Address: Forbury Gardens, 26 The Forbury, Reading, RG1 3EJ
Location
Forbury Gardens are located in the centre of Reading, Berkshire. The gardens are Grade II listed and back on to the 11th-century Reading Abbey.
What's there?
At Forbury Gardens, you will find:
Picnic areas
Cafe
Bandstand
Maiwand Lion Statue WW1 Memorial
Rose gardens
Fountain
Forbury Hill
Access to Reading Abbey
Walking through the gardens, you will find flower beds full of colour, rustic garden walls, and plenty of hidden nooks and crannies where you can stop and take in the views.
Throughout the park, you will find display boards sharing details on each section of the garden's history.
The Forbury Gardens also have direct access to Reading Abbey, as well as the River Kennet.
During the summer, there is live music played at the bandstand every weekend. There is also an on-site cafe that serves coffee, ice cream, and lunches.
Parking
There is no on-site car park at this location, but there is pay and display roadside parking along Valpy Street and The Forbury road. Pay-and-display parking has a two-hour limit.
There are seven disabled parking spaces next to the gardens on The Forbury road.
Blue badge holders park for free for four hours.
Accessibility
Forbury Gardens are accessible for people who struggle to walk long distances, with plenty of benches, every 20 metres or so, located throughout the park.
The park is also accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, with level paths and plenty of space.
There is a steep ramp to access Forbury Hill by wheelchair. On foot, there are a small number of steps.
There is a slope to access Reading Abbey (picture included below).
Conclusion
Overall, Forbury Gardens are accessible for people of all ages and abilities. The park is ideal for visitors looking for a relaxing break from the busy town of Reading. The Gardens and abbey also have a lot to offer history enthusiasts.
The small number of parking spaces is something that you may need to consider before visiting the park during peak times.
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