Reading Abbey Quarter Tour

Our Abbey Quarter tours have now ended for 2025. We will add new dates here in spring 2026.

If you are part of a group, why not consider booking a private tour? Contact our Education team to find out more: Museum.Education@reading.gov.uk

Every tour includes exclusive access to Jane Austen's school.

Enjoy a walking tour exploring the heart of Reading led by our Official Reading Museum tour guides.

Starting in the Story of Reading Gallery in Reading Museum and continuing outdoors, this tour will lead you on a discovery of the history and heritage of Reading's Abbey Quarter including Jane Austen.

You will explore the highlights of the Abbey Quarter, including the Hospitium where medieval pilgrims stayed and the impressive Reading Abbey Ruins.

The tour will also look at the links of Reading with author Jane Austen and we will give you exclusive access to the Abbey Gateway, the building that was once part of the school where Jane Austen studied and lived as a girl.

Please note that the Gateway is an historic listed building and has no step free access and there are uneven steps and floors. The schoolroom is accessed by two flights of steep steps (30 steps in total).

The 90-minute tour includes a substantial amount of walking and standing.

Who

All ages

When

Every Saturday morning. A one-and-a-half hour tour starting at 11am.

Where

Meet at Reading Museum, main reception.

Please note that the meeting place and some of the stops during the tour might change depending on site accessibility at the time of your tour. 

Reviews of the Official Reading Abbey Quarter Tour:

'Lots of very interesting sites to visit'

'Excellent - lively guide. Thanks'

'Really interesting tour, it brought the Abbey to life'

'Engaging guide. Very informative regarding Abbey and some of the wider history of Reading'