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

78.1%

Very Good

16.5%

Average

3.1%

Disappointing

1.8%

Very poor

0.5%

Best places to live in Reading

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 18

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Ebb & Flow, RG1

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.89

(181 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 15 in Reading

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Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Emporium House, RG1

By Allsop Letting and Management

Award winner 2025

4.53

(31 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 15 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 15 in Reading

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Leaf Living at Shinfield Meadows, RG2

By Leaf Living

4.68

(5 reviews)

Shinfield Meadows, a vibrant new community in Berkshire, is an ideal blend of rural charm and urban convenience, nestled between Wokingham and Reading. The neighbourhood features a primary school, care home, sports and recreation facilities, a supermarket, and generous open spaces.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 15 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 15 in Reading

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Page 1 of 4

Featured developments in Reading

Latest Reviews in Reading

393 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 391

Bentley L (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Jul 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Well-Maintained Building with Helpful Staff

Bentley L (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Jul 2026

Overall, I've had a positive experience living in this development. The building is well designed, with clean and well-maintained communal areas that create a pleasant environment. The cleaning staff work hard to keep shared spaces tidy, even when they have to deal with mess left behind by some residents after gatherings. The maintenance team is also excellent—Peter is always quick to respond and resolve any issues efficiently, which is greatly appreciated. Building management is approachable and generally responsive to residents' concerns. While occasional noise or untidy shared areas can happen in any community, the staff do their best to address these issues promptly. Overall, it's a comfortable place to live with a dedicated team that genuinely cares about maintaining the development.

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

Cleaners work hard and always do their best to keep the place clean and tidy, even when some residents leave behind a mess after parties. Location is great and easy to go anywhere and close to train station. The bad things are the bin collection sometimes are late by the council or some kids playing loudly in the courtyard.

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

Peter, the electrician/maintenance technician, is always quick to respond whenever assistance is needed. He is approachable, efficient, and ensures that maintenance issues are resolved promptly. His dedication and willingness to help are greatly appreciated and contribute to a positive living environment.

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 that the community is generally friendly and the maintenance team is very responsive whenever issues arise. However, it also helps to know that, like any shared living environment, there may occasionally be noise or mess left behind after residents host gatherings. Being respectful of shared spaces and considerate of your neighbours makes a big difference and helps keep the community enjoyable for everyone.

・・

HomeViews

Sabari Prabhu (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Jun 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent accommodation

Sabari Prabhu (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Jun 2026

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

The property is in an excellent location, with the town centre, Reading Train Station, and The Oracle all within easy walking distance. Both covered and open allocated parking spaces are available. The bin collection facilities are well maintained, making the property convenient and easy to live in.

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

They responded to the issues promptly, and the maintenance team did an outstanding job resolving everything professionally and efficiently. Special kudos to Pirito for the excellent work in repairing the ceiling cracks, including filling and painting them to a high standard. Pirito was highly professional, responded quickly to the issues, and ensured the work was completed with great care. Thank you for the excellent service!

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

Nice place with all amenities and communal living with various nationalities.

・・

HomeViews

Austin (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

May 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Recommend Emporium House

Austin (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

May 2026

Emporium house is overall a good building. It is well-built and well-insulated. The apartments are well-designed. The bathrooms and kitchens are very modern. Active ventilation in each unit prevents dampness (very important in the UK). The building has really nice amenities (gym, games room, coworking space). Overall we've enjoyed our time living here. The main negative was that paperwork to move in took a very long time.

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

Reading city center is great. Emporium house is located very near the train station. The area overall feels safe.

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

Maintenance requests are handled promptly (we submit via an app)

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

Water in Reading is very hard- be prepared to remove a lot of limescale.

・・

HomeViews

Sandip G (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Apr 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

The location is very convenient, with Reading High Street just a 5–10 minute walk away, offering a wide range of shops, restaurants, and cafes. Grocery stores are also close by, making everyday shopping easy. The property is about 7 minutes from Reading railway station, which provides excellent transport links for commuting.

Sandip G (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Apr 2026

We moved into Emporium House about a month ago, and overall, our experience has been very positive. We particularly appreciate the strong sense of security within the building, which makes us feel safe and comfortable. The maintenance team has been excellent—responsive and efficient in resolving any issues we’ve reported. Cleanliness throughout the property has been consistently maintained to a high standard, which we value greatly. Additionally, the team has been very helpful and prompt in assisting with any queries we’ve had. The amenities are a real highlight, especially the quiet co-working spaces and the game zone, which add to the quality of living here. We also enjoy the social gatherings organized, as they create a welcoming community atmosphere.

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

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

The building management has been very responsive and professional in dealing with any issues we’ve raised. The maintenance team acts quickly, and problems are usually resolved within a short time. Communication has been clear and helpful, which makes the overall experience smooth and reassuring.

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

Honestly, there isn’t anything significant we wish we had known before moving in. Our experience has matched our expectations, and everything has been straightforward and positive so far.

・・

HomeViews

KingG4 (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Apr 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

A place to call home.

KingG4 (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Emporium House, RG1

Apr 2026

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

The apartment building is located at the heart of town, close to most amenities and also easy access to transport links . Noise from vehicles and pedestrians is greatly reduced which makes it condusive. For over 3 years of renting in the apartment there hasn't been any record of anti-social behaviour.

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

I had a water leak from one of my waste water pipe, and accesssment was carried out sameday and issue resolved the next day.

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

My experience so-far haven't given me any reason to regret

・・

HomeViews

Page 1 of 79

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

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