Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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. Reading deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Article

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

Reading in November
Estimated hotel price
£64
1 night at 3-star hotel
Reading in November
Estimated hotel price
£64
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Reading

Plane

Although Reading doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Oxford Kidlington (OXF), which is located 30 miles from Reading. The shortest domestic flight to Reading departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 20m.

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 £17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £33 for a 1h 36m trip. Located 6 miles from the city centre, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 4 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Reading is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 37 miles from Reading. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Reading takes 95 miles and will cost you around £5. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £4 for a journey of 130 miles. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 0.7 miles from the city centre of Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Reading doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Oxford Kidlington (OXF), which is located 30 miles from Reading. The shortest domestic flight to Reading departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 20m.

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 £17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £33 for a 1h 36m trip. Located 6 miles from the city centre, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 4 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Reading is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 37 miles from Reading. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Reading takes 95 miles and will cost you around £5. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £4 for a journey of 130 miles. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 0.7 miles from the city centre of Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Reading

BZZBrize Norton
OXFOxford Kidlington

Airlines serving Reading

Lufthansa
Good (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,790 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,243 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,967 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Reading

Where to stay in Reading

Average rates range from around £82 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £114 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. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Reading, with prices from £34 to £435 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Reading are about 18% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Reading

Most booked hotels in Reading

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Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
5 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£560+
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The Elvetham Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£76+
View
The White Hart
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£75+
View
Hotel du Vin Henley
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£134+
View
pentahotel Reading
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£71+
View
Hilton Reading
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£82+
View

Hiring a car in Reading

Hiring a car in Reading costs £36 per day, on average, or £73 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.30 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 £15.58 and £20.77.

Hiring a car in Reading costs £36 per day, on average, or £73 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.30 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 £15.58 and £20.77.

Best car hire deals in Reading

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£17/day

Mini

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

£19/day

Compact
Find car hire in Reading

Reading Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Reading city guide for the best Reading travel tips. To help you organise your Reading trip ideas, this Reading visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.