Reading is a large town west of London, about 25 minutes by fast train from Paddington. It is best known for the Reading Festival, one of the UK's biggest rock and indie music festivals, held every August bank holiday weekend at Richfield Avenue.
The town centre was heavily redeveloped and is dominated by shopping centres, but there are pockets of character if you know where to look. The ruined Reading Abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, sits near the River Kennet and is being gradually restored. The abbey was once one of the largest and richest in medieval England.
The Oracle shopping centre along the River Kennet has an attractive waterside setting with restaurants and cafes. Reading also has a lively pub scene, with several real ale pubs worth seeking out in the town centre.
Reading is a transport hub and makes a practical base for visiting the Thames Valley, the Chilterns, and nearby towns like Oxford and Henley-on-Thames. If you are driving, be warned that the road system is genuinely confusing. The train and park-and-ride services are much less stressful options.