With its great location in southern England, Reading offers easy access to a great range of attractions. With a rental car you’ll find London and other major cities within reach, as well as a number of destinations in the Thames Valley area.
Countryside culture
The impressive 18th-century country house Basildon Park is just a short drive outside the center of Reading. Situated in 400 acres of parkland and gardens, there are some beautiful, scenic walks available. If you’re visiting in the spring, you might even see the bluebells that transform the surrounding woodland each year.
The house itself is an old Georgian mansion that was restored after World War II, and today you can tour its grand reception rooms and view its collection of valuable artworks.
Basildon Park lies close to one of Reading’s other main attractions, Beale Park. Set against the backdrop of the River Thames, here you will find a wildlife center that’s home to some amazing animals including wallabies, alpacas and deer.
You can also explore the surrounding gardens with sculptures, lakes and walking trails before relaxing in the restaurant with a locally-produced lunch. Be sure to sample a traditional English afternoon tea, complete with scones and cream.
Roman remains
Just outside Reading lie the remains of Calleva Atrebatum, a huge Roman town founded almost 2,000 years ago. The site, which is located within the parish of Silchester, boasts some of the best-preserved Roman remains in Britain, including an amphitheater and town walls.
This site is managed by the National Trust and visitors can complete a circuit of the walls any day of the week. Entry is free and the site must be reached by a footpath, but there is a paid parking lot close by where you can leave your rental car and continue on foot.
If you’re keen to learn more about the history of Reading and its surroundings, head to Reading Museum which is housed in the town’s Victorian Town Hall. Here you can learn much more about Calleva Atrebatum and see artifacts including the Silchester Eagle, which was unearthed at the site in the 19th century.
At the museum there are also several archaeological finds from Reading Abbey, a ruined medieval structure which lies just a short distance away at the heart of the town. Today the Abbey is home to a cultural quarter that hosts events throughout the year, from open-air film screenings to historical re-enactments.
Royal footsteps
There are plenty of great destinations that are easily available by rental car from Reading. Just a few miles to the east of the city you’ll find the historic city of Windsor.
Windsor Castle, the preferred weekend home of Queen Elizabeth II, is open to the public and you can see the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married. You can also explore the castle precincts, with tours led by wardens throughout the day.
Depending on the day of your visit, you might even witness the Changing of the Guard as the Queen’s Household Troops march up the High Street and into the castle.
With all this and more on offer, renting a car is the perfect way to explore Reading and other highlights in southern England.