subject: Working at a Reading office? Get some fast facts! [print this page] Working at a Reading office? Get some fast facts!
So you aced the interview and landed a sweet new job in Reading, but what the heck is there in Reading? Well, loads actually! You just have to know where to look! There's tons on offer in this Berkshire hotspot and all it takes is a quick guide to the tourist draws and you'll be here in a shot getting the most from your new business venue.
Reading, often mistaken for the bookish past time, is actually a town in Berkshire. Hard to believe, I know, but settlers made their merry way to the River Thames and River Kennet in days of yore and decided that the area would make a great home. They were right! Readingum was born in around the 8th century and it is thought that this name comes from Readingas', an Anglo-Saxon tribe. But don't worry, you won't see people with horned helmets and shaggy pelt tabards walking around the town centre, they were booted out by the Danes in 870 who then moved onto London. Phew! If you're after a bit more history, Reading Abbey has been established since 1121. There's also the magnificent Museum of Reading which owns a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry and an extensive art collection.
Maybe you're more of an outdoorsy type? Then Reading has the perfect places for you when you're keen to get out of the office. Why not try the Museum of English Rural Life which has a number of fascinating exhibitions spanning the change in farming practices in England. If you want to throw yourself at some hills then there are the Chiltern Hills on your doorstep or, alternatively, you can get your hiking boots on and enjoy the beautiful Berkshire Downs.
Or perhaps you're a shopaholic looking to splash your hard earned cash on a lunch break from your Reading office? Well then, you're smack bang in the middle of retail heaven! Broad Street is the home to The Oracle and Broad Street Mall shopping centres, while independent stores John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser offer loads more brands for eager shoppers. While book lovers can find not one, but two branches of Waterstones in Reading!
Reading is also fantastic for musically minded people, with the famous Reading Festival drawing in enormous crowds on the August bank holiday weekend, where you can see a whole host of new and exciting bands, all a stone's throw from home!
So what are you waiting for? With so much to give, Reading's a real gem!
