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

76.8%

Very Good

17.4%

Average

3.3%

Disappointing

1.9%

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

4.87

(167 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 14 in Reading

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Rental Only

Emporium House, RG1

By Allsop Letting and Management

4.38

(19 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 14 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 14 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.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 14 in Reading

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Reading Gateway, RG2

By Bewley Homes Plc

4.33

(19 reviews)

Reading Gatway, by Bewley Homes, sits just 3.5 miles from central Reading and the various amenities that it has on offer. Comprising from a range of contemporary house and apartments, this development benefits from great transport links and plenty of green space.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 14 in Reading

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Page 1 of 4

Featured developments in Reading

Latest Reviews in Reading

362 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 360

Lauren C (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Living Here Is a Joy

Lauren C (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

The development is exceptionally well-designed, with modern architecture and thoughtfully planned spaces that feel both stylish and functional. Facilities are excellent, including well-maintained communal areas, green spaces, and leisure amenities that cater to all residents. The building management is efficient and responsive, ensuring everything runs smoothly, and they are professional and approachable. The community team are amazing, always friendly, proactive, and go above and beyond to organize events and foster a strong sense of community among residents. Living here feels welcoming, safe, and enjoyable. Also big shout out to the maintenance team, they are fantastic, always quick to respond and resolve any issues. The leasing team is also wonderful, always friendly, helpful, and supportive throughout the moving-in process.

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

Living in my local area is fantastic. There is a wide range of shops, restaurants, and cafes, offering everything from daily essentials to unique local specialties. Bars and eateries are vibrant yet welcoming, perfect for socializing or relaxing. Open spaces and parks are well-maintained, providing plenty of green areas for walking, jogging, and outdoor activities. Transport links are convenient, with frequent buses, trains into Paddington which take 20 minutes and easy access to major roads, making commuting straightforward. The streets are peaceful, with good parking availability, regular bin collections, and a friendly, community-oriented atmosphere.

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

The building management has always been prompt, professional, and effective in resolving any issues I’ve raised.

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

I wish I had known how efficient and responsive the maintenance and management teams are. Knowing this would have made settling in even easier, as any small issues are quickly resolved, making daily life smooth and hassle-free.

・・

HomeViews

Stiff (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Cavalry, RG2

Dec 2025

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Review on the experience

Stiff (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Cavalry, RG2

Dec 2025

My development is generally a good place to live, but it has both positive and negative points. The area is mostly quiet and feels safe, which makes it comfortable for families and working people. The location is convenient because shops, public transport, and other basic facilities are close by. The surroundings are fairly clean, and most residents are friendly and respectful. Overall, the environment is calm and suitable for everyday living. However, there are some important issues that need attention. The main problem is that the lock on the main building door does not work properly. This is a serious concern because it affects the safety and security of the residents. Anyone can enter the building easily, which makes people feel uncomfortable, especially at night. This issue should be fixed as soon as possible. Another problem is the carpet at the entrance of the building. It is very dirty and gives a bad first impression. When visitors enter the building, the dirty carpet makes the place look neglected and poorly maintained. It also affects cleanliness, as dust and dirt are carried inside by people walking over it. Regular cleaning or replacing the carpet would greatly improve the appearance of the entrance. In conclusion, my development has many good features, such as a good location and a peaceful environment, but maintenance needs to be improved. Fixing the main building lock and cleaning or changing the entrance carpet would make the development much safer and more pleasant for everyone living here.

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

Good aspects: • The area is generally peaceful and safe. • Shops, schools, and public transport are nearby. • People are friendly and helpful. Bad aspects: • Traffic can be busy during peak hours. • Some places get noisy at night. • There are limited entertainment options.

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

Building management has responded slowly to the issues raised. They acknowledged the problems, but the main door lock has not yet been repaired and the entrance carpet is still dirty. Communication is limited, and improvements take a long time to be completed.

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

I wish I had known that the main building door lock would not work properly and that some maintenance issues, like the dirty entrance carpet, would take a long time to be fixed. This would have helped me set more realistic expectations before moving in.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Lory (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

My home, My Family

Lory (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

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

I cherish my lovely home here at Ebb and Flow dearly. The community team with Khadija, Harlie, Mia and Michael are like a family to me and I really appreciate all they work and love for this building. The building design is overall very nice classy and the cleaners do an amazing job keeping it nice.

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

Yes they are helpful and attentive, always available and Happy to resolve any issues

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

How many great events we do here on a weekly basis

・・

HomeViews

Bishop Bennett (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Huge thumbs up!

Bishop Bennett (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

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

Having moved from Suffolk, a primarily quiet and quaint area, Reading really highlights diversity and culture which is fantastic. I really enjoy that the local villages are so close and boast independent shops and restaurants while Reading hosts larger chains for further shopping needs! Very happy to be here.

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

Management are very fast to act on any issues that arise. Not that I have any!

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

Knowing more about the amazing events held at Ebb would have tempted me here sooner! I love the little markets on here.

・・

HomeViews

Pamela Smith (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Home

Pamela Smith (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Ebb & Flow, RG1

Dec 2025

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

Great apartments, good location, wonderful staff, excellent amenities, easy access to station & public services. Im really glad we chose ebb and flow over all the other accommodation in the reading area. We are looking forward to see what this place has to offer through the year.

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

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

・・

HomeViews

Page 1 of 72

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

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