The Great West Way

The Great West Way embraces an intriguing combination of cities, towns and villages, offering a diverse exploration of life in England. Even better, the relatively short distances involved mean you can explore a city, a town and a village all in a single day.

London, of course, needs no introduction. But just a short train ride west lie some of the most exciting cities in the UK, like Bath and Bristol. Bristol, the city furthest away on the touring route, is only a 1 hour 45-minute train ride from London.

In between and around these cities sit lots of interesting towns – their smaller size making them easy to explore on foot in a spare morning or afternoon like Bradford on Avon, Chippenham or Hungerford. Some well-known towns you might recognise are Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Henley-on-Thames, Reading and Corsham.

At the centre of the eastern section of the Great West Way, Reading offers the excitement of a modern city blended with an unexpected slice of English heritage, plus you can be in London in no time!

Base yourself in Reading – many of Reading’s excellent hotels are within a short walking distance of Reading Station – and take advantage of easy access to London in 23 minutes by mainline train or take the new Elizabeth Line right into the heart of the West End. You can stay in 5-star luxury at the Roseate in Reading’s Abbey Quarter, and you’ll find all the famous hotel brands from Novotel and Malmaison to Crowne Plaza. If you are touring, leave your car in Reading, take the train and enjoy a stress-free visit to the Capital.

And while you are in Reading, explore the core of its Abbey Quarter, where the extensive Abbey Ruins tell the story of 900 years of history. Founded by King Henry I of England, visit the spot where he was buried or where Jane Austen went to school six hundred years later and where Oscar Wilde was imprisoned in the late 19th century. Then head for the hands-on, family-friendly Reading Museum to see the only full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry or The Museum of English Rural Life – the national museum dedicated to food, farming and countryside. And do keep calm and carry on by making the most of the tranquillity of Reading’s location at the confluence of the River Thames and Kennet & Avon Canal.

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