Reading

Properties and events in Reading

Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries for last-minute changes.

Print selected events below

17 Castle Street Reading

17 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 7SB
In person
Pre-booking not required

Rooms which are not normally open to clients with interesting beam construction, Diamond chimneys, carriage mounting block and Victorian staircase.

Architecture at Reading Library

Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ
Online event
Pre-booking not required

Reading Library's Local Studies Collection holds all sorts of resources relating to architecture in the town, and this film will look at some of these.

Architecture Up Close – The Making of One Station Hill

One Station Hill, 1 Station Hill Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1NB
In person
Pre-booking required

Explore the story behind One Station Hill, the tallest building in Reading, through an exclusive architectural tour, an in-depth public talk, and a visual exhibition that traces the journey from concept to construction.

Basildon Park

National Trust, Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 9NR
In person
Pre-booking not required

Between Monday 15 to Thursday 18, discover 400 acres of historic parkland and gardens with an 18th-century house at its heart. The impressive mansion and picturesque pleasure grounds will be open to explore. The tearoom will be open for refreshments.

Beehives Through Time

South Street, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8HY
In person
Pre-booking required

Travel through time with us as we explore the fascinating history of beekeeping and beehives in this talk

Berkshire Churches

Reading, Berkshire,
Online event
Pre-booking required

Learn about some of the many historical, unusual and sometimes hidden churches and churchyards in and around Berkshire and the people associated with them.

Brock Keep

Brock Keep, 571 Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 1HL
In person
Pre-booking not required

Come and see artworks on show and join tours around the historic former armoury and gatehouse which is home to artist studios and a contemporary art gallery.

Caversham Road: An area shaped by Victorian aesthetics and innovation

213 Caversham Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8BB
In person
Pre-booking required

A guided walk around a Victorian townscape that still has many traces of its rich industrial past as well as plenty of original architectural features.

Christ Church, Reading

Christchurch Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 7AR
In person
Pre-booking not required

Church Open Day and Festrival Evensong

Crossing the Thames at Caversham

South Street, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8HY
In person
Pre-booking required

Join a richly illustrated talk telling the story of Reading Bridge and the old and new Caversham Bridges.

Exploring the Architecture of Georgian Reading

Reading Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1QH
In person
Pre-booking required

A walking tour of Reading's extensive Georgian architecture by Dr Stephen Gage, Lecturer in Architecture at University of Reading. Reading has over 400 listed buildings from the Georgian period, representing a substantial part of its built heritage.

Family Art Workshop - Jelly x Mills Archive Trust

Watlington House, 44 Watlington Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4RJ
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Join Jelly and the Mills Archive Trust for a hands-on, drop-in arts workshop exploring renewable energy through creativity, history, and imagination.

Look, Draw, Build in Caversham Court

Caversham Court Gardens, Church Road, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 7AD
In person
Pre-booking not required

Join us in beautiful Caversham Court Gardens for LOOK DRAW BUILD - a fun, creative drop-in workshop for families! Explore, sketch and build inspired by nature and architecture. Drop in activities 1100 to 1300 and 1400 to 1600.

New Kendrick Conservation Area Walkabout (WB) lost Turkish baths, Schools, Albion Terrace, Original UoR campus

South & East Streets, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4GP
In person
Pre-booking required

WB with Richard Bennett (Chair of RCS), our 6th collaboration. We go back 150 years to when it looked so different. Inc. Enormous Lost Swimming baths, only 1 pub, Kendrick Rd. & Court, 2 Sec. Schs., Redlands Rd, Reading Univ. London. Rd Campus.

NEW Medieval Reading Walkabout – Features – Medieval & Gothic Revival Architecture, The Greatest Knight, Vikings, Abbey, Reading 3C’s, Medieval food details & more!

Reading Minister Church, St Mary's Butts, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2LG
In person
Pre-booking required

New 2025 Medieval Reading Walkabout (WB) - It started as a suggestion by Jennifer Berdollt & has led to us being able to take you back over a 1,000-year period, 476AD to 1450s. Jennifer has co-produced. We will be in period costume to add some fun

Planning in Reading: From Sleepy Town to Neo City. Reflections on Successes and Failures over 50 years by Tony Page

Oracle Management Suite, Pedestrian access from Gunn Street. Once in the Oracle building take the lift to the right, The Oracle Shopping Centre, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2AG
In person
Pre-booking required

Tony Page had served Reading for 51 years until he stepped down in May 2024. He will share his years of experience in this talk which will range across the various schemes he has seen during his time as a Councillor in his different roles.

Reading Abbey Gateway drop in

Reading Abbey Gateway, The Forbury, Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3DH
In person
Pre-booking not required

An exciting opportunity to visit the Abbey Gateway building where Jane Austen went to school between 1785 and 1786.

Reading in the time of Jane Austen

Town Hall Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3EJ
In person
Pre-booking required

Jane Austen spent 18 months at school in Reading in the 1780s. Our walk around central Reading will include some contemporary descriptions of the town, and some of the sights with which an inhabitant or a visitor would have been familiar.

Reading Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin

St. Marys Church, Chain Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2HX
In person
Pre-booking not required

Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin blends Norman foundations, Gothic features, and Victorian restorations, reflecting over 900 years of architectural history. It stands as a testament to the town’s rich ecclesiastical and cultural heritage.

Reading Museum Store Tours

Whitely, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1QH (Reading Museum's postcode)
In person
Pre-booking required

Join us behind the scenes at our Museum store in Whitley for a special tour.