Reading Buses Open Day 2022

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our Open Day will return this year to help raise much needed funds for our new Charity of the Year, New Beginnings Reading!

The day is nearly upon us as we throw open our doors on Sunday 26 June. 

As you will all know, our Open Day has not happened for the last two years due to Covid, so we are over the moon to be able to start planning for this year's event.

We can promise that the 2022 open day will be bigger and better than ever – and we hope that you are all as excited about this prospect as we are!

Our Open Day is a great day out for everyone and we really want to make sure we can raise lots of money for our new Charity of the Year, New Beginnings Reading, so please let all your friends and family that it is back on.

what to expect

The free-to-attend day features a huge amount of things to do, see and eat! 

Please note, we will mainly be accepting cash only at most stalls so please do bring cash with you. There will be some stalls and vendors that will accept card payment, but most stalls will be cash only. 

behind the scenes

Take one of our tours, showing you exactly what goes on behind the scenes.

• Control Room tour - find out all about how our operations team skilfully keep Reading running using the latest technology.
• Workshop tour - see where the buses go to be maintained to the highest level by our award-winning engineering team. You'll find out about what it takes to keep the buses going and will even walk under a bus!

Booking is essential for these tours and they sell out early! Find the booking stall to your right as you enter the main gate.

open top bus tour

Grab a ticket from the tour stall and take a tour around Reading's town centre - taking in the sights in the fresh air!

The route runs over Caversham Bridge, through Caversham, over Reading Bridge and then past Forbury Gardens and crossing the River Kennet before coming back to the depot via Caversham Road. Buses run every 30 minutes from 11.30am until 3.30pm - please make sure you book your ticket at the tours stall.

food

As usual, we will have a large array of food for you to enjoy during your visit.

• BBQ - featuring burgers, sausages and vegetarian options
• Curry plus samosas and onion bhajis
• Large selection of cakes
• Strawberries and cream
• Tea, coffee and soft drinks
• Candy floss
• Ice cream

games and attractions

There will, of course, be lots of activities to keep everyone happy!

• The famous Reading Buses rainbow line up
• Ride through the bus wash
• Get your name up in lights - we put your name on the front display of a bus
• Try your luck at the football shoot out
• Test your aim at the coconut shy
• Splat-a-rat
• hook-a-duck
• skittles
• buy Reading Buses memorabilia
• See vintage buses
• and more!

free shuttle bus between Reading town centre and the depot

There will also be the usual free shuttle bus between the depot and Reading town centre. The timetable, including where the bus stops, is below:

	am		pm	pm
Reading Buses	10.40	then	4.00	4.20
Friar St FJ	10.45	every	4.05	4.25
Station Rd SC	10.47	20	4.07	4.27
Blagrave St EO	10.49	mins	4.09	4.29
Friar St FP	10.51	until	4.11	4.31
Reading Buses	10.55		4.15

Please note, the 4pm trip forms part of the 'cavalcade' of coloured buses. The 4.20pm is the last trip to get you back up town. 

The event is staffed exclusively by volunteers and all the profits from the day will go to New Beginnings Reading.