At the heart of the Thames Valley sits one of the largest towns in England. Despite its economic success and growing population, Reading is yet to receive ‘city’ status. For now, it remains a sought-after town which rivals some of the UK’s biggest cities.
Reading Town Centre
Often cited as one of the best places to work and live in the country, the region has enjoyed unprecedented growth in recent years. It’s partly due to its close proximity to London – only 30 minutes via train – and the area is now considered a mecca for leading tech firms. Some of the big names with operations here include Microsoft, Dell and Ericsson.
Situated in business parks close to the M4 corridor, these modern industries haven’t spoiled the integrity of the surrounding Thames countryside. Nearby villages such as Sonning, Winnersh and Streatley promise a slower pace of life complete with thatched cottages and country pubs. Scenic open spaces are also located in and around the town, with the River Thames a short walking distance away.
The Oracle Reading
This provides all the convienance of a city, made even more appealing due to its enduring rural charm. As such, Reading promises an unrivalled housing location for both old and young.
Transportation in Reading
The close proximity to the M4 corridor provides convenient access to the M25, linking to London and the rest of the UK. Both the M40 and M3 are within easy reach, and travel to Heathrow by car takes approximately 40 minutes.
As a major transportation hub, Reading station offers similar appeal for those travelling by train. Services between London Paddington and Reading run every 15 to 20 minutes, taking as little as 30 minutes.
Things to do in Reading
With something for both visitors and residents, Reading offers an exciting mix of attractions. From the many historic sights to the impressive shopping complexes and family-friendly amenities, here are some of the highlights:
- Reading Museum
- Basildon Park
- Silchester Roman City Walls and Ampitheatre
- Madejski Stadium
- Krazy Playdays
- Teamworks Karting Reading
- Mapledurham House
- Forbury Gardens
- Reading Abbey
- Vue Cinemas
- Wokingham Superbowl
- Museum of English Rural Life
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
Transport Links
Reading is an extremely well-connected town, offering excellent transport links. Reading Railway Station is the second busiest railway hub outside of London, with First Great Western, CrossCountry and South West Trains all running services from Reading to locations across the UK. The station has many direct routes, including the popular Reading to London Paddington route, which has around 140 services per day.
Reading Buses and its subsidiaries provide a frequent local bus network within Reading and the surrounding areas. Reading is also a cycling-friendly town, with a number of comprehensive local cycle routes and connections.
Reading is also conveniently located for international travel. Heathrow Airport can be reached within an hour by road, with Heathrow just 40 minutes away via the M4. Also, you can reach Luton Airport in less than an hour and a half.
Schools in the Area
Reading has an enviable standard of education with 50 primary schools and 20 secondary schools, many of which are rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Primary schools in Reading include All Saints Junior School, which is rated as ‘outstanding’, as well as Oxford Road Community School and The Hill Primary School, which are both rated as ‘good’. There are four secondary schools which are rated as ‘outstanding’: Reading School; Kendrick School; Maiden Erlegh School and UTC Reading.
For higher education, the University of Reading offers an excellent standard of education. The highly regarded university offers an excellent standard of education in a range of subjects and is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world (and 40th in the UK).
Reading is also a town with a thriving creative spirit. Reading College and School of Art and Design offers hundreds of courses for those on the creative path.
Attractions in Reading
Reading is perhaps most well known for its world-famous eponymous festival, The Reading Festival, which has hosted some of the biggest names in music for decades.
The Abbey Ruins are one of Reading’s biggest attractions, providing the chance to explore 900 years of history. This large, ruined abbey is the former grounds of Reading’s royal abbey and is the burial place of King Henry I.
Reading Museum is a wonderful museum of the history of Reading and the surrounding areas, offering a great day out for all of the family.
The beautiful indoor Oracle shopping and leisure mall sits on the banks of the River Kennet in the heart of the city. The shopping centre has amassed a noteworthy collection of awards and is famous for its exceptional customer service. The Oracle opened its doors in 1999 and has become the region’s premier shopping and leisure destination. Home to 90 high street and high end retailers, 30 cafes, bars and restaurants and an impressive 11-screen Vue cinema, The Oracle is a worthy rival to any London-based shopping 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.