Albert Road Playground

Locals round here know Albert Road is one of the better-kept playgrounds in Reading — the equipment’s actually clean and nothing’s broken, which sounds like a low bar but isn’t. There’s a decent split between kit for the little ones and stuff for older kids up to about 12, plus a sandbox and swings that are almost always free on a weekday morning. The whole thing is enclosed, so you’re not constantly chasing a toddler toward the road. A walking path and open grass field mean older kids can burn off energy while you grab something from the food van, and the tennis courts are a nice bonus if you fancy a knock-about after.