Why Reading Is a Great Alternative to London for Business Trips
When planning a business trip, London often springs to mind as the default destination. However, savvy business travellers are discovering that Reading offers a compelling alternative that combines convenience, affordability, and strategic advantage.
What's it like living in Reading? Well, it comes with many of the advantages of London, without the drawbacks. Rated by PwC for multiple years as the UK city with the most impressive growth, Reading presents a smart choice for professionals seeking an efficient and cost-effective base for their business endeavours. Here we cover a few reasons why Reading is the ideal alternative to London for your next business trip.
1. Reading Has Extremely Good Transport Connections
Heading up our list is transport infrastructure. Reading has extremely good links to London and the rest of the UK. Reading station is one of the busiest rail hubs in Britain, used by nearly 20 million passengers a year, making it the second busiest interchange station outside of London, with nearly four million passengers a year changing trains at the station.
Reading's transport is nothing short of exceptional. As one of Britain's busiest rail hubs, the town welcomes nearly 20 million passengers annually and serves as the second most active interchange station outside London. The recent introduction of the Elizabeth Line has taken connectivity to the next level, providing seamless access to central London in just 25 minutes.
Key transport highlights include:
- Direct rail links to London Paddington: frequent high-speed services connect Reading to Paddington in as little as 23 minutes, with trains departing approximately every 10 minutes during peak hours. This reliable service has transformed Reading into a prime commuter location for professionals working in the capital.
- Proximity to the M4 motorway: Reading sits conveniently adjacent to Junction 11 of the M4, providing rapid road connections to London, Bristol, and beyond. This strategic positioning has attracted numerous businesses to establish headquarters in the area, creating a thriving economic hub.
- Easy access to Heathrow Airport: travellers can reach the UK's busiest international airport in just 40 minutes by road or via the speedy RailAir coach service. This exceptional airport connectivity makes Reading an attractive location for global businesses and international residents.
- Comprehensive national and international transport connections:
Reading's transport network extends far beyond London, with direct rail services to major cities including Manchester, Birmingham, and Cardiff.
The opening of the Elizabeth Line has strengthened Reading’s links to London – making the journey easier and faster for commuters. What’s the distance from Reading to London? Just 41 miles! Conveniently, Reading also has convenient access to the M4 motorway, providing an easy journey for international arrivals from Heathrow Airport.
Reading underwent a phase of major transformation, adding five new platforms, new retail facilities and a new footbridge three times the size of the original, with escalators and lifts providing step-free access to all platforms.
2. A Vibrant Town Centre is More Than Just a Business Destination
There are five major business parks in Reading, home to headquarters for many leading national companies as well as the UK headquarters for many major multinationals such as PepsiCo, Oracle, Microsoft, Verizon, Nokia and Ericsson. With business premises costing on average 60% less than Paddington, Reading is an attractive location for large companies, making it an ideal location for business travellers.
Not thrilled about being in the office five days a week or looking for a remote working space while you’re away? It’s not just London that has hopped on the hybrid working trend. Reading has plenty of coworking spaces that have been rising in popularity. A couple of our favourites are Co-Space and Worklife, which provide an attractive working space with a community feel of working with others.
3. Cost-Effective Living: Maximising Your Business Trip Budget
A big downside to living in London is the high cost of living. So, is Reading cheaper than London, you may ask? Yes. Vastly. The cost of living in Reading is currently 41% cheaper than in London.
It means business travellers can significantly reduce their expenses without compromising on quality. Accommodation, dining, and daily expenses are considerably more affordable, allowing professionals to allocate resources more strategically.
Accommodation Excellence: Comfort Meets Professionalism
With higher quality accommodation and a lower cost of living in an exciting town with excellent transport links, there are many benefits to choosing Reading for your next business trip. Serviced apartments provide a home-away-from-home experience with amenities such as:
- Dedicated guest services managers
- Weekly housekeeping and cleaning
- Spacious, modern living spaces
- Proximity to excellent transport links and a vibrant town centre
Celador Apartments luxury serviced apartments are modern and spacious and come with added benefits such as a dedicated guest services manager, weekly housekeeping and a home-from-home experience, that just wouldn’t be possible for the same price in central London.
Ready to Stay with Celador Apartments?
If you are looking for accommodation for your trip, our serviced apartments are ideally suited to business travellers, located in close proximity to Reading mainline train station and Reading’s vibrant town centre.
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