Reading Things to Do

This Museum appears to have changed names very recently and is now called the Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock. It shows how Reading used the River thames and Kennet and Avon Canal to generate power and the history of the town around these waterways.

Firstly it is worth noting that Forbury Gardens are closed for renovation until March 2005. The Lion is also being renovated and is currently under scaffolding.

This Lion was designed as a War memorial to men from Berkshire who died fighting in Afghanistan in 1880 (in a town called Maiwand - hence the Lions name of "Maiwand Lion"). The Lion was sculpted by George Blackall Simonds and unveiled in 1886. Unfortunately the sculptor forgot to analyse the way Lions walk, and sculpted him with his legs in such a manner that a real Lion would fall over if he ever tried to walk this way. Urban legend has it that when the sculptor realised this very basic error, he committed suicide.

Note:- To see the Lion without wrapping please see the link provided.

It may seem a little bizarre to recommend strolling past the side of a prison, but Chestnut Walk (more recently renamed Oscar Wilde Walk) is a very pleasant stroll along the Kennet and Avon Canal. At one end is Hombase, and the other end the Abbey Ruins and a very short walk to Forbury Gardens. A nice time to walk along is late September when the conkers are starting to fall but the leaves are still on the trees.

The name Oscar Wilde Walk is taken from the time when Reading Gaol hosted Oscar Wilde for the 'offence' of "laying down with another man".

A picturesque place on the River Thames, the Promenade is very popular among the locals for a huge flock of swans living in the area.
When a swan - Tom - died in an accident a couple years ago (Tom was killed by a dog), local newspapers published the story on their first pages and people laid flowers on the place the incident happened.

The Abbey of Reading, dedicated to the Virgin and St. John the Evangelist, was founded by King Henry I in June 1121. A plaque says that Henry I was buried under one of the walls of the Abbey.
Henry VIII had the last abbot Hugh Cook executed on 14 November 1539 although they had been quite friendly before.
If you go to the ruins on 14 November night, you may be lucky to see the ghosts of the two former friends riding from Abbey eastwards on horseback.
Every July a local theatre company offers an open-air performance of a Shakespeare play in the ruins.

Reading's river is a surprisingly attractive one. For years it was hidden from the centre of town behind the brewery, but since the brewery was demolished and The Oracle built on the site, it has been made a feature.

It rises in the Wiltshire downs near Avebury, and has no industry to speak of on its banks for its whole length until it reaches the Thames a short distance east of Reading town centre. So it remains a gently chalk river all the way.

Although it runs through Reading in a man-made channel with flood controls, it's still liable to flooding in Winter, though not as severely as the Thames. Compare this picture, taken on 5 January 2003, with the one on the front page!

If you are in Reading, dont miss the chance to see museum.
Reading Museum Service aims to be a centre of excellence in providing opportunities for life-long learning through real objects and original documents.

Home to Reading Football Club this stadium boasts excellent spectator views all the way round the ground and first rate visitor facilities.
Recently the ground has become home to London Irish Rugby Club, and the continuing development of the area has included a brand new high quality hotel