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.

If you want to be near Reading School the Kings Road side is closer than Oxford Road although I agree with pp that you want one of the quieter side roads.

How many bedrooms and what sort of budget?

This 2 bed apartment is really close to the school and is priced at 300K: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/80233005#/

250k: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106936613#/

Nice little 3 bed terrace here, in Carnarvon Road. 375K, but the garden looks as if needs a bit of TLC. I used to know someone there and it was a nice place to live: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107078348#/

325K: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105593387#/

2 bed terrace, offers over 265: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106386713#/

2 bed apartment in Kendrick Road ( a lovely tree lined street): www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107071508#/, offers over 270.

Cute little 2 bed terrace in Watlington St, which is very quiet despite being between London Rd and Queens Rd, thanks to being one way: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/104443052#/

Lovely 2 bed apartment in a very nice historic building on London Road (traffic will be busy though and minimal outdoor space): www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100568321#/

Another 2 bed apt in recently converted development, again on London Road: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108060599#/

If you have a much higher budget, Eldon Road is a very nice Georgian area and this potentially lovely 4 bed house is up for 675 but needs some tlc: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100642877#/

Sorry, RGS, I mean the Reading Girls School. Because there is no sixth form, I may need to move after 2 years. So I may rent a place first.

As I may work in London, it would be better to live between the train station and RGS.

Ah, ok Reading Girls.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99782732#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108621275#/ (this is a lovely quiet road, walkable into town and Reading Girls')
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99781955#/ further from RGS, but closer to Maiden Erlegh schools and in a quieter area.

I would not live near the university, students cause so many antisocial problems. I know people who have sold houses because of the thoughtlessness of students' late night antics.
I think you'd be doing well in Coley or Shinfield? Eg www.rightmove.co.uk/property/108025682 backs onto the Kennet, really close to town and you'd be able to walk to the Basingstoke road to get a bus to Reading girls school.

I heard that the streets in reading are busy & traffic problem is serious in the morning. Walking maybe somehow faster than taking a bus. Am I correct?

Yes, it can be busy. Which way is faster probably depends on the route. I haven't had to go unto the centre at rush hour for years, though.

@TungTungMum

I heard that the streets in reading are busy & traffic problem is serious in the morning. Walking maybe somehow faster than taking a bus. Am I correct?

Lots of bus lanes, so usually bus can be quicker unless you're only going a short distance - Reading has an excellent bus service, it regularly wins awards. Depends what you mean by a busy traffic problem - personally I find Central London with it's massively under-used cycle paths more of an issue for slow moving traffic if we're going to compare city centres (I know Reading isn't actually a city but it's bigger than many cities) . Many people I know living in West Reading (Oxford Road) or East Reading (Newtown) don't have cars because the buses are so good and it isn't actually too far to walk into town (10 mins). for trains etc - Reading is well placed for transport.

I mean going from around Kendrick Road to Northumberland Ave via A327. Is it stuck in this direction or the route going to the Reading train station?

Those roads are often congested. Walk or cycle if you can, it will be much quicker.

Kendrick Road at school drop off/pick up time is a nightmare - even more so now they have put in traffic "calming" bollards. The mix of parents dropping girls off (The Abbey & also Kendrick), usual traffic and the buses make for a very tricky traffic situation. Avoid if you can.

The bus service is fairly reliable in central Reading, but IMHO very expensive (£2 for an adult single).

Those roads are often congested. Walk or cycle if you can, it will be much quicker.

Thanks for the useful info. We'd better not live near the schools or along the school bus routes.