Reading travel guide
Reading Tourism | Reading Guide
You're Going to Love Reading
With a population of 244,070, Reading is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Reading deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Reading
Where to Eat in Reading
If you’re looking for affordable options, CAU Reading (The Oracle Shopping Centre) and Forbury's Restaurant (One Forbury Square) are great picks. For delicious green meals, London St Brasserie (Riverside Oracle 2-4 London Street) and The Pack Saddle at Mapledurham (Chazey Heath) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Reading.
When to visit Reading
How to Get to Reading
Plane
Although Reading doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Oxford Kidlington (OXF), which is located 49 km from Reading. The shortest domestic flight to Reading departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 15m.
Train
AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Reading, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Reading to Oxford takes 0h 52m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about £23 for a 1h 33m trip. Located 10 km from the city centre, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 7 km from the centre.
Car
Another option to get to Reading is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 59 km from Reading. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including National Express, Megabus and FlixBus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Reading takes 209 km and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 225 km. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 1.1 km from the city centre of Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.
Airports near Reading
Airlines serving Reading
Where to stay in Reading
Average rates range from around £91 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £119 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Crescent Hotel and Sure Hotel by Best Western Reading.
Where to stay in popular areas of Reading
Most booked hotels in Reading
Hiring a car in Reading
Hiring a car in Reading costs £37 per day, on average, or £74 if you want to hire it for 2 days.
Expect to pay £1.49 per litre in Reading (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.77 and £23.69. The most frequently booked car type in Reading is Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Volkswagen Golf SportWagen or similar) is, on average, 80% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.