Things to Do in Reading in December

If you're tackling your Christmas shopping in Reading, The Oracle brings together a well-appointed mix of retailers for different people on your list. The trick is knowing where to look for the type of gift you need, rather than working your way through every shop.

Apple

For a gift that's likely to be used every day, Apple gives you plenty of technology options to consider. iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches and accessories cover different budgets and interests, while the store also offers help if you're unsure which device is right for the person you're buying for.

It can also be a practical stop if you're already planning to replace or upgrade your own device before Christmas. That makes Apple a solid choice for both straightforward gift shopping and those harder-to-buy-for people who tend to choose their own technology.

Oliver Bonas

Oliver Bonas is worth considering when you're looking for something more personal than a conventional technology or clothing gift. The retailer covers fashion, accessories, jewellery and homeware, giving you plenty of directions to take your search.

That range makes it a good option when you're shopping for someone whose taste you know, but whose exact present you haven't decided on yet. A small accessory can work for one person, while homeware or a piece of jewellery might suit someone else.

Office

If trainers or footwear are on your Christmas list, Office gives you a more focused place to start. The retailer stocks a broad selection of shoes and trainers, including familiar names across casual and streetwear styles.

It's also a strong option for gifts where you already know the recipient's preferred brand or style. If you're unsure about sizing, it's worth checking the retailer's current returns and gift policies before buying.

ProCook

For someone who enjoys cooking, ProCook takes Christmas shopping in a more practical direction. Its range focuses on cookware and kitchen equipment, so it can work for everything from an everyday upgrade to a more considered present for someone who spends plenty of time in the kitchen.

It's particularly relevant if you're buying for a new homeowner, an enthusiastic home cook or anyone who has mentioned needing to replace an old pan or piece of kitchen equipment.

Space NK

Beauty presents can be difficult to choose when you don't know exactly what someone uses, but Space NK gives you access to a wide range of premium beauty brands in one place. You'll find skincare, make-up, fragrance and other beauty products, making it possible to shop by category rather than looking for one specific brand.

For a present, smaller beauty sets and individual products can also be easier to choose than committing to a larger item. If you're unsure, the store's beauty expertise can help narrow down the options.

Rituals

Rituals is another good fit for beauty and wellbeing gifts, particularly if you're looking for something that feels considered without needing to know someone's exact make-up or skincare routine.

Its products cover body care, fragrance and home fragrance, with gift sets providing an easy starting point for Christmas shopping. The store also offers gift services, which can be handy when you're trying to get everything wrapped and ready before the big day.

HMV

For music, film and pop-culture fans, HMV gives you a very different kind of Christmas shopping experience. Alongside music and films, its range includes vinyl, collector's editions, merchandise, trading cards and other entertainment-related gifts.

That makes it worth a look for anyone who already has a favourite artist, franchise or film series. It can also be a good place to browse when you're looking for something more unexpected than a conventional Christmas present.

Christmas shopping takes longer than expected surprisingly often, particularly when you're buying for several people. Having a proper meal somewhere along the way means you can step away from the shops before heading back out for the rest of your list.

Comptoir Libanais

Comptoir Libanais brings Lebanese and Middle Eastern-inspired food to the shopping trip, with a menu built around mezze, grills and other dishes designed for sharing or mixing and matching.

It's a natural choice when a group can't quite agree on what they want to eat, as there are plenty of different flavours and styles of dish to choose from. The menu also includes vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options, making it easier to accommodate different dietary requirements.

London Street Brasserie

If you'd rather turn lunch or dinner into more of a pause from Christmas shopping, London Street Brasserie has a different setting, overlooking the River Kennet.

The riverside location gives you a chance to step away from the pace of the shopping centre and sit down for a proper meal. It's particularly well suited to a December day when you're meeting friends or family and want the meal to feel like part of the day rather than simply a break between shops.

Street Burger

For a more casual meal, Street Burger keeps things centred on burgers, fries and other straightforward favourites. It's a natural choice when you're after something filling without turning lunch into a long occasion.

The Reading restaurant reopened at The Oracle in 2026, so it's also a sensible option to know about if you haven't visited the centre recently. Check the latest restaurant opening information before travelling, particularly around the festive period.

Miller & Carter

Miller & Carter gives you a more substantial option for a December meal, with steak at the centre of its menu alongside other dishes.

It's a better fit for occasions when you want to sit down for a longer meal, whether that's a lunch break with family or dinner after finishing the Christmas shopping. The restaurant also has private dining available, which can work for a larger gathering.

Côte

Côte brings a French brasserie approach to the list, with familiar French dishes and a setting that suits anything from a relaxed lunch to an evening meal.

Its location also makes it convenient if you're combining dinner with a film at Vue Cinema. Checking the restaurant's current opening times before your visit is sensible in December, when festive schedules can differ from the usual timetable.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack on Broad Street is another option for American-style burgers, fries and shakes. Its Reading restaurant opened in 2026, making it a relatively new addition to the town centre's food scene.

Not every food stop needs to be a full meal. Sometimes a quick snack or drink is all you need before heading back to the Christmas list.

Auntie Anne's

Auntie Anne's is the place to look when a warm, freshly made pretzel sounds better than sitting down for lunch. Sweet and savoury options make it easy to choose something based on how hungry you are.

It's also well suited to a quick stop when you've still got several shops to get through. Pick something up, take a few minutes to recharge and carry on with the list.

Boost Juice Bars

If you want something lighter during a busy shopping trip, Boost Juice Bars offers smoothies, juices and other drinks.

It's an easy alternative to a more substantial café stop, particularly when you want to keep moving. A smoothie can also be a natural pick-me-up when you're halfway through a long afternoon of Christmas shopping.

Millie's Cookies

Millie's Cookies is a straightforward choice when you're looking for something sweet. Cookies work equally well as a quick treat while you're shopping or something to take away for later.

It's the sort of stop that doesn't require much planning, which can be convenient when the main purpose of the trip is getting through a Christmas shopping list.

Yogoo

Yogoo gives you another way to take a break from the usual festive snacks, with frozen yoghurt and toppings that let you build your own combination.

It's a particularly easy stop to fit into a shopping trip because you don't need to set aside time for a full meal. If you're shopping with children, it's also a simple way to turn a necessary break into something they'll look forward to.

The final presents can often be the hardest to find. Stocking fillers need to be small enough to fit into a stocking but still feel like you've put some thought into them, which is where smaller gifts, beauty products, food and novelty items come into their own.

Accessorize

Accessorize is a natural starting point for smaller fashion gifts, with jewellery, bags and accessories that can work when you're looking for something easy to wrap.

It's a great option when you know the recipient's general style but don't want to choose clothing or footwear. A smaller accessory can add something to a larger present or work on its own as a stocking filler.

KIKO Milano

For make-up and beauty gifts, KIKO Milano gives you plenty of smaller products to browse without needing to commit to a large present.

Lip products, eye make-up and other beauty items can work well as stocking fillers, particularly if you already know the colours or products the recipient likes. It's also a suitable place to look when you're shopping for several people and need a few different price points.

Whittard of Chelsea

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate make practical stocking fillers for anyone who enjoys a warm drink. Whittard of Chelsea specialises in exactly that, with giftable products that don't depend on knowing someone's clothing size or personal style.

It's also a good option when you're buying for a host, colleague or family member and want something that can be enjoyed rather than stored away.

Lush

Lush is well suited to smaller self-care gifts, with bath, body and skincare products available individually or as part of gift sets.

For stocking fillers, smaller products can be easier to choose than a full set. If you're buying for someone else, the range of scents and product types also gives you plenty of ways to match the gift to their preferences.

MenKind

MenKind takes a different approach to stocking fillers, with gadgets, games, collectibles and novelty gifts.

It's worth browsing if you're shopping for someone who is difficult to buy for or who already seems to own everything practical. The mix of products means you can look for something connected to their interests rather than defaulting to another generic gift.

TK Maxx

TK Maxx is fitting when you don't have a precise gift in mind. Its constantly changing selection covers fashion, homeware, beauty, accessories and other gift ideas, so browsing is part of the experience.

That unpredictability can work in your favour during December. You may not find the same thing twice, but you're more likely to come across something unexpected that suits someone on your list.

Hotel Chocolat

Chocolate is one of the easier stocking fillers to get right, particularly when you don't know someone's exact hobbies or clothing preferences. Hotel Chocolat has a range of chocolates and gift options suited to Christmas.

It's also a practical final stop if you're trying to add a small edible gift to someone's present. There isn't any sizing, colour matching or complicated decision-making involved.

Once the Christmas list is finished, Reading has plenty of ways to spend the rest of the day. Some are indoors and well suited for when the weather turns, while others give you an excuse to get outside and see a different side of the town.

Catch a Film at Vue Cinema

Vue Cinema at The Oracle is an easy way to finish a shopping day without travelling elsewhere. With multiple screens showing current releases and special events, you can turn a few hours of shopping into a longer day out. It's a natural choice in December, when cold or wet weather can make outdoor plans less appealing. Check the latest listings before you go, as film schedules change regularly and special screenings can have different timings.

Get Some Fresh Air at Prospect Park

If you've spent most of the day indoors, Prospect Park offers a change of pace. Reading's largest open space includes woodland, a pond and areas for walking, as well as facilities for sport and recreation.

The park itself is free to enter, so you can simply take a walk and spend some time outdoors without adding another ticket to your December plans. Just bear in mind that individual facilities within the park can have their own charges and opening times.

Visit the Cole Museum of Zoology

The Cole Museum of Zoology is one of Reading's more unusual free attractions. Part of the University of Reading, it houses thousands of specimens including skeletons, taxidermy, fossils and historic models.

Admission is free, making it a sensible option when you want to do something indoors without paying for another attraction. The museum normally opens on weekdays, but the University closes for periods over Christmas. Check the museum's latest visitor information before travelling, particularly if you're visiting in the second half of December.

Explore Reading Museum

Reading Museum is another free indoor option, with collections covering local history, archaeology, art and natural history. Highlights include the Bayeux Tapestry replica and material connected with Reading's industrial past.

It's a great stop if you want to understand more about the town while you're here, rather than simply shopping in it. The museum's Christmas opening schedule is different from its usual timetable, so check the latest dates before visiting. It closes over the Christmas and New Year period.

Explore Reading Abbey Ruins

For a dose of Reading's history without paying an admission fee, head to the Abbey Ruins. The remains of Reading Abbey include parts of the south transept, chapter house, dormitory, refectory and other medieval buildings.

The ruins are open daily from dawn until dusk, subject to occasional closures for events or private use. They're also close enough to other historic parts of the town to form part of a longer walk, rather than requiring a separate trip.

Walk Along Chestnut Walk

Chestnut Walk is a simple way to connect some of Reading's historic sights on foot. The route runs between the River Kennet and the high wall of Reading Gaol, with the Abbey Ruins accessible from the walk.

Look out for the memorial gates and Oscar Wilde memorial seat along the route. It's free, open to the public and doesn't require advance planning, making it a worthwhile addition to a December day when you want to stretch your legs between indoor activities.

A December day in Reading doesn't have to be entirely about Christmas shopping. The Oracle gives you a practical starting point for presents, food and a quick break, while the wider town offers plenty of ways to fill the rest of the day.

You could make a full shopping trip of it, stopping for lunch before finishing the last few gifts. Alternatively, combine a visit to the Abbey Ruins and Chestnut Walk with one of Reading's free museums, or keep things indoors with a film at Vue if the weather isn't on your side.

The main thing to remember is that December opening hours can change. Check individual venues before travelling, particularly around Christmas and New Year, so your plans match the latest published information.