Towney Lock

The Kennet-Avon Canal flows through Reading with barely a murmur, and Towney Lock is where you'll actually notice it doing something. It's a genuine working lock - boats still use it - which means you get the rare pleasure of watching the water levels shift and the gates creak open without any of the theme-park theatrics.

There's not much to it, frankly. You'll walk past in ten minutes, maybe fifteen if you're the type to linger and photograph the brickwork. The lock itself is modest, Victorian engineering that's held up perfectly well. The surrounding towpath is pleasant enough for a stroll from Reading town centre - flat, easy going, nothing that'll knacker the legs.

This works best as part of a longer canal walk rather than a destination in itself. If you're staying at Ravenswing Park just a few miles away, it's an easy pedal or gentle walk to combine with the broader Kennet-Avon route. Families with young kids will be entertained watching a boat navigate through if you time it right - there's something hypnotic about the whole process. History buffs will appreciate the canal's role in Victorian commerce, though there's precious little interpretation on site.

Free to visit, naturally. Go on a weekday morning if you want peace, or weekend afternoons if you're hoping to catch some boat traffic. It's unpretentious in the best way - just a functional piece of infrastructure that still does its job after nearly two centuries.