WheresHome's guide to the most popular Reading suburbs

Nestled in the heart of affluent Berkshire and with a reputation as one of the top London commuter locations, Reading's popular suburbs have become a sought-after relocation choice.

What some might say Reading lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in convenience, commutability, and practicality. With gorgeous countryside within a short drive, a good mix of state and independent schools, including The Abbey (top independent girls' school), great transport links, and fabulous property options, it’s easy to see why Popular Reading Suburbs are a hit with our WheresHome clients.

It’s a smart time to buy, as this pricey area is set to become even more desirable with the launch of The Elizabeth Line. Cementing Reading’s spot as the suburban area of choice for commuters, the line will make travel into London far easier and reduce congestion in and around the area.

Read on to discover why Popular Reading Suburbs might just be the answer to that burning question: Where’s Home

Most popular Reading Suburb - Pangbourne

A large village benefiting from its own railway station, shops, decent schools, and good transport links, popular Pangbourne has plenty to offer. A quaint and pretty riverside village, the River Pang flows through the centre, and the area features a number of independent shops, characterful properties, and a great pub and café culture, making it an ideal spot for busy commuters to spend their weekends.

The area offers solid school options, including a strong state sector across both primary and secondary schools. Pangbourne Primary maintains an OFSTED 'Good' rating, and nearby Whitchurch Primary in Tilehurst boasts an OFSTED 'Outstanding' rating, if you're lucky enough to secure a place. Just outside the village, the ever-popular independent Pangbourne College serves secondary-aged students, while slightly further afield, St Andrew’s offers an independent education for primary-aged children.

Like most popular Reading suburbs, the market here is small but fast-moving, with properties snapped up quickly. For a detached family home, you can expect to pay over £900,000, and prices climb into the millions for more executive, characterful homes. As we often suggest in these busy markets, renting first for ease and speed is a smart option. The rental market is similarly competitive, but with WheresHome’s help, you should be able to secure your new home. Expect to pay around £3,000 per month for a family home.

Pangbourne is for you if… you are keen to utilize the excellent independent school options nearby and are looking for a village feel while maintaining access to modern amenities.

Most popular Reading Suburb - Sonning

The birthplace of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, the beautiful and quaint village of Sonning is nestled along the River Thames about 4 miles east of Reading. This small but well-proportioned village offers beautiful properties, stunning scenery, and an exclusive property market to boot! Reportedly the current home of ex-Prime Minister Theresa May, Sonning is known for its affluence and charm. With picturesque riverside views, the delightful local pub, The Bull Inn, and the cosy, renowned restaurant French Horn, there’s little to dislike about this quintessential English countryside village.

Sonning is home to Reading Blue Coat School, an independent institution for boys aged 11-16, with a co-ed option for sixth formers. Sonning C of E Primary enjoys an OFSTED ‘Good’ rating, while nearby Woodley village offers the state-run St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary, which boasts an OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Like other Popular Reading Suburbs, the downside to such a well-connected area with good schools and beautiful surroundings is the high property cost. Sonning is undoubtedly expensive, with detached family homes starting at a million pounds, and executive homes with large gardens commanding well over that. The rental market is equally reflective of Sonning’s exclusivity, with no current properties available on Rightmove, but for a family home, you should expect to pay upwards of £4,000 per month.

Sonning is for you if… you have a decent property budget, seek that countryside village feel with excellent transport links, and prefer spending your evenings at a charming pub rather than in a club.

Most popular Reading Suburb - Caversham

One of Reading’s most popular suburbs, Caversham is about the size of a small town bordering Oxfordshire. Once a medieval village, the area still maintains a level of charm and benefits from beautiful properties and great amenities.

One of Caversham’s biggest selling points is it’s schooling options. Highdown School and Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (actually located across the border in South Oxfordshire) are the most frequented state-run high schools in the area, Highdown is OFSTED ‘good’ rated, whilst Maiden Erlegh benefits from an OFSTED ‘outstanding’ rating – hence its popularity with non-locals who can obtain a place. In the independent sector, Queen Anne’s School educates girls at secondary age, Hemdean House offers a mixed gender infant and junior school and a girls only senior school and Caversham Prep co-ed takes children aged 3-11. Caversham also boasts several state run primary’s including a number of ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ offerings. And for tiny tots, New Bridge Nursery School is a popular choice with an ‘outstanding’ rating.

Unsurprisingly, this pretty and convenient area has a booming property market. Expect to pay upwards of £700,000 for even the smallest detached property, but you’re going to be looking at well over a million for an executive detached family home. The market moves fast and there is often very few of these larger, characterful homes available so it may be wise to rent initially. In part thanks to this busy buying market and the area’s high property prices, Caversham has a high rental population, with the 2011 census finding that around 50% of locals were renting their property. You can expect to find a busy rental market here, and expect to pay around £3,500pm for a family home.

Caversham is for you if……you’re looking for great property choices, a solid investment area, good schools and lots going on locally to keep the whole family busy.

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Which Popular Reading Suburb will it be?

You can’t go too wrong with Reading. With the launch of The Elizabeth Line, the area is set to become even more popular, making it a great time to buy before prices sky-rocket. As one of the Popular Reading Suburbs, the location offers excellent schooling, leafy neighborhoods, and is within a short distance of beautiful countryside—perfect for families, especially those with an interest in equestrian activities.

For young professionals, the area’s commutability is ideal, while also boasting a vibrant bar and restaurant scene, good shopping, and rich cultural offerings.

So if you’re looking for a family-friendly commuter spot with all the modern amenities and a safe, solid property market, Reading might just be the perfect place for you. Feel free to get in touch with us today, and let the WheresHome team of experts support you with your move.