Forbury Gardens, Reading

About:

Forbury Gardens is one of Reading’s most cherished green spaces, offering a calm and elegant retreat just moments from the busy town centre. Laid out in the Victorian era, the gardens were designed as a formal pleasure park, and that sense of order and grace still defines them today. Wide paths curve through neatly kept lawns, flowerbeds burst with seasonal colour, and mature trees provide shade and quiet corners for rest.

At the heart of the gardens stands the Maiwand Lion, a striking cast-iron statue commemorating soldiers of the Royal Berkshire Regiment who died in the Battle of Maiwand in 1880. Fierce and unmistakable, it has become one of Reading’s most recognisable landmarks and a focal point of the park. Nearby, the remains of Reading Abbey sit just beyond the garden boundaries, subtly linking the space to the town’s much deeper medieval past.

Forbury Gardens is a popular spot for both locals and visitors. Office workers eat lunch on benches, families pause during shopping trips, and students linger with books or coffee. In warmer months, the gardens feel especially lively, yet never overwhelming. Balancing history, beauty, and everyday use, Forbury Gardens offers a moment of calm reflection at the very centre of Reading’s urban life.