Wokingham, a charming historic market town in Berkshire, and located just under an hour away from London, has been ranked as one of the happiest places to live in the UK by the Happy at Home Index compiled by Rightmove. It offers a blend of historic charm, excellent schools, open green spaces, and a thriving town centre away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.
With its transport connections, range of fun activities and attractions, access to picturesque landscapes, and vibrant community spirit, it isn’t any wonder why its community love living here, and why we think this is an ideal environment for anyone looking to buy and rent property and live here.
In this guide we discover what living in Wokingham is like. We look at the transport links, the education opportunities, best places to eat and drink, and importantly, how much the property is the buy and rent.
Thinking of Moving to Wokingham?
From some incredible locations to think about, from the likes of Barkham, a village and civil parish in the Wokingham Borough with its idyllic and picturesque walks and cottages, to the friendly village of Finchampstead with its independent schools, country park, and great places to eat, Wokingham has something for everyone.
Wokingham has a rich history, dating back to Saxon origins. Originally settled by the ‘Wocingas’ an Anglo-Saxon tribe led by chief Wocca, where it’s said to have given the name “Wocca’s People’s Home”.
The town soon developed through the medieval and Tudor period, and established itself as a major producer of silk, as well as developing its brick making and bell founding industry, supplying to churches in Southern England.
Wokingham has an excellent range of schools, plenty of amenities, is surrounded by beautiful countryside and woodlands, and offers a new and improved shopping experience with a great selection of cafes and restaurants.
Whether you’re relocating for work, family, or a better quality of life, Wokingham provides an appealing mix of urban convenience and countryside tranquillity.
What Are the Key Benefits of Living in Wokingham
Local Community and Lifestyle
Wokingham has a great community spirit. There is a strong sense of community here, making it a great choice for families. Here you’ll find a range of family activities, from swimming at the Wokingham Leisure Centre (formerly Carnival Pool), exploring the 40 hectares of the California Country Park with scenic walks, fishing, and family friendly play park.
In the town centre you can explore the scenic walks, historical landmarks, and historical cottages at your own leisure. The town is pedestrianised, making it easy to get around. The residents enjoy the local sports clubs, regular live music, food, entertainment, wellbeing and health-focused events, and so much more.
There is a regular Wokingham market, taking place on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am – 4pm, with a range of stalls from fresh food, plants, local organic produce, meats, organic and cruelty free beauty products, and fresh fish stalls.
Although Wokingham’s cost of living certainly reflect the popular location, residents also enjoy the safe and well-maintained lifestyle where crime rate is lower than the national average and life expectancy is higher than the England average.
The residents have access to strong mental health support due to the town’s local authority and dedication to its regular wellbeing and healthy living events and activities.
It’s no surprise that the towns community, healthcare facilities, and open green spaces offers a fun, family-friendly, and incredibly supportive lifestyle, or that it’s also been named one of the healthiest places to live because of its offerings.
Green Spaces and Outdoor Activities
Wokingham offers a wealth of outdoor activities, with numerous parks and green spaces for all to explore.
The market town is surrounded by nature, and benefits from easy access to the countryside and nature conservation areas. Explore the stunning views across the lake and woodlands of California Country Park or explore the 350-acres of Dinton Pastures Country Park in the heart of Wokingham with woodlands, meadows, ponds and lakes, open 365 days of the year.
Overall, there are 29 nature parks to take full advantage of.
Sand Martins Golf Club is just a 12-minute drive from Wokingham town centre and provides enthusiastic golfers with two nine holes laid out in two loops.
What Are the Transport Links Like in Wokingham?
Wokingham offers a great mix of transport options, making it an ideal spot for commuters. There are frequent train services connecting to London Paddington and London Waterloo, with both journeys getting you to each station just over one hour on the South Western Railway.
The town benefits from excellent road transport too, with easy access to the M4 motorway taking you to London and other major cities, as well as the A321 and A322 providing routes to Reading, Guildford and other local towns and cities.
Wokingham has a strong bus network, provided by Reading Buses and Thames Valley Buses, with regular services to neighbouring towns like Henley-on-Thames, Fleet, Bracknell, and to Reading. There are connections to Gatwick and Heathrow Terminal as well.
Dedicated cycling paths, 35 Mile Route, the Kennet, and Avon Canal Walk, allow for scenic routes across Wokingham and its surrounding areas.
Whether you’re looking to work in the city, or locally, commuting in Wokingham is efficient.
Outstanding Education Opportunities in Wokingham
Wokingham is home to many Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Good’ schools, covering all age groups. Here you’ll find the likes of Emmbrook Infant School, St Paul’s CofE Junior School, Wescott Infant School, St Crispin’s School, and many more.
- Emmbrook Infant School: Perfect for children aged between 4 and 7 years old and teaches foundation year, year 1 and year 2, with children transferring to the Junior school located on the same site from age 7. The secondary school is also located opposite, making education here incredibly convenient.
- St Paul’s C of E Junior School: With a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating, and a strong curriculum covering maths, computing, English, Geography, Music and Science, this is a great school for year 3, year 4, year 5 and year 6 groups.
- Evendons Primary School: Outperforming Wokingham and national averages in EXS+ Reading, EXS+ Writing, and EXS+ Maths, Evendons aims to inspire children to achieve high standards. The curriculum covers English, Phonics, Science, Geography, Music, and Art.
Further Education in Wokingham
- Bracknell and Wokingham College: A fantastic range of courses to advanced students in their further education across GCSEs, A Level, T Levels, Foundational studies, and more. Higher education qualifications here provide subjects from Animal Behaviour and Welfare, to Business, Leadership and Management.
- Foundry College: A Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) college that delivers a wide range of excellent academic and vocational opportunities, as well as providing support packages to students aged 5-16. They offer a respectful learning environment, allowing students to thrive, whilst teaching them the necessary skills to lead more independent and resilient lives.
Property Market in Wokingham
Wokingham offers a diverse property market, catering to different preferences and budgets. From charming period cottages in the town centre, to more modern developments just outside, there is something for everyone. Whilst property prices here reflect the quality of living, it doesn’t fall into the category of the top 20 towns with the most expensive property.
Investing in property in Wokingham is promising, especially as property values continue to grow. The average property price over the past 12 months was approximately £450,743.
28% of sales over this period were flats, with an average sales price of £265,334. Houses sold at an average of £552,075.
- Detached houses: £728,555
- Semi-detached houses: £491,789
- Terraced houses: £389, 043
- Flats: £265,334
Average Rent Prices in Wokingham, Berkshire
The average rent over the last 12 months in Wokingham achieved £1,397 per month. This is a +6% growth compared to the previous period.
57% of homes let in Wokingham over 12 months were flats, achieving an average rent of £1,213 per month, and houses £1,680 per month.
- 1 Bed Flats: £1,081
- 2 Bed Flats: £1,363
- 3 Bed Flats: £1,438
- 1 Bed House: £1,216
If you’re looking to purchase or rent property in Wokingham then contact our Wokingham estate agent branch on 01183 049028 for sales, or 01183 049959 for lets.
Shopping and Eating in Wokingham
Wokingham, whilst having a charming town centre, offers plenty of great dining and shopping options. From the likes of retailers such as Anthony Blay providing designer menswear, to Antique Rose an independent boutique, popular high-street chain Boots the Chemist, as well as Fat Face, Holland and Barrett, and many others.
Wokingham has many independent restaurants and places to eat catering for all tastes and budgets.
There’s the local favourite Bombay Story Indian Kitchen & Bar inspired by the Mumbai street food scene serving up authentic dishes.
For wine lovers, then perhaps the Grasshopper Cocktail and Wine Bar located near the Wokingham Town Hall where they provide a range of deals such as ‘Half Off Wednesday’ and ‘Wine Down Tuesdays’ with 50% off! Make sure to book a table though as it can get booked very quickly.
You can also find some lovely independent local cafes in Wokingham from the community cafe Kimel Cafe providing your morning coffee boost, to a treat yourself milkshake. The Acorn Community Centre cafe has a beautiful sensory garden and is home to the Optalis Learning Disabilities Day Centre.
Moving to Wokingham? Let Chancellors Help
If you’re considering making Wokingham your new home or property investment location, our local Wokingham estate agents can assist you in finding the perfect property. Whether you’re looking to buy, rent, or invest, our team has expert knowledge of the Wokingham property market.
Contact Chancellors today to start your property search and discover why Wokingham is one of the UK’s most desirable places to live or contact us today to arrange a viewing or for a free market appraisal request an appointment.
