Regional travel
Reading is about 70 km west of central London and 50 km west of Heathrow airport.
Specific information if you are travelling to Reading from Heathrow and other local airports or via train from Europe is given in the expanding sections below.
You do not need to go to central London. You can travel directly from Heathrow airport to Reading.
RailAir coach
The best way to reach Reading is using the RailAir RA1 coach. This will bring you directly to the central railway station in Reading. RailAir coaches run frequently throughout the day. For more information and timetables, please visit the RailAir website.
We recommend you purchase your ticket online ahead of arriving in the UK. The cost of an online ‘period return’ ticket is £30.
Tickets can also be purchased from the driver on boarding the coach using contactless payment or using the First Bus app. There are also ticket machines at the Central Bus Station and we will be able to assist with this if you arrive during our meet & greet times. At other times, staff from the Central Bus station will be able to help.
Directions from the terminal to Heathrow Central Bus Station
Terminal 2 and 3
RailAir coaches depart from the Heathrow Central Bus Station.
From arrivals:
- Follow the signs for bus and coach (this takes you underground).
- Once you are underground, follow the signs for the Heathrow Central Bus Station. This is around a 10-minute walk.
- Look for the departure boards in the station. You will see the stand number for the next RA1 coach to Reading.
- If you need any help locating the coach, please ask one of the airport staff members in the coach station who are very helpful.
Make sure you take the RailAir RA1 coach and not the National Express coach (which does not come to central Reading) or the RA2 coach (which does not come to Reading).
Terminal 4
- Use the FREE Heathrow Express shuttle service.
- Travel in the carriages at the rear of the train and alight at Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
- Follow signs for Terminals 2 and 3 but as soon as you see signs for buses and underground follow these instead.
Terminal 5
Follow signs for ‘Local Buses’ upon exiting arrivals. RailAir coaches stop at Stand 9 and you can get a ticket either from our driver or in advance online. Make sure you take the RailAir RA1 coach and not the National Express coach (which does not come to central Reading) or the RA2 coach (which does not come to Reading).
Taxi hire
If you would like to take a taxi from Heathrow to Reading, then it is recommended that you pre-book this in advance. We suggest the following:
- Online booking form
- Phone: +44 (0)1189 321 321
- Email: bookings@loddoncars.com
- Online booking form
- Phone: +44 (0)118 9666 555
The estimated cost of a pre-booked taxi is about £60 – 70.
You can pay for the taxi by card or cash.
Taxis will meet you directly at the terminal you are arriving at.
Train Service
There is a direct train from Gatwick airport to Reading. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. More information including train times can be found on the Gatwick airport website. If you are travelling by train you can plan your journey and buy tickets in advance via the National Rail website or you can buy your ticket at the Gatwick train station when you get there.
Taxi hire
If you would like to take a taxi from Gatwick to Reading, then it is recommended that you book this in advance using the following details:
Loddon Cars Taxis
- Online booking form
- Phone: +44 (0)1189 321 321
- Email: bookings@loddoncars.com
Yellow Cars
- Online booking form
- Phone: +44 (0)118 9666 555
The estimated cost of a pre-booked taxi is about £70 – £80.
You can pay for the taxi by card or cash.
London Stansted Airport
To get to Reading from Stansted Airport by train, you will need to travel via London. Find out more on the Stansted Airport website.
London Luton Airport
To get to Reading from Luton Airport by tain, you will need to travel via London. Find out more on the Luton Airport website.
Birmingham International Airport
Regular trains run from Birmingham International Airport to Reading and take about 1 hour and 40 minutes. For more information, visit the Birmingham Airport website.
Eurostar trains run direct from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands to St Pancras station in central London.
From St Pancras, there are connections via the tube to Paddington station: Westbound Circle or Hammersmith & City Line. The journey time is approximately 20 minutes.
There is a direct train from Paddington station to Reading station which will take about 25 minutes. This service runs frequently. For train times, please visit the National Rail website.
Local travel
We are lucky to have plenty of excellent travel links in Reading, find out more about the range of travel options available. A summary is given below.
Taxi
There is a taxi rank outside Reading train station near the RailAir coach stand shown on this map of the station. The fare is about £10 to the University, and most accommodation in Reading. We recommend you have your accommodation details to hand, and you can ask the driver to take you straight to your accommodation on campus.
Bus
If you are travelling to the University, you can take the number 21 bus. See routes and timetables for the No.21. You can pay as you step on the bus, or in advance via the ticket shop. The 21 bus stand is located next to the RailAir coach stand on Blagrave Street.
