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Reading (/ ˈ r ɛ d ɪ ŋ / ⓘ RED-ing) [2] is a town and borough in Berkshire, England. Most of its built-up area lies within the Borough of Reading, although some outer suburbs are parts of neighbouring local authority areas.
Jun 10, 2021 · READING is a town which is often mistaken for a city. However, her Majesty The Queen has agreed for a competition to be held to grant the prestigious and rare civic honours of ‘city...
Nov 27, 2020 · Many newcomers may believe Reading is a city - but it isn't. It has most of what cities are known for: a big shopping centre in The Oracle, plenty of places to eat, a metropolitan and diverse...
Oct 26, 2024 · Reading, town and unitary authority, geographic and historic county of Berkshire, southern England, 38 miles (61 km) west of London. It is an important junction of railways running west from London and south from the Midlands, and the Kennet and Avon Canal (to Bath and Bristol) and the River Thames.
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There are several possible derivations of the Reading's name, however the true source is obscured. Reading grew rich through the medieval and Tudor periods thanks to a booming trade in cloth. The siege imposed by parliament on the town during the English Civil War crippled the town's economy which never recovered. The economy of the town is histori...
By plane
Reading is well served by London's collection of airports. For travellers coming directly to Reading, here are the most convenient (in increasing travel time) ones: 1. Heathrow Airport is about 40min down the M4 (eastbound) motorway. Alternatively, it is linked directly to Reading rail station by the RailAir express bus service running every 20 min or so and taking about an hour and, indirectly, by the TfL Rail train service (change at Hayes & Harlington station). 2. Luton Airport is about 50...
By train
Wikitravel has a guide to Rail travel in the United Kingdom. Reading is one of the main railway interchanges in the UK and as such is served by inter-city and regional train services from many different directions, including through services from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Oxford, Plymouth, Exeter, Cornwall, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea, Winchester and Yorkas well as the airports described above. The station has just had a £900 million investment to allow capacity t...
By bus
National Express serve Reading with express bus (UK English:coach) services from around the country; advanced ticketing is necessary. Note that they serve a stop called Reading Coachway, which sounds grand, but is actually a drafty bus stop near M4 J(12) with the only amenities being a nearby McDonald's restaurant and a Sainsburys supermarket. You will need to catch a local bus (the Number 26 or the Number 1 towards Reading) or taxi (if you can find one) to take you into Reading. Buses to the...
By foot
The central area of Reading is easily traversable on foot. From the main rail station, you will be able to take in the Abbey Ruins, the Forbury Gardens, both rivers, both shopping centres, most (but not all so check) hotels, pubs and restaurants without needing more than shoe leather.
By bus
Buses provide a moderately good way of getting around Reading itself (say 3-5 miles out), with several buses an hour on most routes during weekdays, and hourly services in the evenings and on weekends. Beyond that distance, bus routes are much less frequent, with often only a handful of buses per day. Route 17 (Earley Wokingham Road - Tilehurst via town centre) was extended to 24 h operation in 2008, possibly with other major routes to follow. Reading Buses have a (legal) monopoly within the...
By taxi
There are two sorts of 'taxis' operating in Reading, although only black cabs are strictly allowed to call themselves taxis: 1. Black cabs(which are not always black but are always London style taxi vehicles) in theory operate from taxi ranks around the town and can be hailed in the street. In practice, the only place you can reliably find them is on the rank outside the rail station. They are always metered. 2. Private hire carslook like ordinary cars except they have a Reading Borough Counc...
Central Reading
Reading has several interesting sights to see within the central area. 1. Reading Abbey Ruins & Forbury Gardens. These beautiful formal gardens were once part of Reading Abbey, and the ruins of the Abbey itself can be found between the park and the river Kennet. The Abbey's founder and benefactor was Henry I and he was buried in front of the high altar in 1136. The Abbey went on to become one of the most important religious and political centres in England. A few of the Abbey's buildings stil...
Surrounding Area
There are also many interesting things to see around Reading. 1. Basildon Park, Lower Basildon (7 miles west of Reading on the A329; grid reference SU611782), telephone +44 118 976 7360, . Open Feb-Dec everyday 10.00-5:00PM. This beautiful Palladian mansion was built in 1776-83. The interior is notable for its original delicate plaster work and elegant staircase. The early 19th century pleasure grounds are currently being restored, and there are waymarked trails through the parkland. Accessib...
River trips
There are lots of things to do in and around Reading. You could try taking a river trip: 1. Salters Steamers, telephone 01865-243421 from within the UK or +44 1865 243421 from outside, . Run day trips from Reading to Henley-on-Thames and return with 3 hours ashore in Henley (or you can return by train); 7 days a week from May to September. Also less frequent trips from Wallingfordto Reading. Depart from outside the Riverside Restaurant just downstream of Caversham Bridge. £8.50-£11. 2. Thames...
Walks
Or there are many possible walks in the area: 1. Thameside walk to Sonning. A very attractive walk can be had by leaving Reading on the Thames towpath from Reading Bridge and Caversham Lock (both about 5 mins walk from the downtown area) and simply following the towpath to the old village of Sonning. This walk is about 4 miles in length, and traverses both open landscape and wooded river margins. Return the same way, or catch a bus back (buses roughly hourly; no service on Sunday). 2. Thamesi...
Festivals
Reading is the home of one of Europe's major annual music festivals, held on the Rivermead site (an open area alongside the River Thames) over a period of several days. The festival can be guaranteed to fill the town with visitors and happening things; if you are planning to visit during these festivals do book your accommodation and festival tickets well in advance. 1. Reading Festival . Even bigger than the Womad festival which used to be held in the town as well up until 2006 (now held nea...
Reading is the home of The University of Reading which is ranked as one of the UK’s most research-intensive university and as one of the top 200 universities in the world. Reading University is based on a campus two miles from the city centre and provides a full set of university courses. Reading University enjoys a world-class reputation for teach...
Reading is a significant commercial and information technology centre and if you have skills in these areas and the appropriate legal paperwork then finding a job should not be a problem. Reading is ranked No. 1 in the UK for the percentage of people in the labour market in employment and there is usually strong demand for well qualified employees....
Shopping
Reading is a major regional shopping centre, with most of its shops clustered in a fairly compact downtown area. Shops are split between those on outdoor pedestrianised shopping streets, of which the principal is Broad Street, and those in indoor shopping malls such as the Oracle Centre and the Broad Street Mall. There are three major department stores, John Lewis on Broad Street (often still known locally by its old name of Heelas), Debenhams and House of Fraser both in the Oracle Centre. On...
Money
Nearly all major British banks and building societies have branches situated in Reading, and most of them are based around the eastern end of Broad Street or around the adjacent Market Place which is also where most of the major financial institutions that make the town their home are based. These branches normally open M-F 9AM-4PM and Sa 9AM-noon. Most bank and building society branches have 'through the wall' type ATM's that are open 24x7. There are also clusters of stand alone ATM's in the...
Central Reading
The following restaurants are all within walking distance of central Reading: 1. The Cerise Restaurant and Bar, The Forbury Hotel, 26 The Forbury (in city center), telephone +44 118 958-1234 or Freephone 0800 789 789, . Perhaps a little style over substance, frequented by Reading 'glitterati' and business professionals. Decor is very stylish and cocktails are to die for. Check out the restrooms with their unique artwork displays and piped comedy. Prices are at the top end. Open Information ne...
Surrounding Villages
Many of the villages surrounding Reading have interesting restaurants or country pubs that serve food, and here is a selection. You will probably need to use a car or taxi to get to most of them. 1. L'ortolan, Church Lane, Shinfield (just of Junction 11 of the M4). Telephone: +44 118 988 8500. Open Tues-Saturday for both Lunch and Dinner. L’ortolan, located in the beautiful village of Shinfield, is Reading’s only Michelin starred restaurant. Chef Patron Alan Murchison is passionate about his...
Reading, as a sizeable town, has many and varied pubs and bars. A healthy population (numberswise at least) of students and young city workers makes sure that pubs, wine bars and cocktail lounges are all well represented. The compact centre of town ensures stiff competition between establishments, which works well for the consumer, who has many wel...
The earliest map of Reading, published in 1611 by John Speed. By 1525, Reading was the largest town in Berkshire, and tax returns show that Reading was the 10th largest town in England followed closely by Colchester and Leicester, based on taxable wealth.
Reading (pronounced like "redding", not "reeding") is a large, historic town in Berkshire in the South East of England. It is one of the largest towns without city status in the United Kingdom with just under 235,000 inhabitants.
