The vibrant town of Reading offers a perfect mix of historical charm, modern attractions, and a very lively student scene. With impeccable transport links around and out of the town, you won’t find yourself having to walk no matter where you’d like to go! What’s more, with such great shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, you’ll never be without something to do.
Community Feel
Great Amenities
Great transport links
Reading has an extensive history, dating back to the Roman Era - in fact you can explore yourself with the various historical sights scattered around! Throughout English history, Reading has been particularly significant, and that significance remains today as it stands as a hub for commercial activity.
Reading is home to the University of Reading, renowned for its sustainability, scientific research and educational programs. The town itself is designed with University students in mind, and you will feel right at home walking through town any day.
Despite being a busy town, Reading does not lack in green spaces! From the university to town, the environment is a top priority, and you will rarely be more than a 10 minute walk from a quaint little park or expansive nature reserve. If you ever want a walk through nature, you will be spoilt for choice living here.
Students, families, young professionals.
Restaurants, retail stores, cafes, bars, green spaces
Reading is considered to be quite a safe place to live on the whole! But it is still important to be wary when getting around on your own at late hours and to stay particularly vigilant during busy weekends.
For the perfect combination of shopping, dining and entertainment, head to the Oracle! It has over 80 shops, including from Zara and H&M to regular vintage pop-ups full of the best retro clothes at affordable prices. And once you’re done shopping, you could grab something to eat alongside the scenic canal, the perfect spot to relax - especially in summer!
For all the history lovers, these impressive Ruins date back to 1121 and are located in the heart of town! Hard to pass up the chance to see what was once one of Europe’s largest medieval monasteries!
Only a short walk from the Reading Abbey Ruins lies the scenic park of Forbury Gardens. Decorated with fountains and statues, this Victorian park is the perfect place to relax, have a picnic with friends, or to take a picturesque walk.
Reading wouldn’t be a Uni town without some sort of nightlife! With various nightclubs, cocktail bars, and pubs all dotted around the centre of town, you won’t be short of a good night out. Friar Street alone features 4 different clubs, and even more bars and pubs! With student prices in mind, you can almost always find affordable, student nights out throughout the week. What’s more, you could go for some boozy darts and bowling at the popular Spinners if clubbing isn’t your vibe.
Speaking of not going out-out, Reading has plenty of alternative options for entertainment! With a large cinema, escape rooms, and even Go Karting, there are plenty of options when it comes to fun things to do!
For the perfect combination of shopping, dining and entertainment, head to the Oracle! It has over 80 shops, including from Zara and H&M to regular vintage pop-ups full of the best retro clothes at affordable prices. And once you’re done shopping, you could grab something to eat alongside the scenic canal, the perfect spot to relax - especially in summer!
For all the history lovers, these impressive Ruins date back to 1121 and are located in the heart of town! Hard to pass up the chance to see what was once one of Europe’s largest medieval monasteries!
Only a short walk from the Reading Abbey Ruins lies the scenic park of Forbury Gardens. Decorated with fountains and statues, this Victorian park is the perfect place to relax, have a picnic with friends, or to take a picturesque walk.
Reading wouldn’t be a Uni town without some sort of nightlife! With various nightclubs, cocktail bars, and pubs all dotted around the centre of town, you won’t be short of a good night out. Friar Street alone features 4 different clubs, and even more bars and pubs! With student prices in mind, you can almost always find affordable, student nights out throughout the week. What’s more, you could go for some boozy darts and bowling at the popular Spinners if clubbing isn’t your vibe.
Speaking of not going out-out, Reading has plenty of alternative options for entertainment! With a large cinema, escape rooms, and even Go Karting, there are plenty of options when it comes to fun things to do!
House
£1,500
Per month, based on 3 bedroom property
Halls
£850
A month
Utilities
£68.50
Per month, per person
WiFi
£20
Per month, per person
Council tax
£2,104.42
Per household, per year
Fibre download speeds
73 Mbps
Fibre upload speeds
18 Mbps
5G/4G
Good coverage
Based on all major phone networks
Pint of beer
£4
Gym membership
£20
Per month
Weekly food shop
£25
Per person, per week
Loved by students, Cafe Yolk is where you can grab a delicious breakfast or brunch only 10 minutes from the main campus.
Friar street alone features 4 different clubs, and even more bars and pubs! With student prices in mind, you can almost always find affordable, student nights out throughout the week.
Serious cocktails and Asian dishes are served at this bustling nightspot.
For some boozy darts, mini golf and bowling, head to the popular Spinners if clubbing isn’t your vibe.
Help others find their perfect place by providing your expert knowledge and insight about your area
Whilst Reading is not crime-free by any standard, it has been rated one of the UK’s safest towns! Increased efforts by the police to crack down on crime has paid off, and you’ll feel more than comfortable walking around Reading on your own! That said, the centre of town can get a little bit unpredictable especially on the weekends and at late hours - with the sheer number of pubs, bars, and clubs that host a large number of drunk people, there are bound to be a few issues here and there. But on the whole, Reading is a safe place to live.
From Reading station, it is about 23 minutes on a GWR train straight to Paddington. Alternatively, there is also the cheaper Elizabeth line which takes about 50 minutes. For those making regular journeys too and from, a Railcard would be a very wise purchase as you are able to get 1/3 off tickets!
Compared to cities like London, Reading can be somewhat cheaper - particularly for the cost of renting. But as a whole, a lot of restaurants and bars maintain a similarly high price point as many larger cities do. But a lot of establishments do accept student discount, particularly those surrounding the Oracle Shopping Centre, and a variety of bars and pubs operate on student pricing which brings the price of alcohol down significantly.
Yes! As a whole, Reading has an extensive list of clubs open throughout the week, as well as themed events weekly. With a mixture of music genres, dress codes and affordable student pricing (most of the time) there is something for everyone almost everyday of the week. This is made even better during university term-time, when student events are much more common, and in the run-ups to any major holidays!
The University of Reading has a large campus, covered in green fields and woodlands. It is even home to a huge lake - which is particularly beautiful in the summer. With multiple student bars, restaurants, cafes and shops all dotted around, there is plenty to do!
For those looking to study, the 5-story library is not only impressive but also incredibly practical, and offers the perfect place to get work done efficiently (or to talk with friends if you’re a first year without any worries). Every degree has its own designated building, all of which filled with modern facilities and spacious lecture halls.
The campus is constantly buzzing with people, even during breaks in term-time, and hosts a variety of events during the week from vintage clothes pop-ups to a regular fruit and veg market every Thursday! It’s got something for everyone really!
Due to the large number of students, there is plenty of student housing available for renting across Reading! But for students and non-students on the whole, there is an incredible diverse range of options for renting. From new-build, modern penthouse apartments right next to the station, to much more affordable locations further from the centre of town, there are properties for everyone’s preferences.
From a price point, Reading does offer a somewhat variable price range when it comes to renting, but it is important to note that on the whole it does tend to sit on the more expensive side!