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If you thought the old-world charm of Britain was exclusive to London, think again!
In fact, there’s even more to see just half an hour outside the city.
Seeing a 40% increase in international visitorsit looks like we have an exciting new day trip – or even a weekend away – from Britain’s most iconic city.
As we all know, London is not exactly budget-friendly. It’s more of a budget breaker.
I made that mistake both times by trying to navigate all the famous sites without spending a fortune, and failed drastically.
That’s one of the many reasons travelers venture outside London, especially if you can use it as a springboard to nearby places like Bath, Oxford and now. the timeless city of Reading.
30 minute train ride to remarkable ruins
Be sure to check the latest travel warnings and entry requirements before your trip.
If you’ve been to London, you know that getting into the city can be quite tricky, especially now that Britain requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) upon entry.
I never get tired of traveling, but my least favorite part is the gauntlet immediately after the flight – you know, the bureaucracy of answering “why are you here?” kind of questions, followed by figuring out a new country’s public transportation system, even if it’s just a simple ride into the city center.
A bus to the city seems to take a whole day, at least that is my experience.
The reality is that the trains in London are pretty amazing, and some trains take less time to get off than to get on.
One of those trains is the Great Western Railway service London Paddington to Reading, a town where you wish walls could talk.
Like the BBC’s tourism report As it stands now, they actually imply that it is a good option to settle here to save money, while immersing ourselves in the wonderful cityscape we have all dreamed of:
“People can stay in one of Reading’s many excellent hotels knowing that they can easily catch the train into London to see all the sights the capital has to offer before returning to Reading where they can enjoy a meal.”
To catch the train, you’ll need to head to London Paddington, where travelers can choose between the fast service to Reading in just 22 minutes or the slower Elizabeth line for a more wallet-friendly, stop-by-stop journey that feels a little more local.
Once here you will be welcomed by one of Britain’s most unique cityscapes packed with history, especially the remarkably preserved one Abbey ruins.
No more day-long excursions: ruins in the heart of the city
Look, we get it: there are some ancient wonders that have stood the test of time, making them incredible to visit.
Whether it’s Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, or whatever that disc-shaped object is buried deep beneath the pyramids of Egypt, visiting some of these bucket-list ruins can take up a big chunk of your trip.
So, let’s do some math, shall we?
A train ride from London takes up to half an hour and takes you to Reading Station.
It’s only from there an 8-minute walk from the abbey ruinsmeaning you’ve only spent about 40 minutes of your day so far.
You’re probably wondering what’s so special about this site. This is why:
It was once one of Europe’s largest royal monasteries, founded by King Henry I in the 11th century.
Better yet, the Abbey Quarter houses 900 years of history in the heart of the city, including Henry I’s burial place, Jane Austen’s schoolroom and Oscar Wilde’s nearby former prison.
These days you may find modern amenities in Reading, but there’s still plenty that makes the city center a time stamp.
But it’s not a big city. You can easily visit all the worthwhile sights in one day, especially since the ruins are free entry.
In fact, BBC reported that 4.6 million people visit Reading just for one day.
How safe is Britain right now?
This is where things get a bit risky.
In case you missed it, Britain has issued a ‘severe’ terrorism warning, the second highest on their scale.
Although the official warning from the US Embassy did not specifically state that London was the main target, common sense certainly says so, since an attack has already taken place, which caused the warning in the first place.
Our own real-time security index, which piggybacks on the embassy, tells a different story – at least for now, with a current score of 88/100.
Travelers say Britain passes the ‘vibe check’ and ranks as one of Europe’s safest destinations from a traveler’s perspective, while the US State Department has labeled it Level 2: Be extra careful.
