https://www.westberkshireheritage.org/west-berkshire-museum £0 but donations welcome
A visit to the West Berkshire Museum with a pub on the canal afterwards - and a visit from a Cormorant, see spring newsletter....
Depart G&S Station 09:26 Change at Reading Arrive Newbury 10:38
£8.05 return with a railcard Trains back about every half hour
If the weather is dreadful we might go to the Pitt Rivers Museum instead https://prm.ox.ac.uk/ (the weather was not dreadful!)
If you’ve not seen a carpet of fritillaries before this is a real treat ! (it was)
The best way seems to be train to Didcot then bus which stops right outside Magdalen College.
Depart G&S station 09:34 £4.30 return Bring your bus pass for the X32 which runs every 20 minutes and takes 40 minutes. This avoids waiting for a train from Didcot to Oxford and then walking 1.1 miles to Magdalen College.
There are dozens of pubs in Oxford … if anyone knows a good one near Magdalen College please let us know.
https://www.twyfordbeerfest.co.uk/ £10 tickets must be bought in advance
Profits to the Orchid charity for testicular, prostate & penile cancer.
They very thoughtfully put on this beer festival only 300 metres from Twyford station so nobody has to drive. Food available there (Pies, Indian & Burgers – just right with beer).
Depart G&S station 11:17 (it doesn’t open until 12:00) £6.55 return with a railcard.
Back to our normal “2nd Friday” … To be confirmed, but we’re looking at a behind-the-scenes tour of Ascot racecourse.
More details when available.
Let’s be optimistic ! Surely the weather will be nice in July & August, won’t it ?
There are various self-guided walks in towns we can get to … such as Abingdon, Henley & Marlow, so we’ll find out more about those in plenty of time.
Also Swindon has a “Works heritage Tour” https://theworksswindon.co.uk/trail-map/
https://www.hrwallingford.com/facilities/uk-ship-simulation-centre
Yes, that’s right, a major ship’s bridge simulation centre in Wallingford. I didn’t believe it either.
Not absolutely sure what they can offer us for a visit but we’re working on it.
More details when available.
This is a slightly different suggestion, starting with the 09:26 from G&S to Paddington.
Then a choice of a couple of venues taking up most of the day to make the expense & time of getting to London worth-while. Also because off-peak tickets aren’t valid to leave Paddington between about 16:00 and 19:00.
Options might include the museum of brands https://museumofbrands.com/ and Freemasons’ Hall https://www.ugle.org.uk/freemasons-hall
What we’re thinking of is to join either group, then get back together near Paddington for a meal something like 18:00 to compare notes and get an off-peak train back after 19:00.
More details when available.
Nothing in November
This worked very well in 2025 so we’ll make it a regular event.
Not sure yet where this will be, but it’s a good time for a chat over some food & a drink.
Hope you can join us on our outings - email railale@goringgapu3a.org.uk if you are interested
Richard Grayson and Tom Rothwell