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BY PARENTS, FOR READING PARENTS

Family days out in Reading

Never hear “I’m bored” on a Saturday again.

Every great family day out in Reading: farms, museums, parks and hidden gems, with the details parents actually need before setting off.

201 places listed43 free days outThu 6pm the Weekender lands

PLAN A DAY

What's on, when you need it

This weekend in full →
7 on right nowWED 7 OCT
Today

Everything open and on in Reading today, with times and prices.

TOP PICKOrdinary People, Extraordinary Heritage · free
See today
12 things onFRI 9 - SUN 11
This weekend
  • Fri7 things · Windsor Carriages
  • Sat10 things · Horse and Carriage rides with Ascot Carriages
  • Sun10 things · Classic Cars & Bikes Meet
See the weekend
TomorrowThu 8 · 8 things onRainy days81 under a roofFree43 cost nothing
SEASONALENDS 31 OCTHalloween: pumpkin patches, spooky trails & torchlight. 4 already live.
Plan Halloween

PICK A LANE

Jump straight to your kind of day

All categories →
Zoos & Wildlife Parks in ReadingZoos & Wildlife Parks19Farms & Petting Farms in ReadingFarms & Petting Farms15Theme Parks & Fairgrounds in ReadingTheme Parks & Fairgrounds22Adventure Parks & High Ropes in ReadingAdventure Parks & High Ropes9Museums in ReadingMuseums4Science & Discovery Centres in ReadingScience & Discovery Centres3Aquariums & Sea Life in ReadingAquariums & Sea Life7Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in ReadingCastles, Historic Houses & Heritage14Model Villages & Miniature Railways in ReadingModel Villages & Miniature Railways7Steam Railways & Boat Trips in ReadingSteam Railways & Boat Trips7Caves, Mines & Underground in ReadingCaves, Mines & Underground6Tours, Trails & Treasure Hunts in ReadingTours, Trails & Treasure Hunts2Soft Play in ReadingSoft Play6Laser Tag & Nerf Arenas in ReadingLaser Tag & Nerf Arenas2Escape Rooms in ReadingEscape Rooms2Crazy Golf & Adventure Golf in ReadingCrazy Golf & Adventure Golf4Roller & Skate Rinks in ReadingRoller & Skate Rinks1Arcades, VR & Gaming in ReadingArcades, VR & Gaming7Board Game & Play Cafés in ReadingBoard Game & Play Cafés12Pottery Painting & Craft Studios in ReadingPottery Painting & Craft Studios6Sensory Rooms & Play Sessions in ReadingSensory Rooms & Play Sessions4Country Parks & Nature Reserves in ReadingCountry Parks & Nature Reserves4Woodland & Forest in ReadingWoodland & Forest3Gardens & Arboretums in ReadingGardens & Arboretums4Lakes, Reservoirs & Riversides in ReadingLakes, Reservoirs & Riversides2Beaches & Coast in ReadingBeaches & Coast3Pick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches in ReadingPick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches2Skate Parks & BMX Tracks in ReadingSkate Parks & BMX Tracks1Outdoor Gyms & Trim Trails in ReadingOutdoor Gyms & Trim Trails3Viewpoints & Picnic Spots in ReadingViewpoints & Picnic Spots2Baby & Toddler Groups in ReadingBaby & Toddler Groups3Dance in ReadingDance1Music Lessons & Choirs in ReadingMusic Lessons & Choirs6Art & Craft Classes in ReadingArt & Craft Classes1Cooking & Baking Classes in ReadingCooking & Baking Classes2Coding, STEM & Robotics in ReadingCoding, STEM & Robotics1Reading, Book Clubs & Storytime in ReadingReading, Book Clubs & Storytime2Scouts, Guides, Cadets & Youth Clubs in ReadingScouts, Guides, Cadets & Youth Clubs2Homework & After-School Clubs in ReadingHomework & After-School Clubs1Holiday Clubs & Camps in ReadingHoliday Clubs & Camps1Adult Workshops & Evening Classes in ReadingAdult Workshops & Evening Classes3Wellbeing & Mindfulness in ReadingWellbeing & Mindfulness1
Theatres & Shows4Pantomime & Family Theatre in ReadingPantomime & Family Theatre5Live Music & Gigs in ReadingLive Music & Gigs14Comedy in ReadingComedy3Galleries & Exhibitions in ReadingGalleries & Exhibitions6Libraries in ReadingLibraries3Circus & Street Performance in ReadingCircus & Street Performance3
Talks, Lectures & Author Events2Immersive & Touring Exhibitions in ReadingImmersive & Touring Exhibitions3
Christmas5
Halloween & Pumpkin Events2
Community Events & Fun Days2
Open Days & Behind-the-Scenes2

CURATED FOR YOU

Or start with a Huddlepin list

Hand-picked and honestly described.

KIND TO THE WALLET

43

Brilliant days out that cost nothing

Proper days out with free entry, bring a picnic and you're done.

See the list →

FEED & STROKE

24

Farms, lambs and llamas

Everything you can feed, stroke or watch being ridiculous.

See the list →

INDOOR LIFESAVERS

81

Rainy day rescue

For when the forecast betrays you, all under a roof.

See the list →

STEP BACK IN TIME

32

Museums & heritage

Castles, caves and machines kids are allowed to gawp at.

See the list →

THE EVENT CALENDAR

What's on this weekend

October
The Savill GardenFri-SunWindsor CarriagesThe Savill Garden · 3 daysDetails →
Thames Rivercruise (Reading)Fri & SunGoring Weekend ShuttleThames Rivercruise (Reading) · 2 daysDetails →
Reading Abbey RuinsFri-SunCaribbean Contribution to RAF - Resources boxReading Abbey Ruins · from 10:00 each dayDetails →
The Savill GardenFri-SunHorse and Carriage rides with Ascot CarriagesThe Savill Garden · 3 daysDetails →
CultureMix Arts & Music CentreFri-SunOrdinary People, Extraordinary HeritageCultureMix Arts & Music Centre · 3 daysDetails →
The Dino ChaseFri-SunHalloween at Valgard: Realm of the VikingsThe Dino Chase · from 15:00 each dayDetails →
Hawk Conservancy Trust Bird of Prey CentreFri-SunOwls by MoonlightHawk Conservancy Trust Bird of Prey Centre · from 17:30 each dayDetails →
Thames Rivercruise (Reading)Sat & SunGoring 60 Minute Weekend CruiseThames Rivercruise (Reading) · from 10:30 each dayDetails →

Plus 4 more events this weekend across Reading.

MORE THAN A LIST

One place, a hundred ways to explore

Browse the map, follow the crowd, or save a shortlist for the school holidays: whatever works for your family.

Explore the map

Parents' favourites

  1. 01Seven Lakes FisherySeven Lakes Fishery
  2. 02Millets WildsideMillets Wildside
  3. 03A man and woman with a young child laugh together at an indoor celebration with a purple balloon and brick wall backdrop.Clara's Corner
  4. 04Misty river at dawn with wooded banks reflected in still water under a pale sky.Black Park Country Park
  5. 05Children wearing safety helmets and harnesses during an outdoor rock climbing or abseiling activity with an instructor.103rd Oxford Road Scout Group
See everything →

Your shortlist, saved

Tap the heart on anything and it's waiting for the next free Saturday. No account needed to start.

Open your shortlist →

COLLECTION

Rainy day rescue

81 indoor lifesavers for when the forecast lets you down.

Open the collection

KIND TO THE WALLET

43

completely free days out within 30 minutes of Reading

Show me the free ones →

Want lists like these in your inbox every Thursday? Join the Weekender: free, in time to plan your weekend.

HIDDEN GEMS

The ones you've never heard of

Places that aren't on the usual lists, written up honestly.

See every place →
Man playing laser tag in a darkly lit arena with illuminated blue geometric walls.

No. 01Wokingham · from £7.50

Laser Quest

A darkened multi-level arena where you and your kid can shoot it out with laser packs, games running every 20 minutes.

Read the write-up →

Family riding a colourful carousel with illuminated horses under a red and gold canopy.

No. 02Bognor Regis

Butlins Fairground

Dodgems, vintage stalls and a mini fairground for the little ones, plus go-karts and a bungee trampoline if you fancy paying extra.

Sip & Conquer

No. 03Maidenhead · from £4.50

Sip & Conquer

A board game café with over 350 games to pick from, plus cocktails and coffee for the grown-ups at the table.

THE WEEKENDER

Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.

The best family things happening around Reading, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old.

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