A guide to living in Reading

Reading is a large market town and borough in the county of Berkshire. Located on the M4 motorway 40 miles west of London and within easy reach of both Oxford and Bristol, it has been described as having some of the best transport connections in England. The impending addition of the Elizabeth Line will further boost its appeal with London escapees lured by the scenery of the Chiltern Hills and North Wessex Downs that surround the town.

Excellent

77.1

Very Good

17.0

Average

3.3

Disappointing

2.1

Very poor

0.6

Best places to live in Reading

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 17

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Ebb & Flow, RG1

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.86

(154 reviews)

Ebb & Flow offers a collection of Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in the heart of Reading. All apartments have spacious kitchens, enhanced floor to ceiling height, and bespoke furniture. As well as this, residents benefit from a 24hr support team, wellness classes and community events. Private social and co-working spaces are also included. A buzzing new neighbourhood right on your doorstep.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 13 in Reading

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Rental Only

Emporium House, RG1

By Allsop Letting and Management

4.36

(18 reviews)

Previously known as Domain Apartments, Emporium House is a newly rebranded and professionally managed Build-to-Rent community in the heart of Reading, offering modern living across two distinct buildings: Emporium House West, and Emporium House East. The development comprises a total of 418 high-quality rental apartments, with a mix of stylish one, two, and three-bedroom homes, all available fully furnished to suit flexible lifestyles. Residents enjoy access to an impressive range of on-site amenities, including a fully equipped gym, private screening room, co-working spaces, resident lounges, a private dining room, and landscaped courtyards. Perfectly located, Emporium House is just a 7-minute walk from Reading Station and 10 minutes from Broad Street Shopping Centre, offering excellent connectivity and local convenience.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 13 in Reading

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L&Q at Huntley Wharf, RG1

By L&Q

4.83

(8 reviews)

L&Q at Huntley Wharf is a collection of riverside 1 and 2-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments and duplex apartments in the prospering town of Reading. The development will compliment the transformation of Reading as an urban hub, providing contemporary riverside apartments to this evolving town. Huntley Wharf will provide a new destination for central Reading featuring a central riverside square with proposed local amenities such as a café, restaurant, a local store, gym, nursery and landscaped open spaces along the river. The apartments will provide a desirable specification, making it the perfect space for modern day living.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 13 in Reading

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Rental Only

Gravity Co Royal Heights, RG1

By Gravity Co

4.57

(11 reviews)

Gravity Co Royal Heights is home to 53 brand new studio, 1 bed, 2 bed and penthouse apartments. Each apartment comes fully furnished with high spec furniture and kitchen appliances. Opened in June 2022, each apartment is brand new with a modern design – perfect for working professionals and students alike. Apartment size does vary depending on the unit chosen. For those who like a lot of space, the property has four open planned penthouses on the fifth floor. As well as floor to ceiling windows in the lounge, dining and kitchen area that allow daylight to flood him, each penthouse also has access to its own private balcony that runs the entire length of apartment. Perfect for lazy summer days and alfresco dining.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 13 in Reading

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Parklands by CALA Homes, RG6

By CALA Homes

4.34

(16 reviews)

Located in Woodley, just three miles from Reading town centre, Parklands was developed by CALA Homes. Completed in 2018, this development comprises of 291 homes, as well as community facilities and a retail unit. As well as this, Parklands was developed on top of on the former Reading University Bulmershe Court Campus.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 13 in Reading

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Page 1 of 4

Featured developments in Reading

Latest Reviews in Reading

336 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 334

Kayla J (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

I think that design wise, it’s very modern and sleek

Kayla J (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

I think that design wise, it’s very modern and sleek which a lot of people can appreciate and love. It’s a nice touch with the amenities and open space Ebb has, the parcel room also is a nice touch. staff are really friendly and helpful also. my review comes from having a really smooth experience regarding some maintenance request I had put in, where Robert had responded and I’ve had everything fixed within a few hours which honestly is a dream because elsewhere these things wouldn’t get seen too same day. he was incredibly helpful and quick, if there’s one thing I can’t fault it would be the maintenance team any time I have had a issue my experience has always been the same which I am grateful for.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

pros- very close to the town centre, food takeaways and transport links. cons - parking availability is very scarce outside of the car park with is not ideal for those who either have multiple vehicles or just has a visitor as more money will need to be spent in order to secure parking. the nightclubs, for me is a con only being I live essentially opposite them, however that is not a concern for someone on a different side or even potentially higher up.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

any issues raised have been dealt with accordingly

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

ebb and flow pride themselves on community which is lovely, very inclusive for all residents which is a really nice touch especially if someone is outgoing and friendly, I have made some really lovely friends since living here which I am grateful for.

・・

HomeViews

Kel D (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

The best place I’ve ever lived—comfortable, well-managed, and truly feels like home.

Kel D (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Ebb & Flow is a wonderful place to call home. The community is clean, well-maintained, and efficiently managed. The management team is exceptional—always attentive, responsive, and ready to assist with any concerns. I highly recommend Ebb & Flow to anyone seeking a comfortable and well-run living environment.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The team demonstrated excellent responsiveness, addressing and resolving all issues on the same day with professionalism and positivity.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How amazing the classes are! A real feel for community

・・

HomeViews

Tenant (Tenant)

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Love it!

Tenant (Tenant)

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Ebb and flow is surely the best place to live in Reading, the location is great, the building looks beautiful inside and out and the community team does a great job in looking after all us tenants.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Building management responds promptly and attentively

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Wish i had known this place before, so i could have moved in earlier

・・

HomeViews

Seb V (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Great, lovely and convinient

Seb V (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Area is very convenient and welcoming. The only little drawback is the music heard sometimes until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and coming from a neighbouring bar.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management team has always responded quickly and efficiently.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The only thing that comes to my mind is the Loftliving app and the activities.

・・

HomeViews

Yohann (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Lovely , homey

Yohann (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Oct 2025

Living in this development has been mostly positive. The homes are modern, well-designed and energy efficient, which makes day-to-day living comfortable. Communal areas and green spaces are attractive and well-kept, providing a pleasant environment. There is a reasonable selection of shops, cafés and services nearby, although a wider choice would be welcome. Transport links are generally good, with bus stops and train stations within reach, though traffic congestion at peak times can be an issue.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living in my area has a nice balance of positives and negatives. There’s a good range of local shops and a few decent restaurants and cafés, though nightlife options are limited. Open spaces are well-maintained and pleasant for walks. Transport links are fairly reliable, with buses and trains available, though peak-time congestion can be frustrating. On my street, parking can be tight, especially in the evenings, and bin collections are generally consistent but occasionally delayed. Anti-social behaviour is rare, though traffic noise is noticeable during rush hours. Overall, it’s a comfortable place to live with room for improvement.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Yes The building management responded quickly and professionally when I reported my broken dishwasher. They arranged for a contractor to attend within a short timeframe, kept me updated on progress, and made sure the issue was resolved properly. I felt supported throughout the process and appreciated how straightforward it was to get the problem sorted.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

One thing I wish I had known before moving in is how strict the development is about noise and gatherings after 10pm. While I completely understand the importance of keeping the community peaceful, it does feel a little restrictive at times, especially when hosting friends or enjoying social evenings. A slightly more flexible approach would make the atmosphere feel friendlier without disturbing others.

・・

HomeViews

Page 1 of 67

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

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