Thames River Cruise

On one of my visits to the Thames Promenade at Reading, I saw one of the boats belonging to Thames River Cruise getting ready to depart on a cruise.

On inquiring I came to know that they offer a lot of types of cruises.

There is a cruise to Mapledurham House and Watermill departing from the Thameside Promenade at 2 pm and collecting you again at 5pm and returning you to the start point at 5.40pm

A round trip runs from the Thameside Promenade at Caversham on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from Saturday 4th April until Sunday 27th September. These trips vary from 30-80 minutes in duration depending on the time of departure.

They also organise cruises to the Beale Park. Admission to Beale Park is an additional fee that is charged on entrance at the park.

You can also charter one of their vessels for private celebrations like wedding, birthdays or corporate events.

For more information and booking contact

Thames River Cruise
Pipers Island
Bridge Street
Caversham
Reading
RG4 8AH

Tel: 0118 948 1088
Fax: 0118 946 1497

Outside Inside Music Festival 2009 at The Oracle Beach, Reading

Outside Inside Music Festival at The Oracle in Reading



Lice music on the beach from 30th July 2009 - 31st August 2009
The legendary indie music festival continues its tour around Reading with an appearance by many bands on three stages at The Oracle.
On the 22nd of August, from noon til 7pm on the Riverside Beach stage - then the action switches indoors from 7pm till late at both Bar Ha Ha and Old Orleans.

Appearing at various times will be... ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM BAND/ MIDI MIDIS/ THE SKANGSTERS/ THE QUOTES/ MATT TANNER/ SAMMY BEATNIX.





And between 2 and 4pm there will be the chance to win tickets to THE Reading Festival.

Dates & Timings

Thursday 30th July - World Music - 6pm-9pm
Thursday 6th August - Jazz - 6pm-9pm
Thursday 13th August - Classical - 6pm-9pm
Thursday 20th August - Indie - 6pm-10pm

The Beach Opening Times

Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri - 9.30am-8pm
Thursday (20th August 10pm) - 9.30am-9pm
Saturday - 9am-7pm
Sunday - 11am-5pm
Bank Holiday Monday (31st August) - 10am-6pm



Children's Activities on Saturdays*

Saturday 22nd August: Fun & Fitness on the Sand!

* Relay races: run backwards, egg and spoon, sack races, wheelbarrow race
* Obstacle courses
* Beach aerobics
* Dancing (the Macarena, congo line, hula)
* Skipping
* Party games (musical bumps and statues, tag)
* Parents' round
* Sports trivia quiz
* Medals and certificates



Saturday 29th August: Ancient Egyptians

* Face painting (snakes)
* Find the jewels (treasure hunt)
* Build a pyramid competition
* Write your name in hieroglyphics (for a bookmark, or on tea-stained paper)
* Story-telling on the magic carpet! (Ancient Egyptian tales)
* Matching game (match the gods to their functions)
* Mummy game (wrap your team member up in loo roll and guide them through the obstacle course or relay race)
* Relay races (as camels, and 'pass the magic lamp')
* Ancient Egypt quiz


VENUE:
The Oracle Shopping Centre,
Reading

For more information visit http://www.theoracle.com

Family Fun Day at Reading - Organised by SPARK

Spark Education organized a free, fun family day at Battle Square in Reading on the 22nd of August 2009.



Among the various activities organized there was:

An art competition with the chance to win an ipod and other great prizes.

Live music and entertainment

Fun games and activities




A cake stand

Balloon modelling


Face painting


Raffles and tombola

Clay Art session for the kids




The venue was:
Battle Square,
West Village,
Just off the Oxford Road,
Reading West

Kings Meadow in Reading

Kings Meadow is a large open space witha pleasant walk along the towpath to Reading Bridge. It is a popular picnic site with groups of mature trees. The Caversham Lock is at the east end. Willow basket beds have been planted. The meadow is used for football and rugby games. The meadow is susceptible to flooding during the winter.









This area has long been used as the siteof a variety of public events such as Reading market, a race course, Reading shows and fairs.

The meadow is also a popular spot for mooring and fishing.












Address:
Napier Road,
Reading
RG1 8DF

Hills Meadow in Reading

Hills meadow is a major area of open space adjoining the Kings Meadow. It is located on the west of Reading Bridge and stretches upto the Heron Island.

A pleasant stretch of mown grass and walkways alongside the tree lined stream which eventually meets the River Thames. There is also a grassy hillocky BMX track and car parking. There is also a Skate boarding ramp.







Fishing at Hills Meadow - It is good for most coarse fish. Good roach especially in Autumn and Winter.


HILLS MEADOW,
CAVERSHAM
RG4 8DH

Hill Meadow is named after Arthur Hill, mayor of Reading from 1883-7, who was the last private owner of the site.

The View Island in Reading

The View Island is a tiny island that links Reading (from Kings Meadow) to Caversham (to Hills Meadow). The island is so called because it offers a nice view of the Caversham Wier.







The island can be accessed both from Caversham and Reading. There is a entrance for the pedestrians by a footbridge from the Thames Path in Hills Meadow. Car parking is also avaialble at Hills Meadow.

To access it from the Reading side, reach the Caversham wier and cross the wier to reach the island.



There are several wooden chain-saw carved sculptures on the island.



Seating arrangements have also been made on the island.



There is a circular walk around the island with grass-mown trackways, and some through long grass.








Location

Off Napier Road,
Reading
RG1 8DF

An aerial view of the View Island.


Image courtesy Google Maps.

Reading City Centre - Broad Street

Reading City centre is where all the action is - shopping malls, banks, pubs, the city museum, railway station, eateries and everything else.

Reading railway station is situated on the northern edge of the town centre. It is close to the main retail and commercial areas as also to River Thames. Adjacent to the railway station is the bus interchange, served by most of Reading's urban and rural bus services.





Also located near the city centre is the Museum of Reading. It is located on Blagrave Street and is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10.00 am to 4.00 p.m. On Sundays it is open from 11.00am to 4.00pm Entry is free.



Reading is a major regional shopping centre. Most of the shops/malls are clustered in a fairly compact downtown area. Outdoor pedestrianised shopping streets are principally found in Broad Street. Indoor shopping malls such as the Oracle Centre and the Broad Street Mall are also quite popular with the shopping crowd.







Reading picked up two awards at a prestigious regional horticultural competition. You can see oases of flowers across the town adding color to the environment.

The Blundells Copse - Nature Park in Tilehurst, Reading

Blundells Copse was designated as a Wildlife Heritage Site and a Local Nature Reserve way back in 1992.





Blundells Copse is an U shaped thickly wooded area with a natural stream running through its entire length.









There is a wooden bridge across the stream which was recently rebuilt by volunteers. The path across the stream leads into the playing fields of Moorlands School.



Blundells copse is bounded on all sides by modern housing estates and is a quiet enclave hosting a wide variety of shrubs, trees, flowers, birds and insects.







The copse is around 13 acres of close growing ancient woodland with numerous mature oak trees.



Location:
Tilehurst
Reading
RG30 4SR


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