The Reader, Calderstones Park

The Reader is a charity with big ambitions: its aim is to “use the power of literature and reading aloud to transform lives” and it does so with passion for books and warmth for the people who come to enjoy them.

The organisation is based in the beautiful Grade II-listed Mansion House in Calderstones Park. Located in South Liverpool, Calderstones is a lovely green area, with a tiny forest, incredible rhododendrons and a lot of space for picnics. The Reader though, is its main attraction with regular activities for literature lovers as well as incredible ice-cream for, well, everyone.

The Reader’s best known for Shared Reading groups, which invite people to gather together in order to talk about and enjoy books, and as a result build a sense of community, improve wellbeing and reduce loneliness. These take place regularly and the books of choice are varied so keep an eye out for upcoming sessions if it sounds like something you’d like to get involved in.

There are lots of other, sometimes less book-focused events at the venue too, such as seasonal markets, themed walks and activities for children (which usually take place in the dedicated play space called Storybarn).

For anyone interested in local history, The Mansion House is where you’ll find an exhibition telling the story if Liverpool but not quite as you expect – it begins in the Stone Age. In fact, this is where you can see the prehistoric Calder Stones that gave the park its name, taken from what is believed to be a prehistoric tomb in its grounds. It’s a cool piece of history to see and one that’s managed to remain in its original site – just make sure you don’t touch them. The Mansion House entry is free so you can go along next time you’re taking a stroll around the park.

Last, but certainly not least, is The Reader Ice Cream Parlour. Open all year round, as it should be because you never know when the need for excellent ice cream will strike, the Parlour is stocked with a variety of flavours, from the classics to the wilder combos – all are excellent and worth a try. If you’re visiting The Reader, you simply can’t miss dessert at the end.