Well Read At Wasing
LITERARY FESTIVAL – WORDS, WISDOM & WELLNESS
For Well Read Literary Festival, Wasing Estate’s ancient woodlands transform into a haven for writers, nature lovers, and wellness enthusiasts. This exciting literary festival promises a refreshing approach to literature, blending creative expression with the healing powers of nature in a stunning, immersive environment.
Set against the breath-taking backdrop of Wasing’s rhododendron-adorned woodlands, Well Read offers more than just talks and readings; it’s an experience that brings authors and attendees into a deeper connection with the natural world. Wasing, known for its heritage and commitment to sustainability, is the perfect setting for exploring the intersection of ecology, wellness, and creativity.
Well Read is the place to discover, learn and share ideas with like minded people that are eager to explore how we can better live with the earth, not just on it.
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Beautiful Words From Well Read 2025 Visitors
It was the most wonderful day, fantastic authors, scrumptious food, we met some fabulous people all in a truly magical setting.. Thank you!
Great festival for the whole family! We had a really lively time, the kids went out in bush craft excursions whilst the grown ups were able to listen to the talks. Hopefully visiting again next year
The most extraordinary event. We came from the Hay festival and found the speakers and format to be far superior. The environment is incredibly special and the staff and management were superb. I would recommend this event to anyone who wished to expand there mind body and soul. Thank you
Well Read is magical book festival that included beautifully curated writers, thinkers and performers. What made it particularly enjoyable was the location Wasing Estate. Everything took place in the woods; delicious food, refreshments, fires to sit around and a wonderful lake for swimming. I could not think of a better way to spend a summer weekend. I would highly recommend it.
Lovely vibe. We only visited on the last day for a short time but everything was accessible and calm. A lovely peaceful place to visit and be inspired.
Previous Authors
Find out more about previous Well Read Authors
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a multi-award-winning writer and broadcaster known for his uncompromising commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food and his concern for the environment. He has earned a huge following through his River Cottage TV series and books, as well as campaigning documentary series such as Hugh’s Fish Fight, Hugh’s War on Waste, Britain’s Fat Fight and War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita. A new River Cottage series, River Cottage Reunited aired in June 2022.
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His broadcasting has earned him a BAFTA as well as accolades from Radio 4, The Observer and the Guild of Food Writers and his award-winning books, include the best-selling River Cottage Cook Book and River Cottage Veg Every Day. Hugh’s latest book How to Eat 30 Plants a Week was published in May 2024.
He continues to work as a journalist, writing occasionally for the Guardian, Times and other national newspapers. He is a vice president of Fauna & Flora International and a patron of Switchback, a charity that helps young offenders find opportunities in the catering industry.
Clare Balding CBE
Clare is an award-winning broadcaster and writer, who was awarded a CBE for services to broadcasting and charity work in Queen Elizabeth II’s final birthday honours list. She is a lead presenter for the Olympics, Paralympics, Winter Olympics, Wimbledon, the Commonwealth Games and Crufts on the BBC and Channel 4.
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In 2023, she commentated on the King’s Coronation for BBC TV and hosted the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. She has championed women’s sport and has also presented factual documentaries on the history of women’s football and sporting icons of the 20th century. For more than twenty years, she has hiked across the countryside for the BBC Radio 4 series Ramblings. Clare is a best-selling author whose titles include My Animals and Other Family, which won the National Book Awards Autobiography of the Year.
Melissa Hemsley
Melissa is a former private chef turned best-selling author, real food activist and sustainability champion who is passionate about spreading the power of feel-good food. She’s all about bringing it back to basics and shares lots of ways to cut back on ultra-processed foods and celebrate more real foods.
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Melissa has published six cookbooks over the last 15 years, including Eat Green, Eat Happy and The Sunday Times bestseller, Real Healthy – Unprocess Your Diet With Easy Everyday Recipes.
Satish Kumar
Peace-pilgrim, life-long activist and former monk, Satish Kumar has been inspiring global change for over 50 years. A world-renown author and international speaker, Satish founded The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity that seeks to inform and inspire a just future for all.
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He was the Editor of the charity’s change-making magazine, Resurgence & Ecologist, for over 40 years, making him the UK’s longest-serving editor of the same magazine. He continues to serve this publication as Editor Emeritus and by writing for each and every trailblazing issue of this much-loved and acclaimed magazine which has been described by The Guardian as the ‘spiritual and ecological flagship of the environmental movement’.
Jim Murray MBE
Jim Murray is an actor, director, conservationist and artist known for Masters of Air (2024) and The Crown (Prince Andrew). Murray first came to prominence as an artist in 2023 with his acclaimed inaugural exhibition In Flow, where his dynamic abstract paintings were hung in conversation with John Constable’s The Dark Side. Murray draws huge inspiration from the rivers and oceans he is fiercely passionate about, and as such his paintings are full of drama, energy and movement.
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Rivers have long been a source of inspiration and strength for Murray, who, like the poet Ted Hughes, shares a deep connection to the world that dwells beneath their surface. Fifteen years ago, Jim Murray lost his daughter EJ to congenital heart disease. As a passionate fly fisherman, the river offered healing during this difficult time in his life. For that alone, he says, he owes our rivers everything. Since then, Murray has become a leading voice alongside singer Feargal Sharkey and fellow actors, fighting for the protection of waterways and endangered wild Atlantic salmon.
Lucinda Miller
Lucinda Miller is the clinical lead of NatureDoc and has over 25 years’ experience as a family Naturopath and Functional Medicine practitioner. She runs a UK-wide team of Nutritional Therapists specialising in child nutrition and neurodivergence. Her work focuses on understanding the nutritional and metabolic interactions between the gut microbiome, the immune system and brain function.
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Her particular passion is the importance of children’s health and how early years nutrition can build strong foundations for future health. She is also a coach and mentor for kids with ADHD and Autism. Lucinda is the author of three bestselling books: The Good Stuff, I Can’t Believe It’s Baby Food! and Brain Brilliance. She is a mum of three and lives in Wiltshire, UK.
Hungerford Bookshop
We partner with Hungerford Bookshop to bring you a wonderful on-site reading nook & book pop-up in the woodland yurt.
Visit our friends from Hungerford Bookshop in the woodland yurt to discuss all things literary, meet authors & guest speakers for book signings following their on-stage appearances and place book orders.
The Woodland
Well Read take place in The Woodland; a magical venue set among the ancient trees surrounded by flora & fauna with the Sacred Glade at its heart.
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Food & Drinks
Ignite your taste buds with delicious food & drinks at The Woodland. With sustainability, seasonality & locally sourced produce at its core, our food & drinks offering includes tasty treats from Wasing’s Organic Farm and London Nootropics.
Well Fed (Wasing Organic Farm)
We believe that farming and regenerating our environment for future generations go hand in hand at Wasing, a belief which fuelled Wasing farm’s conversion to organic farming back in 2018. Organic farming is a farming system that sustains and regenerates the health of soils, ecosystems and people, relying on ecological processes and biodiversity rather than the use of environmentally damaging inputs. Our land and livestock are certified by the Soil Association and we are proud to produce quality food in a sustainable manner. Head to the Well Fed stand to try Wasing’s grass fed organic beef brisket and mini burgers.
London Nootropics
Each of London Nootropics’ signature blends—Flow, Zen, and Mojo—are expertly crafted with carefully selected adaptogens to enhance mental clarity, focus, and relaxation. Flow features Hifas da Terra Lion’s Mane & Rhodiolife® Rhodiola Rosea to promote mental clarity and focus. Zen combines KSM66-Ashwagandha® and L-theanine to deliver a calming, jitter-free lift. Mojo combines Hifas da Terra Cordyceps mushroom & Siberian Ginseng to increase oxygen flow, providing a natural energy boost—perfect for enhancing physical endurance, strength, and vitality.
Hotel Accommodation
We don’t offer hotel rooms for festivals at Wasing but there are many hotel accommodation options in neighbouring towns to Wasing to choose from. Please find below a local selection
Closest to Wasing
Reading Area
- Malmaison, Reading
- Holiday Inn, Reading
- Pentahotel, Reading
- Hotel Novotel, Reading
- Travelodge, Central Reading
- Travelodge, M4 Eastbound
- Travelodge, M4 Westbound
- Hilton, Reading
- Crowne Plaza, Reading
- Hotel Ibis, Reading
- Parkside International Hotel, Reading
- Best Western, Reading Calcot
- De Vere Wokefield Estate
- The Cedars Hotel, Reading
Newbury & Surrounding Area
- The Retreat at Elcot Park
- The Vineyard, Newbury
- The Hare & Hounds, Newbury
- The Chequers Hotel, Newbury
- Travelodge, Newbury
- Mercure Newbury West Grange Hotel
- Premier Inn, Newbury
- The Lodge, Newbury Racecourse
- The Elephant At The Market
- Orida Hotel, Newbury
- Donnington Valley Hotel & Spa
- Donnington Grove Hotel
- Travelodge, Chieveley
Getting Here
The Woodland At Wasing is located at Wasing Estate, Wasing Lane, Aldermaston, RG7 4LY which is near Reading in Berkshire.
Our Guide to Travelling to & From the Venue
By Road
The Woodland is located at Wasing Estate, Wasing Lane, Aldermaston, RG7 4LY which is near Reading in Berkshire.
When approaching the venue, please follow event signage. The entrance is approximately ½ a mile from Aldermaston village. The exact location can be viewed at the What3Words location here
If coming from the M4, whether coming from the East or the West, please leave the M4 at Junction 12.
If coming from the North, leave the A34 at the M4 J13 Chieveley junction and take the M4 East. Leave the M4 at Junction 12.
If coming from the South, leave the M3 at Junction 6 (Basingstoke) and take the A339 North then the A340 through Tadley.
Please expect to experience a higher volume of traffic than normal.
Pick up & Drop off
If you are being dropped off or picked up by friends, family or a taxi, please follow the signage to the dedicated pick up and drop off point. Please do not get picked up or dropped off in other locations as a traffic management system will be in place and routes may be blocked.
By Taxi
Here’s a list of local taxi companies. Due to high demand, please ensure that all taxi journeys are booked in advance. Please note that it is a 10-15 minute walk from the taxi drop off point to the amphitheatre and vice versa.
- AAA Cars, Reading
Tel 0118 950 4030 - Atlantic Cars, Reading
Tel 0118 910 1010 - Bliss Cars, Reading
Tel 0118 986 0001 - Kennet Cars, Reading
Tel 01189 86 66 66 - Ace Cars, Reading
Tel 01189 67 67 67 - Eco Cars, Reading
Tel 01189 660 331 - Yellow Cars, Reading
Tel 0118 9666 555 - Cabco, Newbury
Tel 01635 33333 - Cab Trip
Tel 01189 464646
- Go Green Taxis, Newbury
Tel 01635 800 990 - Broadway Cars, Newbury
Tel 01635 847784 - Ave Cabs, Newbury
Tel 01635 31212 - Jars Cars, Basingstoke
Tel 01256 819844 - A& Cars, Basingstoke
Tel 01256 976888 - Delta Cars, Basingstoke
Tel 01256 242428 - Compass Executive Cars, Fleet
Tel 0118 970 2233 - Tadley Cars, Tadley
Tel 0118 327 4260
By Rail
The nearest train stations are:
- Midgham is 2 miles (5 minutes) – N.B. This station doesn’t have a taxi rank
- Aldermaston is 2.5 miles (6 minutes)
- Thatcham is 5 miles (11 minutes)
- Theale is 7½ miles (15 minutes)
- Newbury is 9½ miles (25 minutes)
- Reading is 11½ miles (25 minutes)
- Basingstoke is 11 miles (25 minutes)
Please ensure that you book a taxi from the train station to The Mount and all return journeys in advance due to high demand.
By Air
The nearest airports are:
- London Heathrow (38 miles)
- Southampton (44 miles)
- London Gatwick (72 miles)
Well Read Event FAQs
View our Frequently Asked Questions below for all the latest information
If you are being dropped off or picked up by friends, family or a taxi, please follow the signage to the dedicated pick up and drop off point. Please do not get picked up or dropped off in other locations as a traffic management system will be in place and routes may be blocked. The pick up and drop off point is a 10-15 minute walk from The Woodland so be sure to bear this in mind when arranging lifts and booking taxis.
Please visit the “Getting Here” guide for contact details of local taxi companies. We recommend booking all taxi journeys in advance due to high demand during festivals.
Please visit the “Getting Here” guide for a list of all local train stations. If you are planning to travel to Wasing from the station and vice versa by taxi, we recommend booking all taxi journeys in advance due to high demand during festivals.
Please ensure you are wearing suitable footwear for undulating woodland. This is a rural site so it’s best to leave your stilettos at home! Please ensure you leave enough time to undergo security checks.
Please follow event signage on approach to the venue and once through the gate, please follow instructions from the car parking stewards.
Car parking is in a grass field.
To park, you will need a vehicle parking pass. Please ensure you book your parking ticket in advance.
The Well Read festival timings aren’t available yet but we’ll updating the website soon,
There is no readmission after entry.
Please make sure you have your tickets saved to your iPhone or Android wallet as reception in the area may be intermittent. This will save time when entering the amphitheatre and avoid any queues at the box office.
You can pay for tickets in instalments by heading to the ticketing page, selecting the tickets you wish to purchase and upon checkout, select the Klarna payment method. From here you can set up a payment plan via Klarna.
We advise that the event may not be suitable for young children, especially those under 2yrs of age. Buggies and necessary care bags will be permitted, but please be advised that additional security checks may take place. All children require a ticket to enter. Under 12s are free of charge but still require a ticket to enter.
Animals, with the exception of registered assistance dogs, are not permitted. If you are bringing a registered assistance dog, please bring proof of registration to the Box Office.
Please note that The Woodland At Wasing is a cashless venue & all payments must be made by card.
Tickets are non-refundable.
You are not allowed to bring umbrellas to The Woodland. As we cannot always rely on British weather, please make sure you have appropriate clothing fit for rain or shine.
The event is set within a natural environment with grass underfoot so please ensure appropriate footwear is worn – leave your high heels at home!
Seats and chairs of any kind are not permitted into the events. This includes seat sticks and inflatable seats. You are permitted to bring a blanket to sit on, although you may be asked to pack this up when the show starts.
Food and drink bought from outside is allowed within the campsite but cannot be brought into The Woodland however there will be a range of delicious food and drink traders inside the venue. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available. Free drinking water is available so please do bring an empty reusable bottle or 1x sealed 500ml plastic water bottles.
Glass is not allowed into The Woodland.
It is strictly prohibited to bring into the venue any weapons, knives, guns, sharp objects, alcohol, illegal substances, legal highs, fireworks, pyrotechnics, sparklers, fires, BBQs, smoke bombs, confetti canons, air horns, lasers or flares.
Bags larger than A3 will not be permitted. All bags may be searched at dedicated security points. Personal searches may also be conducted at this point.
Animals, with the exception of registered assistance dogs, are not permitted. If you are bringing a registered assistance dog, please bring proof of registration to the Box Office.
Drones are strictly prohibited.
Commercial or professional photography, videography or dronography is not permitted.
Tickets provide access to the event listed on your ticket only. Access to any other area of the Wasing Estate or any other event taking place on site is not permitted.
Please place any rubbish in the bins provided or take it away with you.
