Thames Towpath Cycling Near Reading: Routes, Bike Hire and Where to Stay

How to ride the Thames towpath from Reading — surfaced tracks, gravel stretches, hire options and the stations that put you back on the train.

Reading to Sonning: the gentle first ride

Start at Reading Station and follow the Kennet to its confluence with the Thames at Kennetmouth, then pick up the towpath heading downstream past the Palmer Park allotments towards Sonning. The surface here is mostly compacted gravel, smooth enough for a hybrid or a sturdy town bike, and the distance to Sonning Bridge is around four miles each way. Allow an hour with stops. The climb up to Sonning village on the north bank is short but steep; most riders walk the last few metres. Sonning Eye and the lanes behind the village make a pleasant loop back if you want to avoid retracing the towpath.

Bike hire in Reading is limited compared with Oxford or Bristol. The reliable options are the cycle hire counters at the station-end shops and the workshop near Reading Bridge, both of which rent hybrids by the half-day; expect to leave a deposit and photo ID. Book ahead at weekends between April and September, when the towpath is busy and stock thins. If you plan more than one ride, a weekly rate usually costs little more than two half-days.

Downstream to Henley: the long day out

The stretch from Sonning through Shiplake, Wargrave and Hambleden to Henley-on-Thames is the best riding in the area, but it demands a proper bike. Expect 12 to 14 miles one way, with a mix of gravel, packed earth and short paved sections through villages. From Wargrave the route narrows and the surface roughens; a gravel or touring bike is comfortable, a road bike with 25mm tyres is not. Marsh Lock and the approach to Henley get crowded on summer Sundays, so start early or ride midweek. Henley Station runs direct trains back to Reading via Twyford, roughly every half hour, which makes a one-way ride easy.

For a shorter version, ride to Wargrave and return on the north bank through Shiplake, crossing at Wargrave's road bridge. That gives around 16 miles total and takes three to four hours at a relaxed pace. Cafés in Wargrave and Henley are reliable for a mid-ride stop; the riverside pubs fill fast from noon. Avoid the towpath after heavy rain in winter, when the Henley end floods between Hambleden and Marsh Lock and the surface turns to deep mud. October and late April are the sweet spots: dry tracks, thinner crowds, still-open riverside pubs.

Upstream to Pangbourne and Goring

Heading west from Reading, the towpath runs along the north bank through Tilehurst to Pangbourne, about seven miles, before continuing to Whitchurch and Goring. The going is flatter than downstream but the surface is patchier, with tree roots and occasional muddy dips near Mapledurham. Pangbourne Station sits a few minutes' walk from the river, so this route works well as a one-way ride with a train return. The lanes around Mapledurham and Whitchurch offer quieter alternatives if the towpath is busy; the hill up to Whitchurch village is genuinely steep but short.

Goring and Streatley, around 12 miles from Reading, make a natural turnaround. Both stations sit on their respective banks and are linked by the bridge, so you can ride out on one side and return by train from the other. The Goring gap section has the best scenery on this stretch — chalk downs, wooded slopes and a fast, wide river — and it is quieter than the Henley run. If I had one day and one bike, I would ride Reading to Goring and back by train rather than the more famous Henley route: fewer crowds, easier surface and a simpler return.

Practicalities, stations and where to base yourself

Every route here starts within a ten-minute ride of Reading Station, and the mainline services to Pangbourne, Goring, Henley and Twyford run frequently enough that a one-way plan is realistic. Buy a ticket before boarding; bikes travel free on these local services but space is tight at peak times. Reading's cycle paths along the Kennet and the IDR connect the station to the towpath without much road riding, though the Vastern Road roundabout is the awkward point — walk it if you are unsure. Bring a lock, a repair kit and a full water bottle; refill points are scarce between villages.

For a cycling break, base yourself in central Reading near the station: it puts you on the towpath within minutes and gives easy train access to every route above. The Caversham and Thames-side streets offer quieter nights and riverside walks but add a bridge crossing to every ride start. Hotels in Reading book heavily on weekday nights for business travel, so weekend rates are often better value — check Friday and Saturday specifically. Avoid the Reading Festival weekend in late August if you want calm roads and available rooms.

Questions, answered

Can I cycle the whole Thames towpath from Reading?

Not continuously. The towpath is ridable from Kennetmouth downstream to Henley and upstream to Goring, but surface varies from smooth gravel to rough earth, and the Henley section floods in winter. Sections around Mapledurham are muddy after rain.

Where can I hire a bike in Reading?

Hire is available from cycle shops near Reading Station and Reading Bridge, which rent hybrids by the half-day or day with a deposit and ID. Stock is limited, so book ahead at weekends from April to September, or use a weekly rate for multiple rides.

Which ride is best for a first-time visitor?

The Reading to Sonning route is the simplest: around four miles each way on mostly smooth gravel, close to the station. For a longer day, Reading to Goring is quieter than the Henley run, with a straightforward train back from Goring and Streatley stations.

← Reading's page