Reading Town Centre

Reading has one of the most vibrant and walkable urban centres in the whole of the UK – with thriving shopping, a constantly evolving restaurant scene, great places for food and drink, heaps of things to do from attractions, arts and culture, parks and gardens and even on the water activities thanks to its desirable riverside location.

If you’re hanging around for a weekend, or longer, Reading town centre is also home to a wide range of places to stay with hotels ranging from budget to luxury, all well served by the airport-style central train station and award winning bus network.

Central district

Reading's central district is home to a great selection of bars and pubs, comedy clubs, live music venues, theatres and museums, and not forgetting a casino, all right in the centre and within 500 metres of each other.

Download the town centre Food & Drink Map

Anchored by the in-town Oracle and Broad Street Mall shopping centres at either end of Reading’s pedestrianised main shopping street, you’ll find all the major chains and household brands such as John Lewis, Next, H&M, as well as an eclectic mix of independent businesses. Harris Arcade Shopping Centre and the locally-known ‘Smelly Alley’ are great places to find many of Reading’s well-loved indies.

The Oracle Riverside had a major makeover in 2017 with new riverside amphitheatres and restaurants, while neighbouring Broad Street Mall has also refurbished to create a light and airy commercial centre complete with the new cultural and creative hub, Reading Biscuit Factory, and its independent socialising venue, Spinners, with crazy golf, ten pin bowling and darts.

Central Reading is also well used as a cultural space with regular street performances in the summer, an annual street food festival and talented street musicians. Market Place hosts street food markets twice weekly, with local provider, Blue Collar, offering tasty treats from every corner of the globe.

The Abbey Quarter

In the 12th century, Reading Abbey was one of Europe’s most imposing buildings. Still dominating central Reading, the Abbey Ruins reopened to the public in 2018 following a major conservation programme. The Abbey Ruins is bounded to one side by the Victorian former prison building made famous by Oscar Wilde in his Ballad of Reading Gaol, written after his incarceration there, and to the south by Jane Austen’s former school, the Abbey Gateway.

The Abbey Quarter is also fringed by local accommodation and independent food and drink options, for those looking for a little more culture with their cocktails.

To the west of Reading’s Abbey Quarter, you’ll find the nationally acclaimed Victorian formal garden, Forbury Gardens. Reading’s most central park, it is sited on top of the Abbey’s former footprint and is used as a venue for events throughout the year, as well as being a popular destination in the summer.