Reading in Berkshire is located only 60km west of London. It is on the West Coast main rail line and is serviced by the M4 motorway. It has become famous for England's largest music festival, appropriately called the Reading Festival.

Due to its location on the river Thames and the river Kennet it has always had an important role in transportation in England. You can still take cruises on the Thames or take ferry rides from here to smaller towns in the area over the river Thames. As a major point on the national rail grid, Reading is a busy hub for rail commuters. You can get to both Paddington and Waterloo in London via Reading. A few other places you can reach by train include, Newbury, Wales, Plymouth, Swindon, Bristol and Guildford.

Air travel is easy as all the airports in London can be reached as well as Southampton and Birmingham airport which both are served by direct trains. Despite the fact that Birmingham is furthest away it can be, at times, reached quicker then Gatwick or Heathrow.

As mentioned before Reading is well known all over the world forthe Reading Festival. Maybe thanks to this festival there is a blossoming amount of orchestras and choirs in Reading.

Reading has been in the top as a shopping destination for some time now. Broad Street is the main shopping street with on both ends a shopping centre that is fully enclosed. They are named The Oracle and Broad Street Mall. If you have a chance to visit the local Waterstone's store in Broad Street you will notice that is located in a converted chapel dating back to 1707.

The Hexagon is probably the best known local theatre. Together with 21 South Street it is a Reading Council Theatre. A small (97 seat) theatre belongs to the Progress Theatre which is a self sustaining company that also organizes a Shakespeare production in the ruins of Reading Abbey each year. Among the famous people from Reading are Ricky Gervais and the husband to Kate Winslet , Sam Mendes (although the latter was not raised here). The fast food restaurants of Little Chef started out in Reading with a massive 11 seat restaurant in 1958.

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The Reading Tourist Board gives comparable information to this page. If you require more information about Reading, you may be able to obtain it from the Reading Tourist Board.