[Willem Fick]

I also lived/worked there for a while.

Agreed on travelling to London from there on your first visit. Buy a one day travel pass with return at Reading station. This will cover your train journey to London and back, as well as to give you unlimited underground, bus and ferry access for the day. You will soon enough find that a day isn't enough to even scratch the surface of London.

The train will take you into Paddington station. As you walk along the arrival platform you have two options. one is to walk straight to the underground and start exploring that way. The other is to simply exit the building. From here it is a short walk to Hyde park, which you cross to get to Albert Hall an Albert memorial. Keeping left here takes you to Buckingham Palace and the Mall, whereas right takes you into Kensington.

As for Reading. Not a great place in itself, but very central. Do take the time to walk around it though as the Reading Abbey ruins are an interesting visit, and there is a 1000 year old church worth seeing too. Reading is in very close proximity of Windsor, Oxford and Henley on Thames. The latter is overrated as a destination but has a couple of nice pubs and the surrounds area is quite scenic. For Windsor you need a day as the castle is well worth seeing and the town is a nice walk. Take the time to have a beer at the pub opposite the gatehouse leading to the Great Park.

Oxford also demands a bit of time. Actually, renting a car and driving from Reading to Oxford via Henley is a nice idea, especially if you stick to the country lines (route through Pishill is especially scenic.)

Other places within an easy drive from Reading are Bath and Stonehenge, each of which are about an hour's drive.

Something else to consider:

Not sure where you'll be staying, but if you plan on being there for a week or more at any point it is worth renting an apartment as opposed to staying in a hotel. Visit the Deep Blue Apartments or Ivy Lettings websites for some really nice options.

Enjoy!