Goring day trip was updated in August 2023.
Today’s adventure is a Goring day trip by train with Bear,
our new furry dog friend. We start out from our temporary pet sitting home in Tilehurst. Although the bus charged us 1BPS for Bear when we rode to Reading the other day, the train, for dogs, is free! What a nice surprise! This price difference seems odd to me as the bus takes longer, is less comfortable, and provides less room by your feet for your pet than on the train, but so be it. We love the super fast train but beware, you may be fined if your pets get on the seat!
The train trip from Tilehurst to Goring is a quick 9-minute ride.
We exit right from the station, which puts us on Station Road. Next, is a right turn on the first street which is Red Cross Road. Our journey continues to the first through street where left turn puts us onto High Street which, eventually, turns into River. This takes us through Goring Village, across the Thames and over to Streatley. Click here for a great map of the area.
We are surprised to learn that Goring is famous for the Goring Locks,
where, much like in Panama, boats move through the lock to get down the river. Well, not as big or extensive as Panama but a lock, nevertheless. We enjoy a very nice walking path along the river which would be great for a picnic lunch.
The town itself is beautiful and quaint, with stately brick homes adorned with a lifetime of vegetation. Flowers in hanging baskets, both at homes and throughout the town center add to the beauty and peaceful nature of the area.
There are several restaurants conveniently located along High Street, or you can cross the bridge for riverside dining at the Swan at Streatley. We spot the umbrellas along the river’s edge as we walk up to the bridge.
Most importantly, they are dog-friendly and welcome Bear onto the outside dining area with a bowl of fresh water.
Our lunch is lovely, if such a word can be used for food. The combination of the food, the river, the dining area itself and the fact that we could have Bear there too makes for a perfect lunch! I have a spring salad with grilled salmon while Jack opts for Fresh Linguine.
As you might expect, their menu changes with time. However, it looks like there are still many excellent choices. Check out the menu. Afterwards, a “post-lunch” stroll around the village, leads to a sign announcing that Goring is the “South of England Village of the Year.” Of course, we stop for a memorable picture. If you’re in the area and looking a relaxing scenic afternoon, Goring can’t be beat!
If you enjoyed this journey,
come with us and explore what it’s like to go Punting in Cambridge (do you know what “punting” is?) You will also love the world-famous town of Glastonbury! Have you ever gone to the music festival here? Another must see is the incredible Wells Catherdral in Wells, Somerset, or be awed by a Stonehenge Inner Circle Tour.
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Please comment below on YOUR favorite towns in the UK. We’ll put them on OUR list for our next visit.
Looks really nice. We’ll be there in a couple of months! You mentioned favorite towns. We really enjoyed St. Ives in Cornwall on our last trip.
Aloha John,
We loved Goring. It is such a beautiful town. We took the train there from Wells, which we also fell in love with. We hope to get back over to the UK and do more exploring. Haven’t been to St. Ives but after looking at the pictures online, it looks like a “bucket list” item. Beautiful. Thanks for the input!