living condition in Reading

[TungTungMum]

I will move to Reading this Summer. I heard that Oxford Road in RG1 has a high crime rate. Do you have any ideas about King's Road? It's near to the train station.

King's Road is one of the main routes through town. I wouldn't want to live on King's Road itself. To the north side, you have New Town, which is lots of Victorian terraces. On the south side, Eldon Square is a conservation area, then as you move towards Cemetery Junction and Wokingham Road (A329), that's moving into the University area ' larger Victorian terraces, and some newer housing, mostly larger.

Do you need to be near the station?

I live in RG1 just off Oxford Road. Oxford Road does have high crime figures, but that is partly because it is a very long road! It is a bit rough and ready, as many areas just outside a large town centre are. I have lived in this area (3 different properties) since 1997 and if it was that bad I wouldn't still be here. It is really convenient for town (15 mins walk) and the local station (2 mins walk), good primary schools within 5 mins walking distance. Many of the roads off/behind/between the two main roads are surprisingly quiet and there are some lovely houses and gardens you wouldn't expect so close to a town centre. it was traditionally a suburb with a large African Caribbean* community but more multi-cultural now. There is crime (including drugs and prostitution) but the police are very alive to it and often present. It is always busy and well lit and I have never felt concerned about walking back from the station late at night and alone.

Kings Road is the other side of Reading, east of the town centre. It was traditionally a suburb with a lot of Asian* culture but more mixed (all ethnicities) now. It is also the University and Hospital side of town . Doesn't have its own local station so you would need to walk to main station - not far, and buses are frequent and reliable. I used to live in the east side (5 years in 4 different rental properties) but moved west to buy because the properties were cheaper (that is no longer true) and now I prefer the west. I think it is friendlier and has more character but I am biased, obviously. Kings Road itself is a bit soulless, large office blocks, multi lane noisy traffic etc. but again lots of nice roads/houses away from the main ones. Parking is worse on the east side.

Hope this helps a bit.

*Only mentioned to give you a flavour of the areas' history. I am all in favour of multicultural society.

I prefer to live in walking distance (10 minutes) to the train station snd to the secondary school. But dont want the busy streets. Is RG1 a good choice? I love Terraced house.

Walking distance to schools and station in RG1 is great. (Three secondaries in walking distance - two are practically next door to each other. These are all state schools. The private schools are on the east side) The main roads are busy - traffic and pedestrians; the side roads are surprisingly quiet. My road is partially one way and so quiet that my neighbour's cat is often seen laying in the middle of the road "sunbathing". Two streets along is closed every so often to become a "play street" for the afternoon.

Lots of terraced houses too. Have a look on Rightmove to get an idea. RG1 7 is the postcode area around Oxford/Tilehurst Road (close to Reading West station).

I used to live in an apartment at the edge of the town centre right off King's Road. It is quite good especially if you need to commute anywhere. Not too loud either, because everything closes at 6pm (unless you live close to the pubs). But avoid anything on Station Road and around it as all major bus routes run through them. If you are very paranoid about noise, places alongside the canal parallel to Kings Road will be a good option.

Oxford Road is the shabbier part of town. It's not particularly dangerous, just looks a bit shabby and not many amenities around except a massive Tesco and some Turkish shops.

I also used to live around Cementary Junction and Eldon Square. There are more Victorian houses there but because I had to commute by bus, it was not very convenient. I never found the Victorian houses in Reading particularly charming either but that's probably just my aesthetics.

Across the other side of the Reading station there is a park. As I heard, the area beyond the park - I can't remember the name now - is quite charming and has a good school.

If you need to drive in/out of Reading for work, I have heard that traffic can be a major pain due to one way roads so maybe take that into account as well.

I lived off the Oxford road in a new build 10 years ago with a new born. Not far from the Tesco. I used to walk up and down most days. It's very busy so doesn't feel dangerous.

I once saw a man being beat up and called the police. I have seen this happen in the quiet area I live in now though too up North. So I would not worry.

^Across the other side of the Reading station there is a park. As I heard, the area beyond the park - I can't remember the name now - is quite charming and has a good school.&

Do you mean Caversham?

@EBearhug

^Across the other side of the Reading station there is a park. As I heard, the area beyond the park - I can't remember the name now - is quite charming and has a good school.&

Do you mean Caversham?

Probably, but I'm not sure. I have memory of a goldfish

Do you know the secondary school your kid(s) will attend? Do they have places already?

If not, you will want to check on the admission criteria and routes to school.

We've lived off the Oxford Rd, loved being so close to town. Now in East Reading and love this side of town too - nice park nearby (Palmer Park), University campus for walks, easy to get into town, good local shops. We are also walking distance (less than 30mins walk) to 5 state secondary schools.

(Although 2 of those state schools are the selective grammars.)

Is there any problem if the flat is near/facing the River Kennet？

Interesting discussion for me as DS is thinking of moving to Reading and a lot of the properties in his budget are along / adjacent to Oxford Rd. If we lent him some money, he could probably afford a 2 bed terrace at say £275 and wants to be within walking distance of Reading/Reading West
He'd ideally like a newer 1 bed flat for around £200k and there are plenty around but then when you add in service fees etc, it doesn't look so good.station and amenities.

A few properties come up in Coley and Kennet Island. Views on these areas? Where would be good areas to look/avoid?

Ignore the typos - copy and paste fail!

Don't really know Kennet Island, as it's all new, but looks fine. Not so close to a station, but Green Park is meant to be opening at some point, and there are good cycle lanes/footpaths into the town centre, and bus routes. Don't know about Coley, either.

@TungTungMum

Is there any problem if the flat is near/facing the River Kennet？

No, it’s quite nice on the King’s Road/River Kennet stretch. It’s mostly office blocks (or offices converted to residential) facing the river so generally quite quiet.

Welcome to Reading @TungTungMum

Incase you are interested in checking out the independent good scene in Reading, have a look at https://ediblereading.com

@EBearhug

Don't really know Kennet Island, as it's all new, but looks fine. Not so close to a station, but Green Park is meant to be opening at some point, and there are good cycle lanes/footpaths into the town centre, and bus routes. Don't know about Coley, either.

The tip can stinl in the summer near Kennet island. Unless it's improved. My Dad used to call it smelly Island. Newish builds look ok though.

It's built on what was the Whitley sewage works, which gave us the Whiteley whiff, but I assume they sorted that.

I have a friend living in one of the new-ish buildings in Kennet Island and it seems ok for them. The only problem is the price tag, but I reckon price should have gone down now for those flats.
Oh, and another issue if any, is that there is nothing there but flats, so it's a bit boring. You have to cross the river through the Reading station to the town centre, and depending on the location it may be about 15-20 mins of boring walk. Back then when I was young and lazy, it was a deal breaker so I moved to kings road

Kennet Island is down the A33, opposite Green Park. You have to go through the town centre to get to the station from there, not vice versa.

Caversham is the area the other side of the river from the station. Heartily recommend and there are lots of nice terraced properties and priced reasonably close to the park

What's your price limit?

Cromwell Road, Caversham, Reading
www.rightmove.co.uk/property/108569375

Close to station and Highdown Secondary School

^go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.rightmove.co.uk/property/108569375^

Very nice!
a liittle bit far from RGS by walking

@TungTungMum

^go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=www.rightmove.co.uk/property/108569375^

Very nice!
a liittle bit far from RGS by walking

By RGS, do you mean Reading Grammar School? The boys' school?

How old are your kids @TungTungMum?

There are plenty of boys who travel from further than Caversham to get to RGS. Most kids at that school who use public transport will arrive via bus or train into the town centre and then walk the 15/20 mins to the school. There are hoards of them doing that walk every day. So living in Caversham shouldn't put you off.

However if you prefer just walking, then East Reading, around the University area would be a better choice. And there are also other secondary schools available nearby, should your son not get a place at RGS.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105593387#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/80268390#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106899749#/