Number 18

The Maiwand Lion

by johngayton

The Maiwand Lion is one of Reading's best known and loved local characters. The 31 foot, 16 ton, sculpture was built by a local sculptor, George Blackwell Simmonds (of Simond's brewing fame), and commemorates the men killed at the battle of Maiwand, in Afghanistan, in July 1880.

The lion strides atop its plinth in the Forbury Gardens and features on the masthead of the "Reading Evening Post" and on the crest of Reading Football Club.

Getting there by train

by KennetRose

Reading is a major rail hub. Trains are the best way to get to and from almost anywhere in the UK - 30 minutes from Paddington station in London by a fast and frequent service, rather less frequent but still excellent services to Bristol, Devon and Cornwall, Southampton, Oxford and Birmingham.

You can get there by narrow boat too - from Bristol and Bath via the Kennet & Avon Canal, and from Oxford and London via the River Thames.
Everything you need is within walking distance. Bicycles are well provided for

Windsor

by Geoff_Wright

Windsor


Windsor is best known for its castle, home of the British Monarchy for almost a thousand years, and the largest inhabited castle in the World. It has been suggested that it was built on the site of a Celtic camp where King Arthur or one of his subordinates lived as the town is mentioned in Arthurian literature. Legend says the Round Table stood atop the motte of the Round Tower. William the Conqueror picked the site (which was then in the parish of Clewer) for a defencive wooden motte and bailey castle, soon after 1066. It was totally rebuilt in stone during the 12th and 13th century, as were most English castles, when the castle became more popular with the English Kings.

A nice provincial town

by gusev

You can find "modern" shopping centre called Oracle here. We're now just outside the building and here you can have a nice cup of "espresso".

A 500-year old Keneth Bridge next to the above monster - Oracle

A "modern" sculpture outside the the ruins of the ancient Reading Abbey and, in the very background - Reading prison where Oscar Wilde was held in custody for something not acceptable to public at those times.