Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Reading has to offer.

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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 April
Estimated hotel price
$70
1 night at 3-star hotel
Reading in April
Estimated hotel price
$70
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 flight to Reading from the United States departs from New York and takes around 6h 45m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Reading, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Reading to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around $22 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about $37 for a 1h 34m trip. Located 6 miles from the city center, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 4 miles from the center.

Car

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

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Reading takes 135 miles and will cost you around $6. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about $9 for a journey of 170 miles. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 0.7 miles from downtown Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.

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 flight to Reading from the United States departs from New York and takes around 6h 45m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Reading, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Reading to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around $22 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about $37 for a 1h 34m trip. Located 6 miles from the city center, Reading Mortimer is the busiest station in Reading. Another popular train station is Reading Theale, located 4 miles from the center.

Car

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

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Reading, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Reading takes 135 miles and will cost you around $6. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about $9 for a journey of 170 miles. The most popular bus station is Reading Queen's Rd, located 0.7 miles from downtown Reading. Reading Calcott is also a commonly used station, and is 4 miles from the city center.

Airports near Reading

BZZBrize Norton
OXFOxford Kidlington

Airlines serving Reading

Lufthansa
Good (7,203 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,366 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,084 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,973 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,654 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,884 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,812 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,853 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,471 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (807 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,285 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,596 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,660 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,413 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,089 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (352 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,341 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,301 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,224 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,911 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Reading

Where to stay in Reading

Average rates range from around $102 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $152 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 vacation rental options in Reading, with prices from $44 to $583 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Reading are about 34% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Reading by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Reading

Most booked hotels in Reading

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Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
5 stars
Excellent (9.1, 453 reviews)
$800+
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The Elvetham Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1463 reviews)
$118+
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The White Hart
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 187 reviews)
$120+
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pentahotel Reading
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2789 reviews)
$95+
View
Hotel du Vin Henley
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1475 reviews)
$186+
View
Hilton Reading
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1881 reviews)
$120+
View

Renting a car in Reading

Renting a car in Reading costs $59 per day, on average, or $178 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

Expect to pay $6.81 per gallon in Reading (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $81.76 and $109.02. The most frequently booked car type in Reading is Full-size (Seat Alhambra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Citroen C1 or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Reading costs $59 per day, on average, or $178 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

Expect to pay $6.81 per gallon in Reading (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $81.76 and $109.02. The most frequently booked car type in Reading is Full-size (Seat Alhambra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Citroen C1 or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Car rental agencies in Reading

Sixt

Sixt
Find car rentals in Reading

Reading Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Reading city guide for the best Reading travel tips. To help you organize 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.