Reading is a large and historic town 40 miles from central London. Between 2017-2019 it was the fastest-growing town in the country.
Services from Reading train station get commuters into London in just 25 minutes, and there are 140 services to London Paddington each day. Reading has fantastic links to both the M4 and M3 so commuting is easy. Heathrow Airport is just 27 miles from Reading and there are regular trains and buses operating to and from the airport, so the rest of the world is within easy reach.
Reading has some high performing schools such as All Saints Junior School, Reading School (a grammar school for boys) and Kendrick School (a grammar school for girls). The University of Reading is ranked within the top 200 in the world and the top 40 in Europe.
Reading has it all when it comes to shopping. The Oracle has John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, House of Fraser and much more. Broadstreet Mall hosts Argos, TKMaxx and many other high street names. For those wanting to investigate the independent shopping scene, there’s Harris Arcade, which has a great selection of stores to explore. They sell a great variety of things here, including real ale, cheese, comics and African clothing.
The restaurant and nightlife scene has picked up rapidly in Reading over the last few years. There’s loads to choose from, whether you want to fine dine at the Michelin star L’Ortolan restaurant or just grab a Nando’s. There’s a meal for all tastes and budgets in the area.
There’s also been a huge increase in the number of bars in Reading. Bars include Revolution De Cuba, Coconut Bar & Kitchen and Be At One are all in the centre of Reading and within walking distance of each other.
There are plenty of doctor’s surgeries in Reading, including a walk-in service, and several pharmacies throughout the town. There are plenty of dentists and the Royal Berkshire Hospital is centrally located for patients needing hospital care and support.
Nearby, Beale Wildlife Park & Gardens is set against the River Thames and hosts over 30 animal species within its 30 acres of land. There are children’s play areas, woodlands to explore and lovely landscaped gardens too.
There’s also Dinton Pastures Country Park, which is a great open area with woodlands and lakes, offering a wide range of activities including exciting water sports, play parks and woodland walks.
Basildon Park is an impressive National Trust mansion that had many of its original features restored in the 1950s after it was damaged in the war. It’s great fun for families with many different types of activities, huge outdoor areas to explore and various events throughout the year.
The successful and ever-popular Reading Festival takes part on August Bank Holiday every year since 1989, and it shares a bill with Leeds Festival.
