Reading

On foot

The central area of Reading is easily traversable on foot. From the main rail station, you will be able to take in the Abbey Ruins, the Forbury Gardens, both rivers, both shopping centres, most but not all so check hotels, pubs and restaurants without needing more than shoe leather.

By taxi

There are two sorts of 'taxis' operating in Reading, although only black cabs are strictly allowed to call themselves taxis:

Black cabs

which are not always black but are always London style taxi vehicles in theory operate from taxi ranks around the town and can be hailed in the street. In practice, the only place you can reliably find them is on the rank outside the rail station. They are always metered.

Private hire cars

look like ordinary cars except they have a Reading Borough Council plate on the rear never even contemplate getting in one unless it does. They have to be called by phone check the yellow pages telephone directory and do not normally have a meter; you should agree a price before getting in.

By car

Whilst not as bad as either London or Oxford, Reading's roads can get very congested at peak periods, in particular London Road. Especially if you are not used to driving on the left, central Reading is probably best avoided.

On the other hand, a car is the one possibly along with cycling of the only really practical ways of seeing a lot of the local countryside and villages. Here the roads are quieter too.

The junction of London Road with King's Road/Wokingham Road is locally known as "Cemetery Junction", which is the origin of the name used by the Ricky Gervais film.

By Map

If you are planning to do any visiting or exploring beyond central Reading, you will probably want to obtain a decent map of the area. You should ensure that any map you buy clearly shows the national grid reference lines and explains how to use them, as grid references are frequently used to indicate out of town locations. The best maps for this purpose are those published by the Ordnance Survey Britain's national mapping agency and the following maps cover all the locations mentioned below:

Ordnance Survey Landranger 175

This map covers the area around and between Reading and Windsor at a scale of 1:50000 and is best for exploration by car or cycle.

Ordnance Survey Explorer 159

This map covers the area around Reading at a scale of 1:25000 and is best for walking.

These maps can be found in any good bookshop in Reading see 'Buy' section below, or can be bought online (http://www.ordnancesurvey...).

By bus

Buses provide a moderately good way of getting around Reading itself say 3-5 miles out, with several buses an hour on most routes during weekdays, and hourly services in the evenings and on weekends. Beyond that distance, bus routes are much less frequent, with often only a handful of buses per day. Route 17 Earley Wokingham Road - Tilehurst via town centre was extended to 24 h operation in 2008, possibly with other major routes to follow. Reading Buses have a legal monopoly within the centre of Reading and through a vast majority of the area around it: if you plan to use a bus, chances are very high that you will use them. They are relatively expensive however, costing £4 for a day pass and £1.80 for a single as of December 2011. If going with a group of people, it is generally cheaper to drive and pay for a car park. Alternatively, if you have to use the bus, for between 2 and 4 people, you can buy a group ticket for £8 reduced to £5 in the school holidays or weekends.

Reading Buses

(http://www.reading-buses....), telephone 0118 959 4000, provide service within Reading and some adjoining rural areas.

Thames Travel

(http://www.busbook.co.uk/), telephone 01491 837988 from within the UK or +44 1491 837988 from outside, provide services in other rural areas around Reading.

Traveline

(http://www.travelinesouth...), telephone 0871 200 2233 from within the UK, provide an impartial online travel planner and telephone query service for local bus services.