Reading Abbey, Reading

Name: Reading Abbey
Address: Reading, United Kingdom

#11 among attractions in Reading

Top attraction, Monastery

Gallery (7)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / chris_j_wood / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / R Sones / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Hohum / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / BaldBoris / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / R Sones / URL

Facts and practical information

Reading Abbey is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. It was founded by Henry I in 1121 "for the salvation of my soul, and the souls of King William, my father, and of King William, my brother, and Queen Maud, my wife, and all my ancestors and successors." In its heyday the abbey was one of Europe's largest royal monasteries. The traditions of the Abbey are continued today by the neighbouring St James's Church, which is partly built using stones of the Abbey ruins. ()

Alternative names: Established: 18 June 1121 (904 years ago)Coordinates: 51°27'22"N, 0°57'54"W

Address

AbbeyReading United Kingdom

Contact

Website

Social media

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Reading

Day trips

Reading Abbey – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Broad Street, Queen Victoria Street, The Oracle, Union Street.

~1990 ftW
Shopping, Shopping district
Broad Street, Reading
10 min walk • Broad Street is a main pedestrianised thoroughfare and the primary high street in the English town of Reading. The street is situated in the town centre, running for approximately 0.25 miles, from west to east.
~1610 ftW
Shopping, Shopping district
Queen Victoria Street, Reading
8 min walk • Queen Victoria Street is a pedestrianised thoroughfare in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. It connects Broad Street with Friar Street and Station Road.
~1650 ftSW
Shopping, Shopping centre
The Oracle, Reading
8 min walk • The Oracle is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall on the banks of the River Kennet in Reading, Berkshire, England. Partly on the site of a 17th-century workhouse of the same name, it was developed and is owned by a joint venture of Hammerson and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
~1930 ftW
Shopping, Shopping district
Union Street, Reading
10 min walk • Union Street, also known locally as Smelly Alley, is a pedestrian alley in the centre of the English town of Reading. It is lined with small shops and other retail outlets, and connects Broad Street and Friar Street.
~1730 ftW
Shopping, Department store
John Lewis, Reading
9 min walk • Heelas is a major department store in Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It was known as Heelas until 2001 and that name is still in common usage. The store fronts on to Reading's main pedestrianised shopping street, Broad Street, and backs onto Minster Street and The Oracle shopping centre.
~490 ftW
Park, Historical place, Garden
Forbury Gardens, Reading
3 min walk • Forbury Gardens is a public park in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The park is on the site of the outer court of Reading Abbey, which was in front of the Abbey Church. The site was formerly known as the Forbury, and one of the roads flanking the current gardens is still known as The Forbury.
0.4 miW
Shopping, Shopping district
St Mary's Butts, Reading
11 min walk • St Mary's Butts is a thoroughfare in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. On its west side is the Broad Street Mall. It is connected to the north with Broad Street, the pedestrianised primary high street of Reading. St Mary's Church and Butts are where the town of Reading originally grew from.
~1960 ftW
Shopping, Shopping district
Friar Street, Reading
10 min walk • Friar Street is a thoroughfare in the English town of Reading. It runs parallel to Broad Street, connected by Union Street, Queen Victoria Street and Cross Street. At the western end is the Greyfriars Church and at the eastern end are the Town Hall and St Laurence's Church.
~620 ftNW
Monuments and statues
Maiwand Lion, Reading
3 min walk • The Maiwand Lion is a sculpture and war memorial in the Forbury Gardens, a public park in the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire.
~1130 ftW
Museum, Specialty museum, Art gallery
Reading Museum, Reading
6 min walk • Reading Museum is a museum of the history of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire, and the surrounding area.
~330 ftN
Church, Architecture, Sacred and religious sites
St James's Church, Reading
2 min walk • St James's Church is a Roman Catholic church situated in the centre of the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The church is located next to Reading Abbey ruins, between the Forbury Gardens and Reading Gaol.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Reading Abbey?

Nearby attractions include HM Prison Reading, Reading (2 min walk), St James's Church, Reading (2 min walk), Forbury Gardens, Reading (3 min walk), Abbey Mill, Reading (3 min walk).

How to get to Reading Abbey by public transport?

The nearest stations to Reading Abbey:

Bus

Forbury • Lines: 13, 14 (3 min walk)
Huntley and Palmers • Lines: 13, 14, 17, 19a, 19b, 19c, 22, 3, 4, 702, 9, X4 (4 min walk)

Train

Reading (10 min walk)
Reading West (29 min walk)