Forbury Gardens

Forbury Gardens is a public park in the middle of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire. A green pocket just steps from busy streets and the railway station, it works as the town's open-air sitting room, and it is also a place where the story of a medieval abbey meets Victorian monuments.

Where does the park come from?

The gardens occupy the former outer court of Reading Abbey, the space that lay in front of the abbey church. It was known as the Forbury, and the name survives: one of the roads flanking the park is still called The Forbury. For centuries, fairs were held on the site three times a year, a custom that lasted until the 19th century. The park took its present form in the mid-1800s, with laying out and development beginning in 1856, when the old abbey grounds were turned into public gardens for local people.

What is there to see in Forbury Gardens?

The Maiwand Lion

The best-known feature is the Maiwand Lion, a huge cast-iron lion standing roughly 9.5 metres tall. Sculptor George Blackall Simonds designed it, and it was unveiled in December 1886. It commemorates soldiers of the 66th Royal Berkshire Regiment who fought at the Battle of Maiwand in Afghanistan in 1880. Design and casting took around two years, and the statue ranks among the largest cast-iron sculptures in the world. The lion has also entered local culture: it appears on the badge of Reading Football Club.

Victoria Gates and other details

At the south-west corner of the gardens stand the Victoria Gates, which mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Near the lion you will also find a cross put up in 1909 by a local doctor with a deep interest in the history of Reading Abbey.

The park today

A restoration in 2005 was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Since the events of 2020, the lion has also become a symbol of local solidarity and the "Reading Together" message. Today the gardens are a place to rest, picnic on warm days, and take a short break while exploring the town.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Forbury Gardens? In central Reading, Berkshire, on the site of the former outer court of Reading Abbey.

How tall is the Maiwand Lion? About 9.5 metres, making it one of the largest cast-iron statues anywhere.

What does the lion commemorate? Soldiers of the 66th Royal Berkshire Regiment who fought at the Battle of Maiwand in 1880. It was unveiled in 1886.

Is there an entrance fee? Forbury Gardens is a public park, so you can walk in without a ticket.

Is it a good stop during a short visit to Reading? Yes. Its central position makes it easy to combine with other sights, including the abbey ruins nearby.