A celebration of Reading is promised this September as the annual Heritage Open Days festival returns, including medieval buildings, Victorian architecture, and the town’s most recent building, One Station Hill – all in honour of the 2025 theme of Architecture.
Originally running over two weekends, the event has been expanded and now runs from Friday, September 12, through to Sunday, September 21. Across those 10 days, there will be more than 40 events in and around the greater Reading area, including talks and tours of rarely accessible spaces.
The national event is England’s largest festival of history and culture, and this year’s event is said to be the largest ever, with more than 5,800 events taking place. Some venues usually charge admission fees, but these will be waived for the Heritage Open Day events.
Volunteers will help guide people through the venues, celebrating heritage, community and history. Traditions will be celebrated, the past brought to life, and a spotlight will shine on places that many walk past without thinking.
What is happening in Reading for Heritage Open Days 2025 ?
The programme will include walks covering Reading’s famed Georgian architecture, its medieval history and the numerous buildings built locally by its most famous architect, Alfred Waterhouse, including tours of Foxhill House at the University of Reading, Reading School and Caversham Baptist Church.
There will also be milling heritage tours and tours of the new office block opposite the station, One Station Hill.
Among the talks will be an exploration of Caversham Bridge, a road we take for granted, but this gateway to South Oxfordshire will be 100 next year.
Youngsters can take part in arts and craft events at Watlington House and Caversham Court Gardens, there will be more Jane Austen tours, and Reading’s Ukrainian community will hold an open day at the Ukrainian Community Centre in Sidmouth Street.
Among those looking forward to the events is Alex Brannen of REDA. He is Reading Co-ordinator for Heritage Open Days and said: “This year’s theme of architecture suits Reading very well.
“We have an impressive range of buildings spanning almost one thousand years of history, so Heritage Open Days is a great way to find out more about Reading’s history – and it is all free.”
Some events will require places to be booked in advance due to capacity, but all will be free.
A printed programme is available from venues around town, including libraries, Reading Town Hall, and Reading Station, and all venues are listed on whatsonreading.com/heritage-open-days
The programme can also be downloaded at: https://www.visit-reading.com/dbimgs/Programme_Final.pdf
The national website features all events being held, for those wanting to go further afield. For more details, log on to: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
Six Reading highlights for Heritage Open Days
Reading Museum Store Tours
Reading Museum is for many an opportunity to visit the town’s past, but space in the town hall is limited. The Museum has many treasures that are rarely seen. Instead, they are carefully stored in a secret location in Whitley.
An event on Wednesday, September 17, will lift the lid on the events held in storage.
Tours are for up to six people at a time and led by Museum staff. They will run at 11am, 12.15pm, 2pm and 3.15pm. Due to the size of the groups, places must be booked in advance.
For details or to book, visit: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/reading-museum-store-tours.html
Discover Reading’s lost Turkish Baths
A walk through Reading’s past led by Terry Dixon from Terry’s Walkabouts, and Richard Bennett, chair of Reading Civic Society.
It encompasses the area around Kendrick Road, celebrating the unique and unusual listed buildings, their trees, and historic plaques. There will be a visit to Reading’s oldest bowling club, a guide to two of Reading’s oldest schools, and a walk through some of the University of Reading’s London Road campus. Plus, of course, the opportunity to find out more about Reading’s lost Turkish baths.
The tour lasts around two and a quarter hours and will end with a stop at MERL (Museum of English Rural Life) where light lunches and refreshments can be bought from its café.
This walk will be held at 10.30am on Friday, September 12, and Wednesday, September 17. Places need to be booked, while the tour is free donations are welcomed to Terry’s charities of the year: The Ways and Means Trust and Camp Mohawk.
Explore Foxhill House
The University of Reading’s campus includes many delights, from walks through the Harris Gardens to architectural treats, including the Grade II listed building of Foxhill House. This is a fine example of mid-Victorian architecture, designed by Alfred Waterhouse – originally as a home for himself. Other buildings he created in Reading include Erleigh Park House, and the Town Hall.
The guided tour by members of The Friends of the University of Reading will enable you to see the hall and some rooms in the house as well as the former stable block and the gardens.
The tour takes place on Sunday, September 14, and 11am and noon. Places should be booked by noon on Sunday, September 7.
For more details, log on to: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/tour-of-foxhill-house-at-the-university-s-whiteknights-campus-2025.html
Look back at the past 50 years of Reading’s story
Reading is a town that is constantly changing. Perhaps the biggest shake-up was the creation of The Oracle shopping centre which led to a revamp of the town centre. Another big change has been the area around Reading station, with the creation of One Station Hill.
Among those who have seen it all is Tony Page, a former Reading councillor who retired last year after 51 years. He will give a talk in The Oracle’s Management Suite at 2pm on Friday, September 19.
Entitled Planning in Reading: From Sleepy Town to Neo City. Reflections on Successes and Failures over 50 years, the session will see the former councillor share his perspectives on the changes to the town in that time.
It will be a fascinating exploration of how Reading has evolved from one of the people who helped make it happen.
Booking is essential.
Bringing Reading’s story right up to date
Earlier this year, One Station Hill development finally opened. It creates a new bridge from Friar Street through to Reading Station, and incorporates offices, retail spaces, and homes in a new landmark area for the town.
Over two days, One Station Hill will open its doors for free guided tours, a visual exhibition, and a public talk exploring how this landmark came to life.
On Friday, September 12, there will be a tour, a talk, and an exhibition on level 15, showcasing the development of the building from early designs to construction milestones. This runs from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.
A similar, but smaller, event will be held on Sunday, September 14, from noon.
Space is limited, so places need to be booked in advance: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/architecture-up-close-the-making-of-one-station-hill.html
Reading’s Ukrainian connections
Reading has always been a town with an international community. For many years, the Reading Ukrainian Centre in Sidmouth Street has been a hub for those coming here from our European neighbour.
Its work has taken on a bigger resonance as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion.
Now, it is inviting people to come along and discover more about the country’s rich heritage and connections with Reading.
Held on Saturday, September 20, the event celebrates Ukraine’s architectural marvels, deep-rooted history, and vibrant cultural traditions. It includes talks, a poetry reading, music, and Ukrainian foods. Youngsters can make a traditional Ukrainian house, and there will be opportunities to buy Ukrainian arts and crafts.
The session runs from noon to 4pm, and is a drop-in event but places are limited to 26 people at any one time.
For more details, log on to: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/ukrainian-wonders-2025.html
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Join the conversation
Subscribe to inReading to leave a comment.