diff --git a/src/fileio_func.h b/src/fileio_func.h
--- a/src/fileio_func.h
+++ b/src/fileio_func.h
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@
 
 extern char *_personal_dir; ///< custom directory for personal settings, saves, newgrf, etc.
 
+static const uint16 MAX_README_LENGTH = 8191;
+
 /** Helper for scanning for files with a given name */
 class FileScanner
 {
diff --git a/src/lang/english.txt b/src/lang/english.txt
--- a/src/lang/english.txt
+++ b/src/lang/english.txt
@@ -2390,6 +2390,7 @@
 STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_MOVEDOWN                                    :{BLACK}Move Down
 STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_MOVEDOWN_TOOLTIP                            :{BLACK}Move the selected NewGRF file down the list
 STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_FILE_TOOLTIP                                :{BLACK}A list of the NewGRF files that are installed. Click a file to change its parameters
+STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_VIEW_README                                 :{BLACK}View Readme
 
 STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_SET_PARAMETERS                              :{BLACK}Set parameters
 STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_TOGGLE_PALETTE                              :{BLACK}Toggle palette
@@ -2423,6 +2424,9 @@
 STR_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS_SETTING                                   :{STRING1}: {ORANGE}{STRING1}
 STR_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS_NUM_PARAM                                 :{LTBLUE}Number of parameters: {ORANGE}{NUM}
 
+# NewGRF readme window
+STR_NEWGRF_README_CAPTION                                       :{WHITE}View NewGRF Readme
+
 # NewGRF inspect window
 STR_NEWGRF_INSPECT_CAPTION                                      :{WHITE}Inspect - {STRING5}
 STR_NEWGRF_INSPECT_PARENT_BUTTON                                :{BLACK}Parent
diff --git a/src/newgrf_config.cpp b/src/newgrf_config.cpp
--- a/src/newgrf_config.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf_config.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "fileio_func.h"
 #include "fios.h"
+#include "tar_type.h"
 
 /** Create a new GRFTextWrapper. */
 GRFTextWrapper::GRFTextWrapper() :
@@ -761,3 +762,27 @@
 {
 	return (this->ident.grfid & 0x00FFFFFF) == OPENTTD_GRAPHICS_BASE_GRF_ID;
 }
+
+/** 
+ * Check a grf for a readme.txt file.
+ * @param cfg The GRFConfig to check.
+ * @return true is the GRF is packaged with a readme.txt file.
+ * @note a GRF can only have a readme if it is inside a tar archive.
+ */
+bool GrfHasReadme(const GRFConfig *cfg)
+{
+	if (cfg == NULL || cfg->filename == NULL) return false;
+
+	const char *slash = strrchr(cfg->filename, PATHSEPCHAR);
+	if (slash == NULL) return false;
+	int prefix_length = slash - cfg->filename + 1; // Including the path separator.
+	if (prefix_length + 10 + 1 > MAX_PATH) return false; // "foo/" + "readme.txt" + '\0' must fit.
+
+	char readme_path[MAX_PATH];
+	memcpy(readme_path, cfg->filename, prefix_length);
+	strecpy(readme_path + prefix_length, "readme.txt", lastof(readme_path));
+
+	TarFileList::iterator tar_entry = _tar_filelist.find(readme_path);
+	if (tar_entry == _tar_filelist.end()) return false;
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/newgrf_config.h b/src/newgrf_config.h
--- a/src/newgrf_config.h
+++ b/src/newgrf_config.h
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@
 GRFListCompatibility IsGoodGRFConfigList(GRFConfig *grfconfig);
 bool FillGRFDetails(GRFConfig *config, bool is_static);
 char *GRFBuildParamList(char *dst, const GRFConfig *c, const char *last);
+bool GrfHasReadme(const GRFConfig *cfg);
 
 /* In newgrf_gui.cpp */
 void ShowNewGRFSettings(bool editable, bool show_params, bool exec_changes, GRFConfig **config);
diff --git a/src/newgrf_gui.cpp b/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
--- a/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "core/geometry_func.hpp"
 #include "newgrf_text.h"
 #include "fileio_func.h"
+#include "tar_type.h"
 
 #include "table/strings.h"
 #include "table/sprites.h"
@@ -449,17 +450,121 @@
 /* Window definition for the change grf parameters window */
 static const WindowDesc _newgrf_parameters_desc(
 	WDP_CENTER, 500, 208,
-	WC_GRF_PARAMETERS, WC_NONE,
+	WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS, WC_NONE,
 	WDF_UNCLICK_BUTTONS,
 	_nested_newgrf_parameter_widgets, lengthof(_nested_newgrf_parameter_widgets)
 );
 
 void OpenGRFParameterWindow(GRFConfig *c)
 {
-	DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+	DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
 	new NewGRFParametersWindow(&_newgrf_parameters_desc, c);
 }
 
+enum ShowNewGRFReadmeWidgets {
+	GRW_WIDGET_BACKGROUND,       ///< Panel to draw the readme on
+	GRW_WIDGET_SCROLLBAR,        ///< Scrollbar to scroll through the readme
+};
+
+struct NewGRFReadmeWindow : public Window {
+	GRFConfig *grf_config; ///< View the readme of this GRFConfig.
+	uint clicked_button;   ///< The row in which a button was clicked or UINT_MAX.
+	bool clicked_increase; ///< True if the increase button was clicked, false for the decrease button.
+	int timeout;           ///< How long before we unpress the last-pressed button?
+	int line_height;       ///< Height of a row in the matrix widget.
+	Scrollbar *vscroll;
+	
+	
+	static const int top_spacing;    ///< Additional spacing at the top of the #MHW_BACKGROUND widget.
+	static const int bottom_spacing; ///< Additional spacing at the bottom of the #MHW_BACKGROUND widget.
+
+	int date_width;  /// < Width needed for the date part.
+
+	NewGRFReadmeWindow(const WindowDesc *desc, GRFConfig *c) : Window(),
+		grf_config(c),
+		clicked_button(UINT_MAX),
+		timeout(0)
+	{
+		this->CreateNestedTree(desc);
+		this->vscroll = this->GetScrollbar(GRFPAR_WIDGET_SCROLLBAR);
+		this->FinishInitNested(desc);  // Initializes 'this->line_height' as side effect.
+		this->OnInvalidateData();
+	}
+
+	virtual void UpdateWidgetSize(int widget, Dimension *size, const Dimension &padding, Dimension *fill, Dimension *resize)
+	{
+		switch (widget) {
+			case GRW_WIDGET_BACKGROUND:
+				this->line_height = FONT_HEIGHT_NORMAL + 2;
+				resize->height = this->line_height;
+
+				size->height = 4 * resize->height + this->top_spacing + this->bottom_spacing; // At least 4 lines are visible.
+				size->width = max(200u, size->width); // At least 200 pixels wide.
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	virtual void OnPaint()
+	{
+		this->OnInvalidateData(0);
+		this->DrawWidgets();
+	}
+
+	virtual void DrawWidget(const Rect &r, int widget) const
+	{
+		if (widget != GRW_WIDGET_BACKGROUND) return;
+	}
+
+	virtual void OnResize()
+	{
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Some data on this window has become invalid.
+	 * @param data Information about the changed data.
+	 * @param gui_scope Whether the call is done from GUI scope. You may not do everything when not in GUI scope. See #InvalidateWindowData() for details.
+	 */
+	virtual void OnInvalidateData(int data = 0, bool gui_scope = true)
+	{
+		if (!gui_scope) return;
+		DeleteChildWindows(WC_NEWGRF_README);
+	}
+};
+
+const int NewGRFReadmeWindow::top_spacing = WD_FRAMERECT_TOP + 4;
+const int NewGRFReadmeWindow::bottom_spacing = WD_FRAMERECT_BOTTOM;
+
+static const NWidgetPart _nested_newgrf_readme_widgets[] = {
+	NWidget(NWID_HORIZONTAL),
+		NWidget(WWT_CLOSEBOX, COLOUR_MAUVE),
+		NWidget(WWT_CAPTION, COLOUR_MAUVE), SetDataTip(STR_NEWGRF_README_CAPTION, STR_TOOLTIP_WINDOW_TITLE_DRAG_THIS),
+		NWidget(WWT_SHADEBOX, COLOUR_MAUVE),
+		NWidget(WWT_STICKYBOX, COLOUR_MAUVE),
+	EndContainer(),
+	NWidget(NWID_HORIZONTAL),
+		NWidget(WWT_PANEL, COLOUR_MAUVE, GRW_WIDGET_BACKGROUND), SetMinimalSize(200, 125), SetResize(1, 12), SetScrollbar(GRW_WIDGET_SCROLLBAR),
+		EndContainer(),
+		NWidget(NWID_VERTICAL),
+			NWidget(NWID_VSCROLLBAR, COLOUR_MAUVE, GRW_WIDGET_SCROLLBAR),
+			NWidget(WWT_RESIZEBOX, COLOUR_MAUVE),
+		EndContainer(),
+	EndContainer(),
+};
+
+/* Window definition for the grf readme window */
+static const WindowDesc _newgrf_readme_desc(
+	WDP_CENTER, 630, 460,
+	WC_NEWGRF_README, WC_NONE,
+	WDF_UNCLICK_BUTTONS,
+	_nested_newgrf_readme_widgets, lengthof(_nested_newgrf_readme_widgets)
+);
+
+void OpenNewGRFReadmeWindow(GRFConfig *c)
+{
+	DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_README);
+	new NewGRFReadmeWindow(&_newgrf_readme_desc, c);
+}
+
 static GRFPresetList _grf_preset_list;
 
 class DropDownListPresetItem : public DropDownListItem {
@@ -497,6 +602,7 @@
 	SNGRFS_SCROLL2BAR,
 	SNGRFS_NEWGRF_INFO_TITLE,
 	SNGRFS_NEWGRF_INFO,
+	SNGRFS_NEWGRF_README,
 	SNGRFS_SET_PARAMETERS,
 	SNGRFS_TOGGLE_PALETTE,
 	SNGRFS_APPLY_CHANGES,
@@ -574,7 +680,8 @@
 
 	~NewGRFWindow()
 	{
-		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
+		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_README);
 
 		if (this->editable && !this->execute) {
 			CopyGRFConfigList(this->orig_list, this->actives, true);
@@ -847,7 +954,7 @@
 				GRFConfig *c;
 				for (c = this->actives; c != NULL && i > 0; c = c->next, i--) {}
 
-				if (this->active_sel != c) DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+				if (this->active_sel != c) DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
 				this->active_sel = c;
 				this->avail_sel = NULL;
 				this->avail_pos = -1;
@@ -859,7 +966,7 @@
 
 			case SNGRFS_REMOVE: { // Remove GRF
 				if (this->active_sel == NULL || !this->editable) break;
-				DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+				DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
 
 				/* Choose the next GRF file to be the selected file. */
 				GRFConfig *newsel = this->active_sel->next;
@@ -888,7 +995,7 @@
 			case SNGRFS_AVAIL_LIST: { // Select a non-active GRF.
 				uint i = this->vscroll2->GetScrolledRowFromWidget(pt.y, this, SNGRFS_AVAIL_LIST);
 				this->active_sel = NULL;
-				DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+				DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
 				if (i < this->avails.Length()) {
 					this->avail_sel = this->avails[i];
 					this->avail_pos = i;
@@ -941,6 +1048,18 @@
 				}
 				this->DeleteChildWindows(WC_QUERY_STRING); // Remove the parameter query window
 				break;
+			
+			case SNGRFS_NEWGRF_README: { // View GRF readme
+				if (this->active_sel == NULL && this->avail_sel == NULL) break;
+				
+				if (this->active_sel) {
+					OpenNewGRFReadmeWindow(this->active_sel);
+					break;
+				}
+				GRFConfig *c = new GRFConfig(*this->avail_sel);
+				OpenNewGRFReadmeWindow(c);
+				break;
+			}
 
 			case SNGRFS_SET_PARAMETERS: { // Edit parameters
 				if (this->active_sel == NULL || !this->editable || !this->show_params || this->active_sel->num_valid_params == 0) break;
@@ -991,6 +1110,7 @@
 				this->avails.ForceRebuild();
 				this->InvalidateData(GOID_NEWGRF_RESCANNED);
 				this->DeleteChildWindows(WC_QUERY_STRING); // Remove the parameter query window
+				this->DeleteChildWindows(WC_NEWGRF_README); // Remove the view readme window
 				InvalidateWindowClassesData(WC_SAVELOAD);
 				break;
 		}
@@ -1008,7 +1128,7 @@
 		}
 		this->avails.ForceRebuild();
 
-		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
 		this->active_sel = NULL;
 		this->InvalidateData(GOID_NEWGRF_PRESET_LOADED);
 	}
@@ -1098,6 +1218,13 @@
 			SNGRFS_MOVE_DOWN,
 			WIDGET_LIST_END
 		);
+
+		bool disable_readme = false;
+		if (this->avail_sel == NULL && this->active_sel == NULL) disable_readme = true;
+		const GRFConfig *c = (this->avail_sel == NULL ? this->active_sel : this->avail_sel);
+		if (GrfHasReadme(c)) disable_readme = true;
+		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(SNGRFS_NEWGRF_README, disable_readme);
+
 		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(SNGRFS_SET_PARAMETERS, !this->show_params || disable_all || this->active_sel->num_valid_params == 0);
 		this->SetWidgetDisabledState(SNGRFS_TOGGLE_PALETTE, disable_all);
 
@@ -1582,6 +1709,8 @@
 	NWidget(WWT_PANEL, COLOUR_MAUVE), SetPadding(0, 0, 2, 0),
 		NWidget(WWT_EMPTY, COLOUR_MAUVE, SNGRFS_NEWGRF_INFO_TITLE), SetFill(1, 0), SetResize(1, 0),
 		NWidget(WWT_EMPTY, COLOUR_MAUVE, SNGRFS_NEWGRF_INFO), SetFill(1, 1), SetResize(1, 1), SetMinimalSize(150, 100),
+		NWidget(WWT_PUSHTXTBTN, COLOUR_YELLOW, SNGRFS_NEWGRF_README), SetFill(1, 0), SetResize(1, 0),
+				SetDataTip(STR_NEWGRF_SETTINGS_VIEW_README, STR_NULL), SetPadding(2, 2, 2, 2), 
 	EndContainer(),
 	NWidget(NWID_SELECTION, INVALID_COLOUR, SNGRFS_SHOW_APPLY),
 		/* Right side, buttons. */
@@ -1645,7 +1774,7 @@
 static void NewGRFConfirmationCallback(Window *w, bool confirmed)
 {
 	if (confirmed) {
-		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_GRF_PARAMETERS);
+		DeleteWindowByClass(WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS);
 		NewGRFWindow *nw = dynamic_cast<NewGRFWindow*>(w);
 
 		GamelogStartAction(GLAT_GRF);
diff --git a/src/window_type.h b/src/window_type.h
--- a/src/window_type.h
+++ b/src/window_type.h
@@ -109,8 +109,9 @@
 	WC_NEWGRF_INSPECT,
 	WC_SPRITE_ALIGNER,
 	WC_INDUSTRY_CARGOES,
-	WC_GRF_PARAMETERS,
+	WC_NEWGRF_PARAMETERS,
 	WC_BUILD_OBJECT,
+	WC_NEWGRF_README,
 
 	WC_INVALID = 0xFFFF
 };