Waterloo Meadows
🏟 Playground & park · Katesgrove, Reading
Waterloo Meadows
An urban park beside the River Kennet, half a mile from Reading town centre, with a rebuilt inclusive playground, BMX track and basketball.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Open daily; the park is unlocked and freely accessible throughout the year · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Elgar Road / Rose Kiln Lane, Reading, RG2 0BN
Plus Code: 9C3XC2WG+3X
About Waterloo Meadows
Waterloo Meadows is a Reading Borough Council park on Elgar Road, set alongside the River Kennet and within half a mile of the town centre. It mixes open grassland, thickets and copses of trees with a well-surfaced path running through the southern part of the site, so there is plenty of room for families to spread out and play. At its heart is the children's play area, which was completely rebuilt in 2024 as one of three new Reading playgrounds opened that year; the council worked with its Accessible Play Task and Finish Group to make sure the new equipment can be used by children of all abilities. Alongside the playground the park has a BMX track, basketball and a hard-surfaced pitch, making it a genuinely all-ages space for cycling, ball games and active play. There is a small car park at the Elgar Road entrance, along with a children's centre, toilets, seating and dog bins. Entry is free and the park is open to the public year round, making it a popular green escape close to central Reading.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Children's play area
- BMX track
- Basketball court
- Hard-surfaced pitch
- Cycling
- Children's centre
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Small car park at the Elgar Road entrance
- Toilets on site
- Accessibility: Reading Borough Council worked with its Accessible Play Task and Finish Group so the rebuilt play area includes equipment for children of all abilities; toilets and seating on site
- Dogs: Dogs permitted; dog bins provided
🧒 Ages & play
- Children's play area (rebuilt in 2024 with inclusive, accessible equipment)
- BMX track
- Basketball
📍 Nearby places to play
- Coley Recreation Ground · approx 0.3 miles · Coley Park
- Katesgrove Playground · approx 0.3 miles · Katesgrove
- Cintra Park · approx 0.6 miles · Christchurch / Redlands
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❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Waterloo Meadows free to visit?
Yes. Waterloo Meadows is a free, public park managed by Reading Borough Council.
Does it have a children's playground?
Yes. The children's play area was rebuilt in 2024 as one of three new Reading playgrounds, with inclusive equipment for children of all abilities.
What else is there to do?
As well as the playground there is a BMX track, basketball, a hard-surfaced pitch and space for cycling beside the River Kennet.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is a small car park at the Elgar Road entrance.
Are there toilets?
Yes. Toilets are listed among the park's facilities by Reading Borough Council.