Reading

Abbey ruins, Forbury Gardens and the Kennet in a day

One day covers Reading's history on foot from the station. See the Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens, the ruins of Reading Abbey founded by Henry I in 1121, the Abbey Gateway and Reading Gaol, then the Victorian Bayeux Tapestry replica in the Reading Museum. End the day at The Oracle beside the Kennet.

From the station, walk south a few minutes to Forbury Gardens, where the Maiwand Lion stands on its plinth. The gardens back onto the ruins of Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121 and largely destroyed in 1538; a memorial marks the king's burial in the grounds.

Next door, the Abbey Gateway is where Jane Austen went to school in the 1780s, and Reading Gaol, where Oscar Wilde was held from 1895 to 1897, stands beyond the ruins.

After lunch, visit the Reading Museum in the town hall for its full-size Victorian replica of the Bayeux Tapestry and displays on the Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory. Finish along the Kennet at The Oracle, where restaurants line the water.

With more time, take a bus to the Museum of English Rural Life in East Reading, or walk the Thames Path towards Caversham.

Huntley & Palmers biscuits, beer and dining by The Oracle

Reading built its name on the 'Three Bs' of beer, bulbs and seeds, and biscuits, with Huntley & Palmers baking here from 1822 to 1976. Today's food is international: chain restaurants line the river at The Oracle, while independent Asian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern restaurants spread along the Oxford Road and through the centre.

Reading's old industries were the 'Three Bs': beer, bulbs and seeds, and biscuits. Huntley & Palmers made biscuits here from 1822 to 1976 and was once among the best-known food brands in the world; its history is told at the Reading Museum.

Today food is less local than international, reflecting a diverse town. The riverside at The Oracle has chain restaurants, while independent cafés and Asian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern restaurants are spread through the town centre and along the Oxford Road.

For a pub by the water, follow the Thames towards Caversham or Sonning.

The August Reading Festival and Thames Path summers

The Reading Festival takes over the August bank holiday weekend every year, as it has since 1971, so book well ahead or avoid those dates. May to September brings highs of 17C to 23C and the least rain, best for the Thames Path. October and November are wettest, and winter highs sit near 8C.

The Reading Festival has run every August bank holiday weekend since 1971 and is one of the largest music festivals in the UK. Trains and hotels are under heavy pressure that weekend, so plan around it unless you have a ticket.

From May to September, highs reach 17 to 23°C and rain is at its lowest, which is the time for walking the Thames Path or hiring a boat on the river.

October and November are the wettest months. Winter is mild but damp, with highs around 8°C, and the town's museums are the best use of a day.