Reading Today
Reading Today – News and Information
Where & Information
Reading is situated in an ideal location 41 miles (66 km) west of central London on the M4 corridor within easy access of both the M40 and M3.
Reading today is a bustling hub just a 25 minutes by car to Heathrow Airport and it is served by the Great Western Main Line railway making it an ideal commuter base.
It is positioned on the river Thames just as it meets the River Kennet reflecting the history of the town as an important river port.
Reading has a population of more than 235,000 and it is twinned with Düsseldorf in Germany, Clonmel in Ireland, San Francisco Libre in Nicaragua and Speightstown in Barbados.
Student Central
It is home to two universities and has a large student population. It is also host to the Reading Festival which is one of the biggest music festivals in the UK.
Reading today is an important commercial centre with many multi-national companies being based here. It also has an exciting, varied nightlife with something for everyone from cinema and theatre through to restaurants, lively bars, nightclubs and casinos.
Shopping and Reading Today
In 1999 the local shopping centre, The Oracle, was built on the site of a 17th century workhouse of the same name which was founded by John Kendrick.
It occupies three storeys and boosted the local economy by providing over 4,000 jobs in over 90 retail units.
During the 20th century Reading continued to expand and in 1911 Caversham, originally in Oxfordshire, became a suburb of Reading.
Further housing developments have extended the urban area of Reading to the M4 motorway, which now acts as its southern boundary.
Reading is also home to the infamous Reading Gaol made famous by Oscar Wilde.
Reading Museum
The Museum is the perfect place to discover the history of the town. For the latest news on events visit the museum website as many events take place during the year.
It has many and varied exhibits charting the history of Reading from the first settlers up until the modern day.
Reading Museum also houses an impressive array of finds from the nearby Roman town of Silchester and a full sized replica of the Bayeux Tapestry, which is 70 metres long and was made in 1885 by 35 skilled women from the Leek Embroidery Society.
It was bought for the town in 1895 by Arthur Hill, a former Mayor of Reading.
Transport & Latest Travel News
BUSES
Tel: 0118 959 4000 – Mondays to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (excluding public holidays)
Head Office – Great Knollys Street, Reading RG1 7HH
Reading Borough Council has been running buses in the area for over 100 years.
Reading Bus Station is currently in Station Road during the refurbishment of Reading Station.
It offers frequent services to all parts of the town. For bus timetables and latest travel news visit: www.reading-buses.co.uk
TRAINS
Station Approach, Reading, RG1 1LZ
0845 700 0125
Reading is on the Great Western Main Line, which runs west from London Paddington before splitting to the west of Reading into two lines, one serving Westbury, Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth and the other serving Bristol, Bath, Newport and Cardiff.
Other main lines connect Reading with Birmingham, northern England and Scotland, as well as Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth to the south.
The station currently has four through-platforms and eight terminal platforms as well as
waiting rooms, trolleys, refreshments an ATM machine, toilets, payphone, Wi-Fi, post box and shops.
PUBLIC CAR PARKS
Broad Street Mall
The Oracle
Queens road
Reading Station
Garrard Street
Cattle Market
Kings meadow
Hills Meadow
Civic Buildings
Chatham Place
The Forbury
For Blue Badge Parking Spaces go to www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk /travelinformation/travellingbycar-parking/carparkinformation/index?ID=SXD800-A77F6487
LIBRARIES
Central Library
Abbey Square RG1 3BQ
Tel: 01189 015950
Battle Library
420 Oxford Road RG30 1EE
Tel: 01189 015100
Palmer Park Library
St. Bartholomew’s Road RG1 3QB
Tel: 01189 015106
Mobile Library Services
Tel: 01189 015118
Southcote Library
Southcote Lane RG30 3BA
Tel: 01189 015109
MUSEUMS
Reading Museum
The Town Hall
Blagrave Street
Reading
RG1 1QH
Tel: 0118 937 3400
Museum of English Rural Life
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
RG1 5EX
Tel: 0118 378 8660
Riverside Museum at Blakes Lock
Gas Works Road (off Kenavon Drive)
Reading
RG1 3DS
Tel: 0118 939 9800
Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology
Department of Classics
University of Reading
Whiteknights
Reading
RG6 6AA
Tel: 0118 378 6661
POST OFFICES
Reading Borough Council
Civic Centre RG1 7UE
Crown Colonnade
London Road RG1 5BA
234 Northumberland Avenue RG2 7QA
21 – 22 Market Place RG1 2DQ
252 Shinfield Road RG2 8EY
17 Whitley Street RG2 0EG
168 Whitley Wood Road RG2 8LQ
POLICE STATION
Tel: 0845 850 5505
Castle Street
Reading
RG1 7TH
9 Hollow Lane
Shinfield
RG2 9EG
Rushey Way
Lower Earley
RG6 4PS
LOCAL COUNCIL OFFICES
Reading Borough Council
Civic Centre
Reading
RG1 7AE
Tel: 01189 373737
www.reading.gov.uk
West Berkshire Council
Market Street
Newbury
RG14 5LD
Tel: 01635 42400
Email: info@westberks.gov.uk
www.westberks.gov.uk
South Oxfordshire District Council
Benson Lane
Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
OX10 8ED
Tel: 01491 823000
Email: info@southoxon.gov.uk
www.southoxon.gov.uk
Wokingham Borough Council
Civic Offices
Shute End
Wokingham
RG40 1BN
Tel: 01189 746000
Email: wokinghamdirect@wokingham.gov.uk
www.wokingham.gov.uk
Reading Register Office
Yeomanry House
131 Castle Hill
Reading
RG1 7TA
Tel: 0118 937 3533
Registering: births, and deaths.
Conducting: Marriages ceremonies, Civil Partnerships and Nationality ceremonies (Citizenship).
Copies of original certificates.
Nationality Checking Service.
Reading News
Various news services exist covering Reading and its surrounding areas. The town used to be covered by two printed papers but is now only covered by one printed. Various online news resources exist including this site which provide news and information about Reading today.
The main news section on this website is Here
