We will be driving to Reading early tomorrow morning. Well that is the plan at least. All of our previous trips to London and Henley earlier this year had to be cancelled due to illness, but I’m hoping we’ll have better luck this time 🙂
We are just staying one night, returning on Sunday. So will be very limited time wise. I have been trying to find things to do and see while we are in Reading. So far, I’ve come with quite a few ideas. There is the Museum, and a list of Historic Houses, and Natural Wildlife activities to do.
The historic houses include NT Basildon Park; NT The Vyne; NT Cliveden; Stonor Park; Mapledurham House; Nuffield Place; and Stratfield Saye House. However, I am particularly keen on visiting the River and Rowing Museum at Henley on Thames. The driving time from Reading to Henley is supposedly only 20 minutes away. I expect that time varies on events and seasonal traffic, I’m thinking in particular of the Mens Henley when visitor numbers swell the area. The Museum is open seven days a week that makes it very convenient for weekend visits. Their contact details are 01491 415600. Ticket prices range between £7 for adults, £5 for unemployed, £5 for senior citizens and chldren, and family tickets are also available. The good thing here is that if you get the opportunity to come back again to visit then you should keep your ticket because you can use it again for another 12 months from the purchase date. I must admit the main reason I want to visit this Museum is because I just love the Wind in the Willows. The Museum has a number of permanent exhibitions and the Wind in the Willows Exhibition is one of them. The story brings back so many fond memories from my childhood. Do you remember Mr Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole? The Museum has 3 -D models of the illustrations that brings the story back to life. I was shocked when my husband told me he had never heard of Wind in the Willows before, so that is why I think we must definitely go to the Museum, as an educational experience for my husband, well its a good excuse isn’t it? In addition to the permanent exhibitions the Museum also has a continuing selection of exhibitions that change over time in the current exhibitions.
If you prefer the outdoors, then there are good variety of activities in or near Reading. They include: Beale Park; Bucklebury Farm Park; The Look Out Discovery Centre; Nature Discovery Centre; The Living Rainforest;
UK Wolf Conservation Trust; and The Herb Farm.
If we are still around in the afternoon on Sunday then I would like to check out the band at Forbury Gardens. I was trying to figure out how to get to Forbury Gardens and found directions from the BBC website on Breathing Places, which is an interesting name isn’t it? The gardens have a long history and are known for its statue of the Lion and the Abbey Ruins.
Alice Letts 