Editing Reading, Berkshire

{{Short description|Town and borough in Berkshire, England}}
{{redirect|Reading, Berks|the city in Berks County, Pennsylvania|Reading, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Reading
| official_name      = 
| other_name         = Borough of Reading
| settlement_type    = Town, [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| perrow            = 1/2/3/1
| total_width       = 260px
| image1 = Reading roofscape on 2023-08-19 16.05.01.jpg|caption1= [[East Reading]] Skyline
| image2 = Reading Town Hall, UK - 20150707.jpg |caption2= [[Reading Town Hall]]
| image3 =  Oracle Riverside 2022-01-16 13.45.27.jpg |caption3= [[The Oracle, Reading|Oracle Riverside]]
| image4 = Reading Minster, church tower.jpg |caption4= [[Reading Minster]]
| image5 = The Maiwand Lion01.jpg |caption5=  The [[Maiwand Lion]]
|image6 = The Blade and The Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 6133200.jpg|caption6=[[Reading Abbey]] and [[The Blade, Reading|The Blade]]
|image7 = Reading Berkshire OpenStreetMap 2024-11-10.png|caption7=Map of Reading
}}
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| shield_link        = 
| image_blank_emblem = Reading Coat of Arms.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Coat of arms of [[Reading Borough Council]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 100px
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = A Deo et Regina<br /><small>''With God and Queen''</small>
| image_map          = Reading UK locator map.svg
| pushpin_map        = England
| map_caption        = Borough of Reading shown within Berkshire
| coordinates        = {{Coord|51|27|15|N|0|58|23|W|region:GB-RDG_city(175,000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = {{nowrap|[[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3  = {{nowrap|[[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]}}
| subdivision_type4  = [[Historic counties of England|Historic county]]
| subdivision_type5  = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[South East England]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Berkshire]]
| subdivision_name4  = {{plainlist|
*[[Berkshire]] <small>(south Thames)</small>
*[[Oxfordshire]] <small>(north Thames)</small>}}
| subdivision_name5  = Reading
| established_title  = [[Settler|Settled]]
| established_date   = 871 or earlier
| established_title2 = [[List of towns in the United Kingdom|Town status]]
| established_date2  = 1086 or earlier
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]]
| governing_body     = [[Reading Borough Council]]
| parts_type         = Areas of the town
| p1                 = [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]] (Village)
| p2                 = [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]] (Village)
| p3                 = [[Caversham Heights]]
| p4                 = [[Caversham Park Village]]
| p5                 = [[Central Reading]]
| p6                 = [[Christchurch Meadows, Reading|Christchurch Meadows]]
| p7                 = [[Coley, Berkshire|Coley]]
| p8                 = [[Coley Park]]
| p9                 = [[Earley]] (Town) (part)
| p10                = [[East Reading]]
| p11                = [[Emmer Green]]
| p12                = [[Fords Farm]]
| p13                = [[Green Park, Reading|Green Park]]
| p14                = [[Holybrook]]
| p15                = [[Katesgrove]]
| p16                = [[Lower Caversham]]
| p17                = [[Lower Earley]] (part)
| p18                = [[Newtown, Reading|Newtown]]
| p19                = [[Norcot]]
| p20                = [[Purley-on-Thames]] (Village)
| p21                = Sandford (part)
| p22                = [[Sonning]] (Village) (part)
| p23                = [[Southcote, Berkshire|Southcote]]
| p24                = [[Tilehurst]] (Village) (part)
| p25                = [[West Reading, Berkshire|West Reading]]
| p26                = [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley]]
| p27                = [[Whitley Wood]]
| p28                = [[Winnersh]] (Village) (part)
| p29                = [[Woodley, Berkshire|Woodley]] (Town) (part)
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population ----------------------->
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 61
| elevation_ft       = <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| total_type         = Borough
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{English district population|GSS=E06000038}}
| population_rank    = {{English district rank|GSS=E06000038}} ([[List of English districts by population|of {{English district total}}]]) <small>(borough)</small>
| population_density_km2 = {{English district density|GSS= E06000038}}
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 355,596
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000038|title=Reading Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 67.1% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 17.7% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 7.2% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 5.1% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 2.9% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 39.6% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 36.3% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 15.2% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 8.9% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 }}
| population_demonym = Redingensian
| population_note    = <!-- General information --------------->
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = [[RG postcode area|RG]]
| area_code          = '''0118'''
| website            = {{URL|https://reading.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          = 
| image_dot_map      = 
| dot_mapsize        = 
| dot_map_caption    = 
| dot_x              = 
| dot_y              = 
| leader_title3      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election|MP]]
| leader_name3       = [[Matt Rodda]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])<br />[[Olivia Bailey]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])<br/>[[Yuan Yang (politician)|Yuan Yang]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset         = +0
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| blank_name         = [[British national grid reference system|Grid Ref.]]
| blank_info         = {{gbmappingsmall|SU713733}}
| blank1_name        = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info        = {{plainlist|
*00MC (ONS)
*E06000038 (GSS)}}
| blank2_name        = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
| blank2_info        = GB-RDG
| blank3_name        = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
| blank3_info        = UKJ11
}}

'''Reading''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-Reading.ogg|ˈ|r|ɛ|d|ɪ|ŋ}} {{respell|RED|ing}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/reading?showCookiePolicy=true|title=Reading|access-date=23 September 2014|work=Collins Dictionary|date=n.d.|archive-date=5 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205033133/http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/reading?showCookiePolicy=true|url-status=live}}</ref> is a town and borough in [[Berkshire]], England, and the county town of Berkshire. It is the UK's largest town, with a combined population of 355,596.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reading Population 2025 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/united-kingdom/reading |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref> Most of [[Reading built-up area|its built-up area]] lies within the Borough of Reading, although some outer suburbs are parts of neighbouring local authority areas. It is located in the [[Thames Valley]] at the [[confluence]] of the rivers [[River Thames|Thames]] and [[River Kennet|Kennet]].

Reading is a major commercial centre, especially for information technology and insurance.<ref name="Good Growth for Cities 2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwc.co.uk/government-public-sector/good-growth/good-growth-for-cities-report-on-economic-wellbeing-uk-urban-areas.jhtml|title=Government & public sector|publisher=PwC|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424131626/http://www.pwc.co.uk/government-public-sector/good-growth/good-growth-for-cities-report-on-economic-wellbeing-uk-urban-areas.jhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also a regional retail centre, serving a large area of the Thames Valley with its shopping centres, including [[The Oracle, Reading|the Oracle]], the Broad Street Mall, and the pedestrianised area around Broad Street. It is home to the [[University of Reading]]. Every year it hosts the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading Festival]], one of England's biggest music festivals. Reading has a professional [[association football]] team, [[Reading F.C.]], and participates in many other sports.<!--only the most notable sports go in the lead section.-->

Reading dates from the 8th century. It was a trading and ecclesiastical centre in the [[Middle Ages]], the site of [[Reading Abbey]], one of the largest and richest monasteries of [[medieval England]] with royal connections, of which the 12th-century abbey gateway and significant ancient ruins remain. By 1525, Reading was the largest town in Berkshire, and tenth in England for taxable wealth. The town was seriously affected by the [[English Civil War]], with a major siege and loss of trade, but played a pivotal role in the [[Glorious Revolution]], whose only significant military action was fought on its streets. The 18th century saw the beginning of a major ironworks in the town and the growth of the [[brewing]] trade for which Reading was to become famous. The 19th century saw the coming of the [[Great Western Railway]] and the development of the town's brewing, baking and seed-growing businesses, and the town grew rapidly as a [[manufacturing]] centre.

==Etymology==
The earliest known name for Reading is ''Readingas'', from the 8th century. The name probably comes from the ''[[Readingas]]'', an [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] tribe whose name means ''Reada's People'' in [[Old English]] (the Anglo-Saxons often had the same name for a place and its inhabitants).{{sfn|Cameron|1961|p=64}}

The demonym for a person from Reading is ''Redingensian'', giving the name of the local rugby team [[Redingensians R.F.C.|Redingensians]], based in [[Sonning]], and of former members of [[Reading School]].{{sfn|Wykes|1970|p=13}}<ref name="old-redingensians">{{cite web|title=History of Reading School|url=http://www.oldredingensians.org.uk/page/school_history|publisher=Old Redingensians Association|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505075009/http://www.oldredingensians.org.uk/page/school_history|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Reading, Berkshire}}
{{For timeline}}

===Origins===
[[File:Map of Redding by John Speed, 1611.jpg|thumb|right|The earliest map of Reading, published in 1611 by [[John Speed]]]]
[[File:View of Reading from Caversham by Joseph Farington, 1793.jpg|thumb|right|''View of Reading from [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]]'' by [[Joseph Farington]] in 1793]]
Occupation at the site of Reading may date back to the [[Roman Britain|Roman period]], possibly in the form of a trading port for [[Calleva Atrebatum]].{{sfn|Lawes Long|1836|p=11–13}} However, the first clear evidence for Reading as a settlement dates from the 8th century, when the town came to be known as ''Readingas''. In late 870, an army of [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]] invaded the kingdom of [[Wessex]] and set up camp at Reading. On 4 January 871, in the [[Battle of Reading (871)|first Battle of Reading]], [[Ethelred of Wessex|King Ethelred]] and his brother [[Alfred the Great]] attempted unsuccessfully to breach the Danes' defences. The battle is described in the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'', and that account provides the earliest known written record of the existence of Reading. The Danes remained in Reading until late in 871, when they retreated to their winter quarters in [[London]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=14–15}}{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}}

After the [[Battle of Hastings]] and the [[Norman conquest of England]], [[William the Conqueror]] gave land in and around Reading to his foundation of [[Battle Abbey]]. In its 1086 [[Domesday Book]] listing, the town was explicitly described as a [[borough]]. The presence of six mills is recorded: four on land belonging to the king and two on the land given to Battle Abbey.{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}} [[Reading Abbey]] was founded in 1121 by [[Henry I of England|Henry I]], who is buried within the Abbey grounds. As part of his endowments, he gave the abbey his lands in Reading, along with land at [[Cholsey]].{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}}{{sfn|Slade|2001|p=1–16}}

The town grew around a crossing of the River Kennet, about {{convert|1|mile|km}} upstream from its confluence with the River Thames. In 1312, King [[Edward II]] directed that its bridges should be kept in good order.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maxwell Lyte |first1=H.C. |title=Close Rolls, Edward II: November 1312 Pages 556-559 Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward II: Volume 1, 1307-1313. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1892. |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/edw2/vol1/pp556-559 |website=British History Online |access-date=20 August 2020 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021112659/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/edw2/vol1/pp556-559 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is not known how badly Reading was affected by the [[Black Death]] that swept through [[England]] in the 14th century, but it is known that the abbot, [[Henry of Appleford]], was one of its victims in 1361, and that nearby [[Henley-on-Thames|Henley]] lost 60% of its population.{{sfn|Hylton|2007|p=34–38}} The [[Abbey]] was largely destroyed in 1538 during [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]'s [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution of the monasteries]]. The last [[abbot]], [[Hugh Faringdon]], was subsequently tried and convicted of high treason and [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] in front of the Abbey Church.{{sfn|Slade|2001|p=17–25}}{{sfn|Fasham|Hawkes|1983}}

By 1525, Reading was the largest town in [[Berkshire]] and the tenth largest town in England when measured by taxable wealth reported in tax returns. By 1611, it had a population of over 5,000 and had grown rich on its trade in cloth, as instanced by the fortune made by local merchant [[John Kendrick (cloth merchant)|John Kendrick]].{{sfn|Hylton|2007|p=34–38}}{{sfn|Hylton|2007|p=51–52}} Reading played a role during the [[English Civil War]]. Despite its fortifications, it had a [[Cavalier|Royalist]] [[garrison]] imposed on it in 1642. The subsequent [[Siege of Reading]] by [[Roundheads|Parliamentary]] forces succeeded in April 1643.<ref>Barrès-Baker, Malcolm: ''The Siege of Reading: The Failure of the Earl of Essex's 1643 Spring Offensive''. Ottawa, EbooksLib, 2004 {{ISBN|1-55449-999-2}}</ref> The town's cloth trade was especially badly damaged, and the town's economy did not fully recover until the 20th century.{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}}<ref>{{cite web | last = Ford | first = David Nash | work = Royal Berkshire History | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/articles/reading_siege.html | title = The Siege of Reading | access-date = 27 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090307011752/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/articles/reading_siege.html | archive-date = 7 March 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Reading played a significant role during the [[Glorious Revolution]]: the [[Battle of Reading (1688)|second Battle of Reading]] was the only substantial military action of the campaign.{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}}<ref>{{cite web | last = Ford | first = David Nash | work = Royal Berkshire History | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/articles/reading_broadst.html | title = The Battle of Broad Street | access-date = 27 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080926092425/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/articles/reading_broadst.html | archive-date = 26 September 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The 18th century saw the beginning of a major iron works in the town and the growth of the [[brewing]] trade for which Reading was to become famous.{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=84–89}} Reading's trade benefited from better designed [[Turnpike trusts|turnpike]] roads which helped it establish its location on the major coaching routes from London to [[Oxford]] and the [[West Country]]. In 1723, despite considerable local opposition, the Kennet Navigation opened the [[River Kennet]] to boats as far as [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]]. Opposition stopped when it became apparent that the new route benefited the town. After the opening of the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] in 1810, one could go by barge from Reading to the [[Bristol Channel]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=75–80}} From 1714, and probably earlier, the role of [[county town]] of Berkshire was shared between Reading and [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]].<ref name="QuarterSessions">{{cite news |title=Berkshire Quarter Sessions |newspaper=Jackson's Oxford Journal |date=4 July 1868}}</ref>{{sfn|Hunter|1995|p=103}} In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was one of the southern termini of the [[Hatfield and Reading Turnpike]] that allowed travellers from the north to continue their journey to the west without going through the congestion of London.

During the 19th century, the town grew rapidly as a [[manufacturing]] centre. The [[Great Western Railway]] arrived in 1841,<ref>{{cite web|title=Building the Great Western Railway|url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/transport/gwr1.html|work=Reading History Trail|access-date=14 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514074850/http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/transport/gwr1.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> followed by the [[South Eastern Railway, UK|South Eastern Railway]] in 1849 and the [[London and South Western Railway]] in 1856.{{sfn|Kidner|1982|p=6}}{{sfn|Waters|1990|p=20}} After the Summer [[Assizes]] (courts of assize) were moved from Abingdon to Reading in 1867, the [[privy council]] made Reading the sole county town of Berkshire in 1869.<ref name="QuarterSessions"/> The town became [[county borough]] under the [[Local Government Act 1888]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lords Hansard text for 16 Jul 1996 (160716-11)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199596/ldhansrd/vo960716/text/60716-11.htm|publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]]|access-date=14 June 2011|date=16 July 1996|archive-date=19 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919014524/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199596/ldhansrd/vo960716/text/60716-11.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=English Counties, The Real Counties|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2501029|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=14 June 2011|date=7 April 2004|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115004916/https://h2g2.com/entry/A2501029|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 19th and 20th centuries, the town's three largest industries were known as the ''Three Bs'': beer (1785–2010, [[H & G Simonds]]),<ref name=19century>{{cite web|title=The Nineteenth Century|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/history-of-reading/the-nineteenth-century/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429163226/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/history-of-reading/the-nineteenth-century/|archive-date=29 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dellor|first=Amanda|title=Reading's Courage Brewery closing|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8586000/8586089.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=14 June 2011|date=24 March 2010|archive-date=18 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118021610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8586000/8586089.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> bulbs (1837–1974, [[Suttons Seeds]]),<ref name=19century/><ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Suttons|url=http://www.suttons.co.uk/About+UsHistory.htm|publisher=Sutton Seeds|access-date=14 June 2011|archive-date=14 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614060528/http://www.suttons.co.uk/About+UsHistory.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and biscuits (1822–1976, [[Huntley & Palmers|Huntley and Palmers]]).<ref name=19century/><ref>{{cite web|title=Huntley & Palmers Collection|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/social-history/huntley-palmers-collection/|work=[[Reading Museum]]|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=14 June 2011|date=7 January 2011|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604182940/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/social-history/huntley-palmers-collection/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Huntley & Palmers Timeline|url=http://www.collectionsgateway.org.uk/collections/7/hp%20timeline.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007032502/http://www.collectionsgateway.org.uk/collections/7/hp%20timeline.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=live|work=[[Reading Museum]]|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=14 June 2011|year=2001}}</ref>

===20th century===
The town continued to expand in the 20th century, annexing [[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]] across the [[River Thames]] in [[Oxfordshire]] in 1911, as well as most of [[Tilehurst]] to the west at the same time. Reading suffered much less physical damage than many other English towns and cities during the two [[world war]]s of the 20th century, although many citizens were killed or injured. In one significant [[Airstrike|air raid]] on 10 February 1943 a single [[Luftwaffe]] plane strafed and bombed the town centre, causing 41 deaths and over 100 injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADAANQB8AHwAVAByAHUAZQB8AHwAMAB8AA2 |title=Air Raid, February 1943 |work=[[Reading Museum]] |publisher=Reading Borough Council |access-date=13 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003062921/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAyADAANQB8AHwAVAByAHUAZQB8AHwAMAB8AA2 |archive-date=3 October 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The [[Lower Earley]] development, begun in 1977, was one of the largest private housing developments in Europe,<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading, Berkshire, UK|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A40614879|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=13 June 2011|date=5 September 2008|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115004913/https://h2g2.com/entry/A40614879|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Reading|url=http://www.garabys.com/letting-agent-areas/reading|publisher=Garabys Letting Agent|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-date=28 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528003933/http://www.garabys.com/letting-agent-areas/reading|url-status=live}}</ref> extending the urban area of Reading as far as the [[M4 Motorway]]. Further housing developments have increased the number of modern houses and [[hypermarkets]] in the outskirts of Reading. A major town-centre shopping centre, [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]], opened in 1999, is named after the 17th-century [[Oracle (workhouse)|Oracle workhouse]], which once occupied a small part of the site. It provides three storeys of shopping space and boosted the local economy by providing 4,000 jobs.<ref>{{cite web|title=The founding of the Oracle|url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/manufacture/oracle1.html|publisher=Reading History Trail|access-date=21 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514072714/http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/manufacture/oracle1.html|archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = John Kendrick (1573–1624) | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jkendrick.html | work = Royal Berkshire History | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | access-date = 21 April 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110514065730/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jkendrick.html | archive-date = 14 May 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===21st century===
As one of the largest [[urban area]]s in the United Kingdom  without [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]], Reading has unsuccessfully bid for city status four times&nbsp;– in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium; in 2002 to celebrate the [[Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II]]; in 2012 for [[Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II|the Diamond Jubilee]];<ref>{{cite web|title=Largest Towns without City Status|url=http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityStatus/CityStatusTable2.asp|work=LoveMyTown.co.uk|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=17 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717135616/http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityStatus/CityStatusTable2.asp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=lovemytown>{{cite web | url = http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/Populations/index.htm | title = Population overview | work = LoveMyTown.co.uk | access-date = 6 July 2006 | archive-date = 2 July 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060702073243/http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/Populations/index.htm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Towns that have recently applied for City Status|url=http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityStatus/CityStatusTable3.asp|work=LoveMyTown.co.uk|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=3 September 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903134040/http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/CityStatus/CityStatusTable3.asp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reading submits 2012 city status bid|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13571586|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=21 June 2011|date=27 May 2011|archive-date=30 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530081702/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13571586|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2022 to mark [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II|the Platinum Jubilee]].<ref name="RBC City Status 2021">{{cite web |title=Reading Submits City Bid Today |url=https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/reading-submits-its-city-bid-today |website=Reading Borough Council News |date=7 December 2021 |access-date=7 December 2021 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207101206/https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/reading-submits-its-city-bid-today |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC 61505857">{{cite news |title=Platinum Jubilee: Eight towns to be made cities for Platinum Jubilee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61505857 |access-date=20 May 2022 |work=BBC News |date=20 May 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519233708/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61505857 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Governance==
[[Local government]] for the borough is provided by [[Reading Borough Council]], which has been a [[unitary authority]] providing all local government functions since 1998. There are no [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]]es in the borough. Some of the built-up area's outer [[suburbs]] are outside the borough boundaries in [[West Berkshire]] and [[Borough of Wokingham|Wokingham]]. These outer suburbs belong to civil parishes, in some cases with their own town status.<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=8 November 2024}}</ref>

Reading has elected at least one [[Member of Parliament]] to every [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] since 1295.<ref>{{cite news|title=Berkshire prepares for election|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8606277.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=12 June 2011|date=6 April 2010|first=Peter|last=Henley|archive-date=27 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327221450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8606277.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the borough of Reading has been divided between the parliamentary constituencies of [[Reading Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading Central]], [[Reading West and Mid Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Reading West and Mid Berkshire]] (which also covers part of West Berkshire), and [[Earley and Woodley (UK Parliament constituency)|Earley and Woodley]] (which also covers part of the borough of Wokingham).<ref name=electionmaps/>

Reading is the site of venues for both the [[Reading Crown Court|Crown Court]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Crown Court|url=http://hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/Search.do?court_id=493|publisher=Ministry of Justice|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325223534/http://hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/Search.do?court_id=493|url-status=live}}</ref> administering criminal justice, and the [[County Court (England and Wales)|County Court]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading County Court|url=http://hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/Search.do?court_id=492|publisher=Ministry of Justice|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325223547/http://hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/Search.do?court_id=492|url-status=live}}</ref> responsible for civil cases. Lesser matters are dealt with in a local [[Magistrates' court (England and Wales)|magistrates' court]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Magistrates' Court|url=http://hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/Search.do?court_id=494|publisher=Ministry of Justice|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325223550/http://hmctscourtfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/Search.do?court_id=494|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
[[File:Reading Abbey Gateway restored 2018-04-15 16.38.31.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]]]]
Reading was an [[ancient borough]], being described as a borough by the time of the [[Domesday Book]] in 1086. The borough was initially controlled by [[Reading Abbey]] as its [[Manorialism|manorial]] owner. The town gradually gained a degree of independence from the abbey from the 13th century onwards, particularly after the town's [[Guild|merchant guild]] was granted a [[royal charter]] in 1253. Following the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution]] of the abbey in 1538 the borough was granted a new charter in 1542.{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}} The borough boundaries were then set out in a subsequent charter from [[Elizabeth I]] in 1560. The borough covered the whole of the parish of [[St Laurence's Church, Reading|St Laurence]] and parts of the parishes of [[St Giles' Church, Reading|St Giles]] and [[Reading Minster|St Mary]]. The part of St Giles' parish outside the borough was known as the [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of [[Whitley, Reading|Whitley]], and the part of St Mary's parish outside the borough was known as the [[tithing]] of [[Southcote, Berkshire|Southcote]].<ref>{{cite book |title=First Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Part 1 |date=1835 |page=111 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pNRAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA111 |access-date=8 November 2024}}</ref>

The borough was reformed in 1836 to become a [[municipal borough]] under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]], which standardised how most boroughs operated across the country.<ref name=VoB/> The borough boundaries, which had not been changed since 1560, were enlarged in 1887 to take in Southcote, Whitley, the north-western parts of [[Earley]], and the eastern end of the parish of [[Tilehurst]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Reading Corporation Act 1887 |date=1887 |page=56 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UVUwAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PA56 |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref>{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}} When elected county councils were established in 1889 under the [[Local Government Act 1888]], Reading was considered large enough for its existing borough council to provide county-level services, and so Reading was made a [[county borough]], independent from [[Berkshire County Council]].<ref name=VoB>{{cite web |title=Reading Municipal Borough / County Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10153384 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref>

The borough boundaries were enlarged again in 1911 to take in Caversham on the north bank of the Thames from [[Oxfordshire]] (except the [[Caversham Park]] area, which was transferred to the parish of [[Eye and Dunsden]]), and most of the parish of Tilehurst (including the main village at Tilehurst Triangle and the area around the parish church at Churchend) to the west.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Order Confirmation (No. 11) Act 1911 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo5/1-2/148/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=7 November 2024}}</ref>

Local government was reformed in 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], which saw Reading redesignated as a [[non-metropolitan district]], with Berkshire County Council providing county-level services in the borough for the first time. Ahead of those reforms, the borough council campaigned to have Reading's boundaries enlarged to take in Earley, [[Woodley, Berkshire|Woodley]], [[Purley on Thames]], the residual [[Tilehurst (civil parish)|Tilehurst parish]] (covering the parts of Tilehurst which had not been transferred into the borough in 1911), and the eastern part of the parish of [[Theale]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Boundaries: Reading plea |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=7 November 2024 |work=Reading Evening Post |date=6 June 1972 |page=4}}</ref> The government decided to make no change to Reading's boundaries, leaving them as they had been since last reviewed in 1911.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=9 November 2024}}</ref> Shortly after the 1974 reforms came into effect, a more limited review of the borough's boundaries north of the Thames was carried out, which saw the Caversham Park area and part of the parish of [[Mapledurham]] on the western side of Caversham transferred into the borough of Reading in 1977.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Berkshire and Oxfordshire (Areas) Order 1977|year=1977|number=218|access-date=7 November 2024}}</ref>

The borough council became a unitary authority in 1998, when the county council was abolished under the [[Banham Review]], which saw the borough council take over county-level functions, effectively restoring the council to the powers it had held when Reading was a county borough prior to 1974.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1879/contents/made|publisher=legislation.gov.uk|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-date=29 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329005331/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1879/contents/made|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of those reforms, the Local Government Commission had initially recommended expanding Reading's boundaries to include Earley, Tilehurst parish, Purley on Thames and the parts of the parishes of [[Shinfield]], [[Burghfield]] and Theale north of the [[M4 motorway]], but it was ultimately decided to leave Reading's boundaries unchanged.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Future Local Government of Berkshire |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=Bracknell Times |date=11 August 1994 |page=11}}</ref>

Reading's boundaries south of the Thames therefore have not changed since 1911, despite the urban area having now expanded well beyond the borough boundaries. Cross-boundary working between the borough council and the neighbouring councils which cover the suburban and adjoining rural areas is sometimes criticised, particularly over matters such as transport and school catchment areas.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = South Oxfordshire District Council | url = http://www.southoxon.com/sites/default/files/Wokingham_BC_EM5.pdf | title = South Oxfordshire District Local Development Framework - Core Strategy Examination - Written Statement of Wokingham BC for the Exploratory Meeting on: Tuesday 17 May 2011 | access-date =14 June 2011 | date = 17 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120325170754/http://www.southoxon.com/sites/default/files/Wokingham_BC_EM5.pdf | archive-date = 25 March 2012 | url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Third Bridge | url = http://www.cadra.org.uk/Third_Bridge.asp | publisher = CADRA | access-date =4 October 2011 | date = August 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425044412/http://www.cadra.org.uk/Third_Bridge.asp | archive-date = 25 April 2012 | url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | publisher = Hansard | url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060111/halltext/60111h04.htm | title = Transport (Greater Reading) | access-date = 3 August 2006 | date = 11 January 2006 | archive-date = 14 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070914040040/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060111/halltext/60111h04.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>
[[File:Hospitium of St John the Baptist.jpg|thumb|The former [[hospitium]]]]
[[File:Reading Town Hall, UK - 20150707.jpg|thumb|[[Reading Town Hall]]]]
Prior to the 16th century, civic administration for the town of Reading was situated in the ''Yield Hall'', a [[Guildhall|guild hall]] situated by the [[River Kennet]] near today's Yield Hall Lane.{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=42}} After a brief stay in what later became [[Greyfriars Church, Reading|Greyfriars Church]], the town council created a new town hall by inserting an upper floor into the refectory of the [[Hospitium of St John]], the former hospitium of [[Reading Abbey]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=42}} For some 400 years up to the 1970s, this was to remain the site of Reading's civic administration through the successive rebuilds that eventually created today's [[Reading Town Hall|Town Hall]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=88}} In 1976, [[Reading Borough Council]] moved to the new [[Reading Civic Centre|Civic Centre]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=168–9}} In 2014, they moved again to civic offices in a refurbished existing office building on [[Bridge Street, Reading|Bridge Street]], in order to facilitate the demolition and redevelopment of the previous site.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-30481854 | title = Reading Borough Council moves to new building in Bridge Street | publisher = BBC | date = 15 December 2014 | access-date = 15 August 2016 | archive-date = 2 January 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160102082143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-30481854 | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Broad Street, Reading - geograph.org.uk - 2864164.jpg|thumb|right|Broad Street]]
Reading is {{convert|42|mi|km}} north of the English south coast. The centre of Reading is on a low ridge between the [[River Thames]] and [[River Kennet]], close to their [[confluence]], reflecting the town's history as a river port. Just above the confluence, the Kennet cuts through a narrow steep-sided gap in the hills forming the southern flank of the Thames [[flood plain]]. The Kennet, which naturally divided into multiple shallow streams through the centre of Reading, was embanked as part of the construction of the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] in the 18th century, allowing the development of [[Wharf|wharves]]. The floodplains adjoining Reading's two rivers are subject to occasional flooding.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Floods photos|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/EmergencyPlanning/Flooding/2007-floods/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521211047/http://www.reading.gov.uk/council/strategies-plans-and-policies/EmergencyPlanning/Flooding/2007-floods/|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=July 2007 Flooding|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/adviceandemergencies/Emergency-Planning/July_2007_flooding_report_Cabinet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927181208/http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/adviceandemergencies/Emergency-Planning/July_2007_flooding_report_Cabinet.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=live|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=13 June 2011|date=29 October 2007}}</ref>
{{Location map+|United Kingdom Reading|float=right|width=335|caption=Location of suburbs of Reading|places=
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.454167|long=-0.973056|label=Town centre|label_size=75|position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.439770|long=-1.044614|label=[[Beansheaf Farm]]|label_size=75|position=top|mark=Arrows 12x12 s.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.441297|long=-1.049565|label=[[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]]|label_size=75|position=left |mark=Arrows 12x12 e.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.467573|long=-0.974639|label=[[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.476999|long=-0.988426|label=[[Caversham Heights]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.482933|long=-0.951262|label=[[Caversham Park Village]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.449423|long=-0.978607|label=[[Coley, Reading|Coley]]|label_size=75|position=below|mark=Arrows 12x12 w.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.442452|long=-0.992803|label=[[Coley Park]]|label_size=75|position=bottom |mark=Arrows 12x12 n.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.449246|long=-0.952978|label=[[East Reading]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.484857|long=-0.968513|label=[[Emmer Green]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.440473|long=-1.025119|label=[[Fords Farm]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|mark=Arrows 12x12 n.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.424444|long=-0.991389|label=[[Green Park, Reading|Green Park]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.437102|long=-1.036834|label=[[Holybrook]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|mark=Arrows 12x12 n.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.448123|long=-1.025762|label=[[Horncastle, Berkshire|Horncastle]]|label_size=75|position=top |mark=Arrows 12x12 s.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.444967|long=-0.969028|label=[[Katesgrove]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.429500|long=-0.974450|label={{nowrap|Kennet Island}}|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.465772|long=-1.053657|label=[[Little Heath, Berkshire|Little Heath]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.464916|long=-0.959587|label={{nowrap|[[Lower Caversham]]}}|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.424152|long=-0.921821|label=[[Lower Earley]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.437798|long=-0.913152|label=[[Maiden Erlegh]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.455504|long=-0.948686|label=[[Newtown, Reading|Newtown]]|label_size=75|position=right|mark=Arrows 12x12 w.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.459782|long=-1.026942|label=[[Norcot]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.478496|long=-1.045932|label=[[Purley on Thames|Purley]]|label_size=75|position=right|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.408000|long=-0.947000|label=[[Shinfield]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6|outside = 1 <!--Suppress warning category-->}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.441329|long=-1.005506|label=[[Southcote, Reading|Southcote]]|label_size=75|position=top|mark=Arrows 12x12 s.svg}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.456333|long=-1.046662|label=[[Tilehurst]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.453330|long=-0.994870|label=[[West Reading, Berkshire|West Reading]]|label_size=75|position=top|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.428000|long=-0.961450|label=[[Whitley, Reading|Whitley]]|label_size=75|position=bottom|marksize=6}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom Reading|lat=51.416320|long=-0.961710|label=[[Whitley Wood]]|label_size=75|position=left|marksize=6}}
}}
As Reading has grown, its suburbs have spread: to the west between the two rivers into the foothills of the [[Berkshire Downs]] as far as [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]], [[Tilehurst]] and [[Purley on Thames|Purley]]; to the south and south-east on the south side of the [[River Kennet]] as far as [[Whitley Wood]] and [[Lower Earley]] and as far north of the [[Thames]] into the [[Chiltern Hills]] as far as [[Caversham Heights]], [[Emmer Green]] and [[Caversham Park Village]]. Outside the central area, the floors of the valleys containing the two rivers remain largely unimproved [[floodplain]]. Apart from the [[M4 motorway|M4]] curving to the south there is only one road across the Kennet flood plain. All other routes between the three built-up areas are in the central area.<ref name=oslr159>{{cite map | title = Map of Reading, Wokingham & Pangbourne | publisher = [[Ordnance Survey]] | isbn = 9780319237304 | date = 12 May 2011 | scale = 1:25000}}</ref>

===Climate===
Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Reading has a [[maritime climate]], with limited seasonal temperature ranges and generally moderate rainfall throughout the year. The nearest official [[Met Office]] weather station is located at the [[Reading University]] Atmospheric Observatory on the [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]], which has recorded atmospheric measurements and meteorological observations since 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading University Atmospheric Observatory|url=http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/Data/fieldsite/docs/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914075939/http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/Data/fieldsite/docs/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2012|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=18 June 2011}}</ref> The local absolute maximum temperature of {{convert|37.6|C|F}} was recorded on 19 July 2022 and the local absolute minimum temperature of {{convert|-14.5|C|F}} was recorded in January 1982.

{{Weather box
|location = [[Reading University]], elevation: {{convert|62|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present
| collapsed = 
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 15.5
| Feb record high C = 19.6
| Mar record high C = 22.8
| Apr record high C = 26.9
| May record high C = 28.5
| Jun record high C = 34.0
| Jul record high C = 37.6
| Aug record high C = 36.4
| Sep record high C = 29.6
| Oct record high C = 27.8
| Nov record high C = 18.1
| Dec record high C = 15.8
| Jan high C = 8.0
| Feb high C = 8.5
| Mar high C = 11.2
| Apr high C = 14.2
| May high C = 17.4
| Jun high C = 20.4
| Jul high C = 22.7
| Aug high C = 22.3
| Sep high C = 19.3
| Oct high C = 15.1
| Nov high C = 11.0
| Dec high C = 8.4
| year high C = 14.9
| Jan mean C = 5.1
| Feb mean C = 5.4
| Mar mean C = 7.4
| Apr mean C = 9.7
| May mean C = 12.7
| Jun mean C = 15.6
| Jul mean C = 17.8
| Aug mean C = 17.5
| Sep mean C = 14.8
| Oct mean C = 11.5
| Nov mean C = 7.8
| Dec mean C = 5.4
| year mean C = 10.9
| Jan low C = 2.1
| Feb low C = 2.2
| Mar low C = 3.5
| Apr low C = 5.1
| May low C = 8.0
| Jun low C = 10.8
| Jul low C = 12.9
| Aug low C = 12.7
| Sep low C = 10.4
| Oct low C = 7.9
| Nov low C = 4.7
| Dec low C = 2.5
| year low C = 6.9
| Jan record low C = -14.5
| Feb record low C = -11.6
| Mar record low C = -7.2
| Apr record low C = -3.5
| May record low C = -2.0
| Jun record low C = 1.5
| Jul record low C = 4.9
| Aug record low C = 3.4
| Sep record low C = 0.6
| Oct record low C = -4.4
| Nov record low C = -8.3
| Dec record low C = -13.4
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 65.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 45.6
| Mar precipitation mm = 40.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 48.7
| May precipitation mm = 43.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 47.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 48.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 56.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 49.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 73.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 73.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 65.4
| year precipitation mm = 658.2
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 11.8
| Feb precipitation days = 9.7
| Mar precipitation days = 8.6
| Apr precipitation days = 9.3
| May precipitation days = 8.1
| Jun precipitation days = 7.7
| Jul precipitation days = 8.1
| Aug precipitation days = 8.5
| Sep precipitation days = 8.2
| Oct precipitation days = 10.6
| Nov precipitation days = 11.8
| Dec precipitation days = 11.5
| year precipitation days = 113.9
| Jan sun = 55.6
| Feb sun = 76.5
| Mar sun = 119.7
| Apr sun = 170.2
| May sun = 199.9
| Jun sun = 199.0
| Jul sun = 205.5
| Aug sun = 190.5
| Sep sun = 145.3
| Oct sun = 106.6
| Nov sun = 60.2
| Dec sun = 48.5
| year sun = 1577.5
| Jan uv = 2
| Feb uv = 2
| Mar uv = 3
| Apr uv = 3
| May uv = 4
| Jun uv = 4
| Jul uv = 5
| Aug uv = 4
| Sep uv = 4
| Oct uv = 3
| Nov uv = 2
| Dec uv = 2
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met Averages">{{cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpkdssgk|title=Reading 1981–2010 averages|access-date=15 October 2021|publisher=Met Office|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174812/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpkdssgk|url-status=live}}</ref> WeatherAtlas<ref name="Weather-Atlas">{{cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/united-kingdom/reading-climate#uv_index|title=Monthly weather forecast and Climate – Reading, United Kingdom|access-date=15 October 2021|publisher=Weather Atlas|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122184813/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/united-kingdom/reading-climate#uv_index|url-status=live}}</ref>
| source 2 = Starlings Roost<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php|title=Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature|access-date=1 February 2023|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173843/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php|title=Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature|access-date=1 February 2023|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173844/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
{{climate chart
| Reading
| 1.9 | 7.7 | 61.0
| 1.7 | 8.0 | 41.2
| 3.4 | 10.8 | 44.5
| 4.7 | 13.5 | 48.0
| 7.7 | 17.0 | 46.4
| 10.6 | 20.0 | 44.6
| 12.7 | 22.4 | 46.0
| 12.5 | 22.1 | 52.3
| 10.3 | 19.0 | 50.3
| 7.6 | 14.9 | 71.8
| 4.4 | 10.7 | 66.3
| 2.2 | 7.9 | 62.9
|float=right
}}

==Demography==
[[File:Reading population pyramid.svg|thumb|Population pyramid of Reading in 2021]]
[[File:Borough of Reading population growth.svg|thumb|Borough of Reading population growth rate from 1801 to 2011]]
In mid-2018, the area covered by the Borough of Reading had {{English district population|GSS=E06000038}} inhabitants and a population density of {{convert|{{English district density|GSS=E06000038}}|/sqkm|/sqmi|0}}.<ref name=popstats>{{English district population citation}}</ref> Meanwhile, the [[Reading/Wokingham Urban Area|wider urban area]] had a population of 318,014 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]], ranking 23rd in the United Kingdom.<ref name="BUA">{{cite web| url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx| title=2011 Census&nbsp;– Built-up areas| publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]]| access-date=11 August 2013| archive-date=21 September 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921045319/http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx| url-status=live}}</ref> This grew to an estimated 337,108 by mid-2018.<ref name="ReadingUA">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=27 November 2020|title=United Kingdom's largest town by population.|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-city-status-royal-charter-19327991|access-date=1 February 2021|website=Get Reading|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128154810/https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-city-status-royal-charter-19327991|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the 2011 census, 74.8% of the borough's population were described as [[White people|White]] (65.3% [[White British]]), 9.1% as [[British Asian|South Asian]], 6.7% as [[Black British|Black]], 3.9% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]], 4.5% as [[British Chinese|Chinese]] and 0.9% as other [[ethnic group]].<ref name=ethstats>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls|title=Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group (Percentages)|publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]]|access-date=12 October 2011|format=XLS|archive-date=16 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116113321/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, it was reported that Reading had 150 different spoken languages within its population.<ref>{{cite news|last=Natalie|first=Slater|title=150 different languages spoken in Reading schools|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/education/s/2065355_150_different_languages_spoken_in_reading_schools|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=14 June 2011|date=8 February 2010|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125175127/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/education/s/2065355_150_different_languages_spoken_in_reading_schools|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Heidi|title=The town where schoolchildren speak 150 languages|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7183679/The-town-where-schoolchildren-speak-150-languages.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7183679/The-town-where-schoolchildren-speak-150-languages.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=14 June 2011|date=8 February 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Reading has a large Polish community, which dates back over 30 years,<ref>{{cite news|title=Grant to repair Polish church|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2072745_grant_to_repair_polish_church|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=20 June 2011|date=15 June 2010|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125175740/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2072745_grant_to_repair_polish_church|url-status=live}}</ref> and in October 2006 the ''[[Reading Chronicle]]'' printed 5,000 copies of a Polish edition called the ''Kronika Reading''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cacciottolo|first=Mario|title=Reading paper gets Polish edition|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6045568.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=20 June 2011|date=13 October 2006|archive-date=25 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025071916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6045568.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brook|first=Stephen|title=Reading paper to offer Polish edition|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/09/pressandpublishing4|work=[[guardian.co.uk]]|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]|location=London|access-date=20 June 2011|date=9 November 2006|archive-date=26 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926040101/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/09/pressandpublishing4|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Polish editions of regional press in Great Britain: Kronika Reading, Gazeta z Highland, Polski Herald|url=http://www.krakowpost.com/article/106|work=[[Krakow Post]]|publisher=Lifeboat|location=London|access-date=20 June 2011|date=22 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002055834/http://www.krakowpost.com/article/106|archive-date=2 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="12" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |1971 estimations<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=P. N. |date=1978 |title=The Distribution and Diffusion of the Coloured Population in England and Wales, 1961-71 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/622127 |journal=Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=515–532 |doi=10.2307/622127 |jstor=622127 |pmid=12157820 |bibcode=1978TrIBG...3..515J |issn=0020-2754}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1981 estimations<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1985 |title=Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |journal=Commission for Racial Equality |language=English |pages=Table 2.2|last1= Equality|first1= Commission for Racial}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name=":412">Data is taken from United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm Casweb Data services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215152146/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm |date=15 December 2021 }} of the United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405213012/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm |date=5 April 2022 }} (Table 6)</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602031124/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name=":36">{{Cite web |title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808112341/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207095805/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!123,700
!94.9%
!119,084
!92.3%
!116,652
!90.5%
!124,240
!86.8%
!116,387
!74.7%
!116,886
!67.2%
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|115,363
|80.6%
|101,725
|65.3%
|93,167
|53.5%
|-
|White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,866
|2%
|2,269
|1.5%
|2,040
|1.2%
|-
|White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|90
|–
|107
|0.1%
|-
|White: Roma
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|573
|0.3%
|-
|White: [[Other White|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|6,011
|4.2%
|12,303
|7.9%
|20,999
|12.1%
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!5,920
!4.6%
!8,478
!5.9%
!21,161
!13.6%
!30,841
!17.7%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,748
|1.4%
|2,425
|1.7%
|6,514
|4.2%
|10,777
|6.2%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,771
|2.2%
|3,828
|2.7%
|6,967
|4.5%
|8,279
|4.8%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|214
|0.2%
|359
|0.3%
|695
|0.4%
|1,132
|0.6%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|497
|0.4%
|1,030
|0.7%
|1,603
|1.0%
|2,694
|1.5%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: Other Asian
|–
|–
|–
|–
|690
|0.5%
|836
|0.6%
|5,382
|3.5%
|7,959
|4.6%
|-
![[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!5,196
!4%
!5,931
!4.1%
!10,470
!6.7%
!12,532
!7.2%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|African]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|764
|0.6%
|2,222
|1.6%
|6,087
|3.9%
|7,665
|4.4%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|3416
|2.7%
|3,181
|2.2%
|3,279
|2.1%
|3,293
|1.9%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|Other Black]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1016
|0.8%
|528
|0.4%
|1,104
|0.7%
|1,574
|0.9%
|-
![[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed or British Mixed]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!3,399
!2.4%
!6,180
!4%
!8,962
!5.1%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,677
|1.2%
|2,718
|1.7%
|3,555
|2.0%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black African
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|317
|0.2%
|802
|0.5%
|1,249
|0.7%
|-
|Mixed: White and Asian
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|734
|0.5%
|1,428
|0.9%
|2,117
|1.2%
|-
|Mixed: Other Mixed
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|671
|0.5%
|1,232
|0.8%
|2,041
|1.2%
|-
!Other: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!1,109
!0.9%
!1,048
!0.7%
!1,500
!1%
!5,002
!2.8%
|-
|Other: Arab
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|680
|0.4%
|1,282
|0.7%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,109
|0.9%
|1,048
|0.7%
|820
|0.6%
|3,720
|2.1%
|-
!Ethnic minority: Total
!6,586
!5.1%
!9,980
!7.7%
!12,225
!9.5%
!18,856
!13.2%
!39,311
!25.3%
!57,337
!32.8%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!130,286
!100%
!129,064
!100%
!128,877
!100%
!143,096
!100%
!155,698
!100%
!174,223
!100%
|}

=== Religion ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! rowspan="2" |Religion
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{Cite web |title=KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/ks007 |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018175200/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/ks007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref>{{Cite web |title=KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks209ew |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018172755/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks209ew |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E06000038#section_5 | title=Custom report - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics }}</ref>                     
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|[[File:Gold_Christian_Cross_no_Red.svg|26x26px]] [[Christians|Christian]]
| align="right" |89,618
| align="right" |62.6
| align="right" |77,848
| align="right" |50.0
|68,987
|39.6
|-
|[[File:Dharma_Wheel.svg|20x20px]] [[Buddhism|Buddhist]]
| align="right" |688
| align="right" |0.5
| align="right" |1,876
| align="right" |1.2
|2,887
|1.7
|-
|[[File:Om.svg|21x21px]] [[Hinduism|Hindu]]
| align="right" |1,417
| align="right" |1.0
| align="right" |5,661
| align="right" |3.6
|8,757
|5.0
|-
|[[File:Star_of_David.svg|23x23px]] [[Jews|Jewish]]
| align="right" |415
| align="right" |0.3
| align="right" |355
| align="right" |0.2
|329
|0.2
|-
|[[File:Star_and_Crescent.svg|20x20px]] [[Muslim]]
| align="right" |5,730
| align="right" |4.0
| align="right" |11,007
| align="right" |7.1
|15,481
|8.9
|-
|[[File:Khanda.svg|24x24px]] [[Sikhism|Sikh]]
| align="right" |781
| align="right" |0.5
| align="right" |947
| align="right" |0.6
|1,194
|0.7
|-
|Other religion
| align="right" |518
| align="right" |0.4
| align="right" |701
| align="right" |0.5
|1,241
|0.7
|-
|[[Irreligion|No religion]]
| align="right" |31,486
| align="right" |22.0
| align="right" |45,931
| align="right" |29.5
|63,287
|36.3
|-
|Religion not stated
| align="right" |12,443
| align="right" |8.7
| align="right" |11,372
| align="right" |7.3
|12,062
|6.9
|-
!Total population
! align="right" |143,096
! align="right" |100.0
! align="right" |155,698
! align="right" |100.0
!174,226
!100.00
|}

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Reading, Berkshire}}
[[File:Reading International Business Park - geograph.org.uk - 182264.jpg|thumb|Reading International Business Park. This crescent of offices beside the A33 is home to [[Verizon]], a telecommunications company, and was formerly the European headquarters of [[WorldCom]] before its demise]]
[[Image:John Lewis Reading 1.jpg|thumb|right|The front of the store on Broad Street]]
[[File:GreenPark Lake.jpg|thumb|The central lake makes a virtue of the necessity of flood alleviation measures]]
[[File:Pond & Turbine, Green Park (geograph 4689804).jpg|thumb|Green Park wind turbine viewed from Lime Square]]
Reading is a commercial centre in the [[Thames Valley]] and [[Southern England]]. The town hosts the headquarters of several British companies and the United Kingdom offices of foreign multinationals, as well as being a major retail centre.<ref name=tvccctv>{{cite web | title = Vision for Reading Chamber of Commerce | url = http://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/memberservices/readingvision.asp | publisher=Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce | access-date =11 June 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080324011628/http://www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/memberservices/readingvision.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 24 March 2008}}</ref> Whilst located close enough to London to be sometimes regarded as part of the [[London commuter belt]], Reading is a net inward destination for commuters. During the morning peak period, there are some 30,000 inward arrivals in the town, compared to 24,000 departures.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/Council_and_Democracy/Sustainablecommunitystragtegy2011.pdf | title = A Sustainable Community Strategy for Reading | page = 17 | publisher = Reading Borough Council | access-date = 13 July 2011 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Major companies [[Microsoft]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]<ref name=tvp>{{cite web|title=Companies|url=http://www.thamesvalleypark.co.uk/|publisher=Thames Valley Park|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325152912/http://www.thamesvalleypark.co.uk/|archive-date=25 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Hibu]] (formerly Yell Group)<ref name=citystatusbid>{{cite web|title=Reading's Application for City Status|url=http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/Council_and_Democracy/CityStatus/ReadingCityBid_low1.pdf|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=21 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725090252/http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/Council_and_Democracy/CityStatus/ReadingCityBid_low1.pdf|archive-date=25 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> have their headquarters in the Reading area. The insurance company [[Prudential plc|Prudential]] has an administration centre in the town.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prudential could quit UK|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2070577_prudential_could_quit_uk|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=3 October 2011|date=5 May 2010|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125181458/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2070577_prudential_could_quit_uk|url-status=live}}</ref> [[PepsiCo]]<ref name=arlington>{{cite web|title=Occupiers in Reading|url=http://www.arlingtonbusinessparkreading.com/customers/occupiers.html|publisher=Arlington Business Park|access-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016221028/http://www.arlingtonbusinessparkreading.com/customers/occupiers.html|archive-date=16 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Wrigley Company|Wrigley]]<ref name=arlington/> have offices.

Global pharmaceutical giant [[Bayer]] Life Sciences relocated to Reading's [[Green Park Business Park]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Bayer Life Sciences Relocated in 2016|url=https://livingreading.co.uk/invest/case-studies/bayer-life-sciences|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207211615/https://livingreading.co.uk/invest/case-studies/bayer-life-sciences|url-status=live}}</ref> Reading has a significant historical involvement in the information technology industry, largely as a result of the early presence in the town of sites of [[International Computers Limited]]<ref>{{cite web|title=ICL Pensioners' Newsletter|url=http://uk.fujitsu.com/pensioner/localData/pdf/BB25Aut07.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721161833/http://uk.fujitsu.com/pensioner/localData/pdf/BB25Aut07.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live|publisher=Fujitsu|access-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> and [[Digital Equipment Corporation]].<ref>{{cite book|title=New Scientist, 17 Jul 1986|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5CS6IcW0FEC&q=Reading%2C+Berkshire+Digital+Equipment+Corporation&pg=PA79|publisher=Reed Business Information|access-date=12 June 2011|date=17 July 1986|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005353/https://books.google.com/books?id=a5CS6IcW0FEC&q=Reading%2C+Berkshire+Digital+Equipment+Corporation&pg=PA79|url-status=live}}</ref> Other technology companies with a significant presence in the town include [[Huawei Technologies]], [[Pegasystems]], [[Access IS]], [[CGI Inc.]], [[Agilent Technologies]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Agilent Technologies agrees letting in Reading|url=http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/newsDetail.jsp?Country=GB&Language=EN&repId=ca3400127|publisher=Cushman & Wakefield|access-date=10 October 2011|date=25 January 2006|archive-date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404160840/http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/newsDetail.jsp?Country=GB&Language=EN&repId=ca3400127|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Cisco Systems|Cisco]],<ref name=greenpark>{{cite web|title=Occupiers|url=http://greenpark.co.uk/overview-occupiers-occupiers.html|publisher=Green Park|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817122014/http://greenpark.co.uk/overview-occupiers-occupiers.html|archive-date=17 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Ericsson]],<ref>{{cite news|title=So many fantastic memories of Adam|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2013756_so_many_fantastic_memories_of_adam|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=10 October 2011|date=14 August 2007|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180741/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2013756_so_many_fantastic_memories_of_adam|url-status=live}}</ref> [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]],<ref name=greenpark/> [[Verizon Business]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Occupiers|url=http://www.readinginternationalbusinesspark.co.uk/customers/overview.html|publisher=Reading International Business Park|access-date=10 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006003640/http://www.readinginternationalbusinesspark.co.uk/customers/overview.html|archive-date=6 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Commvault]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hicksbaker.co.uk/hicks-baker-client-acquires-last-suite-at-apex-plaza/ | title = Hicks Baker client acquires last suite at Apex Plaza | date = 5 August 2014 | publisher = Hicks Baker | access-date = 12 March 2016 | quote = Fast growing data management software company CommVault has signed a new 7-year lease on Block B at Apex Plaza in Reading. | archive-date = 13 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160313025027/http://www.hicksbaker.co.uk/hicks-baker-client-acquires-last-suite-at-apex-plaza/ | url-status = live }}</ref> These companies are distributed around Reading or just outside the borough boundary, some in [[business parks]] including [[Thames Valley Park]] in nearby Earley, Green Park Business Park and [[Arlington Business Park]].

Reading town centre is a major shopping centre. In 2007, an independent poll placed Reading 16th in a league table of best performing retail centres in the United Kingdom.<ref name=rbcrls>{{cite web | title = Retail & Leisure Study of Reading&nbsp;– Volume 1&nbsp;– Chapters 1 to 3 | publisher = Reading Borough Council | year = 2005 | url = http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/servingyou/planning/Vol1_Chapters1-3.pdf | access-date = 13 June 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080627125616/http://www.reading.gov.uk/Documents/servingyou/planning/Vol1_Chapters1-3.pdf | archive-date = 27 June 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Battle to stay top of shops|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2015699_battle_to_stay_top_of_shops|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=12 June 2011|date=28 September 2007|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125173626/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2015699_battle_to_stay_top_of_shops|url-status=live}}</ref> The main shopping street is [[Broad Street, Reading|Broad Street]], which runs between [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]] in the east and [[Broad Street Mall, Reading|Broad Street Mall]] in the west and was pedestrianised in 1995.<ref name="bcllegal">{{cite web|url=http://www.bcllegal.com/regional-information-reading.php|title=Regional Focus on Reading|work=Career Planner|publisher=BCL Legal|access-date=31 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410023907/http://www.bcllegal.com/regional-information-reading.php|archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> The smaller Friars Walk in [[Friar Street, Reading|Friar Street]] is closed and will be demolished if the proposed [[Station Hill development, Reading|Station Hill redevelopment project]] goes ahead.<ref>{{cite news|title=New 'partner' for Station Hill project|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/s/2077835_new_partner_for_station_hill_project|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=12 June 2011|date=8 September 2010|first=David|last=Millward|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180312/http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/s/2077835_new_partner_for_station_hill_project|url-status=live}}</ref> There are three major [[department store]]s in Reading: [[John Lewis & Partners]] (known as ''[[Heelas of Reading|Heelas]]'' until 2001),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSTemplate.aspx?Id=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717062735/http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSTemplate.aspx?Id=36|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead|title=The history of John Lewis Reading|publisher=John Lewis|access-date=28 April 2009}}</ref> [[Debenhams]] (now closed down), and [[House of Fraser]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mall Guide|url=http://www.theoracle.com/Comgenic.Manager.Images/OR6468_MallGuide_210x588_8pp_AW.pdf|publisher=Oracle|access-date=9 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927171512/http://www.theoracle.com/Comgenic.Manager.Images/OR6468_MallGuide_210x588_8pp_AW.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Broad Street Independent Chapel, Reading|Broad Street branch]] of bookseller [[Waterstone's]] is a conversion of a [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|nonconformist]] chapel dating from 1707.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1321954 |desc=Congregational Church, Broad Street, Reading |access-date=6 July 2011}}</ref> Besides the two major shopping malls, Reading has three smaller shopping arcades, the Bristol and West Arcade, Harris Arcade and The Walk, which contain smaller specialist stores. An older form of retail facility is represented by [[Union Street, Reading|Union Street]], popularly known as ''Smelly Alley''.{{sfn|Sowan|2004}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.t3v.veggroup.org/locations/61.html | title = Holland & Barrett Smelly Alley&nbsp;– Reading | work = Thames Valley Vegans And Vegetarians | access-date = 1 May 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081121150809/http://www.t3v.veggroup.org/locations/61.html | archive-date = 21 November 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Reading has no indoor market, but there is a [[street market]] in Hosier Street.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.townandcountrymarkets.co.uk/markets/reading-market.html | title = Reading Market | publisher = Town & Country Markets | access-date = 7 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722165100/http://www.townandcountrymarkets.co.uk/markets/reading-market.html | archive-date = 22 July 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> A [[farmers' market]] operates on two Saturdays a month.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://tvfm.org.uk/calendar/ | title = Calendar | publisher = Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative | access-date = 22 June 2018 | archive-date = 24 June 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180624022544/http://tvfm.org.uk/calendar/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> The old Victorian [[Corn Exchange, Reading|Corn Exchange]] now provides an alternative access to a shopping centre.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1113539|desc= Corn Exchange Arcade Entrance |access-date=7 May 2023}}</ref>

==Culture==
===Festivals===
[[File:Reading Festival 2007, bird's eye view 2.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading Festival]] 2007]]
Every year Reading hosts the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading Festival]], which has been running since 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=Festival History|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/social-history/reading-festival/festival-history/|work=[[Reading Museum]]|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531101416/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/social-history/reading-festival/festival-history|archive-date=31 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reading Festival: A history as 2010 line up announced|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8593000/8593803.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=12 June 2011|date=29 March 2010|first=Jenny|last=Minard|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208134204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8593000/8593803.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The festival takes place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August [[bank holiday]] weekend and is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom aside from the [[Glastonbury Festival]]. Reading Festival takes place at Little Johns Farm in Reading, Richfield Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Reading Festival Location|url=https://www.readingfestival.com/index.php?s=Location&t=info|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207095322/https://www.readingfestival.com/index.php?s=Location&t=info|url-status=live}}</ref> For some twenty years until 2006, Reading was also known for its [[WOMAD Charlton Park|WOMAD Festival]] until it moved to [[Charlton Park, Wiltshire|Charlton Park]] in [[Malmesbury]], [[Wiltshire]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,765215,00.html|title=WOMAD in Reading|access-date=6 July 2006|work=[[guardian.co.uk]]|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]|location=London|first=Deborah|last=Schofield|date=5 August 2002|archive-date=22 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122084640/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,765215,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5403836.stm|title=Womad venue change after 17 years|access-date=20 October 2006|date=3 October 2006|archive-date=7 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007075510/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5403836.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The Reading [[Beer Festival]] was first held in 1994<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/food_and_drink/s/2049954_reading_beer_festival_family_friendly_fun|title=Reading Beer Festival: family friendly fun|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=13 June 2009|date=30 April 2009|first=Jonny|last=Fordham|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605160021/http://www.getreading.co.uk/lifestyle/food_and_drink/s/2049954_reading_beer_festival_family_friendly_fun|url-status=live}}</ref> and has now grown to one of the largest beer festivals in the United Kingdom. It is held at [[King's Meadow, Reading|King's Meadow]] for the five days immediately preceding the [[May Day]] bank holiday every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingbeerfestival.org.uk/|title=18th Reading CAMRA Beer and Cider Festival|publisher=Reading Beer Festival|access-date=13 June 2009|archive-date=26 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626220628/http://www.readingbeerfestival.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reading also holds [[Reading Pride]], an annual [[LGBT]] festival in Kings Meadow.

===Venues===
The [[Frank Matcham]]-designed Royal County Theatre, built in 1895, was located on the south side of Friar Street. It burned down in 1937.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Theatre|url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/enter/theatre.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805235231/http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/enter/theatre.html |archive-date=5 August 2011|publisher=Reading History Trail|access-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Within the [[town hall]] is a 700-seat [[concert hall]] that houses a [[Henry Willis & Sons|Father Willis]] organ.<ref>{{cite web|title=Concert Hall|url=http://www.readingarts.com/concerthall/informationforpromotershirers/|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=26 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511185347/http://www.readingarts.com/concerthall/informationforpromotershirers/|archive-date=11 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reading [[theatre]] venues include [[The Hexagon]] and South Street Arts Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingarts.com/thehexagon|title=The Hexagon Reading Arts|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607225702/http://www.readingarts.com/thehexagon|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingarts.com/southstreet|title=21 South Street|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=14 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403040650/http://www.readingarts.com/southstreet/|archive-date=3 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reading Repertory Theatre is based at [[Reading College]]: its Royal Patron is [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, Announced as Royal Patron |url=https://www.readingrep.com/stories/hrh-prince-edward-the-earl-of-wessex-announced-as-royal-patron/ |website=Reading Rep |access-date=1 November 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031122042/https://www.readingrep.com/stories/hrh-prince-edward-the-earl-of-wessex-announced-as-royal-patron/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Amateur theatre venues in Reading include [[Progress Theatre]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/|title=Progress Theatre homepage|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=15 March 2007|archive-date=11 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070411172248/http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> a self-governing, self-funding theatre group and registered charity founded in 1947 that operates and maintains its own 97-seat theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.readingarts.com/othervenues/theprogresstheatre|title=Progress Theatre|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=14 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327102837/http://www.readingarts.com/othervenues/theprogresstheatre/|archive-date=27 March 2007}}</ref> Rabble Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=RABBLE Theatre |url=https://rabbletheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref> in Caversham and Reading Rep<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reading Rep Theatre {{!}} Multi-Award-Winning theatre {{!}} Berkshire |url=https://www.readingrep.com/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Reading Rep Theatre |language=en}}</ref> on London Road offer classic and contemporary performances. Jelly<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jelly is an arts charity based in Reading, UK. |url=https://www.jelly.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Jelly |language=en-US}}</ref> is an artist-led organisation that has been committed to improving access to the arts since 1993. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Readingszone |url=https://readingszone.com/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Cultural references===
[[File:Reading Abbey Inner Gatehouse, The Forbury - geograph.org.uk - 397564.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]], where [[Jane Austen]] went to school]]
[[Jane Austen]] attended Reading Ladies [[Boarding School]], based in the [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]], in 1784–1786.<ref name=rbhja>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jausten.html |title=Biographies: Jane Austen (1775–1817) |author=Ford, David Nash |year=2001 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=28 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514055751/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jausten.html |archive-date=14 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Mary Russell Mitford]] lived in Reading for a number of years and then spent the rest of her life just outside the town at [[Three Mile Cross]] and [[Swallowfield]].<ref name=rbhmrm>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/mrmitford.html |title=Biographies: Mary Russell Mitford (1787–1865) |author=Ford, David Nash |year=2003 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=28 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606051318/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/mrmitford.html |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The fictional ''[[Belford Regis]]'' of her eponymous novel,<ref>Mary Russell Mitford, ''Belford Regis; or Sketches of a Country Town'', 3 vols., London 1835</ref> first published in 1835, is largely based on Reading. Described with [[topographical]] accuracy, it is still possible to follow the steps of the novel's characters in present-day Reading. Reading also appears in the works of [[Thomas Hardy]] where it is called 'Aldbrickham'.<ref name="Hardy1999">{{cite book|author=Thomas Hardy|title=Jude the Obscure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cybhDUKw79MC&pg=PA498|date=7 July 1999|publisher=Broadview Press|isbn=978-1-55111-171-1|pages=498|access-date=13 April 2020|archive-date=15 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005353/https://books.google.com/books?id=cybhDUKw79MC&pg=PA498|url-status=live}}</ref> It features most heavily in his final novel, [[Jude the Obscure]], as the temporary home of Jude Fawley and Sue Bridehead.

[[Oscar Wilde]] was imprisoned in [[Reading (HM Prison)|Reading Gaol]] from 1895 to 1897. While there, he wrote his letter [[De Profundis (letter)|''De Profundis'']]. After his release, he lived in exile in [[France]] and wrote ''[[The Ballad of Reading Gaol]]'', based on his experience of the execution of [[Charles Thomas Wooldridge|Charles Wooldridge]], carried out in Reading Gaol whilst he was imprisoned there.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Walk on the Wilde Side of Reading|url=http://www.theaa.com/walks/a-walk-on-the-wilde-side-of-reading-420103|publisher=[[The Automobile Association]]|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209025242/http://www.theaa.com/walks/a-walk-on-the-wilde-side-of-reading-420103|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Oscar Wilde: Prisoner C33|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/bigread/bigread_wilde.shtml|work=[[BBC Berkshire]]|publisher=BBC|location=London|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=18 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018033754/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/bigread/bigread_wilde.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2021, street artist [[Banksy]] claimed responsibility for a painting on the wall of the jail. It depicted an inmate escaping with bedsheets and a typewriter, said to resemble [[Oscar Wilde]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-04 |title=Banksy confirms escaping prisoner artwork at Reading Prison |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-56243680 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Reading was the location of the world's first commercial studio for photograph printing, which was set up by [[Henry Fox Talbot|William Henry Fox Talbot]] in 1844.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Andrews |first=Martin J. |title=Fox Talbot & the Reading Establishment |date=2014 |publisher=Two Rivers Press |isbn=978-1-901677-98-0 |location=Reading}}</ref>   

[[Ricky Gervais]], who is from Reading, made the film ''[[Cemetery Junction (film)|Cemetery Junction]]'', which, although filmed elsewhere in the United Kingdom, is set in 1970s Reading and is named after [[Cemetery Junction, Reading|a busy junction]] in [[East Reading]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on Cemetery Junction|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8620000/8620268.stm|work=[[BBC Berkshire]]|publisher=BBC|location=London|access-date=8 June 2011|date=14 April 2010|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806153846/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/berkshire/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8620000/8620268.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cemetery Junction starring the Reading Post|url=http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_cinema/s/2069326_cemetery_junction_starring_the_reading_post|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=8 June 2011|date=14 April 2010|first=Linda|last=Fort|archive-date=1 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801061659/http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_cinema/s/2069326_cemetery_junction_starring_the_reading_post|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ricky Gervais is going Up the Junction|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049012_ricky_gervais_is_going_up_the_junction|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=8 June 2011|date=16 April 2009|first=Anna|last=Roberts|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180847/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049012_ricky_gervais_is_going_up_the_junction|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jasper Fforde]]'s Nursery Crimes Division novels, ''[[The Big Over Easy]]'' and ''[[The Fourth Bear]]'', are also placed in Reading. The [[BBC Two]] sitcom ''[[Beautiful People (British TV series)|Beautiful People]]'', based on the memoirs of [[Simon Doonan]], is set in Reading in the late 1990s.

===Landmarks===
[[File:Forbury Gardens, Reading.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Maiwand Lion]]'' in [[Forbury Gardens]]]]
The ''[[Maiwand Lion]]'' in [[Forbury Gardens]], an unofficial symbol of Reading, commemorates the 328 officers of the [[Royal Berkshire Regiment]] who died in the [[Battle of Maiwand]] in 1880.{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}}<ref>{{cite news|title=The Maiwand Lion|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2009/07/27/maiwand_lion_history_feature.shtml|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=11 June 2011|date=27 July 2009|first=Linda|last=Serck|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224349/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2009/07/27/maiwand_lion_history_feature.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> There are a [[List of public art in Reading, Berkshire|number of other works of public art]] in Reading. [[The Blade Reading|The Blade]], a fourteen-storey building completed in 2009, is {{convert|86|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall and can be seen from the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Introduction|url=http://www.thebladereading.com/|publisher=The Blade Reading|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=13 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013184544/http://www.thebladereading.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jacksons Corner with its prominent sign, former home of [[Jacksons (department store)|Jacksons]] department store, occupies the corner of Kings Road and High Street, just south of the Market Place.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-25270010 | title = Jacksons Corner department store has closed after 138 years | work = bbc.co.uk | publisher = BBC | date = 24 December 2014 | access-date = 20 June 2018 | archive-date = 24 November 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181124051956/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-25270010 | url-status = live }}</ref> 

Reading has two [[scheduled monument]]s, six Grade I, 22 Grade II* and 853 Grade II [[listed buildings]], in a wide variety of architectural styles that range from the medieval to the 21st century. The scheduled monuments are [[Reading Abbey]] and [[High Bridge, Reading|High Bridge]], whilst the Grade I listed buildings are Reading Abbey, the [[Abbey Gateway, Reading|Abbey Gateway]], [[Greyfriars Church, Reading|Greyfriars Church]], [[St Laurence's Church, Reading|St Laurence's Church]], [[Reading Minster]], and the barn at Chazey Farmhouse on the Warren.<ref>{{cite web|title=Listed Buildings in Reading, Berkshire, England|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/berkshire/reading|work=British Listed Buildings|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-date=28 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528135815/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/berkshire/reading|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Guide to Listed Buildings|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/businesses/Planning/PlanningApplicationService/guide-to-listed-buildings/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521213426/http://www.reading.gov.uk/businesses/Planning/PlanningApplicationService/guide-to-listed-buildings/|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Media===
Reading has a local newspaper, the ''[[Reading Chronicle]]'', published on Thursdays. The town's other local newspaper, the ''[[Reading Post]]'', ceased publication on paper in December 2014, in order to transition to an online only format under the title ''getreading''. As of 2018, ''getreading'' joined the InYourArea local news network.<ref>{{cite web |title=getreading - InYourArea |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/tag/getreading/ |website=InYourArea |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-date=6 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606011118/https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/tag/getreading/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A local publishing company, the [[Two Rivers Press]], has published over 70 book titles, many on the topic of local history and art.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/news/exhibitions/sc-exhibition-tworivers.aspx | title = 15 years of Two Rivers Press | publisher = [[University of Reading]] | access-date = 13 June 2014 | archive-date = 14 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714120509/http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/news/exhibitions/sc-exhibition-tworivers.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://tworiverspress.com/wp/about/ | title = About | publisher = Two Rivers Press | access-date = 13 June 2014 | archive-date = 14 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714143846/http://tworiverspress.com/wp/about/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Three local radio stations broadcast from Reading: [[BBC Radio Berkshire]], [[Heart South]] and [[Greatest Hits Radio South|Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire and North Hampshire]]. Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC South]] and [[ITV Meridian]], [[BBC London]] & [[ITV London]] can also be received. Reading has one local television station, [[That's Thames Valley]], which broadcasts local news throughout the Greater Reading area.

==Public services==
[[File:Royal Berkshire Hospital 3.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] original frontage, built in 1839 with [[bath stone]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Main Block and Flanking Wings at Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39019-main-block-and-flanking-wings-at-royal-be|work=British Listed Buildings|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-date=30 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130214400/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39019-main-block-and-flanking-wings-at-royal-be|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

===Parks and open spaces===
Reading has over 100 parks and playgrounds, including {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} of riverside paths. In the town centre is [[Forbury Gardens]], a public park built on the site of the outer court of [[Reading Abbey]]. The largest public park in Reading is [[Prospect Park, Reading|Prospect Park]], an estate in west Reading previously owned by Frances Kendrick but acquired by Reading Corporation in 1901. This is complemented by [[Palmer Park, Reading|Palmer Park]], a purpose built public park in east Reading gifted to the town by the proprietors of [[Huntley & Palmers]] in 1889.<ref>{{cite web| title=Parks and Open Spaces |url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/NaturalEnvironment/ParksandOpenSpaces/ |publisher=Reading Borough Council |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424084105/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/NaturalEnvironment/ParksandOpenSpaces/ |archive-date=24 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=141}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Prospect Park |url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/ParksandOpenSpaces/ProspectPark/ |publisher=Reading Borough Council |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426021744/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/ParksandOpenSpaces/ProspectPark/ |archive-date=26 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A string of open spaces stretch along one or other side of the River Thames throughout its passage through Reading. From west to east these are [[Thameside Promenade]], [[Caversham Court]], [[Christchurch Meadows, Reading|Christchurch Meadows]], [[Hills Meadow]], [[View Island]] and [[King's Meadow, Reading|King's Meadow]]. Reading also has five [[local nature reserve]]s: [[Clayfield Copse]] in [[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]], with the other four [[McIlroy Park]], [[Blundells Copse]], [[Lousehill Copse]] and [[Round Copse]] all in [[Tilehurst]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/outdoors/parks-outdoor-facilities-open-spaces/ |title=Parks, Outdoor Facilities & Open Spaces |publisher=[[Reading Borough Council]] |access-date=28 June 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628104835/https://www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/outdoors/parks-outdoor-facilities-open-spaces/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271008844%27 |title=Magic Map Application |publisher=Magic.defra.gov.uk |access-date=11 April 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411055600/http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271008844%27 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/aspects-of-suburban-landscapes/aspects-suburban-landscapes.pdf/ |title=Aspects of Suburban Landscapes |publisher=Historic England |access-date=9 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410133019/https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/aspects-of-suburban-landscapes/aspects-suburban-landscapes.pdf/ |archive-date=10 April 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Healthcare===
The principal [[National Health Service]] (NHS) hospital in Reading is the [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]], founded in 1839 and much enlarged and rebuilt since.<ref>{{cite web|title=Royal Berkshire Hospital|url=http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/about_us/our_locations/royal_berkshire_hospital.aspx?theme=Patient|publisher=[[National Health Service|NHS]]|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721051342/http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/about_us/our_locations/royal_berkshire_hospital.aspx?theme=Patient|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> A second major NHS [[general hospital]], the [[Battle Hospital]], closed in 2005.<ref name=bhhist>{{cite web | url = http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/news/book-launch-battle-hospital-history.php | title = Book Launch: Battle Hospital History | work=[[Royal Berkshire Hospital]]|publisher=[[National Health Service|NHS]]| access-date =25 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222759/http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/news/book-launch-battle-hospital-history.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> [[Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust]] runs a NHS hospital, Prospect Park Hospital, which specialises in the provision of care for people with mental health and learning disabilities.<ref name=pphosp>{{cite web | url = http://www.berkshirehct.nhs.uk/index.asp | title = Welcome to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust | work = [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] | publisher = [[National Health Service|NHS]] | access-date = 25 April 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070417233037/http://www.berkshirehct.nhs.uk/index.asp | archive-date = 17 April 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Reading has three private hospitals: the Berkshire Independent Hospital in [[Coley Park]], the Dunedin Hospital situated on the main [[A4 road (Great Britain)|A4]] [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] Road, and the [[Circle (healthcare partnership)|Circle Hospital]] at Kennet Island.<ref name=caprh>{{cite web | title = Capio Reading Private Hospital | url = http://www.capio.co.uk/Find+a+hospital/chooseyourhospital/CapioHospitals/Capio+Reading+Hospital.htm | publisher=Capio Healthcare UK | access-date =25 April 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070315084814/http://www.capio.co.uk/Find+a+hospital/chooseyourhospital/CapioHospitals/Capio+Reading+Hospital.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 15 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How to find Spire Dunedin Hospital|url=http://www.spirehealthcare.com/dunedin/Find-or-Contact-Us/|publisher=Spire Healthcare|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-date=16 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516040842/http://www.spirehealthcare.com/dunedin/Find-or-Contact-Us/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/about-circle/media/mri-milestone-in-circlereading-construction | title = MRI Milestone in CircleReading construction | publisher = Circle Holdings plc | access-date = 29 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121106214131/http://www.circlepartnership.co.uk/about-circle/media/mri-milestone-in-circlereading-construction | archive-date = 6 November 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

===Utilities===
Mains water and sewerage services are provided by [[Thames Water|Thames Water Utilities Limited]], a private sector water supply company, whilst water abstraction and disposal is regulated by the [[Environment Agency]]. Reading's water supply is largely derived from underground [[aquifers]], and as a consequence the water is [[hard water|hard]].<ref name=wateruk>{{cite web | title = Water and sewerage operators | publisher = Water UK | access-date = 11 June 2008 | url = http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/links/water-operators/sewerage-operators | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080623204834/http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/links/water-operators/sewerage-operators | archive-date = 23 June 2008 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=eawr>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/?lang=_e |title=Water Resources |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=11 June 2008 |archive-date=9 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609195124/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/?lang=_e |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=eawq>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/?lang=_e |title=Water Quality |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=11 June 2008 |archive-date=28 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728093916/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterquality/?lang=_e |url-status=live }}</ref>

The commercial energy supplier for electricity and gas is at the consumer's choice. [[SSEN]] runs the local electricity distribution network, while [[SGN (company)|SGN]] runs the gas distribution network. A notable part of the local energy infrastructure is the presence of a 2 [[megawatt]] (peak) [[Enercon]] [[wind turbine]] at [[Green Park Business Park]], with the potential to produce 2.7&nbsp;million [[kWh]] of electricity a year, enough to power over a thousand homes.<ref name=ecotricity>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/our-green-electricity/from-the-wind/wind-parks-gallery/green-park-reading |title=Green Park, Reading |publisher=Ecotricity |access-date=11 June 2008 |archive-date=30 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130040537/http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/our-green-electricity/from-the-wind/wind-parks-gallery/green-park-reading |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, [[Reading Hydro]] runs a [[micro hydro|micro hydroelectric power station]] on the Thames. Reading had its own [[Reading power station UK|power station]] in Vastern Road from 1895 to the 1960s. The power station was initially owned and operated by the Reading Electric Supply Company Limited, then from 1933 by the Reading Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garrett|first=Frederick|title=Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56|publisher=Electrical Press|year=1959|location=London|pages=A-87}}</ref>

The [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|dialling code]] for fixed-line telephones in Reading is 0118. [[BT Group plc|BT]] provides fixed-line telephone coverage throughout the town and [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line|ADSL]] [[Broadband Internet access|broadband internet]] connection to most areas. Parts of Reading are cabled by [[Virgin Media]], supplying cable television, telephone and broadband internet connections. [[Hyperoptic]] also has a presence in the town, supplying Fibre-to-the-Premises ([[FTTP]]) broadband internet connections at speeds of up to 1&nbsp;Gbit/s.<ref>{{cite web |title=UK's fastest broadband now live in Reading |url=https://www.hyperoptic.com/company-history/posts/uks-fastest-broadband-now-live-in-reading/ |website=Hyperoptic |access-date=25 March 2020 |archive-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325160057/https://www.hyperoptic.com/company-history/posts/uks-fastest-broadband-now-live-in-reading/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Education===
{{See also|List of schools in Reading}}
[[File:The University of Reading.jpg|thumb|right|Part of the [[University of Reading]]'s main [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]]]]
[[File:Museum of English Rural Life 2.jpg|thumb|right|The Museum of English Rural Life's rear garden, with the original East Thorpe House in the centre]]
[[Reading School]] (a [[state school|state]] [[grammar school]]), founded in 1125,<ref name="old-redingensians" /> is the 16th oldest school in England.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.readingschool.reading.sch.uk/page.asp?sec=School_History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722123930/http://www.readingschool.reading.sch.uk/page.asp?sec=School_History|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2011|publisher=Reading School|access-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> There are six other [[state school|state]] [[secondary schools]] and 38 state [[primary schools]] within the borough, together with a number of [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private schools]] and nurseries.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Schools|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/EducationandLearning/Schools/ListofSchools/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411050650/http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/EducationandLearning/Schools/ListofSchools|archive-date=11 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alfred Sutton Boys' School closed in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=SCH38|title=Records of Alfred Sutton Secondary Boys' School, Reading|last=Record Office|first=Berkshire|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225161854/http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=SCH38|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Reading College]] has provided [[further education]] in Reading since 1955, with over 8,500 local learners on over 900 courses.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading-college.ac.uk/about-us/ | title = About Reading College | publisher=Reading College | access-date =23 August 2010 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100817172041/http://www.reading-college.ac.uk/about-us/ <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date =17 August 2010}}</ref> English language schools in Reading include Gateway Languages, the English Language Centre, ELC London Street and [[Eurospeak Language School]].

The [[University of Reading]] was established in 1892 as an affiliate of [[Oxford University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The University of Reading is 85 years old|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-357935.aspx|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=12 June 2011|date=16 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125180507/http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-357935.aspx|archive-date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> It moved to its [[London Road Campus]] in 1904 and to its new [[Whiteknights Park|Whiteknights Campus]] in 1947. It took over the Bulmershe College of [[Higher Education]], a [[teacher training college]], in 1989, becoming [[Bulmershe Court|Bulmershe Court Campus]]. The [[Henley Business School|Henley Management College]], situated in [[Buckinghamshire]] and about {{convert|10|mi}} from Reading, was taken over in 2008, becoming [[Greenlands Campus]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the University's Estates|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-estates.aspx|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521170141/http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-estates.aspx|archive-date=21 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[University of West London]] maintains a presence in the town for its higher education students, principally in [[nursing]], but has now divested itself of its previous ownership of [[Reading College]] and its [[further education]] students.<ref>{{cite web | title = Thames Valley University to become the 'University of West London' | publisher = Thames Valley University | url = http://www.uwl.ac.uk/the_university/tvu_to_become_uwl.jsp?ID=3644&Main_title=Thames%20Valley%20University%20to%20become%20'The%20University%20of%20West%20London' | date = 3 August 2010 | access-date = 23 August 2010 | archive-date = 25 November 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111125172442/http://www.uwl.ac.uk/the_university/tvu_to_become_uwl.jsp?ID=3644&Main_title=Thames%20Valley%20University%20to%20become%20%27The%20University%20of%20West%20London%27 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Libraries and museums===
The [[Reading Borough Libraries]] service dates back to 1877.{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}} Initially housed in [[Reading Town Hall]], the [[Reading Central Library|central branch of the library]] was relocated to a new building on King's Road in 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Reading Central Library |url=http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/aboutus/central.htm |publisher=Reading Borough Libraries |access-date=21 October 2011 |archive-date=9 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009231105/http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/aboutus/central.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Reading Museum]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 March 2017|title=Reading Museum|url=https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/reading-museum|access-date=18 September 2020|website=Reading Museum|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> opened in 1883 in the town's [[Reading Town Hall|municipal buildings]].{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=135}} It contains galleries relating to the history of Reading and to the excavations of [[Calleva Atrebatum]],{{sfn|Phillips|1980|p=177}} together with a full-size [[bowdlerised]] replica of the [[Bayeux Tapestry]], an art collection, and galleries relating to [[Huntley & Palmers|Huntley and Palmers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Collections|url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections/|work=[[Reading Museum]]|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=2 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602105243/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Museum of English Rural Life]], in [[East Reading]], is a museum dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. It houses [[Designation Scheme|designated collections]] of national importance. It is owned and run by the [[University of Reading]], as are the [[Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology]], the [[Cole Museum of Zoology]] and the [[Harris Garden|Harris Botanic Gardens]], all of which can be found on the university's [[Whiteknights Campus]].<ref name=bbcopen>{{cite news | title = Doors set to open on rural museum | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/4638321.stm | work = [[BBC News]] | publisher = BBC | location = London | date = 30 June 2005 | access-date = 25 April 2009 | archive-date = 27 March 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220327221453/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/4638321.stm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=merlabout>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/about/merl-about.asp | title = About the Museum of English Rural Life | publisher = [[University of Reading]] | access-date = 24 April 2009 | archive-date = 20 June 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210620115306/https://merl.reading.ac.uk/about-us/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Museums and Special Collections|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-museums.aspx|publisher=[[University of Reading]]|access-date=12 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213215627/http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-museums.aspx|archive-date=13 February 2014}}</ref> The small [[Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock]] tells the story of Reading's two rivers. The [[Museum of Berkshire Aviation]] has a collection of aircraft and other artefacts relating to the aircraft industry in the town.<ref>{{cite web | title=Riverside Museum | work=Reading Library Service | url=http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/galleries/blakes.htm | access-date=17 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060824063511/http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/galleries/blakes.htm |archive-date = 24 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/|publisher=Museum of Berkshire Aviation|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615234514/http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Reading, Berkshire}}
[[File:FrysIsland01.JPG|thumb|The [[River Thames]] from [[Caversham Bridge]] looking eastwards]]
[[File:Reading Station drone view.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of [[Reading railway station|Reading station]] in October 2023]]
[[File:Reading - GWR 800026+800024 up service.JPG|thumb|A [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] {{brc|800}} with a service to London]]
Reading's location in the [[Thames Valley]] to the west of London has made the town a significant element in the nation's transport system.

===River===
The town grew up as a river port at the confluence of the [[River Thames]] and the [[River Kennet]]. Both of these rivers are navigable, and [[Caversham Lock]], [[Blake's Lock]], [[County Lock]], [[Fobney Lock]] and [[Southcote Lock]] are all within the borough. Today, navigation is predominantly for purposes of leisure: private and hire boats dominate traffic, while scheduled boat services operate on the Thames from [[wharves]] on the Reading side of the river near [[Caversham Bridge]].<ref name="salters">{{cite web | publisher = Salters Steamers |url=http://www.salterssteamers.co.uk/readhen.htm | title = Reading to Henley Service |access-date=30 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070802161401/http://www.salterssteamers.co.uk/readhen.htm | archive-date=2 August 2007 }}</ref><ref name="boatserv">{{cite web |publisher=Thames River Cruises | url = http://www.thamesrivercruise.co.uk/scheduled_trip2.asp |title=Boat service from Reading to Mapledurham | access-date = 29 April 2007 | url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430174450/http://www.thamesrivercruise.co.uk/scheduled_trip2.asp | archive-date=30 April 2007 }}</ref>

===Road===
Reading was a major staging point on the [[A4 road (England)|old Bath Road (A4)]] from London to [[Avonmouth]] near Bristol. This road still carries local traffic, but has now been replaced for long-distance traffic by the [[M4 motorway]], which closely skirts the borough and serves it with three junctions, J10-J12. Other main roads serving Reading include the [[A33 road|A33]], A327, [[A329 road|A329]], [[A4074 road|A4074]] and A4155. Within Reading there is the [[Inner Distribution Road]] (IDR), a ring road for local traffic. The IDR is linked with the M4 by the A33 [[Bypass (road)|relief road]]. The [[Thames]] is crossed by both [[Reading Bridge|Reading]] and [[Caversham Bridge|Caversham]] road bridges, while several road bridges cross the Kennet, the oldest surviving one of which is [[High Bridge, Reading|High Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=11 High Bridge|url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/trail/trail11.html|work=Reading History Trail|access-date=9 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514074400/http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/trail/trail11.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>

Reading has two operational [[park and ride]] sites. Mereoak, a short distance south of Junction 11 of the M4, is also a stop for [[National Express Coaches]] between London and the West.<ref>{{cite web|title=Destinations|url=http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/destinations/destinationdetails.cfm?t=own&location_code=61206&fromc=Reading%20-%20Calcot|publisher=National Express|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134850/http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/destinations/destinationdetails.cfm?t=own&location_code=61206&fromc=Reading%20-%20Calcot|url-status=live}}</ref> A site outside the [[Winnersh Triangle railway station]] opened in 2015 and is easily accessed from the junction where the A329(M) becomes the A3290.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-34626113 |title=New park and ride for Reading in operation |date=26 October 2015 |access-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102103003/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-34626113 |archive-date=2 November 2021 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

===Rail===
Reading is a major junction point of the [[National Rail]] system, and hence [[Reading railway station|Reading station]] is a transfer point and terminus. In a project that finished in 2015, Reading station was redeveloped at a cost of £850m, with [[grade separation]] of some conflicting traffic flows, and extra platforms, to relieve severe congestion at this station.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6339.aspx | title = Reading station area redevelopment | publisher = [[Network Rail]] | access-date = 13 June 2011 | archive-date = 28 December 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161228050820/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6339.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reading rail station's £850m upgrade to finish early|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13437508|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=13 June 2011|date=18 May 2011|archive-date=21 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521095943/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13437508|url-status=live}}</ref> Railway lines link Reading to both [[Paddington railway station|Paddington]] and [[London Waterloo railway station|Waterloo]] stations in London. Other stations in the Reading area are [[Reading West railway station|Reading West]], [[Reading Green Park railway station|Reading Green Park]], [[Tilehurst railway station|Tilehurst]] and [[Earley railway station|Earley]].  

Reading is a western terminus of the [[Elizabeth line]], which provides stopping services to London Paddington, and means Reading is featured on the London [[Tube map]]. Cross-London connections are possible from Reading to [[Abbey Wood railway station|Abbey Wood]] and [[Shenfield railway station|Shenfield]] in the east.<ref>[https://www.crossrail.co.uk/project/our-plan-to-complete-the-elizabeth-line/phased-opening#:~:text=2023%20%2D%20Final%20version%20of%20the,trains%20per%20hour%20off%2Dpeak Phased Opening] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928021557/https://www.crossrail.co.uk/project/our-plan-to-complete-the-elizabeth-line/phased-opening#:~:text=2023%20%2D%20Final%20version%20of%20the,trains%20per%20hour%20off%2Dpeak |date=28 September 2022 }} Crossrail</ref>

===Air===
There have been two [[airfield]]s in or near Reading, one at [[Coley Park]]<ref name=cpabac>{{cite web | title = The Coley Park Aerodrome and CWS Jam Works | url = http://www.users.on.net/~kevros/coleypark/oc_aerocws.htm | publisher = Coley Park & Beyond (Kevin Rosier) | access-date = 15 February 2008 | archive-date = 23 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080223134821/http://www.users.on.net/~kevros/coleypark/oc_aerocws.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> and one at [[Woodley, Berkshire|Woodley]],<ref name=woodleyairfield>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/|publisher=Museum of Berkshire Aviation|access-date=26 June 2011|archive-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615234514/http://home.comcast.net/~aero51/html/|url-status=live}}</ref> but they have both closed. The nearest international airport is [[Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]], {{convert|20|mi}} away. An express bus service named [[RailAir]] links Reading with Heathrow,<ref>{{Cite web|title=RailAir {{!}} First Bus|url=https://www.firstbus.co.uk/railair|access-date=26 January 2022|website=www.firstbus.co.uk|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126174415/https://www.firstbus.co.uk/railair|url-status=live}}</ref> or the airport can be accessed by rail by taking the [[Elizabeth line]] to [[Hayes & Harlington railway station|Hayes & Harlington]] and changing for a connecting service to Heathrow. This journey takes around 45 minutes by rail.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reading to Heathrow Airport|url=https://www.heathrowexpress.com/reading-to-heathrow-airport-by-train/|access-date=26 January 2022|website=Heathrow Express Train|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126174409/https://www.heathrowexpress.com/reading-to-heathrow-airport-by-train/|url-status=live}}</ref> London City Airport can be reached via a direct train to [[Custom House station|Custom House]] on the Elizabeth line followed by a short bus connection. [[Gatwick Airport]] can be accessed via a direct local train operating via Guildford, and [[Luton Airport|Luton]] and [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] airports can be accessed with one change in Central London. Further afield, [[Southampton Airport]] can be accessed directly by rail in around 50-70 minutes depending on the service, or reached by road in approximately the same timeframe.

===Public transport===
Today local public transport is largely by road, which is often affected by peak hour congestion in the borough. A frequent local bus network within the borough, and a less frequent network in the surrounding area, are provided by [[Reading Buses]] - one of the few remaining [[Municipal bus company|municipal bus companies]] in the country - and its subsidiaries Newbury & District and [[Thames Valley Buses]]. Other bus operators serving Reading include [[Carousel Buses]], [[Thames Travel]] and RedRose.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/bus.aspx | title = travel Reading - Travel By Bus | publisher = [[Reading Borough Council]] | access-date = 20 February 2016 | archive-date = 4 February 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160204141036/http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/bus.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> [[ReadiBus]] provides an on-demand transport service for people with restricted mobility in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.readibus.co.uk/ | title = ReadiBus The Dial-a-Ride, door-to-door assisted bus service | publisher = [[ReadiBus]] | access-date = 20 February 2016 | archive-date = 3 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165223/http://www.readibus.co.uk/ | url-status = live }}</ref>


===Bike sharing===
In March 2011, Reading Borough Council approved a bike sharing scheme similar to [[London Cycle Hire Scheme]], with 1,000 bicycles available at up to 150 docking stations across Reading. However this scheme came to an end in March 2019, with the operator unable to cover the operational costs or find a sponsor to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bike Hire Plans for Reading|url=http://www.reading.gov.uk/pressreleases/2011/mar/bike-hire-plans-for-reading/|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=5 April 2012|date=10 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904162407/http://www.reading.gov.uk/pressreleases/2011/mar/bike-hire-plans-for-reading/|archive-date=4 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fort|first=Linda|title=Green light for Reading bike hire scheme|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2089319_green_light_for_reading_bike_hire_scheme|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=25 June 2011|date=15 March 2011|archive-date=11 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911200746/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2089319_green_light_for_reading_bike_hire_scheme|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reading.co.uk/readybike-cycle-hire-reading/ |title=ReadyBike Cycle Hire Comes To An End In Reading |work=Reading.co.uk |date=18 March 2019 |access-date=13 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913111425/https://www.reading.co.uk/readybike-cycle-hire-reading/}}</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:Reading Minster, church tower.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Reading Minster|St Mary's Church]] tower, chequered with [[flint]] and [[ashlar]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Church of St Mary, Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39156-church-of-st-mary-reading|work=British Listed Buildings|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125134110/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39156-church-of-st-mary-reading|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:Reading Abbey 03.jpg|thumb|The interior of the ruined [[chapter house]]]]
[[Reading Minster]] (the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin) is Reading's oldest ecclesiastical foundation, known to have been founded by the 9th century and possibly earlier.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detailed history|url=http://www.readingminster.org.uk/history/detailed-history/|publisher=Reading Minster of St. Mary the Virgin|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=7 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007071958/http://www.readingminster.org.uk/history/detailed-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although eclipsed in importance by the later abbey, Reading Minster has regained its importance since the destruction of the abbey. [[Reading Abbey]] was founded by [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] in 1121. He was buried there, as were parts of his daughter [[Empress Matilda]], [[William IX, Count of Poitiers|William of Poitiers]], [[Constance of York]], and Princess Isabella of Cornwall, among others.{{sfn|Ditchfield|Page|1923|pp=342–364}}{{sfn|Slade|2001|p=1–16}} The abbey was one of the pilgrimage centres of medieval England; it held over 230 [[relic]]s including the hand of [[Saint James the Great|St. James]]. Today all that remains of the abbey are the inner rubble cores of the walls of many of the major buildings of the abbey, together with a much restored inner gateway and the intact [[hospitium]].<ref name=rbhrra>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/rdgrelic.html |title=Relics from Reading Abbey |author=Ford, David Nash |year=2001 |work=Royal Berkshire History |publisher=Nash Ford Publishing |access-date=13 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605115545/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/rdgrelic.html |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Ford | first = David Nash | work = Royal Berkshire History | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/reading_abbey_ruins.html | title = Ruins of Reading Abbey | access-date = 23 April 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091004092543/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/reading_abbey_ruins.html | archive-date = 4 October 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The medieval borough of Reading was served by three [[parish church]]es: [[Reading Minster]], [[St Giles' Church, Reading|St Giles' Church]], and [[St Laurence's Church, Reading|St Laurence's Church]]. All are still in use by the [[Church of England]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading in 1841|url=http://www.oldtowns.co.uk/Berkshire/reading.htm|publisher=Old Towns Books and Maps|access-date=12 June 2011|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154945/http://www.oldtowns.co.uk/Berkshire/reading.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Franciscan|Franciscan friars]] built a [[friary]] in the town in 1311. After the friars were expelled in 1538, the building was used as a [[hospital]], a [[poorhouse]], and a jail, before being restored as the Church of England parish church of [[Greyfriars Church, Reading|Greyfriars Church]] in 1863.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1321952 |desc=Greyfriars Church, Friar Street, Reading |access-date=6 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.greyfriars.org.uk/history.php | title = Greyfriars Church&nbsp;– History | publisher = Greyfriars Church PCC | access-date = 28 November 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080219105451/http://www.greyfriars.org.uk/history.php | archive-date = 19 February 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The [[Bishop of Reading]] is a [[suffragan bishop]] within the Church of England's [[Diocese of Oxford]]. The bishop is based in Reading, and is responsible for the [[archdeaconry of Berkshire]]. There are a total of 18 Church of England parish churches in Reading.<ref name=crockfords100th>{{cite book | title = Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009 | date = December 2007 | publisher = Church House Publishing | isbn = 978-0-7151-1030-0| edition = 100th }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.achurchnearyou.com/parishfinder.php?Reading | title = Parish Finder&nbsp;– Reading | work = A Church Near You | publisher = [[Church of England]] | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217043935/http://www.achurchnearyou.com/parishfinder.php?Reading | archive-date = 17 December 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

[[St James's Church, Reading|St James's Church]] was built on a portion of the site of the abbey between 1837 and 1840, and marked the return of the [[Roman Catholic]] faith to Reading. Reading was also the site of the death of [[Dominic Barberi|Blessed Dominic Barberi]], the Catholic missionary to England in the 19th century who received [[John Henry Newman]] into the Catholic faith. There are now eight Roman Catholic parish churches in Reading.<ref>{{cite web|title=Church of St James', Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-38939-church-of-st-james-reading|work=British Listed Buildings|access-date=8 May 2011|archive-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119003454/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-38939-church-of-st-james-reading|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Blessed Dominic Barberi|url=http://www.passionist.org/about/historymissioncharism/saintsandblesseds/dominicbarberi|publisher=The Passionists of Holy Cross Province|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726012143/http://www.passionist.org/about/historymissioncharism/saintsandblesseds/dominicbarberi|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ukcpd.com/eng_diocese/portsmouth/ports_frames.htm | title = The UK Catholic Parish Directory&nbsp;– Diocese of Portsmouth | publisher = Benet Services | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-date = 17 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217043438/http://www.ukcpd.com/eng_diocese/portsmouth/ports_frames.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Kings Road Baptist Church, Reading|Kings Road Baptist Church]] was founded in Reading in 1640 or 1641.<ref>Ernest A. Payne, The Baptists of Berkshire through Three Centuries (London: Carey Kingsgate Press, 1951), p.19</ref> In addition to Catholicism and the [[Church of England]], the [[Seventh-Day Adventist]] denomination is also represented in the town, particularly by Reading West SDA Church on Loverock Road, Reading Central SDA Church on Tilehurst Road, and various other churches around Reading.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Central Seventh-day Adventist Church|url=http://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/service.page?id=yqnN9dnOs7Y|publisher=[[Reading Borough Council]]|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907201949/http://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/service.page?id=yqnN9dnOs7Y|archive-date=7 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Southern England – Counties|url=http://www.adventistchurches.org.uk/churches.php?Field=SEC%20(Counties)|website=Adventist Church in UK and Ireland|access-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907201940/http://www.adventistchurches.org.uk/churches.php?Field=SEC%20(Counties)|archive-date=7 September 2017}}</ref>

Reading has had an organised [[Jewish]] community since 1886. At least one Jewish family living in the area has been traced back as far as 1842. The group grew to 13 families, who in 1886 declared themselves a community and commenced building a [[synagogue]]. On 31 October 1900, Reading [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] Congregation<ref name="Reading Hebrew Congregation">{{cite web |url=http://www.rhc.org.uk/ |title=Reading Hebrew Congregation |publisher=Reading Jewish Community |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025185301/http://www.rhc.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> officially opened in a solemn public ceremony, packed to capacity with dignitaries, led by the [[Chief Rabbi]] [[Hermann Adler]]. Reading Hebrew Congregation, which still stands on its original site at the junction of Goldsmid Road and Clifton Street near the town centre, is a [[listed building|Grade II]]-listed building, built to a traditional design in the [[Moorish Revival architecture|Moorish style]]. The community is affiliated with the Orthodox [[United Synagogue|United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth]].<ref name="Reading Hebrew Congregation" /> Reading also has a [[Liberal Judaism (United Kingdom)|Liberal Jewish]] community which convenes in the Reading [[Quaker]] Meeting House,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/re |title=Reading Liberal Jewish Community |publisher=Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217065909/http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/re/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a [[Modern Orthodox Judaism]] [[Jewish Community of Berkshire|community]], an active Jewish Society for students at the university, as well as being served by a [[Movement for Reform Judaism|Reform Jewish]] community which convenes in nearby [[Maidenhead Synagogue]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maidenheadsynagogue.org.uk/ |title=Maidenhead Synagogue |publisher=Maidenhead Reform Synagogue |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=29 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729013931/http://www.maidenheadsynagogue.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are presently three [[mosque]]s in Reading, initially just having the Central Reading Mosque on Waylen Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centralreadingmosque.com/ |title=Central Jamme Mosque, Reading |publisher=Bangladesh Association Greater Reading |access-date=29 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519044813/http://www.centralreadingmosque.com/ |archive-date=19 May 2009 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The £3–4m [[Abu Bakr]] Islamic Centre, on [[Oxford Road, Reading|Oxford Road]] in [[West Reading, Berkshire|West Reading]], was granted planning permission in 2002. The community-funded project began construction in 2007,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Construction Beginning Date|url=http://www.abmreading.org/page/vision-and-mission|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301070437/http://abmreading.org/page/vision-and-mission|url-status=live}}</ref> and opened its doors in July 2013 - the holy month of Ramadan for this year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Opening Date|url=http://www.abmreading.org/page/vision-and-mission|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301070437/http://abmreading.org/page/vision-and-mission|url-status=live}}</ref> A second [[Islamic]] centre in eastern Reading has also been granted planning permission.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2009/05/19/38559-green-road-mosque-deal-signed/|title=Green Road mosque deal signed|work=[[Reading Chronicle]]|publisher=Berkshire Media Group|access-date=18 November 2010|date=19 May 2009|first=Adam|last=Hewitt|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719122916/http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2009/05/19/38559-green-road-mosque-deal-signed/|url-status=live}}</ref> This £4m project has garnered some controversy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2025918_mosque_fears_aired_on_factual_website_|title=Green Road Mosque Controversy|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=18 November 2010|archive-date=3 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303051644/http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2025918_mosque_fears_aired_on_factual_website_|url-status=live}}</ref> Reading also has places of worship of other religions: the Shantideva [[Mahayana|Mahayana Buddhist]] centre,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.learntomeditate.org/centre.htm |title=About Shantideva Buddhist centre |publisher=Shantideva Buddhist centre |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205210806/http://learntomeditate.org/centre.htm |archive-date=5 February 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> a [[Hindu]] temple,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.readinghindutemple.com/ | title = Reading Hindu Temple | publisher = Reading Hindu Temple | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-date = 1 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120301073527/http://www.readinghindutemple.com/ | url-status = live }}</ref> a [[Sikh]] [[gurdwara]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rvadirectory.org.uk/org/sirigurusinghsabhagu | title = Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara | publisher = Reading Voluntary Action | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131103091232/http://rvadirectory.org.uk/org/sirigurusinghsabhagu | archive-date = 3 November 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref> a [[Salvation Army]] citadel,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/0/F231C93491B1589780256F9C0053EB19?Opendocument | title = The Salvation Army&nbsp;– Reading Central | publisher = The Salvation Army United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120623074628/http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/0/F231C93491B1589780256F9C0053EB19?Opendocument | archive-date = 23 June 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> a [[Quaker]] meeting house,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.midthamesquakers.org.uk/local-meetings/reading | title = Reading&nbsp;– Mid-Thames Quakers | publisher = SugarCat Publishing | access-date = 30 March 2012 | archive-date = 19 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120219084848/http://www.midthamesquakers.org.uk/local-meetings/reading | url-status = live }}</ref> and a [[Christadelphian]] Hall.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.readingchristadelphians.org/ | title = Reading Christadelphians | publisher = Reading Christadelphians | access-date = 19 February 2024}}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Main|Sport in Reading, Berkshire}}
===Football===
[[File:Madejski Stadium aerial, August 2014 (cropped).jpg|thumb|The [[Select Car Leasing Stadium]], home of [[Reading FC|Reading Football Club]]]] 
[[File:Millenium Madejski Hotel.jpg|thumb|right|The Voco Reading Hotel, pictured when still known as the Millennium Madejski]]
[[File:Reading Half Marathon in 2004.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Reading Half Marathon|Reading Half Marathon 2004]] climbing Russell Street in [[West Reading, Berkshire|West Reading]]]]
Reading is the home of [[Reading F.C.|Reading Football Club]], an [[association football]] club nicknamed ''The Royals'', formed in 1871.<ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Reading Football Club|url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10306~122791,00.html|publisher=Reading Football Club|access-date=13 June 2011|date=2 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204044927/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10306~122791%2C00.html|archive-date=4 February 2010}}</ref> Formerly nicknamed 'The Biscuitmen'<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Biscuitmen Nickname|url=https://www.vintagefootballers.com/biscuits-royals-reading-football-club/|access-date=1 February 2021|website=|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122192406/https://www.vintagefootballers.com/biscuits-royals-reading-football-club/|url-status=live}}</ref> and based at [[Elm Park (stadium)|Elm Park]], the club plays at the 24,161 capacity<ref>{{cite web|title=Madejski Stadium information|url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/Stadium/0,,10306~418118,00.html|publisher=Reading Football Club|access-date=14 April 2011|date=4 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507041941/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/Stadium/0%2C%2C10306~418118%2C00.html|archive-date=7 May 2011}}</ref> [[Select Car Leasing Stadium]], first named after chairman Sir [[John Madejski]] which opened in 1998, and later renamed "Select Car Leasing Stadium"<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 July 2021 |title=Reading's Madejski Stadium renamed Select Car Leasing Stadium |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-57860294 |access-date=4 June 2023}}</ref> in 2021, after a sponsor. After winning the [[2005–06 Football League|2005–06 Football League Championship]] with a record of 106 points, Reading spent two seasons in the [[Premier League]] before being relegated to [[Football League Championship|The Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nicky Shorey doubts Reading FC's '106' record will be beaten|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053830_nicky_shorey_doubts_reading_fcs_106_record_will_be_beaten|work=[[Reading Post]]|publisher=Surrey & Berkshire Media|access-date=10 June 2011|date=8 July 2009|first=Jonny|last=Fordham|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125174039/http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2053830_nicky_shorey_doubts_reading_fcs_106_record_will_be_beaten|url-status=live}}</ref> For the 2012–2013 season, the club again competed in the Premier League, after securing first place in the Championship in the 2011–2012 season, but were relegated back down to the Championship at season's end.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reading promotion meant to be, says Brian McDermott|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17751181|work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC|location=London|access-date=1 June 2012|date=17 April 2012|archive-date=20 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420045055/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17751181|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Reading Town FC|Reading Town Football Club]], formed in 1966,<ref>{{cite web|title=Reading Town News Season 2010/11|url=http://www.hellenicleague.co.uk/archive/10_11/reading.html|publisher=Uhlsport Hellenic Football League|access-date=11 January 2012|date=14 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107023344/http://hellenicleague.co.uk/archive/10_11/reading.html|archive-date=7 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> played at Scours Lane and were playing in the [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League]] Premier Division but were dissolved in 2016, while fellow [[non-league football]] club [[Reading City F.C.|Reading City Football Club]] now play at Scours Lane after moving from [[Palmer Park Stadium]] at the end of the 2015–16 season. Scours Lane was also renamed to Rivermoor Stadium in 2016.

===Other Sports===
Reading is home to three senior semi-professional [[rugby union|rugby]] clubs: [[Reading Abbey RFC]], [[Rams RFC]] and [[Reading RFC]]. The [[Reading Rockets]] are the town's semi-professional [[basketball]] team. They compete in the second tier [[English Basketball League]] Division 1, though they have tried several times in recent years to move up to the top tier [[British Basketball League]]. They play home games at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, and are coached by Samit Nuruzade. In 2016–17 the club embarked on an 18-game winning streak. During the 24-25 Season, They were able to win 3 out of the 4 available Domestic Trophies. The town hosts [[Australian Rules football]] team [[Reading Kangaroos]] and [[American football]] team [[Berkshire Renegades]]. [[Palmer Park Stadium]] has a [[velodrome]] and [[athletics track]]. It is used by [[Reading Athletic Club]]<ref>{{cite web|title=How to Join|url=http://www.readingac.com/joining.html|publisher=Reading Athletic Club|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715162311/http://www.readingac.com/joining.html|archive-date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Berkshire Renegades for training.<ref>{{cite web|title=About us|url=http://www.renegadesafc.com/aboutus.php|publisher=Berkshire Renegades American Football Club|access-date=12 June 2011|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515235340/http://www.renegadesafc.com/aboutus.php|archive-date=15 May 2009}}</ref> [[Reading Hockey Club]] enter teams in both the [[Men's England Hockey League|Men's]] and [[Women's England Hockey League]]s.

[[Rowing]] is pursued by the [[Reading Rowing Club]] and the [[Reading University Boat Club]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.readinguniversityboatclub.co.uk/|publisher=Reading University Boat Club|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229225121/http://www.readinguniversityboatclub.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> both next to Caversham Bridge, whilst [[Reading Blue Coat School]] trains at [[Sonning]] adjacent to the [[Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake]] in [[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]], which provides training facilities for the [[Great Britain]] National Squad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/05/04/redgrave_pinsent_rowing_lake_feature.shtml|work=BBC News|access-date=10 June 2011|archive-date=28 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228072240/http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2006/05/04/redgrave_pinsent_rowing_lake_feature.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> However, almost all club rowing is done on the [[River Thames]]. The annual [[Reading Town Regatta]] takes place near [[Thames Valley Park]],<ref>{{cite web|title=find|url=http://www.rtr-tvp.co.uk/how-to-find-us.htm|publisher=Reading Town Regatta|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430115309/http://www.rtr-tvp.co.uk/how-to-find-us.htm|archive-date=30 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the [[Reading Amateur Regatta]] taking place in June, usually two weeks before the [[Henley Royal Regatta]]. The town was home to a [[motorcycle speedway]] team, [[Reading Racers]]. Speedway came to Reading in 1968 at Tilehurst Stadium, until the team moved to [[Smallmead Stadium]] in [[Whitley, Reading|Whitley]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Tears and Glory|url=http://www.readingspeedway.com/tearsandglory.html|publisher=Reading Speedway|access-date=13 June 2011|archive-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715161716/http://www.readingspeedway.com/tearsandglory.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> which was demolished at the end of 2008. The team is inactive pending the building of a new stadium, which was once hoped to be completed in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Work extension to start new Reading stadium|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-10658210|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=13 June 2011|date=16 July 2010|archive-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313223713/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-10658210|url-status=live}}</ref> The Reading Racers reformed in 2016 and joined the new Southern Developmental League upon its formation in 2017 winning its inaugural season undefeated. The team started back up in [[Eastbourne]] and currently races in [[Swindon]] awaiting return to a track in Reading.

The [[Reading Half Marathon]] is held on the streets of Reading in March of each year, with 16,000 competitors from elite to fun runners.<ref>{{cite web | title = Reading Half Marathon 2010 Race Info | url = http://www.readinghalfmarathon.com/race_info/halfmarathon.htm | publisher = Reading Half Marathon | access-date = 22 March 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110910130533/http://www.readinghalfmarathon.com/race_info/halfmarathon.htm | archive-date = 10 September 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> It was first run in 1983 and has taken place in every subsequent year except 2001, when it was cancelled because of concerns over that year's outbreak of [[foot-and-mouth disease]], 2018, when it was cancelled on the morning of the race due to heavy overnight snowfall, and 2020, when it was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Reading half marathon 2011 'will be biggest yet'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-12783429|work=[[BBC News]]|location=London|access-date=10 June 2011|date=18 March 2011|archive-date=15 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515005229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-12783429|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=iya2008rc>{{cite news |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/reading-half-marathon-2018-has-been-cancelled/ |title=Reading Half Marathon 2018 cancelled due to heavy snowfall |first=Khadija |last=Taboada |work=InYourArea |date=18 March 2018 |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325190954/https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/reading-half-marathon-2018-has-been-cancelled/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reading half marathon 2020 cancelled|url=https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/18694976.reading-half-marathon-2020-cancelled/|work=[[Reading Chronicle]]|publisher=Reading Chronicle|location=Reading|access-date=7 October 2020|date=3 September 2020|archive-date=3 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903233729/https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/18694976.reading-half-marathon-2020-cancelled/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[British Triathlon Association]] was formed at the town's former ''Mall'' [[health club]] on 11 December 1982.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Triathlon Celebrates 25th Anniversary |url=http://www.www.britishtriathlon.org/triathlonengland/news/article.php?id=9525 |publisher=Triathlon |access-date=10 June 2011 |date=11 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706161234/http://www.britishtriathlon.org/triathlonengland//news/article.php?id=9525 |archive-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Britain's first ever [[triathlon]] took place just outside Reading at Kirtons's Farm in [[Pingewood]] in 1983 and was revived 10 years' later by Banana Leisure with one of the original organisers as Event Director.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of triathlon |url=http://www.britishtriathlonmedia.org/history-of-triathlon |publisher=British Triathlon |access-date=10 June 2011 |archive-date=11 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911063159/http://www.britishtriathlonmedia.org/history-of-triathlon}}</ref> [[Thames Valley]] Triathletes, based in the town, is Britain's oldest triathlon club, having its origins in the 1984 event at nearby [[Heckfield]], when a [[relay team]] raced under the name ''Reading Triathlon Club''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Triathlon's coming home... to Reading|url=http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/sportsextra/articles/2010/01/13/44172-triathlons-coming-home-to-reading/|work=[[Reading Chronicle]]|publisher=Berkshire Media Group|access-date=10 June 2011|date=13 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929022801/http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/sportsextra/articles/2010/01/13/44172-triathlons-coming-home-to-reading/|archive-date=29 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Hexagon was home to [[snooker]]'s [[Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix tournament]], one of the sport's "Big Four", from 1984 to 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snooker Legends|url=http://www.readingtownhall.co.uk/thehexagon/whatson/event.asp?id=SX355A-A7819F55|work=Reading Arts|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=10 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125173612/http://www.readingtownhall.co.uk/thehexagon/whatson/event.asp?id=SX355A-A7819F55|archive-date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Snooker: A vacuum at the Hexagon before Taylor stages a clean sweep|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-a-vacuum-at-the-hexagon-before-taylor-stages-a-clean-sweep-1557181.html|work=The Independent|location=UK|access-date=10 June 2011|date=13 October 1992|archive-date=25 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125164509/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-a-vacuum-at-the-hexagon-before-taylor-stages-a-clean-sweep-1557181.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Reading, Berkshire}}
{{See also|Category:People from Reading, Berkshire}}

==Twin towns==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in England}}
Reading is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Town twinning|url=https://www.reading.gov.uk/towntwinning|website=reading.gov.uk|publisher=Reading Borough Council|access-date=16 September 2020|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917032000/https://www.reading.gov.uk/towntwinning|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Düsseldorf]], Germany (since 1947, officially since 1988)
*[[Clonmel]], Ireland (since 1994)
*[[San Francisco Libre]], Nicaragua (since 1994)
*[[Speightstown]], Barbados (since 2003)

Though not twinned with Reading, two suburbs of the [[New Zealand]] city of [[Dunedin]] —&nbsp;[[Caversham, New Zealand|Caversham]] and [[Forbury, New Zealand|Forbury]] — were named after places in and around Reading by early New Zealand settler and Reading native [[William Henry Valpy]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Berkshire|England|United Kingdom|Politics|Geography}}
*[[List of administrative counties and county boroughs of England by population in 1971]]
*[[List of college towns]]
*[[List of conservation areas in England]]
*[[List of English districts]]
*[[List of non-US places that have a US place named after them]]
*[[List of towns in England]]
*[[List of unitary authorities of England]]
*[[2020 Reading stabbings]]
*[[Murder of Emily Salvini]]
*[[Reading power station UK|Reading power station]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last=Cameron | first=Kenneth | title=English Place Names | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkYOAAAAQAAJ | year=1961 | publisher=Taylor & Francis | location=Oxford, UK | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005856/https://books.google.com/books?id=FkYOAAAAQAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last = Dils | first = Joan | title = An Historical Atlas of Berkshire | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3DdqPgAACAAJ | publisher = Berkshire Record Society | year = 1998 | location = Reading, UK | isbn = 978-0-9524946-5-2 | access-date = 27 February 2016 | archive-date = 15 January 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005857/https://books.google.com/books?id=3DdqPgAACAAJ | url-status = live }}
*{{cite book | last1=Ditchfield | last2=Page | first1=P. H. | first2=William | author-link=Peter Ditchfield | author-link2=William Page (historian) | title=A History of the County of Berkshire, Volume 3 | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=300 | series=[[Victoria County History]] | publisher=[[Archibald Constable]] | location=London, UK | year=1923 | access-date=24 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031010322/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=300 | archive-date=31 October 2013 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}
*{{cite book | last1=Fasham | last2=Hawkes | first1=Pete | first2=John | title=Reading Abbey Rediscovered | publisher=Trust for Wessex Archeology | year=1983 }}
*{{cite book | last=Hunter | first=Judith | title=A History of Berkshire | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S-lVAAAAYAAJ | year=1995 | publisher=Phillimore | location=Chichester, UK | isbn=978-0-85033-729-7 | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005857/https://books.google.com/books?id=S-lVAAAAYAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last = Hylton | first = Stuart | title = A History of Reading | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S1-YGQAACAAJ | publisher = Philimore | location = Chichester, UK | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-1-86077-458-4 | access-date = 27 February 2016 | archive-date = 15 January 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005858/https://books.google.com/books?id=S1-YGQAACAAJ | url-status = live }}
*{{cite book | last=Kidner | first=R.W. | title=The Reading to Tonbridge Line | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLEMAQAAIAAJ | edition=3rd | series=Locomotion Papers | year=1982 | orig-year=1974 | publisher=The Oakwood Press | location=Salisbury, UK | isbn=9780853611561 | issn=0305-5493 | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005858/https://books.google.com/books?id=YLEMAQAAIAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last=Lawes Long | first=Henry | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iGUGAAAAQAAJ | title=Observations upon certain Roman roads and towns in the south of Britain | year=1836 | publisher=Kessinger Legacy | location=Whitefish, US | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005904/https://books.google.com/books?id=iGUGAAAAQAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last=Phillips | first=Daphne | title=The Story of Reading | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JG0aAAAACAAJ | year=1980 | publisher=Countryside Books | location=Newbury, UK | isbn=978-0-905392-07-3 | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005904/https://books.google.com/books?id=JG0aAAAACAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last=Slade | first=Cecil | title=The Town of Reading and Its Abbey | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ENqAAAACAAJ | year=2001 | publisher=MRM Associates Limited | location=Reading, UK | isbn=978-0-9517719-4-5 | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005904/https://books.google.com/books?id=-ENqAAAACAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last=Sowan | first=Adam | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywOhpoq0tKsC | title=Abattoirs Road to Zinzan Street | year=2004 | publisher=[[Two Rivers Press]] | location=Reading, UK | isbn=978-1-901677-36-2 | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115010404/https://books.google.com/books?id=ywOhpoq0tKsC | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last=Waters | first=Laurence | title=Reading | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PTSZAAAACAAJ | series=Rail Centres | year=1990 | publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing|Ian Allan]] | location=Shepperton, UK | isbn=978-0-7110-1937-9 | access-date=27 February 2016 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115010404/https://books.google.com/books?id=PTSZAAAACAAJ | url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last=Wykes | first=Alan | title=Reading | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KhkhAAAAMAAJ | year=1970 | publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] | location=London | isbn=9780333061190 | access-date=7 September 2017 | archive-date=15 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115010404/https://books.google.com/books?id=KhkhAAAAMAAJ | url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Reading, Berkshire}}
{{Wikivoyage|Reading (Berkshire)}}
{{Wikinews|Three killed, three others injured in stabbing attack in Reading, UK}}
* [http://www.reading.gov.uk/ Reading Borough Council]

{{Reading, Berkshire}}
{{Berkshire}}
{{SE England}}
{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{London commuter belt}}
{{Viking Invasion of England}}
{{Authority control}}
{{good article}}

[[Category:Reading, Berkshire| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Kennet and Avon Canal]]
[[Category:Local authorities adjoining the River Thames]]
[[Category:Districts of Berkshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 8th century]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Unitary authority districts of England]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Berkshire]]