Forbury Gardens, Urban park and Grade II listed garden in Reading, England.
Forbury Gardens is a two-hectare landscaped park featuring flower beds, mature trees, and open lawns in Reading's town center. Pathways wind through the space, with a central fountain creating a focal point for the grounds.
The gardens opened in 1856 on the site of Reading Abbey's outer court, a monastery founded by King Henry I in 1121. This connection to medieval times remains visible in the layout and construction of the space today.
The Maiwand Lion serves as a focal point for remembering soldiers who fell in a distant conflict. This monument shapes how visitors experience the gardens and connects the space to broader historical events.
Five entrance gates allow easy access to the gardens from different points around the site. The grounds feature benches and paved pathways suitable for walking and gathering throughout the space.
A Victorian tunnel links the gardens to nearby abbey ruins and incorporates original medieval stones in its construction. This underground passage reveals how later development reused ancient materials from the site.
Location: Reading
Inception: 1854
Official opening: 1856
GPS coordinates: 51.45690,-0.96722
Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:40
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Museum of Reading
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Reading Town Hall
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Simeon Monument
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St James's Church, Reading
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St Laurence's Church, Reading
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Statue of Queen Victoria
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The Blade
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Roseate Reading Hotel
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Assize Courts
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Abbey Gateway
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Hospitium of St John the Baptist
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Corn Exchange Arcade Entrance
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Abbey Mill
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Reading Museum
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Frederick Potts memorial
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The Corn Stores
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Memorial to Henry I
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Robed Figure
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The Town Hall Reading
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Forbury Square Obelisk
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Reading Cenotaph
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Shelter At North East Corner Of Forbury Gardens
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Berkshire Yeomanry memorial, Reading
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Rustic Fountain
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10, Abbot's Walk
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Archway Connecting Forbury Gardens to Abbey Ruins. Including Retaining Walls Flanking Path to Abbey Ruins
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11 And 12, Abbot's Walk
127 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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