Things to Do in Reading

For families who want multiple activities in one place, The Oracle covers bowling, cinema, dining, a free play area and family facilities without crossing a road or moving the car.

Hollywood Bowl has lane bumpers and lighter balls for younger children. Vue Cinema runs Mini Mornings with reduced-price family screenings during holidays. For younger children, Play 9 is a free interactive play area on the Lower Mall near Fuel Juice Bar, with educational games designed for toddlers and early primary ages.

For food, highchairs are available at all of the centre’s restaurants. Las Iguanas offers a kids menu, halal options and free organic baby food on request. Wagamama has kids’ katsu and noodle bowls at a counter-style setup that suits children who find sitting still difficult. Nando’s lets children pick their own spice level. For a quicker option, Five Guys does customisable burgers with a kids meal deal.

The Family Room on the Riverside Level has a private feeding area, changing spaces and an interactive play and reading zone. Pushchair hire is free from Shopmobility, covering newborn to age 4. The centre also has a Changing Places facility with a height-adjustable bench, tracking hoist and space for two carers.

These are the activities that genuinely burn energy and reset moods. If you have children who struggle with long museum visits or static entertainment, start here.

Bowling At The Oracle

Hollywood Bowl at The Oracle is an easy half term option because it requires no advance planning, suits ages 3 upwards and sits inside a complex where you can add food or a film to the same trip. Lane bumpers and lighter balls are available for younger children, and morning slots during half term tend to be quieter.

Best for: Ages 3 to 14

Cost: Typically £7 to £10 per person per game

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

Practical: Book in advance to secure preferred times. Combine with lunch or a riverside walk

The weather in Reading can turn grey, therefore these activities allow you to stay central and minimise travel.

Reading Museum Half Term Workshops

Reading Museum runs structured family programming during every school holiday, including craft sessions, trails and hands-on workshops. Entry is free, and workshops are typically £1.50 to £3 per child.

Children can explore the replica Bayeux Tapestry, Victorian galleries and themed displays before joining creative sessions and aim to arrive mid-morning for drop-in activities.

Best for: Ages 5 to 12

Cost: Free entry, workshops £1.50 to £3

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

Practical: Pair with Forbury Gardens for a full low-cost morning

Vue Cinema At The Oracle

Vue Cinema runs Mini Mornings every Saturday and during school holidays, with reduced prices on family-friendly screenings. During half term, weekday matinees are usually the calmest option. You can book online to secure seats and combine a film with bowling or lunch without leaving the building.

Best for: All ages depending on film rating

Cost: Typically £5 to £9 per child depending on format and time

Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

Practical: Morning or early afternoon screenings are quieter. Combine with bowling or dining at The Oracle

Escape Rooms In Reading Town Centre

For older children who want something immersive, Reading’s escape rooms offer team-based puzzle challenges in themed rooms. Teams solve clues within a set time limit, which suits siblings or friend groups aged 10 and above who want a sense of independence.

Best for: Ages 10 to 14

Cost: Typically £20 to £30 per person

Time needed: 60 to 90 minutes

Practical: Advance booking required. Check minimum age requirements. Best as a standalone activity rather than pairing with another long outing

Not every day needs to involve tickets. Mixing paid and free activities keeps the week and your budget manageable.

Forbury Gardens Playground

Located beside the Abbey Quarter, this central playground has climbing frames, swings and open lawns. It suits younger children well and its central location makes it easy to combine with museum visits or riverside walks. Visit before 11am during half term to avoid peak crowds.

Best for: Ages 3 to 10

Cost: Free

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

Prospect Park

Prospect Park is one of Reading’s larger green spaces, with a playground, open lawns and a themed 9-hole mini-golf course featuring Reading-inspired landmarks. The mini-golf costs around £5.50 per person or £22 for a family group of up to five, and children aged 2 and under go free.

Best for: Ages 3 to 12

Cost: Park and playground free. Mini golf around £5.50 per person

Time needed: 90 minutes to 3 hours

Practical: Mini golf is pay on arrival, check opening hours in advance. Parking available near entrance. Good for picnics

Thames Path Riverside Walk

The Thames Path between The Oracle and Caversham Bridge offers flat, pushchair-friendly walking and space for scooters. It pairs naturally with town centre activities and helps break up indoor-heavy days.

Best for: All ages

Cost: Free

Time needed: 30 to 90 minutes

If you are planning across five days, mixing spending levels helps.

Under £10 per child: playground visits, Reading Museum workshops, cinema weekday matinees, single bowling game.

£10 to £20 per child: Ninja Warrior, Coral Reef, Wellington Country Park.

Higher spend day: escape rooms, full-day adventure parks.

Spreading paid activities across the week reduces pressure and keeps expectations balanced.

Shorter, contained activities work best for younger children: morning playground sessions, early cinema screenings, drop-in library crafts and short museum visits. Keeping outings under two hours often leads to better results than attempting full-day schedules.

Older children often want challenges or independence. Escape rooms, Ninja Warrior, bowling competitions and cinema premieres all give them something to look forward to. The Oracle’s compact layout also allows older children a degree of independence while you stay nearby.

You do not need a rigid itinerary, but a loose structure helps prevent the Wednesday slump:

Monday: High-energy day such as Coral Reef.

Tuesday: Budget town centre morning with museum and riverside walk.

Wednesday: Creative indoor session followed by cinema.

Thursday: Larger outdoor day at Wellington or Dinton.

Friday: Flexible central day at The Oracle — bowling, lunch, film, Play 9 for younger ones.

Getting to Reading

Reading is exceptionally well-connected. The Elizabeth Line links the town directly to central London, while fast trains connect to cities across England. Most attractions are close together, making walking the easiest way to get around. Reading station is around five minutes’ walk. Bus routes 1, 3 and 10 also stop nearby.

Parking at The Oracle

The Oracle has two car parks: Riverside (1,611 spaces, open 24 hours) and Holy Brook (595 spaces). Both charge £3 for the first hour, rising to £6 for two to three hours and £9 for four to five hours. Over 70 dedicated family parking spaces give you extra room for car seats and buggies. EV charging is available in both car parks.

Half term in Reading works best when you anchor each day with one main activity, mix high-energy days with calmer ones, combine paid and free options, and use central clustering to minimise travel.

From water slides and obstacle courses to playground resets and creative workshops, Reading offers enough variety to structure five days without repetition. You know your children best, so plan around energy levels and interests rather than ambition and the week will take care of itself.

If you're visiting Reading and want everything in one place, The Oracle brings together dining, entertainment, and shopping right on the river.

The beauty of The Oracle is how easily these combine. Bowling, then lunch. A film, then dinner. An afternoon browsing the shops, then drinks on the terrace as the sun goes down. It's where Reading comes together and where a visit to town turns into a proper day out.