{"id":7063798,"date":"2026-09-22T07:27:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:27:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/town-and-country-life-in-reading-charis-white-interiors\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T07:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T07:27:14","slug":"town-and-country-life-in-reading-charis-white-interiors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7063798","title":{"rendered":"Town and country life in Reading \u2013 Charis White Interiors"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Reading isn\u2019t just the Berkshire town that has missed out (4 times) on being awarded city status. Renowned for its annual music festival and IT industry, Reading was where Oscar Wilde was famously incarcerated but is perhaps less well known for its new film studios and connection to King Henry I<\/a>? It is as a desirable place to live though that is maybe what makes Reading one of the UK\u2019s best-kept secrets.<\/p>\n

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Reading in the news<\/h2>\n

Lifestyle and news features recommending Reading as a place to live have been emerging this year in the Sunday Times, The I and Guardian newspapers.<\/p>\n

And since Reading is hometown for blog HQ, I couldn\u2019t resist thinking about some of the lifestyle elements that drew us to it and some of of the best bits we have discovered along the way:<\/p>\n

Location, location<\/h2>\n

To find out why Reading\u2019s geographical location has for centuries been key to its success, you might like to visit a rather excellent piece of visual storytelling (designed and written by Equal Studio<\/a> alongside Reading Museum curatorial staff) on the town\u2019s history at Reading Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The displays tell of Reading\u2019s journey on the banks of the river Thames from the powerful royal Abbey built by King Henry I (where he was buried in 1136), to manufacturing Huntley & Palmer biscuits and Sutton Seeds in the 19th century to its present incarnation of being one of the UK\u2019s leading centres for the IT industry.<\/p>\n

There are so many interesting Reading artefacts to see from original stone carved capitals from the 12th century Abbey ruins<\/a> to a wood-carved newel post from the house at Caversham Court<\/a> that was saved when it was demolished in 1933. The Huntley & Palmer display is also not to be missed.<\/p>\n

In addition to Reading\u2019s fast train link of 25 minutes to London (Elizabeth Line has cut journey times enormously to the West End and the City), one of the additional appeals for me is the blanket of nature that surrounds the town and how the Reading postcode extends out to not only photographic and film-worthy countryside but to beautiful country towns and villages including Pangbourne, Goring and Streatley, Sonning and Henley on Thames.<\/p>\n

A hop and a skip north\/West of Reading, you come across the joys of the market towns of Wallingford and Watlington <\/a>in neighbouring South Oxfordshire.<\/p>\n

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Caversham Bridge with the King\u2019s swans on the river Thames that runs through the town. As seen from Reading Rowing Club. Photo : Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Oxford is 22 miles away and Heathrow is 45 minutes down the M4 with the Reading Rail\/Air bus. The West, South West and North are easily accessible too.<\/p>\n

With more London firms encouraging employees to return to work in the office, Reading maybe once again holds an appeal for its quick commute and hybrid lifestyle of town and country living.<\/p>\n

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A clipped topiary arch on Fry\u2019s Island in the river Thames at Caversham, Reading.
Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Top schools and Russell Group University in Reading<\/h2>\n

The town offers a Russell Group university (recognised for law, estate management and for specializing in climate science) while families are drawn to a wide selection of state schools including UTC an engineering and science secondary school to top grammar and independent schools that include Leighton Park school and The Abbey school (where the novelist Jane Austen was a pupil).<\/p>\n

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Beautiful Reading red brickwork at the 19th century Department of Law building, University of Reading.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Thames Lido<\/h2>\n

Thames Lido<\/a> is a wonderful award-winning conversion of Reading\u2019s Edwardian swimming pool, which is now transformed with treatment rooms, cafe and restaurant. Water for the pool is sustainably heated by hydro electricity supplied by an amazing group of 50 volunteers from nearby Reading Hydro<\/a> at Caversham Lock on the Thames.<\/p>\n

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Thames Lido, Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Fanny\u2019s Antiques<\/h2>\n

Fanny\u2019s Antiques <\/a>opened in Reading around the same time we moved here from London and has been a useful prop resource for me ever since. With its stewardship now passed from owner Julia Lyons to her daughter Melissa, it remains in very capable hands.<\/p>\n

With a mix of vintage and antique stall holders, Fanny\u2019s Antiques is perfectly placed to furnish (sustainably and affordably) all the new nearby flats in the town as well as supply props for productions at Shinfield Film Studios.<\/p>\n

Shinfield Film Studios<\/h2>\n

Shinfield Film and TV Studios<\/a> opened a couple of years ago and is based at the University of Reading\u2019s Thames Valley Science Park. It is the largest new\u00a0<\/em>film and television studio in the UK with a state-of-the-art site that has 18 soundstages, including two of the biggest in the UK at 43,000 sq.ft.<\/p>\n

One of the films currently in production at Shinfield is an adaptation of Enid Blyton\u2019s classic The Magic Faraway Tree starring Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield and is due for release in 2026. <\/p>\n

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Reading creatives<\/h2>\n

Reading has a large creative community of residents connected to the arts, including the Reading Guild of Artists<\/a> and Caversham Arts Trail.<\/a><\/p>\n

One particularly inspiring creative organisation is Jelly<\/a> who champion the arts in Reading. Suzanne Stallard who studied at Kendrick grammar school before going on to art school, started Jelly when she was 24 years old.<\/p>\n

Other creatives from Reading include the actress Kate Winslet (whose first wedding party was held at still one of our favourite restaurants, The Crooked Billet<\/a>), Ricky Gervais who named his film Cemetery Junction, after the location of one of Reading\u2019s rather sadly dilapidated Victorian cemeteries<\/a>, Kenneth Branagh, musician Mike Oldfield and Paddington Bear author Michael Bond.<\/p>\n

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From an outdoor living feature in BBC Homes & Antiques magazine art directed and styled by Charis White, photographed by the river Thames near Henley on Thames<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Green space and sports facilities<\/h2>\n

Within striking distance of the town are several parks, nature reserves and riverside walks. Rowing and canoe<\/a> clubs on both the town and Caversham sides of the river with tennis courts, rugby, hockey and football clubs.<\/p>\n

Reading now has almost an embarrassment of (much-needed) new swimming pools. From public pools Palmer Park and The Rivermead to the renovation of the 1908 outdoor Kings Meadow pool into what is now the fabulous Thames Lido.<\/p>\n

As a family we have loved the traditional cricket clubs in pretty locations. In particular, Kidmore End Cricket Club, which is beautifully framed by woods and fields on the South Oxfordshire border. There are evocative pavilions and early 20th century village halls all over which can be hired for all sorts of events. I once did a photographic shoot at Mapledurham village hall on Vintage Style for The Saturday Express magazine with Karen Kennedy owner of Indigo Rye<\/a> who kindly did hair and make-up.<\/p>\n

In the town itself is one of Reading\u2019s best-kept secrets. We learnt about the Harris Garden<\/a> on the University of Reading campus in lockdown on the Edible Reading blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Woodland anenomes, celandines and bluebell wood in Hampstead Norreys near Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Englefield House<\/a> is privately owned but their beautiful gardens open each Monday to the public for \u00a35 entry. The house and grounds also host film productions as well as concerts each summer. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Museum of English Rural Life<\/h2>\n

The Museum of English Rural Life<\/a> is a real gem of a museum not only because of its subject matter but because of how the items are displayed. The museum is owned and managed by the University of Reading for visitors, with programmes for school children and university students.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a delightful cafe (The Guardian newspaper have voted the MERL cafe as one of their favourite UK cafes this year) with tables both indoors and outside in the garden where there is a small play area with wooden tractor and community flower and vegetable beds. As you sit in the cafe, you can hear from the last showroom the recording of a rainstorm which is interspersed with the hooting of an owl. The combination of which is completely beguiling!<\/p>\n

A group of volunteer knitters further decorate this area with humorous crochet farm animals and bunting. Make sure you visit the gift shop with its delightfully curated countryside selection of gifts. <\/p>\n

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One of the wonderful display cabinets at The Museum of English Rural Life in Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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A wooden play tractor and cart in the garden at The Museum of English Rural Life in Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The cafe at the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading serves refreshments in vintage teacups and plates. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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One of the community flower beds with shepherds hut in the garden at The Museum of English Rural Life in Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Very cute styling around the cafe and shop. Fluffy toy rats embrace over the till at The Museum of English Rural Life, Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Reading real estate<\/h2>\n

With its fast commute to London, Reading still offers family homes in a variety of period styles. One of the big things for us was the decent size of gardens available. A huge amount of flats continue to be built in the town centre, some of which are more attractive than others but they are certainly convenient for non car town centre\/commuting to London life.<\/p>\n

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Edwardian turreted house with integral boat house on river Thames in Caversham, Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Handsome Victorian villas with pretty brickwork designs in Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Huntley Wharf Biscuit Factory flats in Reading. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Reading culture<\/h2>\n

There is a variety of culture in Reading and its surrounding areas. Perhaps you will have seen country houses such as Mapledurham<\/a>, Englefield House<\/a> and National Trust Basildon Park<\/a> which have featured in film and TV series.<\/p>\n

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National Trust Basildon Park. A location for many film productions including Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton and Downton Abbey. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Costumes from Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale film that were on show at National Trust, Basildon Park which featured as the Grantham\u2019s\u2019London House. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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This is part of the 70m-long replica of the Bayeux Tapestry that\u2019s on display in the Reading Museum. <\/a>No need to wait to see it when the fragile original comes to the British Museum in London from September 2026 to July 2027. This version was made by 35 Victorian embroiderers at the end of the 19th century. Photo: Charis White<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The walls of Reading Gaol with Banksy\u2019s humorous escaping prisoner, painted incognito in March 2021 in support of the bid to convert the closed prison into a centre for the arts. Photo: Charis White<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n