Reading

Cromwell dictates the King’s summer progress itinerary, slotting Reading as a scheduled stop alongside others like Wolf Hall. The town awaits Henry’s entourage on dusty roads lined with timbered houses and market stalls. Crowds gather under summer sun as courtiers spill into inns, abbey precincts echoing with bells and feasts. This transient hub pulses with royal pageantry and whispered court politics during the tour.