Reading is a significant commercial and information technology centre and if you have skills in these areas and the appropriate legal paperwork then finding a job should not be a problem. Reading also suffers from staff shortages in public service areas such as teaching or nursing, and campaigns are regularly run to attract overseas candidates for such posts. Otherwise there is the usual selection of jobs in pubs, restaurants, etc.
Reading is the home of The University of Reading (http://www.rdg.ac.uk/) which is ranked as one of the UKâs 10 most research-intensive universities and as one of the top 200 universities in the world. Reading University is based on a campus two miles from the city centre and provides a full set of university courses. Reading University enjoys a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise.
Associated with Reading University is Gyosei International College, a Japanese/British bi-cultural institution which has led to Reading having a significant Japanese student population. Around 1988, Gyosei International College's links with the Japan-based Gyosei organisation were broken, and the College became a charitably funded institution called Witan Hall. Recently, it appears that this has also failed and Witan Hall has been purchased by the University of Reading, who have closed down student recruitment.
Reading is also host to one of the largest Universities in England, Thames Valley University (http://www.tvu.ac.uk/). Although the University is spread across the Thames Valley, the University in Reading has 20,000 students alone.
Formerly Reading College and School of Arts and Design, TVU mergered with the College in 2004.
Reading is also the home of several commercial English language summer schools, including:
Padworth College (http://www.padworth.com/)
Parkland Language School (http://www.parklang.co.uk/)
sports
Reading has a well established professional football team. Reading FC (http://www.readingfc.co.uk/), who, after winning promotion from the Championship in 2012, will compete in the Barclays Premier League in the 2012-2013 season.
Reading also has a long tradition of rugby, with many clubs in the town and surrounding areas. The three senior clubs of the town are Reading RFC, Reading Abbey RFC and Redingensians RFC.
In 2000 London Irish (http://www.london-irish.com/), a professional rugby union club in the Aviva Premiership with its administrative HQ in Sunbury, contracted to play their home matches at Reading FC's Madjeski Stadium. Renewed in 2008, the contract is now extended until 2026. With a strong rugby heritage and a thriving Irish community, Reading has proved a good home for London Irish who beat the premiership attendance record in 2007 with over 23,000 people attending the annual St Patrick's Day match. London Irish also play in Europe-wide club competitions each yearâeither the top-level Heineken Cup or second-tier European Challenge Cup, depending on their performance in the Premiership in the previous season.
River trips
There are lots of things to do in and around Reading. You could try taking a river trip:
Salters Steamers
Telephone 01865-243421 from within the uk or +44 1865 243421 from outside, (http://www.salterssteamer...). run day trips from reading to henley-on-thames and return with 3 hours ashore in henley or you can return by train; 7 days a week from may to september. also less frequent trips from wallingford to reading. depart from outside the riverside restaurant just downstream of caversham bridge. â£8.50-â£11.
Thames Rivercruise
Telephone 0118 948 1088, (http://www.thamesrivercru...). run cruises to mapledurham house & watermill see the 'see' section at 2pm on sa,su & public holidays from april through september; and shorter trips during the same days. depart thameside promenade just upstream of caversham bridge. â£3.50-â£5.
Walks
Or there are many possible walks in the area:
Thameside walk to Sonning
A very attractive walk can be had by leaving reading on the thames towpath from reading bridge and caversham lock both about 5 mins walk from the downtown area and simply following the towpath to the old village of sonning. this walk is about 4 miles in length, and traverses both open landscape and wooded river margins. return the same way, or catch a bus back buses roughly hourly; no service on sunday.
Thameside walk to Tilehurst
Another attractive walk is to leave reading on the thames-side promenade from caversham bridge about 10 mins walk from the downtown area and follow the towpath to the point where it abruptly ends the site of an old ferry where the towpath crossed to the other bank. from here a path brings you up to the main reading to oxford road in the suburb of tilehurst. a five minute walk towards reading on this road brings you to tilehurst rail station, from where there are frequent buses and trains back to reading. this walk is about 3 miles in length.
Views of the Thames
(http://www.chilternsaonb....), a series of walks from goring railway station 15 minutes by train or 10 miles by road. the walks are from 4 to 10 miles in length and a leaflet is available by calling 01844-271316 or from the website.
The Marlow Donkey & River Walk
(http://www.tripsbytrain.c...), a trip by train. catch the train from reading to bourne end station and then take a delightful 6 mile stroll along one of the most attractive stretches of the river thames to the pretty thameside town of marlow before catching the train back. walk description downloadable from website.
Festivals
Reading Festival
(http://www.reading-festiv...). even bigger than the womad festival which used to be held in the town as well up until 2006 now held near malmsbury in wiltshire (http://womad.org/ is the reading festival, held at the end of august 2008: august 22nd - 24th. this has had several names in its life, of which the most descriptive was probably the reading rock festival; then up until last year the 'carling weekend reading' although not surprisingly no-one ever called it this in real life, and this year we can expect to see it back to the reading festival weekend.
Reading is the home of one of Europe's major annual music festivals, held on the Rivermead site an open area alongside the River Thames over a period of several days. The festival can be guaranteed to fill the town with visitors and happening things; if you are planning to visit during these festivals do book your accommodation and festival tickets well in advance.
Reading also hosts a number of smaller, community based events during the year :
Water Fest
A variety of events and craft stalls wind their way through the abbey ruins and along the kennet and avon canal. the event is a particular favourite with children 2005: 25th june.