Chancellors estate agents in Reading

What is Reading Like? 

Reading is a vibrant and diverse town in Berkshire. One of the largest towns in the whole of the UK, Reading is the perfect place for anyone who is looking to live in a bustling town with a family-friendly feel. 

Reading is a prime spot for London commuters who are seeking more for their money outside of the capital. The Berkshire town is just 30 minutes away from London via a direct train to London Paddington. Being within such close proximity of the capital, Reading is a great option for those who are looking to leave the hustle and bustle of London but still be a resident in a lively town. With a great selection of entertainment, a busy nightlife and a notably warm community feel, Reading has plenty to offer. 

Reading has been voted as one of the best places to make a living and work in the UK. The information technology sector is particularly strong here, and both Microsoft and Oracle have headquarters in the town. Information technology, business and financial services, legal services, energy and renewables, bio-pharma and biotech and the creative sector are all popular job sectors in Reading.  

Some of the most popular areas in Reading include: 

• Reading town centre. If you want to be right in the heart of all the action, this is the place to be. Unsurprisingly, this is the most popular area for students 
• Earley. This is a particularly popular area with families with family-friendly activities and beautiful lakesides 
• Caversham. This is a suburb a mile outside of Reading with a charming community atmosphere 
• Winnersh. If you would rather live in the countryside but still have easy access to the town, this is the place for you. There are over 70 allotments here as well as a community hall 
• Woodley. This is the largest suburb of Reading, 4 miles east of the town centre. It has a good range of shops, supermarkets and cafes as well as a fantastic leisure centre  

Bars, Restaurants and Nightlife 

Being a university town, it will come as no surprise that Reading has an excellent choice of independent bars, pubs and restaurants. Reading offers a lively nightlife scene with a plentiful supply of student bars, upmarket cocktail bars and traditional pubs. Be At One is a lively cocktail bar, known for its exciting range of cocktails and its party atmosphere. Oakfield Social Club is one of the best spots to catch some live music in Reading, with a thriving atmosphere every day of the week.  

The Alehouse and The Nag’s Head offer a more traditional drinking experience, and The Hope & Bear is a stylish pub with a fine selection of craft beers and gastro-inspired pub grub.  

The Market House is an impressive venue with multiple bars, a roof top terrace and bar, street-food stalls, as well as uniquely and individually decorated hotel rooms.  

Foodies are sure to be happy with the choice of restaurants and eateries in Reading. As well as some familiar names like Honest Burgers and BrewDog, the town also has Greek, Latin American, Italian, French and Argentinean restaurants.  

Leisure Centres and Outdoor Activities 

There are a number of gyms and leisure centres in and around Reading. Buzz Gym is a fully equipped gym with a full studio class timetable which is open 24 hours a day. The Gym Group in Reading is another fully equipped gym which is also open 24 hours a day.  Reading also boasts four leisure centres where you can enjoy a range of sporting activities including swimming, badminton, netball and basketball.

Palmer Park Sports Stadium is set in acres of beautiful parkland and is one of the finest outdoor sports centres in the region. There are both outdoor and indoor facilities including an athletics stadium, floodlit football pitches, a 460m Velodrome and a fully equipped gym.    

Situated just outside of Reading, Reload is a laser clay pigeon shooting and archery range. Reading is also home to a fantastic, state-of-the-art Teamsport go karting track and the highly regarded golf club, The Caversham.  

The Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre in Bracknell, provides the opportunity to experience falconry, with hands-on experiences and family falconry sessions. Beale Wildlife Park in Lower Basildon is a fantastic outdoor wildlife park set within 40 acres along the River Thames. For scenic walks, you can head out to the Kennet and Avon Canal for a relaxing stroll. 

Find out more about living in Reading.