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 4 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 49 km from Reading. The shortest flight to Reading from the United Arab Emirates departs from Abu Dhabi and takes around 11h 40m.
Train
AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Reading, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Reading to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around AED 88 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about AED 176 for a 1h 34m trip. Located 10 km from the city centre, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 7 km from the centre.
Car
Another option to get to Reading is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 59 km from Reading. You’ll find branches of DRIVALIA and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, among others, in London.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including National Express, Megabus and FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Reading takes 177 km and will cost you around AED 59. From Bristol, the ticket costs about AED 22 for a journey of 209 km. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 1.1 km from the city centre of Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 6 km from the city centre.
Airports near Reading
Airlines serving Reading
Where to stay in Reading
Average rates range from around AED 342 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 458 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Sure Hotel by Best Western Reading and Crescent Hotel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Reading
Most booked hotels in Reading
Hiring a car in Reading
Expect to pay AED 6.43 per litre in Reading (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between AED 77.13 and AED 102.83. Full-size (Volvo XC60 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Reading, while also 41% cheaper than other types, on average.