Sustainable Reading

Reading's 2050 Vision to become a smart and sustainable city of the future is well underway and Reading's tourism businesses are playing their part. If you are looking for  acommodation or a visit with sustainability at its heart, then here are a few ideas for your Reading visit:- 

Accommodation 

Premier Suites

Recently awarded Green Tourism accrediitation, this serviced accommodation strives to reduce pollution to its lowest practicable level. They are working to reduce the quantity of waste generated and promote the efficient use of energy through improved housekeeping, control of processes and the efficient use of service engineer resources. 

• Green policies - procurement, cleaning, local sourcing, energy, waste management, recycling, wildlife / nature conservation, staff training. 
• Transport - 6 bikes available free of charge for guests and staff to use; bike racks;  electric charging point; encourage guests to use public transport. Corporate guests can use the business park bus to Green Park and Thames Valley Park
• Premier Suites Reading support the Trussell Trust food bank. 

House of Fisher  

This serviced accommodation has completed the EcoSmart Accreditation exercise to highlight positive practices and areas for improvement. They have recently achieved their first Net Zero Report  for 100 Kings Road (electricity, gas water and waste usage as well as corporate travel).

• Green policies - Energy, Waste management, Recycling
• As a guest you'll find notice boards in the apartments with sustainable tips. 
• Transport - locations are in the town centre within walking distance of the train station.
• They use ‘Ecosia’ as their search engine on all computers which invests in tree planting.
• They also actively donate used apartment, office furniture and IT equipment to local charities. 

Attractions and tours

Reading Museum

Reading Museum is committed to reducing impacts to the environment from all areas of its operations. The museum actively promotes environmental awareness through its collections and services.

• They have recently upgraded to energy efficient lighting across the galleries. 
• Staff are involved in reducing the environmental impact from suggesting new local suppliers for the museum shop to running green stories activities during school holidays. 
• Green policies: Local sourcing, Recycling, Wildlife / nature conservation
• In 2023, Reading Museum and The Museum of English Rural Life, supported by Arts Council England will be focusing on exploring climate change, sustainability, biodiversity loss and related issues through their collections. Our Green Stories>>>
• The museum works with a wide range of organisations, schools and groups across Reading. Recent partnership projects have celebrated 150th anniversary of Reading Football Club, 50 years of Reading Festival, Reading's Windrush generation, and the heritage and diversity of Oxford Road.

Tours2Order

Local Blue Badge Guide Graham Horn uses train/bus and walking to get to his group tours within Reading, many of which are walking tours in their own right. Green policies: Energy, Waste management, Recycling.

Terry's Reading Walkabouts

Many of Terry's walking tours around Reading start at Reading Station, allowing visitors to use train and bus to reach the start of the walk. Money from his tours go to local charities.

Broom Wagon Cycle Tours

Bike and e-bike tours of the Chilterns starting in Reading. 

Thames Lido 

The former Edwardian bathing pool gets all its electricity from the nearby Reading Hydro plant at Caversham Wier.

Meeting spaces

Venue Reading

Venue Reading, conference and meeting spaces at the University of Reading, is based at the home of world-leading research into food science, agriculture and climate change. The world-famous climate stripes were created at the University. 

• The University's main Whiteknights Campus has been awarded the Green Flag award  for 12 years in a row.
• All their beef comes from the University's own farms. 
• Green policies: Procurement, Cleaning regime, Food and drink, Local sourcing, Energy, Waste management, Recycling, Wildlife / nature conservation
• Transport:Venue Reading encourages the use of public transport when travelling to the University. The University is now offering a free staff Park and Ride service from Mereoak (Junction 11 of the M4, RG7 1WJ). 
• The University is set to quadruple its solar power generation. Once complete, this is expected to generate 886,000 KWh annually – enough to power 306 average homes for a year.

Hilton Reading

The hotel is part of Hilton's Global ESG strategy: they have introduced carbon neutral meetings and completed successfully ISO 14001 certfication/

• Policies undepinned by green critiera - Procurement, Food and drink, Local sourcing, Energy, Waste management, Recycling. 
• The hotel has engaged with the Ukraine Community Centre and have a long-standing relationship with Dingley Promise

Theatre

Rabble Theatre

The Reading professional theatre company best known for their historical plays are in the midst of creating an Environmental Responsibility Policy and Action Plan.

• Green policies: Cleaning regime, Local sourcing, Energy, Waste management, Recycling
• They are undertaking the conservation of their new Grade II Listed home Caversham Stables, as well as reducing their energy consumption and waste impact, all of which is being guided by architects and surveyors who specialise in low energy and sustainable design.
• For 2023-2024 productions and beyond, RABBLE aim to begin investing in technical equipment, such as lighting & sound equipment, to ensure the longevity of the equipment we use on a production as opposed to continuously hiring equipment. 
• They regularly partner with Reading Tree Wardens during a production period - a portion of the ticket is donated. They have developed partnerships with the following  Reading organisations; Tree Wardens, Sustainability Centre, CAN, Gardens, Ethical, Community Energy and Community Land Trust, Theatres Trust, & Climate Change Partnership.
• Henry I (June 2023) will mark the start of RABBLE officially measuring the environmental impact of its productions.