Reading clearly has much to recommend it as a place to live. Before we even consider the Berkshire town’s conveniently close proximity to London, the think tank PwC and Demos recently named Reading one of the country’s best places to live, citing high quality of life and income levels. The town’s financial sector was also deemed to be strong. Therefore, it makes sense to commit to the town by buying, rather than renting, a residence there… but in which exact part of Reading? Here are five areas to especially strongly consider.

Caversham

Buying a residence in Caversham can prove a fantastic investment for the long term, especially if you have – or plan to start – a young family. For example, Caversham is home to Caversham Primary School, which Ofsted has rated “outstanding”. It’s also got arguably one of the town’s best restaurants, Myalacarte, while it was at the local The Fox and Hounds that the then very young Paul McCartney and John Lennon performed in 1960. This was before The Beatles formed; the pair played here as The Nerk Twins!

Eldon Square

Living in central Reading is obviously ideal for easily getting round and frequenting many of the settlement’s desirable city-like attractions, such as shops and bars. But if you want to enjoy these benefits while still feeling like you’re living in a Jane Austen novel, Eldon Square is the place to be. A conservation area with an abundance of beautiful Regency architecture built with Bath stone, its properties can command fairly hefty prices; however, with our help, you could uncover a gem of a residence which still carries a reasonable price tag.

Alexandra Road

Reading provides something of an architectural patchwork; it’s not hard to come across Edwardian houses, Thirties townhouses and Sixties and Seventies housing estates all within the single town. Reading remains fundamentally, however, a Victorian settlement – and Alexandra Road, close to Eldon Square, is one of the best spots for seeking large detached and semi-detached Victorian houses. Again, we would recommend that you stick with us for help in hunting down the most financially appealing deals in this street.

The waterside

Reading has not one, but two rivers: the Thames and the Kennet. These meet in Reading, so you shouldn’t be too surprised to learn that the town is a great place for riverside and canalside walks. Living by the water also means ready access to lively bars and restaurants, while the Oracle shopping centre, with its appealing canal frontage, is a wonderfully convenient place for shopping. That remains the case whether you’re just making the standard weekly food shopping trip, or looking to splash out on an expensive present.

Near the railway station

Having a residence near Reading railway station will mean being able to benefit from the extensive development that Network Rail has been spending on for the station. More obviously, it will also mean having a public transport link to the bustling British capital city close at hand. The convenience of this can rarely be overstated.