Notoriously expensive, bargain seekers looking to do a city break in London on a budget will have the most luck choosing to stay somewhere further afield. Fortunately, London’s outskirts have plenty of options to choose from.
Sitting just over 42 miles from London’s main tourist spots, Reading, the UK’s largest town, makes for an obvious choice. A transport hub in the heart of the English countryside, there are numerous easy public transport methods to reach the length and breadth of the British capital. However, those who use the town simply for its great transport links are missing a trick. Look a little closer and you’ll see that there’s more to this Berkshire town than meets the eye.
Located at the confluence of the Kennet and Thames rivers, Reading has had a long and storied history. Starting life as an Anglo-Saxon settlement, it was with its early medieval abbey that the town first found fame. Quickly becoming a site of pilgrimage, it was ultimately destroyed in bloody fashion as part of Henry VIII’s suppression acts.
Today, only the ruins remain, but the site is easily accessible alongside a trip to the Reading Museum, which provides a comprehensive history of the town as well as a chance to view a replica of the Bayeux tapestry.
A QUICK TIP: Like many of the museums found in London, Reading Museum is accessible free of charge.
Alongside its abbey, Reading has seen its fair share of famous faces grace its streets. Literary fans will be interested to know that Jane Austen spent time in Reading attending school. Meanwhile, Oscar Wilde had a less-than-enjoyable stay serving a prison sentence in the local gaol, culminating in a well-regarded poem.
Moving through the decades to the present day, it’s clear that history isn’t the only thing that Reading has to boast about. The modern town centre features a host of interesting and independent shops, with the highlight being the Oracle shopping mall, home to over 80 stores. The town also boasts a wide variety of dining and nightlife options, often causing it to burst with life over the weekends.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Albeit small, Tasty Greek Souvlaki offers a selection of excellently prepared traditional Greek meals. Meanwhile, Picnic Foods café greets its customers with a warm welcome and a fine selection of freshly made, tasty cakes.
While Reading makes for a great stepping stone for visiting London, the town has more to offer than its transport links. Filled to the brim with history, shops and a variety of fine restaurants, Reading is definitely worth a closer look.
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