Reading Good Areas to Live

[Alexis26]

Hi I'm looking for nice area in Reading to move to that's not too expensive (I know everywhere is these days) and was wondering if anyone could recommend anywhere? No kids but good access to motorway or train station would be handy.

Good access to the motorway - do you mean going towards junction 10 (London)? If so, Earley is a good location (old Earley not Lower Earley).

What kind of property are you looking for? Some areas are better for flats, or terraced houses, or detached.

Are you happy to get a bus to the station or would you want to walk? Parking near the main station is very expensive.

Rough idea of budget expectations would help too.

If you are look for cheaper areas, Whitley and Whitley wood give best access to j11, and all amenities on your door.
The area has improved a lot in recent years, less popular with some because of catchment area's for school.
Spencer' wood is nice - but there is a huge building programme going on there and I haven't kept up to date on it, but there was applications in for a local quarry which sounds like it would be a complete nightmare!

As PP says - Early is nice, and Winnersh is good for access and amenities, but have always found traffic a nightmare around there.

If you go out to J 12 you have Theale (Nice but expensive) and Calcot - again some areas are better than others - but lots of new houses and developments going on... plus Ikea on your doorstep.

All the above have good networks to town for train.

Personally, I would avoid Oxford Road area for a multitude of reasons, though there are some nice houses set back from it.

I live in Woodley. Which is really good access to the M4 and also M3 via bracknell. Although traffic in Bracknell can be bad.
It’s not as nice as when we moved here 15years ago but still it’s not terrible. I live on the airfield side of woodley and would recommend that over south lake or anywhere near drovers way.

The local shopping precinct has a Lidl Waitrose and Iceland. There are numerous hairdressers, nail salons, and a few bars and restaurants now.
Easy three minute train to reading town centre the bus takes quite a while but run regularly.
Shopping wise as in a big clothing trip with teenage dd we usually shoot down the m4 to Westfield or go for a day out in Oxford but on a regular basis reading ir Bracknell usually has what we need.
There is a mix of older 80’s built properties and a lot of new build estates going up.
I am in close walking distance to the river and a series of lakes for nice walks with or without the dog.

There are some foreground Victorian villa one road back from the Oxford road but I would still avoid unless you’re a student and want easy access to nightlife but I would still get taxis home as wouldn’t want to walk around there at night time.

Gorgeous not foreground

@Twiglets1

Good access to the motorway - do you mean going towards junction 10 (London)? If so, Earley is a good location (old Earley not Lower Earley).

Probably just towards the business parks in Reading and Farnborough hopefully. I'm a contractor so work is most likely to be in IT commercial offices

@Ellmau

What kind of property are you looking for? Some areas are better for flats, or terraced houses, or detached.

Are you happy to get a bus to the station or would you want to walk? Parking near the main station is very expensive.

Rough idea of budget expectations would help too.

I'm looking for a house - either a semi or end of terrace, or a link detached would be great. Ideally I'd like some space so on the larger side. My budget is 350k.

I prefer more modern properties rather than cottages or older builds that may need more repairs and maintenance

@Ellmau

What kind of property are you looking for? Some areas are better for flats, or terraced houses, or detached.

Are you happy to get a bus to the station or would you want to walk? Parking near the main station is very expensive.

Rough idea of budget expectations would help too.

Ideally I'd like to drive. I'm an IT contractor so work will probably be based in one of the business parks or IT commercial offices. Usually I'm only required in 2-3 days a week though.

@UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter

There are some foreground Victorian villa one road back from the Oxford road but I would still avoid unless you’re a student and want easy access to nightlife but I would still get taxis home as wouldn’t want to walk around there at night time.

Thank you, definitely not a student! I won't be clubbing, just wanted some lively bars for some social life. I don't need to be right next to them, as will be more of a weekend thing

@GeorgiePorge

If you are look for cheaper areas, Whitley and Whitley wood give best access to j11, and all amenities on your door. The area has improved a lot in recent years, less popular with some because of catchment area's for school. Spencer' wood is nice - but there is a huge building programme going on there and I haven't kept up to date on it, but there was applications in for a local quarry which sounds like it would be a complete nightmare!

As PP says - Early is nice, and Winnersh is good for access and amenities, but have always found traffic a nightmare around there.

If you go out to J 12 you have Theale (Nice but expensive) and Calcot - again some areas are better than others - but lots of new houses and developments going on... plus Ikea on your doorstep.

All the above have good networks to town for train.

Personally, I would avoid Oxford Road area for a multitude of reasons, though there are some nice houses set back from it.

Great info, thank you . I saw a property in Whitley - the estate agent didn't want to tell me the area, just kept saying it was near the Uni. It's on Wincanton Road - do you know that area or road? I like to go for a walk in the evenings sometimes and I have quite a nice car so I'd be a little nervous about both of those if the area was dodgy?

I work near Farnborough and commute from Earley. Pre covid it was a 45 min to 1 hour drive with the bulk of the jams at start and finish. Currently it is 30 mins but obviously that could change back. Properties in old Earley tend to be 1930s & 40s, Maiden Erlegh has great schools so tends to be more expensive and houses are late 1950s/1960s. Lower Earley is a massive estate built in the 80s & 90s, nearer the motorway but further from the station. Its generally a nice place to live, with good access to shopping and near to the countryside too.

Whitley can be a bit rough.

Wincanton is a nice road...its a back road to Northumberland which is a main route to town. I lived near by for many years and never really had any major issues (Cars on road or driveway were fine, but kids would nick the odd plant pot outside). I used to walk at night, and back from town after drinks. it definitely had a reputation in the past for being 'a bit rough' but I think in recent years this is much less warranted. It would fit your price range, and you may struggle to find something for your budget in the 'nicer areas'. have you looked a bit further afield ? places like Burfield or Mortimer?

Whitley is considered the roughest part of Reading- that’s why the estate agent wanted to call it “near the uni” instead.
I would look at Earley or Lower Earley (if you don’t mind big housing estates) or the actual university area which is RG1 not RG2 (Whitley)

Whitley can be rough, but it's not as bad as it once was, and there are some nice roads, though I'mnot sure Wincanton Rd is one of those, but I don't think it would stop me walking. There are some good ex- council houses. It would be walking distance to Green Park (where they're building a station on the Reading - Basingstoke branch line) and to the Verizon building right on J11, so tons of tech employers around. There are some cycle paths along the Loddon river, too, and buses into town (not that I've used them for many years.) If you're by J11, that is slso by the A33 to Basingstoke (also quite a few IT jobs). Travel times can vary - I can do Bas to J11 in 25 minutes, but I would leave an hour if I have to be in at 09:00 (which usually I don't.) It's probably another half hour to the town centre at rush hour (less than 10 minutes other times.)

I agree Earley (Earley has a station on the slow Reading-Waterloo line,) and possibly Lower Earley. The uni area can be nice, but there's a lot of student housing round there, too.

Mortimer and Bramley are also on the Reading - Basingstoke line. I have a couple of colleagues who live in Burghfield, and I think it's quite nice.

@Twiglets1

Whitley is considered the roughest part of Reading- that’s why the estate agent wanted to call it “near the uni” instead. I would look at Earley or Lower Earley (if you don’t mind big housing estates) or the actual university area which is RG1 not RG2 (Whitley)

I definitely wouldn't consider Whitley as rougher than Oxford Road/Cemetery junction area, or even certain parts of Tilehurst. Crime figures are worst the closer to town you get.

That said having lived there for over a decade (and having gone to school there 20 years ago) I will be the first to admit there are nicer places... but budget may be an issue. I just sold my 3bed semi (non-extended) in the heart of Whitley for £360k

Oxford Road is even worse, you’re right

Look at Wokingham, also near reading. Rail line into London or reading In 2 stops take 10 minutes. Easy to get to motorway. Your in between reading and farnborough. Closer to reading. Wokingham town good too, bars and restaurants but on a smaller scale to reading. Also next door to Bracknell. Lots open space and good walks around, walk and see fields just few minutes away

Oxford road area is fine! It was dodgy about 20 years ago but there’s no need to avoid it now. And it’s convenient for access to train stations as you’ve got Tilehurst station and Reading West depending on which bit you go for. Not many modern homes in the area though.

I used to live near the Uni, near Whitley (I went to Reading Uni for Undergrad and Postgrad and lived in Reading for 14 years in total) My car got vandalised 6 times (tyres slashed, keyed, car crowbarred open) and even with CCTV, the Police didn't do anything, I just got an obligatory letter 2 weeks later saying that due to lack of evidence they were closing the investigation - I ended up parking my car over a mile away at Greys Court (very close to middle of town) and walking up the massive Hill to home as I was so stressed that every morning my car would be damaged.

I also got burgled when I lived there and they broke in through forcing the kitchen window when I was in the house alone, sleeping upstairs and stole my laptop amongst other things.

I then moved to Lower Earley - far nicer, my car didn't get damaged once and I didn't get broken into.

I'd suggest Lower Earley / Earley for 'nice places' to live.

I'd agree with pp and say if you are driving then Wokingham is a good option. Lots of pubs and restaurants for the weekend and close to the A329M for links to M4 and M3. Thousands of new builds at the moment. Not sure you would get 3 beds for £350k though.

Or Arborfield Green which is a new "garden village" where there used to be an army base. It's a couple of miles south of Wokingham so better for the M3 via Eversley and a bit closer to Reading too.

Wokingham is lovely I agree but probably too expensive

If Wokingham is too expensive, how about Winnersh? It's on the train line.

Also a vote for Earley/Lower Earley. I enjoyed living there.

Whitley is known to be a bit rough.

@FluffyPersian

I used to live near the Uni, near Whitley (I went to Reading Uni for Undergrad and Postgrad and lived in Reading for 14 years in total) My car got vandalised 6 times (tyres slashed, keyed, car crowbarred open) and even with CCTV, the Police didn't do anything, I just got an obligatory letter 2 weeks later saying that due to lack of evidence they were closing the investigation - I ended up parking my car over a mile away at Greys Court (very close to middle of town) and walking up the massive Hill to home as I was so stressed that every morning my car would be damaged.

I also got burgled when I lived there and they broke in through forcing the kitchen window when I was in the house alone, sleeping upstairs and stole my laptop amongst other things.

I then moved to Lower Earley - far nicer, my car didn't get damaged once and I didn't get broken into.

I'd suggest Lower Earley / Earley for 'nice places' to live.

Thanks for this, I will definitely avoid Whitely now! How did u find Reading generally, I've read mixed reviews? I haven't been for a night out there in ages but when I did, there were lots of big bats to choose from. I'm not bothered if they're chains, I quite like the big commercial bars like all bar one etc.

Just wondered what u thought of it? Is it a mostly 20s or older crowd?