Getting here

For more information of what is happening at Heathrow airport in response to coronavirus please see their website. 

You do not need to go to central London.

RailAir coach:

The best way to reach Reading is using the RailAir coach. This will bring you directly to Reading (Railway station in Central Reading).  RailAir coaches are currently running hourly. For more information on RailAir and their timetables, please visit their website. 

We recommend you purchase your ticket online ahead of arriving in the UK. The cost of an online ticket is £20 (August 2020). You can purchase your ticket at on the First Group, Rail Air website.  

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.  

 

Directions 

All flights at Heathrow are now operating out of Terminals 2 and 5 following the temporary relocation of airlines from Terminals 3 and 4. 

RailAir, customers travelling from Heathrow can board at Stand 9 in Terminal 5, or at Heathrow Central Bus Station (CBS) from stands 6-15a. 

Terminal 2   

RailAir coaches depart from the Heathrow Central Bus Station. 

From Arrivals follow the signs for bus and coach, this takes you underground, then follow the signs for the Heathrow Central Bus Station, this is around a 4-7-minute walk. 

Once there, if you do not have a ticket you can purchase one from the driver or via the First Bus app. 

Look for the departure boards in the station where you will see the stand number for the next 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 coach and NOT the National Express coach which does not come to central Reading.

Terminal 5 

Follow signs for Local Buses upon exiting arrivals. The RailAir coach departs from Stand 9 and you can get a ticket either from our driver or in advance online. 

 

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 have suggested two companies below: 

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 
• Contact

The estimated cost of a pre-booked taxi is about £40. 

You can pay for the taxi by card or cash. 

Taxis will meet you directly at the terminal you are arriving at. 

For more information on what is happening at Gatwick in response to coronavirus please see their website. 

Gatwick train express:

This service to Reading is suspended currently.   

Train Service: 

Currently there is no direct train service to Reading from Gatwick. The best option is to travel via Clapham Junction which requires just one change. For more information see the Gatwick travel website and you can use the National Rail Journey Planner to plan your route in advance.   

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 
• Contact

The estimated cost of a pre-booked taxi is about £70 - £80. 

You can pay for the taxi by card or cash.

Stansted Airport: To get to Reading from Stansted Airport by train, you will need to travel via London. 

Luton Airport (also known as London Luton Airport): You will need to get a train to London and then go to Reading from there   

Birmingham International Airport: Regular trains run from Birmingham International Airport to Reading and take about 1 hour and 40 minutes

You can catch a train from Paddington station which will take about 30 minutes. For train times, please go to the National Rail website.

If you’re living in University accommodation, you need to arrive directly at your reception. Please see the step by step arrival guide for more information. 

If travelling to Reading by taxi, you can ask them to take you straight to your accommodation. 

If you arrive in Reading by bus or train you will arrive at Reading Train Station.    

From there you have the option of: 

Taking the bus:

(Number 21 if you are travelling to the university). For more information on buses and timetables please see the Reading Buses website. A single ticket costs about £2. The 21 bus stand is located next to the RailAir coach stand on Blagrave Street. 

Taking a taxi:

There is a taxi rank outside the train station near the RailAir coach stand. The fare is about £10 to the university, and most accommodation in Reading. We recommend you have your accommodation details on hand.

Taxis 

There are taxis outside Reading Railway Station. A taxi from the station to Whiteknights campus should cost between £7-£10. 
 
Buses 

There are frequent buses from the town centre to the Whiteknights campus. A single journey will cost £2.00 - you will need the exact money as no change is given. 

Buses are colour coded so it's easy to make sure you have the right bus to campus. The claret 21 and leopard 3 and 10 run from Reading Railway Station to the University (Whiteknights campus). The claret 21 starts from stop EK outside the station (found behind the RailAir coaches) and stops on the campus itself. It runs up to every 5 minutes during term time and every 10 minutes outside of term. The leopard 3 and 10 use stop SA (outside the station's main entrance) and stops at Shinfield Road, very close to the main entrance to campus. 

You can also use all these buses to go from the station to the London Road Campus. Get directions to the campus by bus.  

Car 

If you are travelling by car and using a SatNav or GPS to get here, you should use the postcode RG6 6UR. Find out more about parking on campus.

The following websites may be helpful in planning your journey to Reading: 

National Rail Enquiries - for travel by train 

National Express Coaches - for coach travel across the UK 

Reading Buses - for information on local bus travel within the Reading area