Reading offers a real surprise
The historic Berkshire town of Reading, found where the Rivers Thames and Kennet meet, is more than a base for going elsewhere.
As a major rail hub Reading does enjoy quick and easy access to London along with other cities more favoured by tourists, such as Windsor, Bristol, Bath and Oxford.
But while Reading makes an excellent, budget friendly base for daytrips further afield, it also rewards as a short-break destination in its own right.
With the Bayeux Tapestry luring hundreds of thousands to the British Museum, during its 'residency' there, Reading Museum has the remarkable British replica on free and permanent display.
And much else besides.
https://www.visit-reading.com/
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Reading does not disappoint on a short 'city-break'
This Berkshire town has the Thames; a celebration of rural life; the chance to swim and dine in a Victorian lido and Britain's Bayeux Tapestry
Ann and I have enjoyed many interesting and enjoyable short breaks to destinations that raise eyebrows when we say where we are going.
It is inevitably where or why?
While not wishing to deride Reading it was the 'why'.
We were however quietly confident that our short break to this Berkshire town would prove well worth it. And Reading did not disappointed.
What first interested us was the ballyhoo over the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, and reading as a sidebar about a replica of note on permanent display at Reading Museum.
And so, with just one night so two days at our disposal, we were confident of filling our time.
This was most certainly the case.
Getting to Reading
The town is very easy to get to by train and certainly for us coming from London.
There is the choice of the hopping on the Elizabeth Line or taking a 30-minute overground rail service from Paddington.
From Reading, one can get to Windsor in minutes and to Bristol, Bath and Oxford in under an hour.
It is therefore many use Reading as a base for day trips to the Capital or other cities of not.
We had decided to arrive and stay in Reading and, opting for the Elizabeth Line, we arrived mid-morning on our first day and stayed until early evening on the second.
A place to stay
As for our hotel, it was the Malmaison Reading which, I was reliably informed is the world's oldest station hotel.
Being a one-minute stroll from the station, it could not be more convenient and as a Malmaison we were assured of quality throughout (as Ann writes about in the full version).
Britain's Bayeux Tapestry
First on the list was Britain's Bayeux Tapestry at Reading Museum before getting a walking tour historic tour of the Abbey Quarter with David West of Walk Reading.
For our second day it was a leisurely 90 minute on the river with Thames Rivercruise, followed by a splendid lunch at the Thames Lido, and finally a visit to the fascinating Museum of English Rural Life.
We left Reading with no regrets whatsoever at our choice.
- Britain's Bayeux Tapestry at Reading Museum : https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/bayeux-tapestry
- Walk Reading : https://www.walk-reading.co.uk/
- Thames Rivercruise : https://www.thamesrivercruise.co.uk/
- Thames Lido : https://www.thameslido.com/
- Museum of English Rural Life : https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
A place to stay
Malmaison Reading is a chic and stylish hotel with comfort and character in abundance.
Conveniently situated in the heart of Reading and close to the Elizabeth Line it's ideally placed for visitors to explore the city and all of its cultural and historical attractions.
(Read Ann's review of the Malmaison Reading in the full version of AllWays leading to Reading.
https://www.malmaison.com/locations/reading
More information :
https://www.visit-reading.com/
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