An Exile Comes to Reading

[jgriowa]

Mrs. JGRIowa and I will be in England this fall and plan to attend Reading matches, whether home or away, whilst we are ‘in the neighborhood’. Any suggestions for must-see or must-do when we are in Reading? I would appreciate your ideas on the interesting and off-the-beaten-track little gems in Berkshire.

[Barry the bird boggler]

If you want a day of shopping then Reading is probably the best place to visit, got all the high street chains plus there's the Forbury Gardens where you can go and see the proper Miawand Lion which forms part of the club badge

Windsor Castle is on the doorstep but its always packed out with plenty of tourists...

Child Beale Wildlife Park, just to the west of Reading is a good day out for animal lovers and Basildon Park is just round the corner from there if you want a stately home - check opening times though first as some places close up for the winter months.

There's plenty of walks to be had if you like that sort of thing, so a visit ot Marlow and or Henley might be in order if you want somewhere quieter by the river

London is obviously not too far away (20-30 minutes by train to Paddington, don't try driving) and there's plenty of sights up there

If you're hiring a car then head west towards Newbury and Hungerford for countryside and small villages

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

You must also visit Lower Earley for a Carvery, classic English food in a classic English modern estate, you can also pop in to Asda, owned by Wal Mart to make you feel at home.

[zummerset]

The 'advice' you get might need an irony filter JGRIowa..good luck with the trip and let us know when you have specific games in mind. Perhaps we can arrange RFC celebs like Wizard to meet and pose for photos???

[jgriowa]

The 'advice' you get might need an irony filter JGRIowa..good luck with the trip and let us know when you have specific games in mind. Perhaps we can arrange RFC celebs like Wizard to meet and pose for photos???

No worries on the irony filter, zummerset - I've been lurking about hobnob a few years now and my irony filters are functioning fine. We'll be in England September 9 - 20, so I'm VERY interested to see the fixture list come out tomorrow to know where we will be and get hotel arrangements made. It sounds like rfcjoe is offering some assistance along those lines...

[Barry the bird boggler]

The 'advice' you get might need an irony filter JGRIowa..good luck with the trip and let us know when you have specific games in mind. Perhaps we can arrange RFC celebs like Wizard to meet and pose for photos???

No worries on the irony filter, zummerset - I've been lurking about hobnob a few years now and my irony filters are functioning fine. We'll be in England September 9 - 20, so I'm VERY interested to see the fixture list come out tomorrow to know where we will be and get hotel arrangements made. It sounds like rfcjoe is offering some assistance along those lines...

Games in this period are

Watford (H) - 10th
Doncaster (H) - 17th

[SpaceCruiser]

Reading also has a museum, if you like that sort of thing. Though you'll probably have missed the Mods exhibition by the time you get here.

[Red]

Honestly wouldn't bother.

Would be easy enough to combine a trip to the Mad Stad with the more established touristy stops of Windsor and Oxford. The Cotswolds are good too, or Bath, but don't stay in Reading longer than you have to.

[LUX]

I love Reading, but Red's advice is sensible. By American standards, the South of England is very small and there are so many things to see within two hours train or car from Reading. London alone should see you through the period.

I'd add Stonehenge and Avebury in particular to those attractions listed. Henley is close to Reading and should be pretty spectacular in September.

Tell us the sort of thing you want to see, and you'll get good advice on here.

[zummerset]

^Indeed a tour of Slough social housing shouldn't be missed!

[Red]

I hear the Coley flats are very nice at that time of year.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Most of East Berkshire (that's the bit from Reading to London) is an obnoxious urban barnacle with nothing much to see other than chain stores, concrete and roundabouts (and if you want to see those in action then hire a car and spend many happy hours trying to get out of Bracknell).

[handbags_harris]

...concrete and roundabouts (and if you want to see those in action then hire a car and spend many happy hours trying to get out of Bracknell).

Or you could drive an hour the other way and find Swindon. Hours of fun to be had on the Magic Roundabout.

[Royal Lady]

I'd echo not basing the majority of your stay in Reading. I can recommend a fantastic hotel in the cotswolds - about 1 and half hours from the Mad Stad. You could, maybe, stay overnight at the Mad Stad hotel for the night of our home games while you're here and then pop into Reading on the park and ride buses opposite.

But there's so much to see nearby but outside of Reading that I'd have to suggest you stay somewhere else for the main part, personally.

[zummerset]

What about the fuggin Thames - hire a boat mate for a few days messing around in boats

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Must be about time for the Travelodge £9 room offer for that time of year.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Oh, visit Silchester too

[SpaceCruiser]

Oh, visit Silchester too

Yep, it's an impressive Roman place. You don't see much but the amphitheatre is there.

[LUX]

France isn't too far away. Really enjoyable culture and people.

[jgriowa]

We'll be spending the week between the 2 matches in the Lake District, fell-walking, etc.

You've listed some good ideas in your posts - I appreciate the thoughtful answers.