Mortgage Broker in Reading, Berkshire

Shopping and the Oracle

The Oracle Shopping Centre is a genuine destination. Anyone living within a 10 to 15 mile radius of Reading will know it well and for good reason. The range of shops covers everything from everyday essentials to luxury purchases, and the Riverside section is packed with restaurants covering almost every cuisine you could want. Add the Vue cinema and you have a genuinely complete day out without leaving the town centre.

For anything the Oracle does not cover, Forbury Retail Park fills the gaps with high-quality furniture stores and large format sports retailers including Decathlon. Reading pretty much has you covered whatever you are looking for.

Food we love in Reading

Reading's food scene is one of its underrated strengths. A few personal favourites worth knowing about:

Jieli Hotpot 街里火锅 is fantastic for an authentic hotpot experience. Banh Mi QB does brilliant Vietnamese food that is hard to find done this well outside London. Tasty Greek Souvlaki is our personal favourite, genuinely exceptional food and the kind of place you find yourself recommending to everyone. Sushi Mania Reading does an all-you-can-eat sushi menu that is absolutely worth visiting if you enjoy sushi. Go hungry.

Culture, music and the Hexagon

The Hexagon is one of Reading's most loved venues, hosting live music, theatre and performance arts throughout the year. The combination of a great meal on the Riverside followed by a show at the Hexagon is one of those evenings that reminds you how much there is to do in Reading without travelling to London.

And then there is Reading Festival.

Held annually at Richfield Avenue, Reading Festival is one of the most famous music festivals in the world. Around 70,000 to 80,000 people descend on the site every August Bank Holiday weekend and the lineup is consistently extraordinary. I have personally seen Muse, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Offspring, The Strokes, Foo Fighters, The Cure, Eminem, Green Day, Biffy Clyro and many others perform there over the years. In my opinion it is the best festival anywhere in the world and if you have not been, it belongs on your list.

Reading FC

You cannot talk about Reading without mentioning Reading FC. The Royals play at the Select Car Leasing Stadium with a capacity of just over 24,000 and the club has a proud history including two seasons in the Premier League in 2006-07 and 2007-08. That first season was a particular highlight, finishing eighth with 55 points in what was a genuinely impressive campaign for a newly promoted side. I had the pleasure of watching plenty of those games and the atmosphere was brilliant.

The club is currently in League One and pushing hard for a playoff spot with a clear ambition to return to the top flight. We stay in touch with the commercial team at the club and the determination there is real. Go Reading.

Sport and Palmer Park

For anyone who enjoys sport and activity beyond watching, Palmer Park Leisure Centre and Stadium is well worth knowing about. The facilities are excellent across a wide range of sports and activities, but the standout feature is the velodrome, which is genuinely rare to find at a local leisure centre. Whether you want a coached session or simply want to get on a bike and ride, it is a brilliant facility and one that gives Reading a genuine point of difference.

Getting around

Reading is one of the best connected transport hubs in the south of England. Fast trains to London Paddington take around 25 minutes and there are also direct services to London Waterloo, Southampton, Cardiff and numerous other major UK destinations. Cross-country connectivity from Reading is exceptional and for anyone commuting or travelling regularly it is hard to find a better base in Berkshire.

We also work closely with HCR Law, a conveyancing firm we regularly refer clients to, who are based directly opposite Reading Station. If you are buying or selling in the Reading area and need a conveyancer, they are genuinely excellent and conveniently located for anyone coming in by train.

How we can help

The Mortgage League works with buyers, movers and homeowners across Reading and the surrounding area. We have a particular specialism in first-time buyer mortgages and we know the Reading property market well from years of living and working here. We work with a panel of 90-plus lenders to find the right mortgage for your circumstances, whether you are buying your first home, upsizing, remortgaging or exploring your options as a homeowner.

Getting in touch is the easiest first step. Most clients receive a callback within 20 minutes and we will talk you through your options clearly and without jargon. We are happy to meet locally, speak by phone or arrange a video call, whichever suits you best.

Get started today

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