Country parks · South East England
Forbury Gardens
In or near Sonning.
Forbury Gardens — park in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Reading · 0.4 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
Forbury Gardens is located in Reading, South East England, with the postcode RG1 3EH. The nearest railway station is Reading, which is 0.4 km away. Entry to the gardens is free.
About
Forbury Gardens is a country park in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1854. It covers approximately 2 km². Heritage designation: Grade II listed park and garden. Managed by Reading Borough Council. Wikidata describes it as: "park in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.4569°, -0.9672°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Forbury Gardens is a public park located in Reading, featuring a memorial sculpture by Eric Stanford dedicated to local volunteers who died in Spain. The gardens provide a space for reflection and remembrance, as well as a pleasant environment for visitors to enjoy.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Forbury Gardens is a public park in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The park is on the site of the outer court of Reading Abbey, which was in front of the Abbey Church. The site was formerly known as the Forbury, and one of the roads flanking the current gardens is still known as The Forbury. Fairs were held on the site three times a year until the 19th century. The gardens are listed as Grade II in the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and are managed by Reading Borough Council. In 2020, they were the site of a terrorist attack in which three people were killed and others injured. Forbury, a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, was named after the gardens by early resident William Henry Valpy, who was born in Reading.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Description
Besides the landscaping and planting of the gardens, the principal features are the Bandstand, the Maiwand Lion, the Forbury Hill, and the Rustic Fountain. Facilities include a refreshment kiosk and public toilets. Closed-circuit cameras monitor the whole Gardens area, in a bid to deter drug use and anti-social behaviour. The garden has received a Green Flag Award for being welcoming, safe, well maintained and involving the community. The Forbury Hill is now accessible by two winding footpaths (wheelchair-accessible) that lead to an area that is elevated about 3 m above the surrounding gardens. A single plane tree stands in the middle, and around the outer edge of the top of the hill are…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.4569, -0.9672
- District
- Reading
- Parish
- Reading, unparished area
- Postcode
- RG1 3EH
- Parliamentary constituency
- Reading Central
- Established
- 1854
- Nearest railway station
- Reading — 0.4 km
- Opening
- | map = Berkshire
Sources
- wikidata: Q5467400 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Forbury Gardens (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Forbury Gardens, Reading.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Forbury Gardens?
- Forbury Gardens is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode RG1 3EH), in the parish of Reading, unparished area.
- What is Forbury Gardens?
- Forbury Gardens — park in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- How do I get to Forbury Gardens?
- The nearest railway station is Reading, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode RG1 3EH.
- When was Forbury Gardens built?
- Built or established in 1854.
- Who runs Forbury Gardens?
- Forbury Gardens is operated by Reading Borough Council.
- Is Forbury Gardens a listed building?
- Forbury Gardens is officially recognised as Grade II listed park and garden listed.
- Is Forbury Gardens free to visit?
- Yes, Forbury Gardens is free to enter.
- How do I get to Forbury Gardens?
- The nearest railway station is Reading, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode RG1 3EH.