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Abbey

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About

Abbey ward lies in central Reading, bordered by the River Kennet and Kennetside to the north. The area encompasses the historically significant Reading Abbey ruins and the Forbury Gardens, a formal Victorian park. It is a primarily residential and commercial district, containing the town's main retail core along Broad Street and the Oracle shopping centre. The ward functions as the administrative and civic heart of the town, housing the council offices and law courts.

The ward's landscape is distinctly shaped by its waterways, with the Kennet and Avon Canal running through it. This has historically supported light industry, some of which remains in converted buildings. The area includes residential neighbourhoods like Abbey Quarter and the Katesgrove area to the south. Reading Station, a major national rail hub, sits on its western boundary, contributing significantly to the daily flow of people through the area.

Area overview

On average Abbey has moderate deprivation and high crime levels, with around 418 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 8.7% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in Abbey is £62,377 per year. There are 3 schools in Abbey: 2 primary (0 Outstanding and 2 Good) and 0 secondary (0 Outstanding and 0 Good). Abbey is home to around 10,153 people, with a population density of about 7,695.0 per km2.

Crime rate
8/10
Crimes per 1k residents
418
Deprivation level
6/10
Income level
5/10
Social housing
8.7%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

Abbey Population
10,153
Population density
7,695 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
175.42(+453%)
Shoplifting
83.72(+949%)
Public order
56.24(+827%)
Other theft
50.53(+801%)
Anti-social behaviour
48.75(+296%)
South East average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
2,858
28.14%
Other White
2,317
22.82%
Indian
1,474
14.52%
Other Asian
635
6.25%
African
585
5.76%
Total population: 10,155

Economics

Education (age 16+)

Level 4 qualifications or above
4,682
53.23%
No qualifications
1,224
13.92%
Level 3 (A level)
1,013
11.52%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
656
7.46%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
607
6.9%
Total 16+ residents: 8,795

Housing

Housing tenure

Private landlord or letting agency
3,086
64.79%
Owns with a mortgage
603
12.66%
Other social rented
397
8.34%
Owns outright
352
7.39%
Social rents from council
122
2.56%
Total households: 4,763

Property prices in Abbey

Based on 84 recent sales, the median property price is £254,000 in Abbey area, with individual transactions ranging from £117,000 up to £725,000.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for Abbey in the last year.

Median sale price and percentiles per property type (last year)

Median sale price, sales count, and percentile information for each property type in Abbey over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Flats56£216,500
Semi-Detached5£447,000
Terraced23£347,000

10 years median price trend in Abbey

Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Abbey.

All postcodes in Abbey

RG17YY

Franklin Street

RG12LR

Bridge Street

RG17LQ

Carey Street

RG11NY

Vachel Road

RG14EN

Watlington Street

RG11AX

Apex Plaza

RG13AY

Crane Wharf

RG11BX

Friars Walk

RG14SA

Duke Street

RG13BQ

Abbey Square

RG14AE

Royal Court

RG16BY

Fobney Street

RG17LT

Oxford Road

RG17UR

Waylen Street

RG12AH

Upper Ground Level

RG17QP

Abbey

RG17FU

Oxford Road

RG14FU

Duke Street

RG17PZ

Abbey

RG19SQ

Bridge Street

RG11AR

Valpy Street

RG16QD

Swan Place

RG17HS

Bedford Road

RG17PL

Oxford Road

RG11EP

Friar Street

RG17RE

Russell Street

RG17PN

Oxford Road

RG17HJ

Bedford Road

RG17NP

George Street

RG17UP

Waylen Street

RG11EX

Friar Street

RG19ST

Bridge Street

RG19SA

Abbey

RG17AG

Cheapside

RG13AH

King's Road

RG17EX

Bedford Road

RG11EH

Friar Street

RG16BZ

Fobney Street

RG17NR

James Street

RG12LS

St Marys Butts

RG11JT

Abbey

RG16BS

Fobney Street

RG17BD

Abbey

RG17YH

Prospect Street

RG11EG

Merchants Place

RG17SR

Castle Street

RG17JS

Carey Street

RG17BU

Caversham Road

RG17RL

Castle Hill

RG11DG

Wiston Terrace

RG17UL

Waylen Street

RG17YQ

Prospect Street

RG17UU

Oxford Road

RG17NW

Weldale Street

RG17DB

Charles Street

RG17LS

Alfred Street

RG17PD

Mason Street

RG16QF

Simmonds Street

RG17YB

Goldsmid Road

RG14TE

Watlington Street

RG17AH

Alfred Street

RG11EL

Friar Street

RG11NA

Vachel Road

RG12LU

Bridge Street

RG17XG

Russell Street

RG17YD

Epping Close

RG11LZ

Forbury Road

RG17HD

Great Knollys Street

RG17PP

Mason Street

RG13FS

Kings Road

RG11TG

Queen Victoria Street

RG12LG

St Marys Butts

RG17PA

Cambridge Street

RG11DN

Abbey

RG16QQ

New Bright Street

RG17AF

Franklin Street

RG17RP

Castle Hill

RG17PJ

Oxford Road

RG14FP

Abbey

RG17TH

Castle Street

RG11PF

Tudor Road

RG17AY

Caversham Road

RG17NN

Prospect Mews

RG11NX

Tanfields

RG13EG

Kennet Side

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 16/05/2026.