Things to do in Reading

2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Windsor Castle

• Stroll through the family castle of the Windsor dynasty • View the exquisite treasures in the state suite • Enjoy the audio guide and savor the beauty of the castle Windsor Castle sits on a hill on the south bank of the Thames and is one of the official residences still in use by the British royal family today. The castle was first built by William I in the 11th century, and after subsequent expansions and renovations by many monarchs, it blends a variety of architectural styles, including a Norman fortress, a medieval palace, and Georgian state apartments, and is also one of the few medieval castles in Europe that are still inhabited today. The castle is divided into the upper, middle, and lower wards. The upper ward centers on the state rooms, which display famous paintings, armor, and fine furniture collected by monarchs over the centuries, including works by masters such as Holbein, Van Dyck, and Rubens; the Waterloo Chamber was built by George IV to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon, and its walls hang portraits of allied monarchs and commanders. The upper area also houses Queen Mary's Dolls' House, created by architect Edwin Lutyens in the 1920s, with exquisitely detailed interiors that even include electricity and running water. The central area is marked by a round tower, which was originally built of wood and later rebuilt in stone. Today, it houses royal documents and a photography collection, and the moat garden below the tower is planted with roses and other flowers. St. George's Chapel in the Lower Ward is a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture, founded in the 15th century and renowned for its magnificent stone fan vaulting and stained glass windows—looking up at the vaulting is an unmissable experience when visiting. The chapel is also the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, has hosted numerous royal weddings, and is the burial place of several British monarchs.

2026 Europe 50 - Family-friendly Attractions

LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort

LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is located in Windsor, Berkshire, UK. Opened in 1996, it is a LEGO theme park built on the former site of Windsor Safari Park. Centered on LEGO bricks, the park is divided into multiple themed areas and features dozens of rides and experiences, mainly targeting families with children aged 2 to 12. The park's signature area is Miniland, where nearly 40 million LEGO bricks recreate miniature landscapes of cities such as London, Edinburgh, Paris, and Amsterdam, along with iconic landmarks from around the world including the Sydney Opera House, the Forbidden City, and St. Basil's Cathedral. Vehicles, trains, and boats in the miniature scenes run automatically via underground cables and sensor systems, making the entire mini city seem to come alive. Beyond the LEGO model displays, the park offers a variety of rides. In Knight's Kingdom, The Dragon roller coaster departs from inside the castle, passing through medieval scenes built with LEGO before heading onto outdoor tracks; Pirate Shores features the Pirate Falls log flume and the Jolly Rocker pirate ship; Mythica's Flight of the Sky Lion is a flying theater attraction offering an immersive aerial adventure. Lego City has a children's driving school where kids can experience earning a "driver's license" behind the wheel of a LEGO car; Laser Raiders is an interactive shooting dark ride that takes you through Egyptian tombs. The resort also offers LEGO-themed hotel rooms and lodge accommodations, decorated with themes such as pirates and knights, ideal for families looking for an in-depth stay.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is the actual filming location for all eight films in the "Harry Potter" series. After filming wrapped, the production team preserved a large number of original sets, props, and costumes, displaying them to the public across two purpose-built soundstages and a backlot. Visitors can step into iconic scenes such as the Great Hall of Hogwarts, Dumbledore's office, and the Gryffindor common room, board the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾, stroll through Diagon Alley and Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and also see up close landmark sets including the Knight Bus, the Weasley family's flying Ford Anglia, and Hagrid's hut. In addition to scene recreations, this place also reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets of film effects and prop production, including animatronic creatures and special makeup techniques, allowing visitors to understand how the visual magic from page to screen is achieved. During the tour, you can taste Butterbeer at the backlot, and the entire visit is a self-guided walking experience, so it is recommended to set aside about three to four hours to savor it in detail. Unlike replica sets at other theme parks, this location preserves the original props and sets actually used in the films, offering a unique appeal for Harry Potter fans. △Arriving at the set of "Harry Potter" △Get up close with original magic props from the film series △Take a photo with your favorite scene △Walking tour of the filming locations and behind-the-scenes stories from the movie series

Escape Hunt Reading

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

The British Museum

The British Museum's collection spans artifacts from civilizations across the world, with a total of approx. 8 million items, covering regions including ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. The museum has approx. 60 permanent galleries, and the items on display represent only a very small fraction of the total collection, with its ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Roman, and Asian collections being particularly renowned. The south facade of the main building features an Ionic colonnade, and the main entrance is topped by a sculpted pediment. Entering through the main entrance leads into the Great Court, a public space designed by Norman Foster with a white color scheme, where the massive semi-transparent glass roof ensures ample natural light even on London's overcast days. The Great Court was originally part of the British Library; after the library relocated, it was converted into a covered plaza, and the court displays authentic sculptures including a stone statue from Easter Island. The Rosetta Stone bears a decree of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh inscribed in three scripts, serving as the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian civilization and ranking among the museum's most notable exhibits. The Elgin Marbles are sculptural fragments from the Parthenon, dating back over two thousand years, and are now displayed in Room 18. The Portland Vase is renowned for its dark blue glass and white cameo relief decoration, displayed in Room 70. The Tang dynasty copy of Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies survives with nine scenes and holds significant artistic and historical value, though it is not on permanent display. The Chinese collection is concentrated in Rooms 33, 33b, and 95, arranged chronologically by dynasty with artifacts ranging from Shang and Zhou bronzes to Ming and Qing porcelain, among which the Song dynasty Cizhou ware "circus pillow" and the Yuan dynasty blue-and-white dish with fish and aquatic plant design are particularly worth a closer look. The ancient Egyptian galleries are famous for their mummy exhibits and are among the most visited areas in the museum.

Dinton Pastures Country Park

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

London Eye

Take a ride on the incredible 135-metre London Eye and enjoy a panoramic view of London's stunning skyline, packed with iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and more. Ride during the day, at night, at sunset, or at dusk—which will you choose? The London Eye has a total of 32 air-conditioned, fully enclosed cabins, each of which can accommodate approximately 25 people. It takes about half an hour to complete a full rotation. The cabins are equipped with explanations of various sights in London, which play when they rotate to the corresponding angle. In addition, touch-sensitive information panels are also available.

Basildon Park

Basildon Park is located in Berkshire, United Kingdom. It was designed by John Carr, and construction began in 1776 and was completed in 1783. After the war, Basildon Park was donated to the National Trust and opened to the public. The Octagon Room (first floor) features works by the painter Giambattista Pittoni.

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Reading Abbey Ruins

The site includes the South Ear Hall, treasury, chapter house, dormitory, and dining hall. Among them, the Zhang House is a relatively well-preserved room at the site.