Anyone know Reading well?

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LankyDoodle

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I am off to Reading for a course on Friday and cannot decide if it's best to get the train from Taunton up to Reading on Friday morning (this train runs Penzance to Paddington and I know it's very busy, especially on the home leg, until Reading); or if I should drive up on Thursday night, stay at the Comfort Inn on Christchurch Rd and then drive home after the course on Friday evening, getting caught in all the people heading home from london on the M4.

The course is at Reading Uni, London Rd campus, so really close to the Comfort Inn, but not sure how close to the station, but then I could get a taxi I suppose, if I was prepared enough.

Anyone know Reading well enough to advise me? The course starts 9am on Friday and I need to be there for 830am. It finishes at 530pm.
 
Can you get a train early enough on the Friday? Traffic back to the west country on a Friday night is horrid - I live not too far north of reading and once spent 3 hours in crap traffic doing about 15mph to get down to my dad's in Cornwall. The train will be busy but if you booked in advance could book a seat perhaps? YOu'd need a bus/taxi to get from the station as is a long walk.
Personally would have a look at costs of train vs room and petrol, but I have a hatred of sitting in traffic so would probably get the train tbh!
 
Hi Carrie, lived just outside Reading for nearly 8 years. The station is in the center of Reading, but Reading Uni is all over the place from what I remember. Leaving at 5:30/6pm shouldn't be too bad as most London drive commuters leave early on a Friday so will have passed through...you could always cut across country on the A4, or peal off at the Frome junction and go cross country that way. When I travel to may parents in Surrey, I usually go via Frome ring route and join A303 past Salisbury.. if you use the aa website www.theaa.com it will get you there and show you where all the traffic cams and road works are as well. Really wouldn't bother with M5 as they are resurfacing it at Bristol (AGAIN!!)
 
Hi there,
I think I would try to avoid heading out of Reading and onto the M4 at 5.30 if I could avoid it. Just make sure you book your train ticket in advance so you have a seat reservation!!

From the station to the London Road campus is probably a 15-20 minute walk, but if you don't know the way, probably a taxi would be better.
If you want to, PM me and I will try my best to give you directions if you want to try walking!
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Thank you everyone
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The train gets into Reading at 807am hopefully, and a taxi should get me there on time. The homeward bound train would leave at either 1802 or 1903 (I'd probably be on the 1903 one by the time we've said bye, the taxi gets me there etc).

In March I was in London and the train was jam packed solid between Paddington and Reading, where a truck load of commuters got off and I was able to sit down, so with any luck I should be able to sit down when I get on at Reading; otherwise I don't mind standing for half hour or so!

I can reserve seats, but sometimes you lose your seat to those who haven't reserved and often I find they won't give it back! I will reserve anyway though.

I am a bit of a twit when it comes to driving to places I don't know and I worry about traffic, getting there on time and getting lose, so wondered if the train might be the way to go; especially as I don't want to stay away on Thursday night.

The train is £124 return and parking at the stn is about £6 for the day; the taxi I imagine to be £15 round trip. So we are talking nearly £150. The hotel is £88 for a single and it will be around £40 in petrol for me to get up there. So although I might save a little bit, I think being free of the traffic hassle and the hassle of getting lost might be worth it.
 

The Comfort Inn on Christchurch rd is right next to the Whiteknights bit of the campus (where most buildings are, but you may want to check this is where you need to be). It's a very short walk onto campus (5-7 minutes), but you would need to get a taxi/bus into town (it's downhill from the Comfort Inn into town, but still quite a walk).

The Comfort Inn is totally crap though! We were booked for two nights and left after one because it was absolutely terrible.
 
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