Kings Meadow, Reading, and buildings comprising homes and office blocks adjoin to the south of the lock itself.

The island contains a typical lock-keeper's house, a crane depot, small boatyard, and large boathouse owned by the Environment Agency for occasional use by that authority and police in river patrol and maintenance of boats.

St Mary's Island is close to the bank at the far end of Caversham (seen on maps also as Upper and Lower Large).

Reading Amateur Regatta is held annually in June between St Mary's Island and Caversham Bridge.

Reading Festival is held on August Bank Holiday at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue near Caversham Bridge.

The railway runs adjacent to the river for more than 600 meters on a high brick embankment to enable it to cut through the end of the escarpment further upstream, on which most of Purley-on-Thames lies.