CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST
Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Reading
In Reading itself you're close to the free ruins at Reading Abbey, a two-minute walk from the station, with a Victorian Bayeux Tapestry copy and even a biscuit tin collection. Reading Museum, just as close, has ten free galleries covering the same tapestry copy and the Roman remains of Silchester. Further out, Shaw House near Newbury has grounds full of old trees to roam and free entry for under 4s, while a longer trip out to Aylesbury gets you Waddesdon Manor's woodland playground and shuttle bus up the hill. For a free morning with no faff, stick to the two Reading sites, both step-free and near public transport. Toddlers do better outdoors at Shaw House or Basing House near Basingstoke, which has ruins, a Tudor barn and a mouse trail across a big meadow. Older kids might prefer Oxford Castle Prison's guided tour through Victorian cells and a candle-lit crypt, from £10.50. Highclere Castle near Newbury suits a pushchair round the gardens, and Chawton House out at Alton is built specifically for ages six to sixteen.
14 places 5 free to visit
from £8Basing House
Basingstoke · ages 5-15
Ruins, a battle-scarred Tudor barn and a mouse trail to hunt down, spread across a big meadow site just outside Basingstoke.
CaféDog friendlyGift shopHearing loop+5 more
from £6Chawton House
Alton · ages 6-16
A Jane Austen era house and gardens with self-guided tours, trails and craft days built for kids aged six to sixteen.
CaféDog friendlyGroup bookingsParking+3 more
Farnham Castle
Farnham
A grand old castle on the Surrey Hampshire border that's set up mainly for weddings and events, with in-house catering and 33 en-suite rooms.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingFree parkingParking+2 more
Highclere Castle
Newbury · ages 0-4
A grand castle tour, Egyptian artefacts from the Tutankhamun connection, and gardens to wander with a pushchair before or after.
Allergy awareBooking requiredCaféGift shop+3 more
from £10.50Oxford Castle Prison
Oxford
Climb an Anglo-Saxon tower, poke round Victorian cells and drop into a candle-lit crypt on a guided tour with 1000 years of Oxford's grimmer history.
Accessible toiletGift shopGroup bookingsPublic transport nearby+2 more
Oxford Castle Quarter
Oxford
A historic castle quarter in the middle of Oxford with old stone walls and mound to wander round, open daily from 10am.
FreeReading Abbey Ruins
Reading
Free ruins to wander, a Victorian Bayeux Tapestry copy and a biscuit tin collection all within a two-minute walk of Reading station.
Accessible toiletCaféGift shopPublic transport nearby+3 more
Reading Minster
Reading
A working church in the middle of Reading, open certain mornings for quiet, prayer and Sunday services.
FreeReading Museum
Reading
Ten free galleries covering a Victorian copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, biscuit history and Roman Silchester, right by Reading station.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféGift shop+5 more
from £6Shaw House
Newbury · ages 0-4
A Tudor house with grounds full of old trees to explore, garden games in summer and free entry for under 4s.
Accessible toiletBike parkingBlue badge parkingCafé+6 more
FreeUffington Castle
Faringdon
Walk up to a 3,000-year-old chalk horse cut into the hillside, then scramble round an Iron Age hillfort and a mound tied to the St George legend.
from £1.50Waddesdon Manor
Aylesbury
Grand French-style house and grounds with a woodland playground, walking trails and a shuttle bus that saves your legs on the walk up.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBooking required+14 more
FreeWayland's Smithy
Ashbury
A Neolithic burial mound on a windswept ridge, reached by a walk of over a mile from the car park.
FreeWest Berkshire Museum
Newbury
Free local history galleries with special exhibitions, a sensory bag on loan and a café for cake afterwards.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféDog friendly+7 more
Good to know: castles, historic houses & heritage in Reading
Are any of them free?
Yes, Reading Abbey Ruins, Reading Museum, Uffington Castle, Wayland's Smithy and 1 more are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £1.50 at Waddesdon Manor. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Which ones are indoor?
Reading Museum and West Berkshire Museum are indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find castles, historic houses & heritage in Basingstoke, Alton, Farnham, Newbury, Oxford and 4 more. Every place we list is in or around Reading, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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