Tour of the University of Reading's Great Hall on the London Road campus

The Grade 2 listed Great Hall is located on the University of Reading's London Road campus. It was designed by William Ravenscroft and Charles Steward Smith in 1905 and opened for use in 1906. It was built for use as an assembly hall for the University College, as it was then known, which was being moved from Valpy Street in the town centre to this new location, and was intended to be available to the College while other buildings were being erected. The fine Binns organ was installed in 1910. The Charter for becoming the University of Reading was granted in 1926, the only University to gain a charter between the world wars. The impressive hall is used for degree congregations, concerts, examinations, lectures and receptions.

The guided tour by members of The Friends of the University of Reading will start with a brief history of the campus and the hall. There will be a tour of the apse, which houses the organ and the backstage facilities, including the green room and the dressing rooms that have been enjoyed by local and national orchestras and choirs as well as diverse groups ranging from a gala concert of Indian music to Pink Floyd! There will also be a tour of the impressive building both internally and externally including the gold-leaf decorated ceiling and also a look at the layout and use of the hall today.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 13 September:

11.00 and 12.30

Location & directions

London Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5AQ

Directions:

The Great Hall is located on the London Road campus of the University and is accessed from Acacia Road off Redlands Road, adjacent to the entrance to the Museum of English Rural Life. Visitors will meet for the start of the tour in Acacia Road, where there is free parking available. Reading Buses has a stop outside the hospital, not far from the meeting point Alternatively there is a stop at the bottom of Kendrick Road on the Number 21 route called Kendrick Student Village with a short walk through Crown Place Passage to Acacia Road.

Contact on day:

Dennis Wood

Telephone number:

+447801371180

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Pre-booking required, see details.

Booking contact name:

Brenda Morris

Booking telephone number:

+441635817865

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

08 Aug 2025 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

07 Sep 2025 12:00 AM

Additional information

The backstage area is accessed via stairs. Refreshments and toilets are available in the Museum of English Rural Life. The tour is not suitable for children.

Max no of people per tour:

18

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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