Reading: Tech Corridor on the Thames
Reading sits at the confluence of the Thames and the Kennet, a geography that shaped its early history as a river crossing and market town. The abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, was one of the wealthiest monasteries in medieval England. Its ruins, in Forbury Gardens near the station, have been partly reopened to the public after restoration work. But modern Reading's identity owes more to silicon than sandstone. The Thames Valley technology corridor, stretching from Reading through Bracknell to Slough, has attracted the European headquarters of Microsoft, Oracle, Huawei, and dozens of other technology firms. The Green Park business park and Thames Valley Park are major employment nodes.
Huntley & Palmers, the biscuit manufacturer, was once Reading's defining employer — the factory, demolished in the 1970s, occupied a vast site near the station. Suttons Seeds, Simonds Brewery (now part of Courage), and Courage themselves all had roots here. The University of Reading, established in 1926, occupies a campus at Whiteknights that ranks among the most attractive in the country, 130 hectares of parkland on the southern edge of the town.
The Reading Festival, held at Richfield Avenue from 1971 to 2023, was one of the UK's longest-running music festivals before its cancellation. The Oracle shopping centre, built over the Kennet, anchors the retail core. Reading's rail connections — the western end of Crossrail (Elizabeth line) now reaches here, and Great Western services to London Paddington take 25 minutes — have made it one of the most accessible commuter hubs outside the M25. Property prices reflect that accessibility.
Show more
Reading sits at the confluence of the Thames and the Kennet, a geography that shaped its early history as a river crossing and market town. The abbey, founded by Henry I in 1121, was one of the wealthiest monasteries in medieval England. Its ruins, in Forbury Gardens near the station, have been partly reopened to the public after restoration work. But modern Reading's identity owes more to silicon than sandstone. The Thames Valley technology corridor, stretching from Reading through Bracknell to Slough, has attracted the European headquarters of Microsoft, Oracle, Huawei, and dozens of other technology firms. The Green Park business park and Thames Valley Park are major employment nodes.
Huntley & Palmers, the biscuit manufacturer, was once Reading's defining employer — the factory, demolished in the 1970s, occupied a vast site near the station. Suttons Seeds, Simonds Brewery (now part of Courage), and Courage themselves all had roots here. The University of Reading, established in 1926, occupies a campus at Whiteknights that ranks among the most attractive in the country, 130 hectares of parkland on the southern edge of the town.
The Reading Festival, held at Richfield Avenue from 1971 to 2023, was one of the UK's longest-running music festivals before its cancellation. The Oracle shopping centre, built over the Kennet, anchors the retail core. Reading's rail connections — the western end of Crossrail (Elizabeth line) now reaches here, and Great Western services to London Paddington take 25 minutes — have made it one of the most accessible commuter hubs outside the M25. Property prices reflect that accessibility.
Country selected
Region selected
Optional — select or proceed
