Things to love about living in Reading, Berkshire

A long time ago, by chance, I relocated to the town of Reading, Berkshire. I was a 22 year old graduate living with my parents in a tiny North Wales village, working in a local pub and looking for a career direction. I applied for a job, was interviewed in Manchester, offered the position and I accepted having never been to the town 22 miles from home. I needed somewhere to live and I needed to get a feel for this unknown place. The following Friday I jumped on a train (well a couple of trains) and headed down south to the town I would call home for over 20 years. I learnt that there were a lot of things to love about living in Reading.

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LIVING IN READING

It was the Friday before the August Bank Holiday. The weekend that Reading Festival comes to town. My train trundled into town alongside the festival site mid-afternoon, giving me a clear view of the Foo Fighters tearing up the main stage and that was that. I knew I had made the right decision. I was going to like living in Reading.

Back then, apart from the famous annual Festival and the town’s locality to London, there didn’t seem to be a great deal going for it as a destination. There was no large shopping mall to speak of. Night life was a bit iffy, the main strip of pubs on Friar Street used to be the place for groups to go out for fights rather than for fun. There were a couple of night clubs with sticky floors and sweaty walls that were way past their glory days.

Despite this, Reading was home to a large University and also being in the Thames Valley commuter belt, it had a large population of young professionals. A lot of people who had moved to the town for work. This gave it a vibrant and cosmopolitan feel and I made myself quite at home. Skip forward almost twenty five years or so and a lot has changed in this town.

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THE CHANGING FACE OF READING

During the decades, as with many towns, there were changes. Big changes. Old shopping malls were closed, new high end malls opened. Old and derelict buildings were razed to the ground, making way for modern development that would change the face of Reading, making it a more desirable place to live and visit.

Railway Station Area

One of the major changes of recent years is the Reading Station and Station Hill redevelopments. Exiting Reading Station used to offer a fairly bleak first impression of the town. A bunch of old concrete office tower blocks and closed down shop units directly opposite the station – it really wasn’t the greatest welcome to a town. The train station was given a complete overhaul with a new sleek and modern design, along with a revamp of the old station pub,  The Three Guineas, providing a lovely contrast of modern architecture sitting alongside the Victorian style of the old railway buildings.

Opposite the station, the old office blocks were demolished creating a public space currently being utilised for events, with a massive development underway in 2023 of apartment and retail space, along with beautifully landscaped public spaces. My favourite part of this whole overhaul has been the revamp of the tired looking THAMES TOWER – a 1970’s office block which reopened as a bright, modern and striking building with retail space on the ground floor, several stories of office space and the top floor housing The Roost – a dining and events space with a sky garden terrace offering  amazing views across the town.

The Blade

Another of my favourite buildings (architecturally) in town is THE BLADE – something of an icon with its curving glass walls and tall spire – definitely a new landmark in town. Whilst there is no public access to The Blade, which is predominantly high end office space, this fabulous building can be seen for miles around.

The beautifully restored Thames Lido

Opened in 2017, the new THAMES LIDO saw a meticulous and carefully considered three year restoration of the old Kings Meadow Swimming Pool which originally opened as the Ladies Swimming Baths in 1902. It finally closed to the public in 1974, fell into disrepair, was then awarded Grade II listed building status and has now been developed into a beautiful outdoor heated swimming pool, along with spa facilities, a restaurant and bar. Many of the old features of the Victorian building have been retained and restored and the end result is something of a work of art.

The vibrant colours of the freshly painted woodwork contrasting against the old features of the building such as the Victorian barge boards and decorative pillars works really well, adding modern touches while maintaining the beauty of the old building.

Sitting inside the stylish bar and restaurant area, looking out onto the reflections on the water while dining and socialising is pretty special. Definitely a destination on the food scene of the town.

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AMAZING ARCHITECTURE

Reading is not all about modern redevelopments though. Wander through the streets and you will find plenty of beautiful old buildings sandwiched between the sleek new office blocks. The key to seeing the beauty of the old buildings is to look up. What may seem like a modern frontage at ground level may well distract you from the real character of the old building. We miss so much focusing our attention on the ground floor shop fronts, or our smart phones. OK, mostly our smart phones. Look up!

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LIVING IN READING – SHOPPING

When I mentioned in the opening paragraph that there was no large shopping mall to speak of, this was true at the time. Friars Walk had a C&A (remember those) before that closed down, leaving the abandoned mall, occasionally and fittingly used for live action zombie experiences.  The Broad St. Mall hosted a collection of smaller stores but was tired and dated even then, but merely weeks after I arrived in September of 1998 THE ORACLE opened its doors for the first time.

The Oracle changed the shape of the town centre. A fancy two storey shopping mall, housing high street fashion brands and department stores. Nowadays, the main selling point for me is the The Oracle Riverside with a selection of ever changing restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and a couple of entertainment spaces. One of these hosts a beach bar in the summer and Christmas bar over the winter.

THE INDEPENDENT SCENE IN READING

Arguably one of the best things about living in Reading is the independent scene. Whilst it’s great having the usual chain restaurants and stores in town, one thing that stands out are the independents. It seems that there has been an influx of new independents trying to make the town a better place.

This has been helped greatly by the use of social media. Twitter (or now X), is where I was mostly introduced to my favourite independent businesses. Social interactions between small businesses and their customers create a thriving community, so much so that I consider some of these business owners as friends. Here’s a snapshot of Reading’s best independents.

COFFEE UNDER PRESSURE | C.U.P. or Coffee Under Pressure is a lovely little cafe in the centre of town, tucked away to the side of Reading Minster, off St. Mary’s Butts. You might miss it if you didn’t know it was there. Run by a lovely Greek couple, this cafe draws in a cosmopolitan crowd – sitting outside on a sunny day can feel like you have been transported across to the continent. Their coffee is great, they have a great variety of leaf tea (which is freshly brewed and served in large glass flasks) and their coconut milk cake is definitely a winner. It always looks crowded due to the busy outdoor seating, but make sure you call in as there will likely be a spare table inside. C.U.P. also have a second site on Blagrave Street, and have branched out Bristol too.

58 BARBERSHOP | In a town full of run-of-the-mill barbers, 58 Barbershop gives a stylish and classic, yet contemporary take on the barber shop experience for men. An appointment only shop with no sitting around and queuing (a pet hate of mine at barbers), it offers a nice and relaxed experience. Us men like to be pampered too every now and again!

SHED | Shed Cafe, tucked away on Merchants Place is one of Reading’s best kept secrets. Located in the Old Forge Building, it’s a lovely little cafe where the made to order sandwiches and toasties are amazing. With names such as the Terry Vegan sandwich or Tuna Turner toastie, how could you not be tempted in to try them out? Head over at the end of the week for Saucy Friday, when they put on a hot dish special. Get there early though, as they will sell out fast. This cafe has such a great vibe, and you should really seek it out.

THE GRUMPY GOAT | Having relocated from a unit in Harris Arcade, to a larger spot in Chain Street (affectionately known as Smelly Alley), The Grumpy Goat is a fabulous Craft Beer & Cheese Shop, with a cute bar on the first floor. The downstairs deli features a range of local product with a small seating area perfect for a quick lunch of coffee. Head upstairs, and the cosy little bar area served a range of fabulous craft beers including many local names.

DOUBLE-BARRELLED BREWERY | Double-Barrelled Brewery opened up their Tap Room towards the end of 2018 , and rapidly became one of the most popular places to head to on a Saturday afternoon. Located on an industrial unit in West Reading, the Tap Room is a cool, comfortable and stylish space where you can relax and enjoy some great beers. They run regular brewery tours where you can learn about the process, while sampling their awesome range. Dogs and children are welcome, so it’s really a space that everyone can enjoy. Ditch the town centre pubs and head down here. That’s my tip of the day.

READ MY REVIEW OF THREE GREAT BERKSHIRE BREWERY TOURS

BLUE COLLAR CORNER | From a market stall selling gourmet burgers to an iconic venue in a transformed derelict yard, Glen Dinning has proved that if you want something hard enough, you can make it happen. Blue Collar Corner opened in March 2022, in a former abandoned corner of Reading town centre. A two storey venue, with street food served from shipping containers, a bar selling local beers and seating across two floor in an awesome space, Blue Collar Corner is the place to head to for a great night out. With a packed diary of events including DJ nights, markets and live music it has transformed this area of town into a destination. Blue Collar also run street food markets in town, as well as semi-regular pop up events in Forbury Gardens.

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LIVING IN READING – THE GREEN SPACES

Green spaces are key to a balanced lifestyle, especially when living in a built up area. Whilst it’s great having everything on your doorstep, it’s also nice to be able to escape the hustle and bustle. Living in Reading provides a number of wonderful green spaces, a mere stone’s throw from the town centre.

FORBURY GARDENS | The closest spot to the town centre, it only takes a few minutes to walk to Forbury Gardens, a beautiful and well-tended park with the centrepiece of the Maiwand Lion – a lovely sculpture and war memorial. The park hosts plenty of great events throughout the year, but at weekends where there are none it’s lovely and peaceful.

READING ABBEY | 2018 saw the reopening of an important part of Reading’s history, as a wonderful public green space for everyone to enjoy. The ruins of Reading Abbey, closed to the public since 2008, are now a wonderful spot to explore and learn. With information boards dotted around showing how the site would have looked, there are lawns and benches to relax and the Abbey Ruins also play host to events and festivals throughout the year.

THAMES PROMENADE | If you want to wander a little further afield, it’s definitely worth heading down to the River Thames. The Thames Promenade is a great public footpath following the river through this stretch of Berkshire. With three bridges crossing the river in Reading, including the pedestrian only Christchurch Bridge, this also provides access to Christchurch Meadows – another lovely park on the other side of the river.

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LIVING IN READING – FESTIVALS

No post about living in Reading is complete without mentioning the biggest annual event – READING FESTIVAL. From my first year attending in 1999, I attended every year until 2019 when I said goodbye to the town for pastures new. The festival is located on the banks of the River Thames, about 15 minutes’ walk from the railway station, making it hugely accessible in terms of a music festival. Reading Festival runs for three days, across the August Bank Holiday weekend.

If the weather is good, there is no better place for an amazing sunset than from the festival site. We lucked out in 2017 with glorious weather and some fabulous sunset scenes. 2018 provided us with the weather conditions of four seasons across the weekend. You win some, you lose some.

Local music promoters HEAVY POP also run a couple of awesome festivals in the town, these being ARE YOU LISTENING? FESTIVAL and DOWN AT THE ABBEY FESTIVAL. These fantastic festivals, on a smaller scale, bring some great acts to the town, as well as showcasing some amazing local talent. For craft ale lovers, CRAFT THEORY FESTIVAL comes into town once a year, showcasing local and national small breweries, alongside some musical acts.

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ARE YOU CONSIDERING LIVING IN READING

You may have never considered stopping in Reading whilst passing through on the train. With London Paddington 25 minutes in one direction and Oxford 25 minutes in the other, why would you I suppose? Despite the reputation of being a typical commuter town, if you know where to look, there are things that make it special. The recent introduction of the Queen Elizabeth Line connecting Reading directly with central London by train has certainly made the town a more desirable place to live for commuters, so here’s hoping this piece has helped make those choices.

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USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING IN READING

GETTING TO AND AROUND READING

BY CAR: Reading can be easily accessed from the motorway network of South East England with direct access from the M4 at Junctions 10, 11 & 12.

BUS & TRAIN: Travelling by train is the best way to get to Reading, which is located on the Great Western line between London and South Wales. There are direct links from London Paddington as well as London Gatwick Airport, and easy connections with London Heathrow Airport. There is a great bus network in the town, operated by READING BUSES.

WHERE TO STAY IN READING: There are a wide range of hotels in Central Reading, to suit all budgets. Personal favourites of mine, located in the heart of town are the MALMAISON READING AND READING ROSEATE.

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RELATED CONTENT

Looking to delve further into information about living in Reading and the surrounding areas in Berkshire.

Take a look at my TOURIST GUIDE TO THE BERKSHIRE TOWN OF READING

Visit the stunning NATIONAL TRUST BASILDON PARK

Head out on a springtime SNOWDROP WALK AT WELFORD PARK

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