TODAY (Thursday) marks the start of two momentous celebrations of the town’s heritage, arts and culture, with Heritage Open Days 2018 and the second annual Reading-on-Thames Festival.

The festival, which runs from September 6-16, champions Reading’s arts and culture and is inspired by the town’s majestic waterways.

This year it will be held at the same time as another great celebration, Heritage Open Days 2018, which gets underway today and will run various special events over two consecutive weekends.

Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest heritage festival and more than 30 historic locations will be opening their doors for a series of free tours, walks, talks and special events.

The focus of this year’s celebration is on “Extraordinary Women” in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Universal Suffrage Act, with guided tours.

As well as providing lots of fun activities for people of all ages, the celebration will offer the opportunity to learn about many inspiring women including Britain’s first female professor, Edith Morley, and famed writer Jane Austin, who was educated in Reading.

Nigel Horton-Baker, executive director of Reading UK comments: “The nationwide focus on "Extraordinary Women" creates a great opportunity to celebrate the women of Reading alongside the town's wealth of heritage.

“Heritage Open Days 2018, as part of the Reading-on-Thames Festival, brings together Reading's heritage with amazing arts and cultural events”

Reading has been a waterfront town for well over a thousand years. Heritage Open Days are also part of the Reading-on-Thames Festival (6-16 September) which takes inspiration from Reading’s wonderful waterways' heritage.

Reading UK has published a free map guide to Heritage Open Days in Reading which can be picked up from libraries and leisure centres.

Full details of all the events/locations can be found at www.heritageopendays.org.uk and for more information on the Reading-on-Thames Festival, visit www.readingonthamesfestival.org