From Reading, to London,

and beyond

If you’re joining us from further afield, we hope you take advantage of Reading’s prime location just outside of London and set aside some time to visit the city or other great places nearby. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Reading

Make the most of your time in Reading and explore a town bursting with culture, history and heritage. Check out Visit Reading, the Student Local Guide, created by University of Reading students, or our top 5 recommendations below to get inspired.

1. Explore the University of Reading Whiteknights Campus – the campus has recently received its 16th Green Flag Award, retaining its place among the UK’s top green public spaces. Take a peaceful walk around the lake, through the Wilderness and into the Harris Garden, visit our three free museums or enjoy a drink in our historical Park House. You can find out all the spaces you can explore in the Visiting Whiteknights Campus Guide.

2. Take a walk through Forbury Gardens and the impressive Abbey Ruins, exploring 900 years of history, including the burial place of King Henry I, Jane Austen’s schoolroom and Oscar Wilde’s Gaol. 

3. Visit Reading’s very own Banksy artwork, Create Escape, which appeared in 2021 and was inspired by Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment in Reading Gaol in the late 19th century.

4. Enjoy a free trip to Reading Museum where you can find Britain’s only Bayeux Tapestry.

5. Browse over 100 stores in The Oracle shopping centre, based in the heart of the town centre.

    Windsor (35 minutes by train)

    With sections dating back to the 11th century, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the longest-occupied palace in Europe, as well as one of the most visited sites in Britain. It is also a functioning royal home, but don’t expect to run into the King!

    London (25 minutes by train)

    London’s 8 million residents sit just at Reading’s doorstep. Enjoy the culture, sights, and food of the nation’s capital with ease, with trains departing from Reading roughly every 5 minutes. Why not stroll the halls of Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII, or nosh on some fish and chips at Borough Market, just across the river from the financial district? Check out Visit London to get inspired.

    Oxford (25 minutes by train)

    We love to point out that Oxford was the birthplace of town-gown relations. While you won’t find the site of the 1355 St Scholastica’s Day brawl that started it all in Oxford’s city guide, you will see plenty of cultural and historic attractions.

    Bath (55 minutes by train)

    With its gorgeous Georgian architecture and ancient Roman baths (from which it takes its name), Bath is a popular trip for visitors. Its location at the edge of the scenic Cotswolds doesn’t hurt either! You can find out more on Visit Bath.