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Make the most of Reading Train Station without baggage!
London, Manchester, and Liverpool all have their charms. But these are international cities where the quintessential English-ness has been watered down by chains and modern cultural offerings. This isn’t a bad thing, but for most tourists looking for the “Jolly old” experience, they might be better served in a city like Reading.
Situated along the River Thames, and within a short train ride from London, Reading offers the perfect escape from the metropolitan cities. You’ll have authentically English buildings, some of which are medieval like the Forbury Gardens and Reading Abbey, and you’ll have the quiet streets and cozy pubs. You also have one of the largest music festivals in the world happening here every summer, but that’s a different story.
Most travelers arrive in town at Reading Railway Station, which is the central transportation hub and busiest train station serving the Reading market. It’s situated close to the city center, which connects central Reading to nearby cities like London and Birmingham for commuters and travelers through the Great Western Railway and CrossCountry Services.
The most common routes are between Reading and London Paddington, which takes as little as 30 minutes to reach the heart of the capital. It’s also a central hub for local traffic, as numerous buses run directly through Reading Railway Station out to the suburbs and outer neighborhoods. It’s an easy train station to navigate, and most of the best Reading attractions are within walking distance.
Here’s everything you need to know:
It depends entirely on the train station, but nearly every major railway station will have some form of luggage storage. Major transportation hubs like King’s Cross or London Paddington will have a locker area, even if the service is fairly basic. Metro and bus stops are a different story as they’re smaller facilities. It’s best to plan ahead when you know you’ll need to store your bags somewhere while on the go.
The only Reading Station luggage storage facilities are available through third-party companies. There isn’t a baggage storage facility actually inside the train station, but you’ll be able to find one nearby. This is for the best, as train station lockers rarely offer any customer service or overnight storage.
There are a few luggage storage facilities in Reading’s city center, but not all of these options are created equal. The Reading Train Station luggage storage option that makes the most sense would be a service like Bounce. Bounce has partnered with local shops in cities like Reading to provide the most convenient locations for our customers. With store locations throughout Reading, you’ll absolutely be able to find a place to store luggage for a few hours in Reading. Bounce allows you to search for and book luggage storage with our handy mobile app. With the search function, you can find the most convenient left luggage facilities and even book on the go.
Most international travelers arrive in Reading via train from London. Reading Railway Station is directly connected to London Paddington Station, which in turn connects it with the rest of London and airports like Heathrow. It’s a quick trip, and ultra convenient via high-speed trains. The train ride more resembles a commute than a full trip. It’s also only a few hours by car if you’re planning on renting a set of wheels.
Set in the city’s Town Hall, you’ll at least want to take a stroll past The Reading Museum to admire the wonderful Victorian architecture of the building's facade. If you’ve enjoyed your time in the town and want to learn how Reading evolved into its charming present form, head to this delightful museum for a comfortable tour and even lunch. Detailing how it started as a Roman settlement and turned into an industrial powerhouse in England, there are thousands of artifacts across three levels.
There isn’t a bag policy prohibiting luggage. However, touring the Reading Museum takes a bit of time and the cramped confines of the historic building will make lugging the bags around a hassle. The experience would be more enjoyable if you toured the museum with your hands free.
Most travelers will recognize this 18th-century mansion from the Downton Abbey television series, but that’s hardly the only reason to visit this stunning landmark and Reading institution. Basildon Park has been the home of half a dozen different noble families since it was built in 1771, which explains the expansive collection of antique furniture and priceless artwork. The gardens are equally worth checking out, as they’re surrounded by over 400 acres of picturesque British countryside.
Connecting the town with London and Bristol, the Kennet & Avon Canal became an economic lifeline to Reading during the early industrial period. This man-made waterway spans 87 miles and connects many of the most important places in Lower England, including a lovely stretch that passes through central Reading.
If you want to get your steps in, you can take a stroll along the path lining the canal that runs through the city center and out into County Lock, which has been redeveloped into a fashionable shopping and dining district. The people-watching is phenomenal, and you’ll even catch a glimpse of the many boats meandering by. If you want to keep going, you can rent a bike and take the path out of town to enjoy the bucolic charms of nearby Wiltshire and even further out to the hilly terrain of the Cotswolds.
The quaintness of small-town England is already on full display in Reading’s town center, but you can take a deep dive at the Museum of English Rural Life (or simply MERL). It has 10 different galleries featuring wonderful traditional artwork spanning multiple centuries that depict the agricultural lifestyle and picturesque British countryside. You’ll also find artifacts from different periods of English farming, including equipment and tools. Fittingly, there’s a tea room at the onsite café where you can order authentic tea service.
All large items like backpacks and luggage are prohibited inside the museum. There are complimentary lockers onsite, but you’ll have to check in with the information desk to receive a key and locker assignment.
The vast majority of international travelers visiting Reading arrive via London Heathrow Airport. Once you've landed and gone through customs, you can take the Heathrow Express directly to London Paddington in the city center. From there, you can hop in the GWR to Reading Railway Station. It takes about 90 minutes from the airport to Reading and costs $25. If you’re renting a car outside of Heathrow, the drive to Reading will take less than an hour.
While the mansion is one of Reading’s most popular attractions, it’s situated about 7 miles outside the city. The most common way to get here is by car (most international travelers include a Reading stop on road trips through England). It’s a short drive on the M4.
Although its official name is now Select Car Leasing Stadium, the iconic Madejski Stadium is the home of the city’s main soccer club, Reading FC. The team does not currently play in the top-level English Premier League, but their home games at Madejski Stadium remain one of the top things to do in Reading.
The easiest way to get here is by taking the F1 Shuttle Service (operating on game days) directly from Reading Railway Station. It runs throughout the day starting two hours prior to kickoff and 45 minutes after the end of the game. It gets busy but they run the buses constantly, making waits manageable. You can also take the train to Reading Green Park Station if you’re heading from London or elsewhere. It’s important to note that all bags are prohibited inside the stadium and there are no lockers or luggage storage facilities onsite.
Of any option in Reading, Bounce has the most convenient luggage storage locations throughout the city. But that's hardly the only reason to trust your bags with Bounce. With a full suite of useful tools and functions, our luggage storage service will make your whole experience a breeze. Even better, you can keep the mobile app and use it on any trip you go to! With locations around the globe, including nearly every worthy travel destination, you can trust Bounce on every continent and major city. It’s even useful for work travel and daily life. So log onto the app to see how Bounce can make a difference in your travels.