Amherst Guest House
Reading, Berkshire

Welcome to AMHERST GUEST HOUSE. We offer excellent facilities with competitive room prices. Recently refurbished with quality accommodation, we are conveniently located only five minutes walk from Reading Town Centre's restuarants, bars, shops and the train station. A choice of breakfasts, including a FULL English breakfast, a generous welcome tray and news papers are all included. We have provided some useful links to make your journey here, finding us and your stay in Reading as easy as possible.

Reading is a town and unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) in the English county of Berkshire. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, midway between London and Swindon off the M4 motorway. The name Reading is pronounced to rhyme with bedding. The 18th century saw the beginning of a major iron works in the town and the growth of the brewing trade for which Reading was to become famous. Agricultural products from the surrounding area still used Reading as a market place, especially at the famous Reading cheese fair but now trade was coming in from a wider area. Reading's trade benefited from better designed turnpike roads which helped its establish its location on the major coaching routes from London to Oxford and the west country. It also gained from increasing river traffic on both the Thames and Kennet. In 1723 despite considerable local opposition the Kennet Navigation opened the River to boats as far as Newbury. This opposition stopped when it became apparent the new route benefited the town. The opening of the Kennet and Avon Canal in 1810 made it possible to go by barge from Reading to the Bristol Channel.