Our Lady & St Anne's R C Church

The red-brick Victorian church on the outskirts of Reading catches you off guard - it's proper handsome, honestly. Our Lady & St Anne's sits quietly in its parish, a solid reminder of when Catholics actually had to be discreet about their faith in England. The interior is the thing: high ceilings, decent stained glass, and that particular smell of old wood and furniture polish that only proper churches have.

You're not looking at anything that'll take your breath away architecturally, but there's genuine craftsmanship in the details - the pews, the altar arrangement, the way the light falls through those windows on a decent day. It's a working parish church, so you'll want to check service times before turning up, but the locals are friendly if you pop in respectfully.

This works best if you're already in the Reading area and fancy a bit of religious architecture mixed into your travels. Not a destination in itself, but a solid half-hour stop if you're interested in Victorian Catholic churches or just fancy a moment of quiet. Swiss Farm Touring and Camping is nearby if you're basing yourself locally for a few days - gives you the church, plus all the proper market town attractions Reading actually has.

Go mid-morning on a weekday if you can. Quieter, better light, and you won't be interrupting anything. It's free, naturally.