Reading has the distinction of being the largest UK town that has not achieved city status. However, its population of 350,000 alongside its sizable economy qualify it as a major regional city in all but name. Here we will look at what’s currently going on and what’s likely to be happening over the next decade or so.
Historically, Reading was an agricultural and light manufacturing town. In more recent times Reading and the wider Thames Valley area has developed as a centre for future facing industries including finance, IT, telecoms, tech. and digital businesses. The area is home to several large business parks, each providing thousands of jobs, and a number of significant corporate headquarters including Microsoft UK.
The town benefits from good accessibility by road, rail and air. It is on the M4 motorway and just 27 miles from London Heathrow Airport. The recently completed Elizabeth Line has greatly improved links into central London, which is 25 minutes away by the fastest train, while Oxford is also within 25 minutes. Local reports suggest this has made the town more attractive to London commuters, but that it has not rejuvenated the local commercial market as much as might have been hoped.
Reading has been ranked amongst the strongest economies in the UK. Colliers’ Top UK Residential Investment Cities Report recently cited Reading as a top investment location.
Centre for Cities’ latest Cities Monitor 2025 says the town has the third highest average disposable annual income in the UK, at £25,736.
The Reading 2050 Vision was created by local stakeholders. It envisions an ‘ambitious, smart and sustainable future’ for Reading and establishing Reading as a ‘green tech. city’. Reading Borough Council’s Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan 2025-30 sets an objective of it becoming a net zero borough. The Council recently launched its Reading Town Centre Public Realm Strategy. The strategy is aimed at improving the town centre environment with measures including prioritising pedestrian and cycle usage, improving open and green spaces and linking areas together better.
