Reading

In 871, Alfred the Great, the only English king in history with the epithet 'the Great,' led a valiant defense against the Vikings on the banks of the River Kennet, near what is now Reading. Centuries later, the streets of this city vibrate with echoes of that resistance, while a modern energy propels its arteries. Cross the city and discover history embedded in the Reading Cenotaph, a monument honoring sacrifice, or feel the weight of the past at the Royal Berkshire Regiment War Memorial. Challenge your perception in front of the imposing architecture of The Blade, a skyscraper that redefines the skyline, or unravel the mysteries hidden behind the stained-glass windows of the Church of St Mark. Investigate the millennial secrets held by the Reading Museum Bayeux Tapestry, a replica that transports you to the Norman conquest, or follow the trail of the mythical Cartwheeling Boys, an urban sculpture celebrating movement and life. Walk across the High Bridge, a silent witness to the passage of time, and connect with the ancestral wisdom of the Holy Well of St. Anne, a forgotten pilgrimage site. Conquer the halls of the University of Reading library, a bastion of knowledge, and decipher the enigma of the Simeon Monument, which stands defiantly. Reading awaits you with cultural points of interest and challenges. Are you ready to unearth the secrets of this city and write your own legend?