Reading Tourist and Travel question

[dm3mdgtr]

this isn't Arsenal related but I thought this would be a good place since there are a bunch of UK'ers that post here. My wife is having a business trip to Reading in May. Should I go with and if so what are the highlights of that area? I've never been to anywhere within the UK and we would have about 3 personal days. Any input is appreciated. I know this isn't the proper place to post these things but I thought I would get the most authentic answers and I love reading the forum in general. Mods- please forgive.

[Miles Brasher]

this isn't Arsenal related but I thought this would be a good place since there are a bunch of UK'ers that post here. My wife is having a business trip to Reading in May. Should I go with and if so what are the highlights of that area? I've never been to anywhere within the UK and we would have about 3 personal days. Any input is appreciated. I know this isn't the proper place to post these things but I thought I would get the most authentic answers and I love reading the forum in general. Mods- please forgive.

Reading isn't the most exciting place in the world. If it was me I'd

a) get a train to London, which are regular and quick. London has absolutely everything

b) get in a car, and go to Oxford (history,university etc.)/ Cotswolds(pretty countryside,pubs etc.)/ Winchester(nice old town) / the coast(sea and sand)

c) Go and visit my parents, they live close by...

[Bluto11]

Reading isn't the most exciting place in the world. If it was me I'd

a) get a train to London, which are regular and quick. London has absolutely everything

b) get in a car, and go to Oxford (history,university etc.)/ Cotswolds(pretty countryside,pubs etc.)/ Winchester(nice old town) / the coast(sea and sand)

c) Go and visit my parents, they live close by...
Winchester Cathedral is awesome. and i liked just walking around the town for the day I was there

[gooner4eva]

reading is a sleepy distant suburb of london, not much goes on there, the saying goes "what reading pisses london drinks"
(theyr'e up stream from the thames)
its the kind of place you'll get the middle/upper class people who all seem to live in those "harry potter" kind of suburbs. you'll get very bored in reading i gaurantee you.
i havnt been over myself but a freind of mine went a few months back for a job interview, im going on what he says.

[dm3mdgtr]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the info. I'm sure we will spend most of our free time in London. We do like to see other places so I'm sure we'll just get a car and drive somewhere.

One f/u (and I think I know the answer but I'll ask anyway). Is there anything around Stone Henge or that just a place where you take a quick picture and leave? Honestly, there doesn't seem to be much to see other then that. I understand the history and mystery but it looks a little boring. I would like to have a quick picture just to say I've been but that's pretty much it.

[kanonier]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the info. I'm sure we will spend most of our free time in London. We do like to see other places so I'm sure we'll just get a car and drive somewhere.

One f/u (and I think I know the answer but I'll ask anyway). Is there anything around Stone Henge or that just a place where you take a quick picture and leave? Honestly, there doesn't seem to be much to see other then that. I understand the history and mystery but it looks a little boring. I would like to have a quick picture just to say I've been but that's pretty much it.

It's cool to see, but there are definitely better things to do. You can't really get close to Stonehenge either, there's a big chain link fence 'round all of it.

Climb St. Paul's in London. I enjoyed that.

[Bluto11]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the info. I'm sure we will spend most of our free time in London. We do like to see other places so I'm sure we'll just get a car and drive somewhere.

One f/u (and I think I know the answer but I'll ask anyway). Is there anything around Stone Henge or that just a place where you take a quick picture and leave? Honestly, there doesn't seem to be much to see other then that. I understand the history and mystery but it looks a little boring. I would like to have a quick picture just to say I've been but that's pretty much it.
they have free audio tours that you can listen to when you walk around. there are also other things to see from that same time period (neolithic? in the area). I thought it was worth seeing. really windy though. i thought it was strange that the main road runs like 20 yards from Stonehenge!

[yossarian]

Hey guys, I moved this to the tickets and travel section. Hope no one minds.

[Rick B]

this isn't Arsenal related but I thought this would be a good place since there are a bunch of UK'ers that post here. My wife is having a business trip to Reading in May. Should I go with and if so what are the highlights of that area? I've never been to anywhere within the UK and we would have about 3 personal days. Any input is appreciated. I know this isn't the proper place to post these things but I thought I would get the most authentic answers and I love reading the forum in general. Mods- please forgive.

No worries, we like the fact people see us as welcoming and helpful :)

I have re-named your thread so if others come by they can see what the content is about.

Stonehenge is one of those places you kind of see and go and tell the grand kids you went there once. I went when I was 6 and have never been back!! London has everything to do and is I would guess the place to spend a lot of your time. But Miles is right in saying that Oxford would be a good day out. It's a nice old city and a heck of a lot more friendly than London.

Oh - go and visit Miles parents whe in Reading, apparantly it's one of the top 3 things to do.............:p

[Red Agave]

You could visit HM Prison in homage to Oscar Wilde. :)

Windsor's not far away and the castle is pretty impressive. Also there's some interesting stately homes around - Cliveden and Maple Durham for example.

Good racecourse at Newbury - there's a meeting on 18th/19th May. (Also interesting racecourse at Windsor which often has evening meetings.)

Apart from The Ballad Of Reading Gaol, the town's chief claims to fame are beer and biscuits. Not too thrilling!

My brother lived there for a while so I spent a few weekends visiting. Have to say in the 20 odd years since he left I've been back only once - to see AFC play!

[antifan]

this isn't Arsenal related but I thought this would be a good place since there are a bunch of UK'ers that post here. My wife is having a business trip to Reading in May. Should I go with and if so what are the highlights of that area? I've never been to anywhere within the UK and we would have about 3 personal days. Any input is appreciated. I know this isn't the proper place to post these things but I thought I would get the most authentic answers and I love reading the forum in general. Mods- please forgive.
Why wouldn't you go? If you've never been to the UK, than anywhere over there would be interesting to visit. It's close to London, and has alot of rail links so you can go pretty much anywhere. I was in Reading as a kid and it didn't seem too bad, we saw Stonehenge, visited a castle, drove through the Cotswalds and went to Stratford on Avon, i think. It was a long time ago. Anyway, the UK has lots to see and its worth going over just to go. Should have decent weather in May as well.

[Jeff L]

Stonehenge is quite close to Salisbury, one of the prettiest cities in England, and also not too far from Bath either, another great city. That's if you head west. Heading east is London, and going south is Bournemouth, a nice town as well. All within an hour or so from Reading. You should be spoilt for choice! :)

[dm3mdgtr]

Oh, I'm going guys if I have the chance. I had to redo my passport and kind of slept on it. Now there is a huge back log and I'm afraid it won't come in time. If it does I'm all over that trip. I appreciate all the feedback. We only get about 3 days so I doubt we'll have a chance to head anywhere else. We'll stay in and around London. MAN, I wish we had a match day while I was there. I would quite literally pee-myself. She just spent 3 weeks all over India and flew back through Amsterdam. I missed that one, I won't miss this one.

[antifan]

Oh, I'm going guys if I have the chance. I had to redo my passport and kind of slept on it. Now there is a huge back log and I'm afraid it won't come in time. If it does I'm all over that trip. I appreciate all the feedback. We only get about 3 days so I doubt we'll have a chance to head anywhere else. We'll stay in and around London. MAN, I wish we had a match day while I was there. I would quite literally pee-myself. She just spent 3 weeks all over India and flew back through Amsterdam. I missed that one, I won't miss this one.
You can pay extra and have your passport expedited. I've done it in the past.

[dm3mdgtr]

I talked with them about that and they said they still couldn't guarantee that it would get here in time. They are really backed up because of the need for it in Mex/Can now.

[goonermaui]

IF....ya do make it....I agree with Red Agave...a place that would be right on your doorstep, (logistacally)
is Windsor. :)

http://www.royal-windsor.com/whattosee.htm