However you Christmas, wrap it up in Reading!

31st October 2024

However you choose to celebrate Christmas, the festive season in Reading will offer everyone a way to make the most of the holiday period.   

Christmas starts on 16 November with the Lights Switch On and festive market which features a great selection of food, drink and craft stalls and live music from 12:30pm into the evening. Funded by Reading town centre businesses, the brand new Christmas display comprises 800,000 LED festive lights showcasing the town’s history and cultural heritage.

However you plan to get together…
Highlights of the season include Reading’s Lantern Parade, GLOW, on 7 December. Reading’s market stalls will run every day until 31 December, with live music, stilt walkers, children’s story time, and exciting character visits during December weekends, including Father Christmas on 22 December. 

Across the town don’t miss Reading Hexagon’s pantomime, Cinderella, starring Justin Fletcher, opening on 7 December and Reading’s very own Winter Wonderland which returns to Hills Meadow from 9 November. Santa’s Grotto at Broad Street Mall opens from 22 November, Wellington Illuminova light trail returns to Wellington Country Park from 22 November, and Reading Rep’s The Snow Queen opens on 29 November – as well as a whole host of festive events from carol concerts to Christmas shows. 

However you shop…
Christmas shopping in Reading couldn’t be easier, with three shopping centres, well-loved department stores and the pedestrianised Broad Street all within a short stroll. Choose from over 250 well-known high street brands including M&S, John Lewis, H&M, Primark and Zara, as well as a growing hub of over 80 wonderful, independent businesses selling everything from beer to board games. Reading’s indies are full of local, hard-working heroes selling unique products and local produce. Late night shopping is available during the season, making those last-minute dashes a breeze.

However you celebrate…
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to host your office Christmas party, planning festive drinks with your nearest and dearest or a Christmas lunch, Reading has an unrivalled selection of bars, pubs and restaurants, from independent taphouses to 5-star hotels and everything in between. Our festive menus (with and without turkey) are sure to match all tastes and budgets.  

As one of the best-connected towns in the Southeast, getting home is never an issue in Reading. Visitors will find trains a plenty, an award-winning bus network and park & rides extending all over the greater Reading region, and plenty of parking right in the centre of town.

So, however you Christmas… you’ll find lots of ideas to make the most of the festive season in Reading. Don't forget to follow @vistrdg on Instagram, Facebook and X for all the latest information about Christmas in Reading!