south towards the football stadium before turning west across the A33 and heads off past green pastures towards Burghfield, stop here at the cunning man for a quick one, then head on further towards Theale - pubs here for a drink or meal too.. you could head further west, but Theale does have handy trainline straight back into Reading..
The town centre museum is OK, worth visiting if you are trying to kill time but not interesting enough to warrant a visit intentionally.. not been to the rural life one (which is part of the university, next to royal berks hospital)
I like sweeny todds! - always had good food there..
check out this blog for suggestions: http://ediblereading.com/
Where in Reading will you be working? Reading is quite diverse with offices ranging from out of town to in town.
The most noted office building in Reading is "The Blade" which allegedly refers to the knife culture in the town...
I personally like Sweeney Todds but it's nothing special. Reading town centre is a bit lacking in non-chain pubs/restaurants with character in my opinion - if you like real ale you can walk up to the nags head on Russel street, but if you're from the north I wouldn't bother as our ale is awful compared to yours.
You can always check if there's anything of interest on at the local theatre (the Hexagon). It's most likely going to be a tribute band or juke box musical but it's a fun place.
Thanks everyone for their input - v useful!
Windsor sounds good too, but I've been before and is good to try out new places, I think?
Just keep an eye on train/bus times if you're reliant on public transport - some of them don't run very often. I wouldn't fancy walking up to the university after dark. If you're driving then be aware that the traffic around Reading is pretty bad and it could easily take you over an hour to get to somewhere like Henley.
http://i4.getreading.co.uk/incoming/article4108215.ece/alternates/s615/C_67_article_2093266_body_articleblock_0_bodyimage.jpg
http://www.concrete-music.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Reading-Elvis.jpg
Can't quite remember, as I last went there in the late 1980s, but I do recall it was very pleasant, sitting outside overlooking the river.
Henley is good for food, newburys not a bad little town either.