Visit Reading - A Guide to Reading’s Attractions

Changes in technology have played an unmistakeable role in the transformation of Reading – from the arrival of railways in the 1830s and 40s to the white heat of technology today.

About Reading

Now a booming high tech and services town on the M4 corridor (though not yet a city), it’s a place to come and do business, or get out into the wild and explore the picturesque villages of the Thames Valley beyond.

Visit Reading by Train

You can get to Reading very easily from almost all points on the First Great Western network, including London Paddington, Basingstoke, Swindon, Bristol, Hereford and South Wales. CrossCountry services will bring you from as far afield as Bournemouth and Newcastle, while South West Trains operates services to London Waterloo and Gatwick Airport. The Heathrow RailAir coach also operates round the clock to and from Heathrow Airport.

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Attractions in Reading

Every August Bank Holiday, parts of the city are transformed into the site of one of Europe’s leading music festivals. For the remaining 361 days of the year, you can mess about on the river (the Thames is a stone’s throw away), enjoy the view from nearby Caversham or shop til you drop on Broad Street or at The Oracle.

Rail and Train Attractions in Reading

Reading station is one of the key intersections on the Great Western main line west of London. Set to be transformed by a complete refurbishment between now and 2015, it is an ideal place to spot a huge range of First Great Western services. You’re also just a couple of stops (and around half an hour) away from STEAM – the first class museum showcasing the wonders of the GRW in nearby Swindon.