Where's best to live if working in Reading? (Goring / Streatley / other suggestions please?!)

[boppy80]

There's a chance we might have to move from Kingston-upon-Thames to the Reading area, if my husband takes a job in Reading.
We don't know the area so would really appreciate any advice / comments on where are the best places to live within a short train commute of Reading? (probably not keen on being in Reading itself)

We currently have one 2-year old and so am keen to be somewhere with good schools, a nice friendly family atmosphere, and things to do.
We'd like somewhere less urban than Reading itself, but am worried about going somewhere too small.

Saying that, have heard good things about Goring and Streatley - does anyone live there and what's it like? My slight worry would be it might feel a bit small for us after Kingston, how do people find it for children growing up?

Any other suggestions? - Schools, good for family, and short train into Reading are the main criteria i think…

Would love to hear from anyone who's made a similar move out of London and how they've got on!

Thanks so much

If you want a village green try Woodcote, it has village hall, playground and primary school on two sides and a pub and restaurant across the road on the third. And safe from flooding as at the top of the hill. Not as easy access to the train line though, would need to drive to Goring.

What about Maidenhead? We recently moved from SW London to the All Saints area, and it is lovely - feels like a bit of a town/country hybrid. Good train links to Reading, but also to London (I can drive to Richmond in 30 mins if the traffic is quiet).

I know this is an old thread, but Goring and Streatley have just released a video eulogising the area, should it still make a difference.

Video

Probably not though!