Sunday Evening in Reading: What's Open and How to Get Back

Eating and Drinking on a Sunday Evening

Sunday evenings in Reading are quieter than Friday or Saturday, but you will not go hungry. The Oracle riverside complex keeps many restaurants open until 9pm or 10pm, including chains like Pizza Express and Wagamama, plus late-opening bars. For something more local, try the Greyfriar on Greyfriars Road, a Wetherspoon pub that serves food until 10pm and stays open until midnight. The Purple Turtle on Gun Street opens at 7pm on Sundays and has live music most weeks. Most independents in the town centre close by 6pm, so plan ahead if you want a sit-down meal.

If you are after a proper Sunday roast, book early: many pubs serve roasts only until 5pm or 6pm. The Butler on Chatham Street serves until 6pm, and the Allied Arms on St Mary's Butts until 5pm. After that, options narrow to casual dining and takeaways. For a late bite, the kebab shops along Oxford Road stay open until 2am on Sundays, and the Deliveroo and Uber Eats apps cover most of Reading. Expect to pay £10–£15 for a main course in a pub, and £8–£12 for a takeaway.

Getting Around and Getting Back

Reading's buses run a Sunday service, but less frequently than on weekdays. The Reading Buses purple 17 route connects the town centre with the university and Earley, running every 15 minutes until about 11pm. The orange 1 and 2 routes serve the Oxford Road corridor every 10–15 minutes until midnight. If you are staying outside the centre, check the last bus times before you go out. Taxis are plentiful: the main rank is at Reading station, and a trip from the centre to Caversham costs about £8–£10. Uber operates in Reading, with similar fares.

Train services on Sunday evening are reduced. The last train from Reading to London Paddington leaves at 11:30pm, and to Oxford at 10:45pm. If you are heading to Basingstoke, the last direct service is at 11:15pm. Check National Rail before you travel. For those staying in Reading, the town centre is walkable: from the Oracle to Reading station takes about 15 minutes on foot. The Kennet and Avon Canal towpath is unlit at night, so stick to main roads after dark. If you are driving, the Oracle car park charges £2 for evening parking after 6pm.

Where to Stay for a Sunday Night

If you are planning a Sunday evening out, staying in Reading removes the stress of last trains. The town centre has a range of hotels: budget options like Travelodge Reading Central and Ibis Reading Centre start around £50–£70 per night, while mid-range choices like the Novotel Reading Centre and Pentahotel Reading are £80–£120. For a quieter stay, the Great Expectations Hotel on London Street is a boutique option in a converted townhouse, with rooms from £90. All are within a 10-minute walk of the main dining and drinking areas.

Book ahead for Sunday nights, especially during the summer and around university term times. Prices are generally lower than on Saturday nights, but the cheapest rooms sell out. If you are arriving by train, the Ibis and Novotel are closest to the station, both under five minutes' walk. Parking is available at the Oracle and at the station, but check with your hotel for any deals. For a Sunday evening, I would book the Novotel for its central location and comfortable rooms, unless budget is tight, in which case the Travelodge is perfectly adequate.

What to Skip and When to Visit

Not everything in Reading is open on Sunday evening. The Reading Museum and the Museum of English Rural Life close at 4pm or 5pm, so visit earlier in the day. The Hexagon theatre often has no Sunday performances, so check the programme. Many independent shops in the town centre shut at 4pm, and the Broad Street Mall closes at 5pm. If you are looking for a quiet pint, avoid the Oracle's chain bars, which can be noisy with families until about 8pm. Instead, try the Castle Tap on St Mary's Butts, a micropub with a rotating selection of local ales, open until 10pm.

Sunday is a good day to explore the riverside and the canal, but plan your evening around opening hours. The best months for a Sunday visit are May to September, when the weather is milder and more places open later. In winter, many venues close earlier, so check ahead. If you are staying overnight, consider arriving on Saturday to enjoy the busier atmosphere, then have a relaxed Sunday. For a final drink, the Retreat on St John's Street is a small pub with a garden, open until 10:30pm on Sundays. It is a 12-minute walk from the station and well worth the stroll.