What's it like to live in Caversham?

21st November 2024

Estate agent Kate Fox first moved to RG4 around 24 years ago and has loved watching Caversham evolve with an ever-growing  range of new independent cafes, restaurants, shops and businesses. This is her take on the best places to eat, drink and shop in Caversham. 

Independent shops

The shopping is excellent and apart from the benefits of having a Waitrose, Iceland and Tesco Express in the high street, there’s also a great variety of local independent stores. There is a second-hand clothing shop, Carousel, a dancewear shop, Dancia (both on Prospect Street) and many other great shops to explore including Terry’s for picture framing, Pop Classics for vinyl records, NOOD stores who stock a lovely array of plants, gifts and eco-friendly, re-fillable cleaning products and Waltons jewelers who also do repairs. Fourbears Books host great events with authors and Humos Natural Perfumer on Church Road offers the chance to make and design your own fragrance. 

Health and wellbeing

You are spoiled for choice if you need a local hairdresser, with Rolands Hair Salon, Indigo Rye and Forresters to name a few, or some self-care courtesy of Caversham Holistics on Prospect Street, Reflex Spinal Health and Hilton Skin and Body Clinic on Church Road. There are nail bars, dentists, a doctor’s surgery, the library and great places to work out such as Caversham Health Club by iST Fitness by Waitrose and the Strong Women’s Club on Church Street, plus there are numerous clubs and classes locally offering Pilates and Yoga and rowing or running clubs you can join.

Eating out

There is a wide choice of lovely places to go for meals out from the Persian Palace and Lebanese Village on Bridge Street, Thai Table on Church Road, to Italian food at Quattro’s, Greek delights at Spitiko and Clay's Kitchen & Bar for Indian cuisine are all located on Prospect Street and there is the ever-popular Vegivores in the precinct.  You are really spoilt for choice and it’s great that there are so many child-friendly venues too such as dog-friendly Alto Lounge which has board games for the kids.
You can enjoy a cocktail and a lively calendar of fun evenings such as a quiz or singles night at The Angel Bar or try some great craft ales and lagers at The Fox & Hounds or The Last Crumb. Try the delicious lunch at The Collective on Church Road (Anna’s famous quiche is so delicious as are the array of baked treats and coffees).

Great events

There’s always something on in Caversham .What could be nicer than overlooking the River Thames from Caversham Court Gardens? They also put on great events throughout the year including open-air cinema nights; you can go to an art exhibition at The Caversham Picture Framer, make some of your own art at Artology in Prospect Street or go to a fun workshop run by MADEbyTamalia in Marsack Street.  On Sundays the Caversham Artisan and Farmers Market is held behind the precinct with a fine array of independent retailers offering food and crafts to tempt you.

A green place to live

We are lucky to have so many green spaces to enjoy in Caversham, with Balmore Park giving great views, Christchurch Meadows and paddling pool in the warmer months, Westfield Park (which has had a super revamped kids play area recently), the aforementioned Cav Court and walks along the River Thames where you can also visit Whittingtons Tea Barge to enjoy a cream tea on the river or Caversham Boat Services where you can hire a boat!

Where to live

The architecture in central Caversham is a mix of older style Victorian terraces and semi-detached, 1930’s semi-detached family homes and some older and newer apartments. Gosbrook Road, South Street, Oxford Street, Chester Street, Westfield Road, Cromwell Road, Hemdean Road, Patrick Road, Elliot Close, Rectory Road and St Annes Road are just some of the lovely places to live in Caversham with quick walking distances to both Reading mainline station and the local amenities. There are some great apartments just by Caversham Bridge with river views and some flats come with a mooring or roof terrace. 

Pick up a copy of the local newspaper, The Caversham Bridge from local retailers (Nood Stores, Fourbears Books and Sheabutter Cottage) which is a must read if you want to find out all about Caversham or visit choosecaversham.co.uk

Kate Fox is owner of Fox-Beckett Independent Estate Agents in Caversham.