Reading travel guide
Reading Tourism | Reading Guide
You're Going to Love Reading
With a population of 244,070, Reading is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Reading has to offer.
Where to Eat in Reading
If you’re looking for affordable options, CAU Reading (The Oracle Shopping Centre) and Forbury's Restaurant (One Forbury Square) are great picks. For delicious green meals, London St Brasserie (Riverside Oracle 2-4 London Street) and The Pack Saddle at Mapledurham (Chazey Heath) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Reading.
When to visit Reading
How to Get to Reading
Plane
Although Reading doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Oxford Kidlington (OXF), which is located 30 miles from Reading. The shortest flight to Reading from the United States departs from New York and takes around 1h 45m.
Train
AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Reading, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Reading to Oxford takes 0h 52m and costs around $24 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about $29 for a 1h 33m trip. Located 6 miles from the city center, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 4 miles from the center.
Car
Another option to get to Reading is to pick up a car rental from London, which is about 37 miles from Reading. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Europcar, among others, in London.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including National Express, Megabus and FlixBus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Reading takes 130 miles and will cost you around $8. From Bristol, the ticket costs about $10 for a journey of 140 miles. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 0.7 miles from downtown Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.
Airports near Reading
Airlines serving Reading
Where to stay in Reading
Average rates range from around $92 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $131 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Crescent Hotel and Sure Hotel by Best Western Reading.
Where to stay in popular areas of Reading
Most booked hotels in Reading
Renting a car in Reading
Renting a car in Reading costs $55 per day, on average, or $165 if you want to rent if for 3 days.
Expect to pay $7.08 per gallon in Reading (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $84.94 and $113.26. Intermediate (Skoda Octavia Combi or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Reading, while also 74% cheaper than other types, on average.