Walking or cycling
Our campuses in the Reading area are within easy walking and cycling distance from local train stations.
Our Whiteknights campus is approximately two miles and around 40 minutes on foot from Reading Station. Please allow a further 10 minutes to reach a specific building or site once on campus.
How to find us by train
Reading train station is a mainline train station and is easily accessible from most other places in the UK.
There are direct rail links from many major cities, including Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter, as well as a number of routes through London.
Travelling from London
If you are travelling from or via London, the quickest route to take is from London Paddington station.
Trains from London Paddington to Reading run approximately every 15-20 minutes throughout the day and the average journey time is around 30 minutes.
Find out more at the National Rail website.
How to find us by bus
Getting to Whiteknights campus from the centre of Reading is easy.
How to find us by car
The Whiteknights and London Road campuses in Reading are approximately 1.5 miles from the M4 motorway. Our Greenlands campus is close to Henley.
Maps
Download maps of our campuses:
- Whiteknights campus (PDF - 2.69MB)
- London Road campus (PDF - 1.13MB)
- Greenlands campus (PDF - 394KB)
Last updated: July 2018.
Stay@Reading
Most students move out of their accommodation during the summer, so we have rooms available for guests.
We offer single occupancy en-suite, standard washbasin and premium rooms at affordable rates.
We don't operate quite like a hotel so you will need to bring your own bed linen, towels and crockery but we do offer quality, affordable accommodation at the heart of campus with great transport links.
How to find us from the airport
Reading is well connected to both London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports.
London Heathrow
RailAir offers a direct coach service that runs between Heathrow Airport and Reading town centre. Coaches offer free Wi-Fi and at-seat USB charging, and operate frequently: up to every 20 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes at weekends.
For more information, please visit the RailAir website.
London Gatwick
A direct train service runs between Gatwick airport and Reading station. Trains run once an hour, during the day. and take about 75 minutes. For more information please visit the National Rail website.
Guidance for visitors
Whiteknights is the private property of the University of Reading. It has never been a park, but a public right of way runs from Earley Gate to Shinfield Road. The University reserves the right to prohibit pedestrian access to other areas as necessary, and to prohibit cycle access. Visitors must adhere to University rules and regulations which are in operation throughout the University’s privately owned land at Whiteknights and elsewhere.
Our general rules and regulations are as follows:
- Please keep to the paths and do not disturb wildlife or pick flowers.
- Do not leave any litter or light fires.
- Please keep away from buildings and research areas.
- Roller-skating, skate-boarding and kite-flying are not allowed.
- The lake is not suitable for water sports and activities.
- Shooting, archery, golf or other projectile sports are not allowed.
- Please listen to any additional advice given by the University staff.
- Access may be restricted or permission withdrawn at any time.
Dog-walkers please:
- keep dogs on leads at all times and away from sports pitches
- take dog fouling away for disposal.
Cyclists, please be courteous to others and give way to pedestrian.
For more information please download the Whiteknights campus guide (8.31 MB)
Student visitor reception
If you are considering applying, or have applied, to Reading and can't attend an Open Day, Visit Day or campus tour, you are welcome to visit our campus at a time to suit you.
Our Student Visitor Reception is located on the ground floor of the Carrington Building on Whiteknights campus, and is open from Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00. This is also the starting point for our self-guided tour.