At first glance, Reading is merely a commuter town - and not a very pretty one, at that. But in fact, Reading has a great deal to offer to anyone who wants to move to a town with decent employment rates, house prices and schools.
 

Move to Reading for work...

1. It’s a tech hub

If you work in the tech industry, Reading is somewhere you could find the job of your dreams. A 2017 report by Tech Nation revealed that Reading has the highest concentration of tech jobs in the country, followed by Bristol and Bath, perhaps owing to the density of tech-related businesses located in the Thames Valley Park area. Microsoft, Oracle and DigiCom 360 have made their homes here alongside smaller tech firms and related businesses. Thames Valley Park is a pleasant place to work, too - it’s a centre of commerce, yes, but one located on the banks of the Thames and in the centre of parks and nature reserves.

2. It’s a good place to find a job

Even if you’re not a techie, having a high concentration of that type of job in an area is a welcome boon for the local economy, since it attracts higher paid, well-educated people who generally have a bit more disposable income to hand. This, in turn, equates to job creation across various sectors. According to a report by job site Adzuna, Reading is the seventh best place in the country to find work, with an average of 0.15 people applying for every available job, meaning that there’s plenty of opportunities to find work across all sectors.

3. It’s just 30 minutes from London
Much depends on what area of Reading you settle in, but it is entirely feasible to take advantage of the cheaper housing (and plenty of ‘good’ or even ‘outstanding’ schools) in the area and easily commute to London. Frequent trains from the (rather enormous) train station will get you to the heart of London in around 30 minutes. Reading train station has just been listed by Transport Focus (an independent watchdog) as the fourth most popular railway station in the country, based on arrival times, appearance and comfort. When the Crossrail development is complete, the Elizabeth Line will make it even easier to commute - and house prices will no doubt begin to rise further (meaning that now is a good time to buy a property in that area). Heathrow is only 30 minutes away if you need to travel further afield for work or leisure.
 

Move to Reading for a work/life balance...

4. It’s within easy reach of countryside walks and attractions
Reading is within spitting distance of the Chilterns and Berkshire Downs for days out; you can also easily reach surrounding towns such as Bristol, Oxford, and Bath or further afield into Wales, Hampshire and Surrey thanks to the excellent road and rail networks. Closer to Reading, the Abbey and its grounds are beautiful and a good site for a picnic or two; several parks (such as Forbury Gardens) and the University grounds at Whiteknights Campus have achieved Green Flag status and provide beautiful green spaces throughout the town. For shopping, there are plenty of high-street brands (including a John Lewis) and a smattering of independent stores, bars and restaurants to choose from.

5. Festivals



The Reading Festival is huge and always has a fantastic line-up. If you live in the area, you can go and enjoy the atmosphere and the music without having to rely on wet-wipes to wash with or a draughty tent to sleep in! You can also make a bit of money if you want to, by offering your drive as parking for festival-goers, or your spare room for reluctant campers. If camping is your thing, you could always head over and pitch up anyway: given the size and bulk of camping equipment, you might consider popping it into self-storage at our Reading units until you need it.
 

Making a move

If you decide to move here, bear in mind that we can provide clean, dry and secure self-storage in our Reading Self Storage Facility for all your belongings - big or small - until you’re ready to settle into your new home.