Commuting from Reading to London

[Attenboroughsmistress]

Hello! Obviously lots of threads on this but wanted to start my own incase new insights to be had!

We are looking at moving to one of the pretty villages around Reading, we have a 1 year old and a dog and would like more space. I would love my child and hopefully future children to have more of a “wild” nature upbringing rather than total city life.

We do need to get to London for work however. My DH needs to get to Victoria 4 x a week and I need to get to city - Moorgate/Bank/Monument/London Bridge all work 3 x a week.

My timings are immensely flexible in current role, sort of just need to show face in office but can start/end work at home. DH mornings flexible but can’t leave until after 18:00.

A few of our friends have moved to places with “40 mins to London” trains recently and seem to be doing alright but just wanted to hear some more experiences.

Your honest view - is it worth the commute for the space and more greenery?

We keep holding back because of all the things London has to offer but since having a child it I make an honest assessment we only manage to walk the dog in the same small parks, if we go out to eat we choose the same favourite restaurants, we last went to the theatre probably 1.5 years ago, art galleries make me sleepy (how embarrassing lol but true), and we see our non-London friends more than our London friends because we can go and stay with them for the weekend and everyone in London so busy with kids etc that organising a get together requires 2 months notice anyway!

I just feel like we are clinging onto London for the “idea” rather than the practicalities of life with a young child.

Please help! :)

I'm in Reading OP. I mainly WFH, but do commute to London occasionally. It's super quick on the fast train to Paddington (30 mins), or cheaper but slower on the Elizabeth Line.
There are some lovely villages outside of Reading which are great for children and dogs - look at Caversham or Tilehurst.
Any other questions give me a shout 😊

It's a pretty fast train commute and a relatively reliable service compared to something like Southern Rail..
I commuted longer across London when living in London than commuting into London when living outside. Worth it to me.

I wouldn’t move to Reading if I needed to get to Victoria regularly - the circle line is a pain in the arse from Paddington and the slow train to Waterloo is tedious.

Also if you were planning on living outside and driving to the station, be aware that the parking charges are horrendous.

Getting to Victoria from Paddington is a nuisance. I'd look at costing up the travel, it sounds like it will cost a lot of money between you, plus the extra childcare to cover the travel time. Plus time lost with your child. I commuted from Reading to Holborn for a couple of years (but pre children), the Reading to Paddington bit was fine, but I hated getting from Paddington to Holborn, that took longer than from Reading! I don't know if you're set on Reading area for other reasons but travel wise you'd do better to move somewhere on the Southern / Thameslink train lines, in terms of your commutes.

This is so annoying as my commute to Reading from moorgate would be very easygoing and quick! Victoria is such a weird location transport wise, now that I am investigating it.

Reading to London is quick - any nice village to Reading train station is not quick!! And cost of parking at station is eye watering!

I’m on a commuter line that goes through Reading - my one observation is that by the time we reach Reading (in either direction), the train is usually very busy and Reading folk have to stand. And then I often think ‘I’m glad I don’t live in Reading, what a pain to stand!’

I live nearby. I would live in a village with a station. Also train fares from Hampshire are cheaper than those from Berkshire and Oxfordshire I think. What are your plans for childcare? One of the reasons I changed to local work was that the train was too unreliable to guarantee me back by 6pm for nursery pick up time. We have no local relatives to step in if we were held up.

@NameChangePoP ”There are some lovely villages outside of Reading which are great for children and dogs - look at Caversham or Tilehurst.”

Neither of which are villages. Tilehurst literally has nothing going for it except you can get to junction 12 relatively easily.

Reading - London Paddington is a quick and easy trip by train. The service is good and frequent.

As a back-up there's a very slow Reading - London Waterloo line (takes over an hour).

The Elizabeth Line however, stops at every station so I'd only use that as a last resort.

The worst part of the trip is getting from Paddington to anywhere east of Marble Arch. I used to commute to Sloane Square and the Circle Line was always a right pain.

It's got a water tower!

East Surrey might be better for you. Some areas have trains to both London Bridge and Victoria.

Think you may have to factor in getting a parking space at a train station! They can get pretty full even at 7am. I think somewhere like Twyford on the Elizabeth Line might suit your brief but buy a house in walking distance to the train station.

Also how will you get back quickly to pick up Sick child from nursery?

I live in Goring-on-Thames which is beautiful and has a station in the village which is 10 mins from Reading. I catch the Paddington train into London a few days a week and it takes 50 mins. Or 40 mins if I change at reading.
All very doable

Went to see a property in Sonning today and found the constant through-traffic surprising! It’s such a pretty village, beautiful historic houses everywhere you look but constant traffic along Thames Street across a one way historic bridge (Google tells me people use it as a cut through route) - it’s only 20 miles p/h but makes the village feel like an “in between” place.

We lived in Three mile cross with a young child. I drove partner to the station every day and back early doors. He managed to get to most places in London but luckily his company paid the travel. Was doable though.

Yes, Sonning whilst absolutely lovely, can be a nightmare for traffic. Try looking at Wokingham/Wargrave.

Sonning is terrible traffic-wise but a lovely village.

Reading to Paddington on the fast train is something like 17 minutes, but you need to get to Reading station and from Paddington.

Twyford is on the Elizabeth Line.

Elizabeth Line takes you to Paddington, Liverpool Street, etc.

I have just checked and Twyford is on the great western main line too.

@Advocodo , of course it is, as is Reading.
You catch either the Lizzie Line or the GWR from the station.
Same ticket, same platforms. The train will take you to Paddington.

You could join Amal and George Clooney on your commute - they used to live in Sonning - not sure if they still do.

If you don't mind a town instead of a village, Windsor is an easy commute to London. You can get to Waterloo or Paddington.

I wouldn’t do it if both of you are commuting. The train fares plus parking charges will be eye watering.

Traffic in Sonninb is always bad and sometimes the bridge is closed due to flooding - join the fb group and you’ll have constant messages asking if Somninb is open. I wouldn’t commute from Sonning.

Twyford is a good option and there are branch lines with villages such as Wargrave, Shipmake, bourne end etc (different lines).