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Your Guide to Office Space in Reading
As the capital of the Thames Valley, Reading is a cultural hub, playing host to a thriving arts scene, in-demand dining spots and a wealth of sporting attractions. Its reputation for leisure is underpinned by its eclectic shopping spots and vibrant nightlife. Despite its proximity to London, it stands as a destination in its own right, rather than a commuter hotspot, especially considering the variety of office spaces, coworking spaces, serviced offices in and around the R1 postcode.
Time and time again, Reading comes out on top as one of the best places to live and work in the UK under factors such as wellbeing, employment, health and income. Reading has topped PwC’s 2019 Good Growth for Cities index and is the second most prosperous town in the UK. With the 4th highest startup rate in the UK, it’s no wonder that this growing area is so attractive to young entrepreneurs who are put off by the high cost of London but crave the diverse buzz of a thriving metropolis.
Despite its size, Reading isn’t actually classified as a city – but is instead the largest town in England without city status. It’s easy to think of Reading as part of the wider London commuter zone, however, it has a net inward influx of commuters, hosting several headquarters of British companies and UK offices for major multinationals.
The town has welcomed plenty of investment support in recent years, with the £900 million investment to revamp Reading Train Station leading the way. With a journey time of just 24 minutes into London Paddington, paired with the arrival of the Elizabeth line, Reading’s charm seems obvious, especially with its more affordable living costs and office rents than the country’s capital.
Picturesque walks
Situated between the Thames and Kennet rivers, the area allows for plenty of picturesque walks and wonderful riverside gastro pubs such as The Fisherman’s Cottage and Bel and The Dragon.
Highlights and hidden gems
Who’s there?
With its excellent transport links, proximity to Heathrow Airport and its thriving cultural scene, it’s perhaps unsurprising that 13 of the world’s top 30 brands have chosen to find office space in Reading. Household names such as Microsoft, PepsiCo and Prudential are proud to have offices in Reading, as well as a number of highly-regarded professional service firms such as KPMG, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young.
In the area...
With the hustle and bustle of every major business centre comes the perception that it will lack personality and charm. Once you experience Reading’s unique riverside area, you’ll understand why the town has become a major leisure destination in its own right.
For those who want to explore the more cosmopolitan side of the town, The Oracle offers over 75,000 sq ft of favourites such as Topshop, Zara, Hobbs, Reiss and iconic high street department stores, House of Fraser and Debenhams. If you’re in the mood to catch a movie, The Oracle also offers a fantastic 10 screen VUE cinema showing all the latest blockbusters.
Situated between the Thames and Kennet rivers, the area allows for plenty of picturesque walks and wonderful riverside gastro pubs such as The Fisherman’s Cottage and Bel and The Dragon. You can escape out of the busy high street in just a few short seconds and find yourself in a small oasis of riverside restaurants, right in the centre of town. The Oracle also hosts a number of the best loved international food chains, from the Italian crispy pizza of Franco Manca to Côte Brasserie’s fine French cuisine, Wagamama’s Asian favourites or the fresh Mediterranean Greek cuisine at Lemoni, there’s plenty to suite all tastes.
If you’re looking to escape the hubbub of the town, then the nearby Forbury Gardens is easily accessible and makes a perfect lunch spot. The beautifully manicured Victorian garden is home to the renowned Maiwand Lion statue, a memorial to the hundreds of soldiers who died from the Berkshire regiment in The Battle of Maiwand in 1880. Walk a little further out of town and you will find King’s Meadow and Christchurch Meadows, the large recreational parks that run alongside the River Thames.
The Blade office block in Reading
Reading office space prices
AVERAGE
£266
Private office
£238
Fixed desks
£222
Hot desks
Guide prices are per desk per month.
Did you know?
- The town is home to the University of Reading, one of the world’s leading universities for teaching, research and enterprise. The University is very much part of the town’s history, founded in 1892 as a college extension of the University of Oxford.
- Reading has connections to a couple of very well-known names from the literary world. Jane Austen attended school at Reading Ladies’ Boarding School, while Oscar Wilde was imprisoned in the Reading Gaol in the late nineteenth century. While incarcerated, Wilde wrote De Profundis, and after his release, he penned The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
- Reading Abbey, the ruins of which are located next to Forbury Gardens, was built by King Henry I in 1121 as his final resting place. During its heyday, the abbey was one of Europe’s grandest and largest royal monasteries. The abbey was the focus of a £3 million restoration project which allowed the ruins to reopen to the public in 2018.
The Reading Bridge crossing the River Thames
Nearby areas
Want to see what the wider neighbourhood has to offer? Why not read our guides for the nearby areas.
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