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ENGLAND,
UNITED KINGDOM - TRAVEL GUIDE: |
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READING,
ENGLAND - FEATURED HOTELS & TRAVEL GUIDE:
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Reading (pronounced
like "redding", not "reeding") is a town in Berkshire in the South East
of England. Its main attractions are the medieval abbey ruins, the rivers
Thames and Kennet, the surrounding Thames Valley countryside, a major shopping
center, restaurant and pubs.
Reading
Featured Hotels
There
are several possible derivations of the Reading's name, however the true
source is obscured. Reading holds several Royal Charters permitting parliament
to be held there during times of plague or rebellion in London.
Reading
grew rich through the medieval and Tudor periods thanks to a booming trade
in cloth. The siege imposed by parliament on the town during the English
Civil War crippled the town's economy which never recovered. The economy
of the town is historically most famous for the '3Bs' of Biscuits (US English:Cookies),
Beer and Bulbs (of which only Beer has survived though the brewery is scheduled
to close by 2010) however, In recent years Information Technology and insurance
have replaced these traditional businesses. As such it isn't an obvious
travel destination in its own right, but if you happen to be here on business
there is plenty to see and do.
The Forbury Gardens,
located in the center of town, have recently been restored to their original
Victorian Splendor. The adjoining ruins are the remains of a once powerful
Abbey, sacked by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries.
Reading is also home to the
gaol in which Oscar Wilde was imprisoned for homosexuality and where
he composed his famous ballad. These days it is mainly a remand prison
for young offenders.
Reading is at the heart of
an attractive area of the Thames Valley, sitting across the confluence
of the Thames and Kennet rivers amid green rolling hills, thatched cottages
and pubs. It is surrounded by numerous small towns and villages such as
Thatcham, Pangbourne and Streatley, many of great age and beauty. Much
of it is now part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
with the Cotswolds being easily reachable.
It
is a long inhabited and well domesticated area that sits at the junction
of several major transport routes, both rail and road. As such, Reading
serves as a major hub for commuter traffic into and out of London.
Incidentally describing Reading
as a city could raise the odd eye-brow locally. Despite its size and population
it is not technically a city. To become a city in the UK you need a royal
charter. To gain a charter the town used to have to contain a cathedral
and due to Reading having such a large abbey a cathedral was never built
there, the law was changed in 1889 however many people still believe this
to be the case. Charters are now granted periodically with Reading loosing
out, most recently to Newport, Wolverhampton and to the locals most annoyingly
to their south coast rivals Brighton and Hove. However none of this has
stopped the council pretending, with lots of new signs directing people
to the “city centre” and all buses (Reading Buses is owned and operated
by Reading Borough council and controls nearly all routes in and around
Reading) for a while displayed “City Centre” as their destination, although
this has now changed to "central Reading".
Reading has become more famous
recently as the local football team was promoted to the Premier League,
in part at least thanks to benefactor, John Madejski, who built the Madejski
Stadium located south of the town. This has raised awareness of the town
throughout the United Kingdom. The promotion also led to a resurgence in
the south of the town with new commercial properties, new housing developments
and new superstores such as B&Q and CostCo.
The city centre has been
transformed over the past 10 years with a modern shopping centre called
The Oracle. Further developments and new apartment blocks are
being built...
Reading
Featured Hotels
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FEATURED
HOTELS IN READING, ENGLAND:
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Copthorne
Hotel Reading
Situated on a lake, this
Reading hotel is close to Madejski Stadium and Reading Greyhound Stadium.
Also nearby are University of Reading and Reading Abbey Ruins. Copthorne
Hotel Reading has tennis courts, a health club, a steam room, and a sauna.
This 4.0-star Reading property features massage and treatment rooms and
beauty services. Business amenities at this 4.0-star property include wireless
Internet access, meeting rooms for small groups, and business services.
Copthorne Hotel Reading has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a coffee shop/café.
24-hour room service is available. |
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Crowne
Plaza Reading
This city-center hotel is
located in Reading, close to Museum of Reading and Reading Town Hall. Also
nearby are Reading Abbey Ruins and University of Reading. Crowne Plaza
Reading has a health club, an indoor pool, a spa tub, a sauna, and a fitness
facility. This 4.0-star Reading property features beauty services. Business
amenities at this 4.0-star property include a business center, wireless
Internet access, meeting rooms for small groups, and secretarial services.
Crowne Plaza Reading has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. 24-hour room service
is available. |
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Hillingdon
Prince Hotel Reading
This Reading hotel is close
to Progress Theatre, Museum of English Rural Life, and St. Giles-in-Reading
Church. Also nearby are University of Reading and Reading Abbey Ruins.
Hillingdon Prince Hotel has a fitness facility. Complimentary wireless
Internet access is available in public areas. Hillingdon Prince Hotel has
a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Business amenities at this 2.0-star property
consist of conference rooms and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange
dry cleaning/laundry services and express check-out. Televisions are equipped
with satellite television channels. |
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Hilton
Reading Hotel
This Reading hotel is conveniently
close to the airport, near Reading Racers Speedway, Reading Greyhound Stadium,
and Madejski Stadium. Also nearby are University of Reading and Reading
Abbey Ruins. Hilton Reading Hotel has an indoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness
facility. This 4.0-star Reading property features a hair salon. Business
amenities at this 4.0-star property include a business center, wireless
Internet access (surcharge), meeting rooms for small groups, and secretarial
services. Hilton Reading Hotel has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a coffee
shop/café. |
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Holiday
Inn Reading South M4
Situated in the business
district, this Reading hotel is close to Madejski Stadium and Reading Greyhound
Stadium. Also nearby are University of Reading and Reading Abbey Ruins.
Holiday Inn Reading South M4 Jct11 has a health club, an indoor pool, a
sauna, and a fitness facility. This 4.0-star Reading property features
massage and treatment rooms and spa services. Business amenities at this
4.0-star property include a business center, wireless Internet access (surcharge),
meeting rooms for small groups, and business services. Holiday Inn Reading
South M4 Jct11 has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. 24-hour room service
is available. |
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Pentahotel
Reading Centre
This design hotel is located
in Reading, close to Hexagon and Oracle. Also nearby are Museum of
Reading and Reading Abbey Ruins. Pentahotel Reading Centre has a
fitness facility. Business amenities at this 4.0-star property include
wireless Internet access, meeting rooms for small groups, and audio-visual
equipment. Pentahotel Reading Centre has a bar/lounge. Room service is
available during limited hours. Event space measuring 580 square meters
consists of a ballroom, exhibit space, conference rooms, and banquet facilities. |
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