Reading

Looks like we will be spending next week in Reading, can anyone recommend some interesting places I can go while there? My fiance is going there for work, so I will have the days while he is busy to fill wandering around the area..we'll be going back and forth each day. Any recommendations for good (but not expensive!) restaurants etc? I can get some meals at the grocery store Im sure, but now and then it might be easier to grab lunch/dinner whatever while exploring.

I dont know the first thing about Reading! Guess I will find out next week

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but . . . there's not a whole lot of "interesting" in Reading, I'm afraid. There's a smallish museum in the towne centre. A fairly nice high street and two malls. Cinemas. However, from Reading, you are only about 40 mins from London. 

As for restaurants . . . lots of little pub places in town, a TGIF's, Carluccio's (which isn't exactly cheap, but not ott and definitely worth it), Chili's, Wagamama's, Nando's, etc.

What else? There's the Kennett canal that runs through the town and that's quite pretty. If you decide to take a walk along it, though be careful. I'd stay closer to town - there have been a few "happy slapping" incidents relatively recently.

I keep thinking this thread is about books! 

I keep thinking this thread is about books! 

I still pronounce it REEEDing...as in reading a book lol and get made fun of because it's pronounced reding

Well, not to direct you to a mall, but there is a great one called the Oracle.  There are some great children's stores - Mamas and Papas, Mothercare, John Lewis - good restaurants, cinema.  It might be a place to spend a day at.

In terms of anything picturesque and historical, I am not sure.

There are some nice towns and villages nearby, easily reachable by train or bus from Reading: Henley on Thames, Marlow, Cookham.   Oxford is about an hour away on the train, lots to see there.   There's also a direct train to Windsor.

there is a really good milkshake place in Reading.    

There are some nice towns and villages nearby, easily reachable by train or bus from Reading: Henley on Thames, Marlow, Cookham.   Oxford is about an hour away on the train, lots to see there.   There's also a direct train to Windsor.

Reading to Oxford in an hour?  Surely not, it's only about a 25 minute journey, they're just up the road from each other.
Oxford & Windsor will be more picturesque although for pure mall shopping Reading is the best place west of London.

I've only been to Reading for the Oracle or to play a tennis match so I can't really say.
I believe Oscar Wilde was in jail in Reading for a while!  One of the book shops has some references to it.