Reading is ok. But famous for its lack of pretty. And mooring past reading is mostly charged. Few free spots.
You really need a few days to head north for the best of the Thames. Week is great.
Let me know when you will manage it. I'm on the Coventry atm. But our home mooring is in Oxford on the Thames. And we spend autumn heading one way or the other a d back. So could likely meet you in a pub around that time.