The heatwave has got many people looking for somewhere cool to go. Apparently the lido in kings meadow was so packed they closed the doors to anyone else wanting somewhere to go and swim.
All along the Thames through Reading people were enjoying the cool waters for a paddle or a swim. The reach from the Waterside centre towards Sonning had the air of the seaside about it.
People lay out in the sunshine to get tanned, kids and dogs splashed around in the shallows beneath some willow trees. As the sun went down the park filled as families and groups of friends came down to drink beer and cook food. 
In many ways it’s nicer than the beach. There are no tides. The water is fresh. The journey there is much shorter, and there’s no sand to worry about.
Although people seem nervous of swimming in the river it isn’t the fearsome thing people make out, but there is obviously some awareness of the risk. The water is shallow and warm, if there are lots of people about there is little to worry about compared to the seaside. The shrieks of kids splashing each other, the giant inflatables, really bring the river to life
Further along the river bank it’s much more peaceful 
Purple loosestrife flowers are covered in bees in the warmth of the sun.
The meadows away from the river are parched and buzzing with crickets.
Don’t fret if you can’t make the seaside. You can’t build sandcastles by the Thames but you can walk there from town in 20 minutes, and it’s a really lovely atmosphere.
I don’t think we make half as much out of our beautiful riverside as we should.
Rural Reading 