A Wet Weekend in Caversham: Indoor Plans and Dry Walks

Indoor havens in Caversham

Start at Caversham Library on Church Street, a quiet spot with local maps and newspapers where you can wait out a shower. A few doors down, the independent bookshop on Prospect Street has a good children's section and a cafe. For coffee, try the cluster around Caversham Bridge – the walk there from Reading Station takes about 20 minutes via Friar Street and the bridge itself. If you are driving, the Waitrose car park on Church Street offers two hours free, though spaces fill quickly on Saturdays.

The Riverside Museum on Blake's Lock is small but free, with displays on the Kennet and Avon Canal. It opens Wednesday to Sunday, 11am–4pm, and is a 15-minute walk from Caversham along the towpath. For something more active, the Caversham Health & Fitness centre on Richfield Avenue has a pay-as-you-go pool and a soft-play area for younger children. Expect around £5–£8 per adult for a swim; check times before you go. These are the kinds of places that make a rainy day in Caversham manageable without a car.

Dry walks and where to take them

When the rain eases, the Thames Path between Caversham Lock and Sonning is a flat, mostly paved walk of about 3 miles. It is not completely dry – puddles gather near the lock – but the tree cover helps. Start at the Caversham Lock car park (free for two hours) and walk east towards Sonning. The path passes the French Horn hotel, a landmark worth noting for a future sunny lunch. Allow 1.5 hours for the round trip. Best months for this walk are May and September, when the path is quieter and the ground firmer.

If you need a shorter stroll, the Christchurch Meadows loop is 1.2 miles and takes about 25 minutes. It is tarmac and drains well, so it stays passable after rain. Enter from Gosbrook Road or via the bridge from Reading. For a drier option, the Oracle shopping centre in Reading town centre is a 15-minute walk from Caversham Bridge and has a covered riverside walk along the Kennet. It is not a nature walk, but it keeps you out of the wet. I would book a hotel near Caversham Bridge for easy access to both.

Rainy-day culture and entertainment

The Odeon in Reading town centre (on Friar Street) is the nearest cinema to Caversham, a 10-minute bus ride on the 24 or 27 from Caversham centre. Tickets cost around £10–£13 for adults. For live performance, the Hexagon on Queens Walk has a varied programme; check its website for matinees. The Reading Museum on Blagrave Street is free and houses the Bayeux Tapestry replica – a good way to spend an hour if the rain sets in. It is a 12-minute walk from Caversham Bridge, mostly under cover once you reach the Broad Street Mall.

For something more local, the Caversham Picture Framing and Gallery on Prospect Street often has small exhibitions by local artists – free to browse. The Rising Sun Arts Centre on Silver Street, a 20-minute walk from Caversham, hosts occasional weekend workshops; check listings. If you are travelling with children, the Reading Central Library on Abbey Square has a dedicated children's floor and free craft sessions on Saturday mornings. None of these need booking ahead, which makes them ideal for a spontaneous wet weekend.

Practicalities for a wet-weather stay

Book a hotel in Caversham or near Reading Station for the best flexibility. Caversham has a few guesthouses along Church Street and Prospect Street, while the big chains cluster around Reading Station. A taxi from Reading Station to Caversham costs around £8–£10; the bus takes 15 minutes. If you are arriving by train, note that Reading Station is a 25-minute walk to Caversham Bridge, or a short bus ride on the 24 from stop E outside the station. Driving? Use the Reading Station car park (postcode RG1 1LZ) for 24-hour access.

For meals, the pubs along the river – the Crown on the Bridge and the Flowing Spring – serve food all day, but book ahead for Sunday lunch. The Waitrose cafe on Church Street is a reliable fallback for a quick lunch. Avoid relying on the riverside walks after heavy rain; the towpath floods near Sonning. Instead, use the Christchurch Meadows loop or the Oracle's covered walk. My pick for a wet weekend: stay at a guesthouse on Prospect Street, use the library and museum, and take the short meadow walk when the rain pauses.