Places to explore near Reading West StationReading

The broad-beam crossing of southern England — river, canal and river again from Bristol's Avon to the Thames at Reading, over the chalk by the Caen Hill flight.

1.2 km SE · spans 5 counties

The river from its Cotswold trickle to the Thames Barrier — the gentlest long walk in Britain.

1.4 km N · spans 7 counties

The non-tidal Thames — 45 locks of managed river between Cricklade's meadows and the tideway at Teddington.

1.4 km NE · spans 7 counties

Beech woods and chalk downland within easy reach of London, laced with old ridge paths and grazing red kites

2.2 km NW

Rolling chalk downland above the Vale of the White Horse, threaded by one of Britain's oldest roads

4.5 km W

Old Thames village of brick-and-timber houses, a many-arched medieval bridge and the Mill theatre set on its own island.

5.8 km E · Berkshire

Thatched Chiltern-edge pub near Henley with a game-heavy menu, cited by the Times and olive.

7.2 km NE

Thames-side village dining pub near Henley, an olive best country pub.

7.9 km NE

A terraced 1850s garden of stone staircases below an Elizabethan house.

8.1 km W

A Berkshire chalk river from the Marlborough Downs to the Thames at Reading, shadowed most of the way by the Kennet & Avon Canal.

1.2 km SE · Berkshire & Wiltshire

The Chiltern Society's grand loop through four counties of beechwood and chalk, grown from a Millennium project into 177 miles.

3.6 km NW · spans 5 counties

A country park in Oxfordshire.

4.7 km NW

Old riverside inn at Sonning where spit-roast duck turns in the window and the terrace looks over the Thames to Willow Island.

5.6 km NE

Timber-framed 16th-century inn beside Sonning's church, all low beams, log fires and a courtyard off the lane to the river.

5.8 km E

A country park in Berkshire.

6.7 km E