West Reading

Possibly Reading’s most cosmopolitan area, gravitating around the Oxford Road, Central West Reading is a lively and buzzing neighbourhood with heaps of Victorian terraced housing. It also has its very own train station, Reading West, with links near and far, complementing Reading’s brilliant transport network.

West Reading is home to a beautifully diverse mix of independent shops and cafes, all within easy walking distance of Reading’s town centre for those who want to explore more options. For the leisure seekers, the River Thames is easily accessed and offers a number of water sports and on the water activities. You’ll also find the  EscapeReading Escape Rooms if you’re looking for more of an adrenaline-packed visit.

Situated just north of the Bath Road, you’ll find Reading’s largest open space and Grade II registered park, Prospect Park. Facilities include rugby, tennis, basketball, bowling, BMX to name a few, as well as making a perfect picnic and/or dog walking spot. The park gets its name from the fine views across the Kennet Valley, which can be seen from the Mansion House, a Grade II Listed mansion and restaurant.

As well as a number of large supermarkets and a retail park, West Reading also boasts Reading’s very own independent brewery and onsite taproom, Double Barrelled Brewery (which actually was born in a garage in nearby Caversham!). Offering tours, an onsite shop and seating inside and out, it makes for a great pitstop come rain or shine.

A little further out you’ll find Tilehurst, Reading’s most westerly suburb, three miles from the centre. Tilehurst also has its own train station and village centre with shops, cafes and pharmacies, and is arranged around the Tilehurst Triangle (known locally as ‘the village’). Tilehurst maintains its own identity and has a good range of houses, from Victorian terraces to thatched cottages and even late 20th century estates. Moving further out still, West Reading is the westerly gateway to surrounding leafy countryside hamlets of Sulham, Tidmarsh, and the picturesque riverside village of Pangbourne.