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A PRIME LOCATION
Reading is the County Town of Royal Berkshire and has long been the gateway to the West Country. The town has existed since around 800 AD, and blends the very best of old and new.
The town centre reflects over a thousand years of history embodied in a modern, vibrant metropolis. Victorian red brick buildings characterise the town centre. Scattered amongst them are beautiful churches, famous old coaching inns and imposing high tech office developments. The Oracle shopping centre, located along the banks of the River Kennet offers a wide choice of fashion and lifestyle brands. Taking its name from a 17th century workhouse that once occupied the site, The Oracle incorporates stylish restaurants, cafes and bars with outdoor seating for 'al fresco' dining, as well as a 10 screen Vue cinema.
Even the town’s first university reflects a rich history and boasts museums containing ancient Greek artefacts and rural machines. The University was originally an extension of Christ Church Oxford and received a Royal Charter in 1926. Today it is ranked as one of the UK’s top research-intensive universities.
The beautiful Forbury Gardens and Abbey Ruins – the site of one of England's most magnificent Abbeys – lies in the heart of Reading. Henry I the Abbey's founder, is buried here. In an era saturated with history, two literary figures stand out – for here stands Reading Prison, made famous by inmate Oscar Wilde's great epic poem ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’, and nearby is the Abbey Gateway where Jane Austen went to school.
Reading is well served by Britain’s motorway network making it the jewel of the IT industry along the M4 Corridor. Good transport links to London, Heathrow and Gatwick airports and the rest of the country provide one reason for the town’s continuing prosperity.
London Paddington is just a 27 minute* train ride away and London Waterloo is approximately one hour. The planned multi million enhancement of the main station will continue to improve the town as a prime location for the business community.
A COMPLETE LIFESTYLE
Reading is built around the confluence of the River Kennet and River Thames with a large marina at Caversham. The rivers are alive with pleasure craft and there are several water sports clubs at lakes on the outskirts of the town. The lake in the adjoining village of Sonning, for example, hosts sailing and water skiing and has a purpose-built rowing strip where Olympic squads train. Just north of the town is Henley-on-Thames with its eponymous Regatta and sophisticated Festival. Downstream is an area of celebrated beauty where the Thames curves through Hurley, Maidenhead, Cookham and Royal Windsor.
The river and rolling countryside around Reading including the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs has inspired famous books such as ‘The Wind in the Willows’, ‘Watership Down’ and ‘Three Men in a Boat’.
There are many golf clubs around the town with world class courses within easy reach. Reading boasts shopping facilities among the best in the South of England and it supports an active arts community offering an exciting programme of events encompassing music, comedy, drama and dance. It has a lively nightlife with a wide range of restaurants including many fine dining establishments in the town and an abundance of upmarket gastro pubs in the surrounding sleepy country villages.
*Source: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
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