Reading Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Reading

    Evidence has been found of people living in the Reading area since the Stone Age. Reading Abbey was founded in 1121 and the dismantling of the Abbey began in 1549. Remains of the building can still be seen in the town. In the 18th century Reading was a prosperous market town. The River Kennet was turned into a canal in 1723 and this made transporting of goods easier. Many coach...Read moreing inns from this period can still be found today. The Town Hall was built in 1786 and this is now the Victoria Hall in today’s Town Hall. Reading grew dramatically in the 19th century and turned from a market town into a red brick industrial centre. This change was strongly aided by the new railways. The Town Hall and many terraced houses are evidence of this period. The town changed in 1969 when the Inner Distribution Road was built. The M4 was opened in 1972 and this took traffic away from the town centre. The Butts Shopping Centre was built in 1972, followed by the Civic Centre and then the Hexagon Theatre in 1978. Read less

  • 2. Now in Reading

    ...Read more™s Madejski Stadium were part of the town’s expansion in the late 20th century. Read less

  • 3. Events in Reading

    One of the events Reading is famous for is its music festival. The Reading festival takes place every year in August in a site close to the town centre. Other annual events include the CAMRA Real Ale Festival, the Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival, Reading Pride, the Water Fest and the Children's Festival. The Community Carnival celebrates Caribbean culture and Black History M...Read moreonth is celebrated every October. The Dhoom Damaka is the town’s Asian Arts Festival. Reading Football Club has many fixtures at its ground during the season and the London Irish RFC also play all their home games at the Madejski Stadium. The Reading half marathon takes place every March and attracts 16,000 runners. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Reading

    The Museum of English Rural Life tells the history of food, farming and the countryside, while the Museum of Reading, housed in a Victorian Gothic building, has many exhibitions including a full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry. The Cole Museum of Zoology has complete skeletons of an Indian elephant, a killer whale, a five-metre python, and a pair of giant spider crabs. Hist...Read moreoric houses on the outskirts of Reading include Stratfield Saye House and NT Basildon Park. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in Reading

    The River Thames and the River Kennet run through the town and visitors can enjoy the rivers by taking a boat tour or hiring a boat. Other activities to try on the water include canoeing, jet-skiing, water-skiing and wind-surfing on the large lakes just outside of Reading. Reading is a starting point for the Thames Path and Ridgeway National Trails. The Thames Path offers plent...Read morey of options for short, picturesque walks around the town. The Ridgeway is an ancient bridleway easily reached from Reading. This offers challenging walks. A Ridgeway Explorer bus operates on Sundays between April and October, giving easy access to the trail. A heritage walk is available around the town centre. Open spaces to visit include Waterloo and Kennet Meadows, Prospect Park, King’s Meadow and Thames Valley Park. Read less

  • 6. Business in Reading

    The two main shopping centres in Reading are The Oracle and Broad Street Mall. Broad St Mall has all the high street names and The Oracle, on the River Kennet has shops for gifts and high fashion as well as many restaurants, cafes and bars. Many big companies have set up in Reading, including the world famous Microsoft and the Oracle Corporation.

  • 7. Transport in Reading

    The nearest airport to Reading is Heathrow, which is a 25-min drive down the M4. Reading has a large and busy train station offering direct routes to many towns and cities in the UK. Reading is just off the M4 motorway, which links to the east and the west. The M40 and M3 are very close, linking to the north and south.

  • 8. Entertainment in Reading

    The Hexagon is a big venue in the town centre offering a wide variety of events from family pantomimes to classical music and much more. 21 South Street offers a programme of alternative theatre, comedy and live music. The Concert Hall offers classical and jazz performances and the Progress Theatre is the venue for amateur drama. The Rising Sun Arts Centre has workshops, music ...Read moreevents and exhibitions. The three cinemas in the town are the 10-screen Vue Cinema, the Showcase Cinema and the Reading Film Theatre. The Jazz Café and the Purple Turtle are both venues for live music. Read less

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Reading

    The Maiwand Lion in the town’s Forbury Gardens was sculpted in 1884 as a memorial to the men of the Berkshire Regiment killed at the Battle of Maiwand. The Tilehurst Water Tower was constructed in 1931-2 and is situated in Tilehurst, a suburb of Reading. It can be seen from the M4 motorway.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Reading

    Ricky Gervais was born in Reading in 1961. The comedian, actor, director, producer, writer and broadcaster became famous for his comedy series The Office.

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  • Beauty Offers – 3 for 1

    Beauty Offers – 3 for 1

    What’s included: • Full use of the facilities, which includes a gym, sauna, 19m heated indoor pool and steam room • Complimentary towel and robe hire Treatments: • Back Exfoliation (10 minutes) • Facial with a scalp massage (25 minutes) • A relaxing full body massage (45 minutes) All for £60.00 pp
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  • WEEKEND OFFERS:

    WEEKEND OFFERS:

    Friday Night Offer: Start your weekend with a relaxing Friday night deal at the 4 star Holiday Inn Reading M4 Jct10 in Berkshire. Friday night deals start from only £75.00 including complimentary parking and access to the Esprit Fitness & Spa. 20% off Weekend Best Flex Rate: Terms & Conditions: Offer valid any Fri/Sat/Sun until 31-July-12, subject to availability. Booking needs to be made a minimum of 3-days prtior to arrival. No change or cancellation may be made after booking confirmation. The total booking value is payable in advance by credit card at time of booking. If you cancel for any reason, attempt to modify this reservation, or do not arrive on the specified check-in date, total payment is non-refundable. Rate not available during Special Events in the area.
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  • MEETING OFFERS:

    MEETING OFFERS:

    One free Day Delegate for every 8 paying delegates booked, rate includes: • For every 8 paying Day Delegates booked, 1 Day Delegate will be free • Free High Speed Wi-Fi for the Event organiser or Trainer • Free upgrade to one of our Spacious Executive rooms for one Organiser or Trainer on the 24 Hour Package • Free use of the LCD Projector for your conference/meeting • Selection of Breakfast Rolls on arrival • Complimentary underground parking for guests and delegates Offer valid until 31-Dec-12, subject to availability and a minimum number of 9 delegates booked Call our Reservations team on: 0118 944 4209 /email: reservations@hireadinghotel.com for any accommodation enquiries or our Meetings Team on: 0119 944 4231 /email: events@hireadinghotel.com for any meeting/conference enquiry.
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Special Offers

  • WEEKEND OFFERS:

    WEEKEND OFFERS:

    Friday Night Offer: Start your weekend
    with a relaxing Friday night deal at the
    4 star Holiday Inn Reading M4 Jct10 in
    Berkshire. Fri...

  • Afternoon Tea

    Afternoon Tea

    CLASSIC INDIVIDUAL AFTERNOON TEA
    SANDWICHES SCONES WITH CLOTTED CREAM
    & JAM HOMEMADE CAKES CHOICE OF
    TEA OR COFFEE Â...

  • Beauty Offers – 3 for 1

    Beauty Offers – 3 for 1

    What’s included: • Full use of
    the facilities, which includes a gym,
    sauna, 19m heated indoor pool and steam
    room • Compli...

  • MEETING OFFERS:

    MEETING OFFERS:

    One free Day Delegate for every 8 paying
    delegates booked, rate includes: •
    For every 8 paying Day Delegates booked,
    1 Day Delegat...

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Reading Events

  • 31 December 2012 - 01 January 2013

    New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Dance

    Welcome in the New Year in
    style and plan the perfect
    party for all your friends
    and family at the Holiday Inn
    Reading M4 Jct10. Start the
    evening with a chilled glass
    of Piper Heidsieck Champagne
    on arrival whilst enjoying
    music by our Resident
    ...more

  • 25 December 2012

    Christmas Day Lunch at the Holiday Inn Reading M4 Jct10

    Treat yourself and your loved
    ones to a very special day.
    Enjoy an exceptional 5 course
    Christmas Day Lunch in our
    vibrant Caprice Restaurant.
    Start the celebration with a
    chilled glass of Piper
    Heidsieck on arrival in our
    relaxed Monty’s Lounge Bar< ...more

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  • Time to go solar

    Official buildings in Reading have gone solar. Reading Borough Council has fitted the last of 2,126 solar panels to 46 of its buildings in the town in an aim to save money and help the environment. The council believes the project is one of the biggest public sector solar projects in the country. It hopes the work will generate more than 115,000kWh of electricity a year and lower carbon emissions in Reading by 61 tonnes of CO2 – enough to …

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  • Charity makes a million

    Generous donors have been praised for helping a charity reach a record-breaking milestone of £1 million. The Royal Berks Charity, which raises money for state-of-the-art equipment at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading, broke through the £1m mark for the first time in the financial year from April 2011 to April 2012. The charity’s director Mark Goff said: “Breaking through the £1m mark is a massive milestone. The results are fantastic and we feel like the luckiest people in the …

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  • Town celebrates Royals promotion

    Football fans are on cloud nine after Reading Football Club was promoted to the Premier League after four years away. A 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest secured the team’s promotion and has led to celebrations all over the town. Manager Brian McDermott said: “It feels unreal, like I’m looking down on a different bloke managing Reading! “I just think of the resolve and the character that the players and staff have shown. The bond the team have got between them, …

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  • Top marks for university

    The University of Reading has gained good grades in an independent league table. The town’s university has been ranked in the top 10 universities for seven different subject areas in The Complete University Guide 2013. The guide has also placed the university as number 32 overall out of 116 institutions in the UK. This is two places higher than last year. The University of Reading has been ranked number one in the Agriculture and Forestry category. The other high scoring …

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