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Relaxing and shopping

Reading has a bustling town centre with a range of places to meet with friends, grab a drink and a bite to eat, or just hang out and relax. Check out Reading’s brand new community space, , or drop into for a game of crazy golf, interactive darts or bowling.

 shopping centre is home to the big names in retail, but there are also independent stores and boutiques around town. Elsie’s Vintage sells classic clothing from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, The Grumpy Goat is a hugely popular ale and cheese shop, while Eclectic Games stocks one of the largest board game collections in the country.

Nightlife and eating out

Reading has an array of cafes and restaurants dotted along the riverside to excite your taste buds. With Hyderabadi, tapas, Lebanese, Ethiopian and vegan options, you’re sure to find somewhere to satisfy your appetite. Be sure to check out the new street food market, spanning across two floors with delicious street food such as vegan tacos and bao buns.

Club venues and bars extend beyond campus as Reading town centre transforms from day to night. Discover festivals and new music acts, unique club events and cocktail bars, or indulge in one of our late-night ice cream parlours.

Green spaces

Reading has a number of beautiful parks and nature reserves, which are perfect for relaxing with a book or enjoying a picnic. The river Thames runs through a number of them, creating a haven for wildlife and rowers. Try out paddle boarding or kayaking, or jet skiing and water obstacle courses at Lagoona Park.

If you love spending time in the countryside, then you won't have to travel far from Reading to find yourself in the green, rolling hills of the Chilterns, or the ancient woodlands of the North Wessex Downs.

Arts and culture

 is one of the best-known festivals in the UK, with over 87,000 fans flocking to see some of the biggest names in music. For six years, we partnered with festival organisers, Festival Republic, to give some of our students the opportunity to work backstage at the event. Working alongside the nation’s leading press publications – interviewing chart-topping bands and reviewing headline acts – our students have interned as content producers, working behind the scenes with industry experts.

Far from being the only one on offer, Reading also hosts jazz, real ale and comedy festivals throughout the year, as well as its own fringe event.

Reading has lively music, comedy and theatre scenes with venues such as Sub89, South Street and the Hexagon, which has hosted acts including Kaiser Chiefs and Omid Djalili and various local and touring stage shows.

Sports

Experience the thrill of a live football or rugby match at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, which is close to the town centre. The venue, which seats over 24,000 people, is home to .

From campus

The town centre is well within walking distance of the University’s Whiteknights and London Road campuses, and buses from the Whiteknights campus run very frequently 24 hours a day.

Reading also has a large network of buses and taxi services to help you get around. 

Exploring the area

If you want to explore the UK or visit friends and family around the country, then Reading is in the ideal place.

The town is very well connected, with direct trains running to major cities around the UK, including Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and Cardiff. London is only half an hour away by rail, and services run until late into the night. Additionally, the M4 motorway, which connects London with South Wales, is on the edge of town. 

Airports

Getting to and from international airports London Heathrow and London Gatwick is simple. It's only 40 minutes by a direct Railair bus service to get from Reading station to London Heathrow, and London Gatwick is just over an hour away by train.

Reading has a proud history of welcoming people from across the globe. As it has grown and developed, it has become a truly vibrant and diverse community – one that's great for socialising.