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River

Hills Meadow Reading — FREE

Hills Meadow is a free-fishing stretch on the River Thames at Lower Caversham, Reading. It’s an accessible riverside venue, with the main flow influenced by Caversham Weir and a slower mill-stream section to pick apart.

Run by Reading Borough Council / public riverside bank · checked 12 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Reading gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

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We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready

The lowdown

  • This is a proper mixed bit of river, with the Thames pushing along close to the bank. Caversham Weir has a say in the flow, so expect the water to have a bit of pull rather than sitting there flat.
  • There’s also a small mill stream coming into play. That water is slower and shallower, giving you a handy alternative when the main river is charging through.
  • The bankside is not one long line of open pegs. Trees and vegetation limit the fishing spaces, so have a look around first and choose the swims that give you a clean cast.
  • The council describes Hills Meadow as an accessible fishery, with mown grass and walkways around the open riverside space. That keeps the faff down when you’re carrying tackle.
  • For the main river, a feeder approach looks the natural fit when there’s a decent push of water. Keep it tidy and work the crease where the faster flow meets steadier water.
  • When the mill-stream water is behaving, lighter float work could be bob on. The shallower, slower character should suit a careful search rather than a big, heavy setup.
  • The stretch should offer different options as conditions change. Try the main flow when there’s a bit of colour or extra push, then switch to the mill stream if the river feels too lively.
  • Parking is available off George Street at Reading Bridge, with pay-and-display parking listed as a Hills Meadow facility. The site address is George Street, Lower Caversham, Reading RG4 8DH.
  • It’s free fishing, but you still need a valid rod licence. No official night-fishing permission is listed, so treat this as a daytime venue.
  • We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: On the main river, start with a feeder and fish the crease or steadier water near the bank. In the mill stream, a lighter float approach is worth a look where the water is slower and shallower.

Access & tickets

Rod licence

A valid rod licence is required for fishing.

No fishing permit is needed. Anglers must hold the required rod licence.

Fish the club names

The club doesn't list species for this stretch, so we haven't guessed.

Key rules

  • A valid rod licence is required.
  • No day ticket or fishing permit is required.
  • No official night-fishing permission is listed.

Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

Community reported

Recent angler updates

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How busy was it?

Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.

No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.

Water updates from anglers

No active water updates.

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