Our campuses in the Reading area are within easy walking and cycling distance from local train stations.
Our Whiteknights campus is approximately two miles and around 40 minutes on foot from Reading Station. Please allow a further 10 minutes to reach a specific building or site once on campus.
Reading train station is a mainline train station and is easily accessible from most other places in the UK.
There are direct rail links from many major cities, including Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter, as well as a number of routes through London.
If you are travelling from or via London, the quickest route to take is from London Paddington station.
Trains from London Paddington to Reading run approximately every 15-20 minutes throughout the day and the average journey time is around 30 minutes.
Find out more at the National Rail website.
Getting to Whiteknights campus from the centre of Reading is easy.
Junction 11 of the M4, RG7 1WJ
To reduce air pollution and congestion, and to champion environmental sustainability in line with how the University is Partnering for the Planet, we strongly encourage students, staff and visitors to attend campus using sustainable methods such as public transport.
We have partnered with the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Trust and Reading buses to offer the 300 Park and Ride service. The service picks up at Mereoak and sets down at Christchurch Green, a seven minute walk from the centre of Whiteknights campus. This initiative is free for students and staff of the University, and members of the public can pay to use this service.
Download maps of our campuses:
Last updated: September 2024.
Most students move out of their accommodation during the summer, so we have rooms available for guests.
We offer single occupancy en-suite, standard washbasin and premium rooms at affordable rates.
We don't operate quite like a hotel so you will need to bring your own bed linen, towels and crockery but we do offer quality, affordable accommodation at the heart of campus with great transport links.
Reading is well connected to both London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports.
RailAir offers a direct coach service that runs between Heathrow Airport and Reading town centre. Coaches offer free Wi-Fi and at-seat USB charging, and operate frequently: up to every 20 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes at weekends.
For more information, please visit the RailAir website.
A direct train service runs between Gatwick airport and Reading station. Trains run once an hour, during the day. and take about 75 minutes. For more information please visit the National Rail website.
Whiteknights is the private property of the University of Reading. It has never been a park, but a public right of way runs from Earley Gate to Shinfield Road. The University reserves the right to prohibit pedestrian access to other areas as necessary, and to prohibit cycle access. Visitors must adhere to University rules and regulations which are in operation throughout the University’s privately owned land at Whiteknights and elsewhere.
Our general rules and regulations are as follows:
Dog-walkers please:
Cyclists, please be courteous to others and give way to pedestrians.
The University has clear expectations of life on our campuses for our students, our staff and everyone who forms part of our community. We expect everyone who visits our campuses to undertake any form of activity to take responsibility for their behaviour to prevent harassment and sexual misconduct.
Combating inappropriate behaviour requires responsible behaviour at an individual level. As a visitor to our campus you are part of our community. Whether you are speaking at an event, attending a conference, working as a contractor or buying a coffee you can expect to be treated with respect, and we expect the same of you.
National Surveys show that students are among the most likely groups to experience sexual assault. Our #NeverOK campaign, in collaboration with our Students’ Union, has been running for several years and makes clear the negative behaviours that are not tolerated in our community.
Our Harassment & Bullying Policy Statement and our Campus Principles and Campus Exclusion Procedure clearly set out the standards of behaviour expected on our campuses.
We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
