Family-Friendly Walks Along the Kennet Near Reading

Easy riverside routes from Reading town centre to Theale, all reachable by train and flat enough for small legs.

From the Oracle to Blake's Lock

Start where the Kennet meets the town: the towpath behind the Oracle shopping centre, a two-minute walk from Reading station's north exit. The stretch east to Blake's Lock is roughly 1.5 miles of flat, pushchair-friendly gravel, passing Chestnut Walk and the old Huntley & Palmers biscuit factory buildings. Blake's Lock Museum, run by the Riverside Museum trust, opens on weekend afternoons in summer and is free. Allow 45 minutes each way with young children, plus time to watch the narrowboats work through the lock. Cafes at the Oracle end make this the easiest half-day option if you are staying centrally.

The path narrows slightly between Chestnut Walk and the lock, so cyclists share it politely but steadily at weekends. Weekday mornings in May and June are quietest. If you have a buggy with small wheels, the surface is fine; a sling is easier for the last hundred metres past the lock where roots lift the tarmac. This is the walk I would book a hotel for first, because you can leave the car behind entirely.

Reading to Sonning along the Thames and Kennet

The Kennet joins the Thames at Kennet Mouth near the Horseshoe Bridge. From there, the Thames Path runs east through Cholsey and Sonning, about 3.5 miles on level ground. It is too long for toddlers to walk both ways, so treat it as a linear walk: take the train to Twyford (eight minutes from Reading) and walk back along the river to Sonning, then catch the 127 bus or a taxi the last few miles. The Bull at Sonning and the tea garden near Sonning Lock are the obvious stopping points for lunch.

Expect mud after rain between Kennet Mouth and Sonning, especially in February and March. Wellington boots are essential rather than optional. The route passes the Reading Blue Coat School grounds and the weir at Sonning, where herons are common. Best months are May and September: warm but not crowded. Skip the Chiltern Hills stretch north of the river if you have a pushchair; the towpath between Shiplake and Wargrave has stiles and steep steps.

Theale, Sulham and the Holy Brook

West of Reading, the Kennet valley opens out. The towpath from Reading's western edge to Theale is about 5 miles, following the canal and passing the Burghfield Brook confluence. Theale station is a 10-minute walk from the canal, which makes a one-way walk possible: train out, walk back, or the reverse. Families with older children (eight and up) manage this well; younger ones will need a buggy and patience. The Angel pub in Theale, a short detour from the canal, has a garden that suits a family stop.

For a shorter, gentler alternative, the Holy Brook path through Prospect Park and towards Tilehurst is about 2 miles and mostly shaded. It is a good option in July and August when the open towpath gets hot. Parking at Prospect Park is free but fills by 10am on sunny weekends. Avoid the stretch near the Meadway underpass after heavy rain, where the brook floods the path.

Where to base yourself

Reading's hotels cluster in two areas. Around the station and the Oracle, you are five minutes from the Kennet towpath and can walk every route in this guide's first section without a car. The hotels here suit families who want restaurants and a station on the doorstep. Further out, the business-park hotels off the A33 towards Madejski Stadium are cheaper in school holidays but require a car or a bus into town, which adds 20 to 30 minutes each way.

If the Kennet walks are the main reason for the trip, book near the Oracle or the station and take the train to Theale, Twyford or Tilehurst for the longer routes. That way you skip town-centre parking charges and keep the days short. For a summer visit, aim for late May or early September: the towpaths are dry, the lock museum is open and the riverside pubs are less crowded than in August.

Questions, answered

Are the Kennet towpaths suitable for pushchairs?

The central stretch from the Oracle to Blake's Lock is flat and mostly gravel, so pushchairs cope well. Further west towards Theale the surface is uneven in places, and the Thames Path towards Sonning is muddy after rain, so a sling or carrier is easier there.

Do I need a car to do these walks?

No. Reading station, Theale and Twyford all sit close to the routes, so train plus walking covers everything in this guide. Staying near the Oracle or the station means the first walk starts at your hotel door, and longer routes begin with a short train ride.

When is the best time of year for these riverside walks?

Late May to early June and September are best: the paths are dry, Blake's Lock Museum opens at weekends and the riverside pubs are quieter. February and March bring mud and occasional flooding near the Meadway underpass, so check conditions before setting out with children.

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