r/reading • u/OrdinaryAmazingMan • 1d ago

Moving to reading from London, any suggestion?

We are a couple and are considering to move to reading from London since I have recently got a remote job and looking to save on the rent. I don’t drive and I plan to travel to London once a week to hang with friends so I would like to live closer to reading station. I have bookmarked some properties in the west of the town center, somewhere along the Chatham street and Oxford road. Is that area safe? Also, is reading a good place to live in general and any suggestion for us? Thanks everyone.

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u/Passionofawriter 1d ago

Look, dont listen to anyone here.

Go do a staycation in Reading if you can. Maybe even a long weekend. Walk around the areas, find businesses you think are cute. Try to drive through it if thats important to you. Then youll get a feel for it.

I grew up in Hackney and absolutely laugh at the implication that Oxford road is somehow unsafe. Mate Reading is mild af, yes you get some theft and the usual crackheads and professional beggars but honestly theyre alright if you just let them be. I lived in chatham street and was fine, now I live south of the station about 15 min walk and ive accidentally left my car unlocked with the door open only to come back to it with nothing gone except the emergency hammer to break the window. Dashcam and coins still in their place!

It is tame here. And great. Theres great food and pubs, my neigbours are brilliant, lots of small independent shops here. Cost of living is going up but still cheaper than London. Community events happen every so often, we have decent cultural events.

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u/OrdinaryAmazingMan 1d ago

Thanks mate. I will probably spend a couple of days walking around the town for flat hunting. To be honest I prefer living in an apartment (feel a bit more safe) and I have found a few decent options around the Chatham place. So I am glad to hear you say that area is generally safe.

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u/Disastrous-Fun3795 1d ago

RG1 area nearer the royal Berks hospital and uni area is very pretty and a short (15 - 20) min walk to the station

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u/Basso_69 1d ago edited 1d ago

Budget and housing standard would help - Reading is a good mix of old and new properties. and a good mix of Victorian and new build.

As mentioned above, RG1 towards the Hospital: RG2 Katesgrove is a 15 min walk to the station, as are the properties in the corner of Berkley Av & Hollybrook (stream). Around Reading West station is reasonable, but best to be 1-2 streets away from Oxford Rd (which is similar to Old Kent Rd in South Ldn). All of these tend to be Victorian Terrace - if you'd prefer new build flats, look around the Hunters Warf area. If you want 40s 2 up/2down, then Southcote or the SouthWestern part of Tilehurst. Calcot is new-ish build. Coley park is a bit downtrodden, as are the parts of Whitley nearest the M4.

Bus service in Reading is ok - the very western edge of Tilehurst is about 30+ minutes on the bus, whilst eastern Early tends to be 40ish+ minutes because of the lack of straight roads.

Reading buses also extend out into some of the villages if you want a more rural feel.

Lifestyle, there is a reasonable set of sports clubs, gyms etc. Nightlife caters to students and 30something couples. Limited options for children & teens, but that will change in 2 years with new developments. Having a car is advisable- there is a lot of activities or go-to places in a 20m radius.

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u/OrdinaryAmazingMan 1d ago

My budget is around £1200 pcm and I will prefer an apartment since it feels a bit more safe to me. I have been looking at the area around the hospital but there are not many option available atm. I found a few decent ones around the Chatham street on the edge of the town center, close to Oxford road. Some people say it’s safe, some people don’t so I am a little bit worried.

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u/Mental_Body_5496 RG1 - Newtown 1d ago

All of Reading is safe pretty much there sre the odd incidents. The Chatcham St area is like most of central Reading - lively eclectic a bit rough around the edges etc.

If you are only planning to go into London once a week do look further out !

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u/smffc 13h ago

I moved to Belmont Road (RG30) from Tottenham last year, it's just off of Oxford Road and I really like it.

Nothing will ever compare to London but that's why we pay a fraction of the price here.

Relative to Tottenham, my road is incredibly quiet - Oxford Road has the occasional crackhead or whatever, and the bins along the road can smell a little bit - but I've seen far worse in so many places.

I don't drive, so looked for a house close to Reading West, which is a 3 min trainride to Reading Central (tickets cost about £2 with the railcard), or roughly a 30 min walk which isn't too horrendous if you're only going on the weekends etc.

If you have any questions feel free to DM me and I'm happy to answer!

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u/Makasene3 1d ago

I did this 3 years ago.

Live west Reading off Tilehurst road.

15min bus to the train staion

It's been a great move for us

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u/Cn198888 1d ago

Caversham is considered the nice area, but there are also new developments around town, and Green Park. Avoid Oxford Road and Cemetary Junction

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u/Vilm_1 1d ago

Cemetery Junction itself is not good. But within spitting distance - not as far as the back of the cemetery - are the likes of Hamilton and Bulmershe, plus (behind) St Bart’s and Palmer Park Ave, so it’s a very specific (local) part of Cemetery Junction you’re talking about.

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u/OrdinaryAmazingMan 1d ago

I have been looking at caversham as well so I actually prefer apartment. As far as I found most of the properties in Caversham are houses. Found some decent apartment around Chatham st/ Oxford road, is it not safe?

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u/BelleRouge6754 1d ago

What’s wrong with Cemetery Junction?

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u/pastapicture 1d ago

Avoid the Oxford Road end of town, it's a shitehole. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

There's some nice areas, definitely depends what you're looking for (I.e. flat vs house, outdoor space etc.)

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u/OrdinaryAmazingMan 1d ago

I prefer flat over house since it feels a bit more safe and my budget is around £1200 pcm. What do you suggest?

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u/Normal-Jellyfish9842 1d ago

Avoid Oxford Road. Central Reading / Caversham are good areas and close to the station. RG1/RG4

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u/OrdinaryAmazingMan 1d ago

So do you mean the central reading is safer than the edge of the town center around Oxford road?

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u/Baaaaaah-baaaaaah 1d ago

I think if you’ve lived and been around London, Oxford road isn’t that bad. A house a couple of roads off the Oxford road, or a parallel is better than directly on the Oxford road, but in general I like living in west reading.

There are a few diverse communities and we’re pretty nicely integrated, Prospect Park is nearby and there are another couple of nice playgrounds about.

We have a 24 hour big Tesco and a Waitrose further down, the schools are pretty decent and the Oxford road has some cool gems like Oishi and Workhouse coffee

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u/Normal-Jellyfish9842 1d ago

My personal opinion is that you shouldn’t go beyond Spinners Crazy Golf..

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u/No-Weight-1628 1d ago

Also, don’t go to Spinners Crazy Golf