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Central Reading South

Interactive map displaying Central Reading South

About

Central Reading South encompasses the core commercial and administrative district of the town. The area is defined by Broad Street and Friar Street, which serve as primary retail thoroughfares lined with chain stores and historic buildings. The Town Hall and the Hexagon theatre are key civic landmarks here. Reading Station, a major national transport hub, anchors the area's northern edge, facilitating significant daily foot traffic from commuters and shoppers moving between the retail zones and the station concourse.

A distinctive network of modern pedestrianized shopping arcades, such as The Oracle and Broad Street Mall, extends the retail environment. These connect to the River Kennet, where waterways and old industrial brickwork are integrated into the shopping centre's design. The area includes the ruins of Reading Abbey, founded in 1121, which provide a historic counterpoint to the contemporary retail developments and office buildings that dominate the skyline in this densely built part of town.

Area overview

On average Central Reading South has high deprivation and very high crime levels, with around 134 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 14.1% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in Central Reading South is £64,564 per year. There are 2 schools in Central Reading South: 1 primary (0 Outstanding and 1 Good) and 1 secondary (1 Outstanding and 0 Good). Central Reading South is home to around 8,240 people, with a population density of about 9,166.8 per km2.

Crime rate
10/10
Crimes per 1k residents
134
Deprivation level
7/10
Income level
6/10
Social housing
14.1%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

Central Reading South Population
8,240
Population density
9,166.8 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
50.97(+62%)
Shoplifting
23.42(+192%)
Anti-social behaviour
22.33(+93%)
Other theft
16.02(+187%)
Public order
14.56(+138%)
South East average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
2,709
32.87%
Other White
1,606
19.49%
Indian
1,202
14.58%
African
448
5.44%
Chinese
383
4.65%
Total population: 8,242

Economics

Education (age 16+)

Level 4+ (Degree)
3,927
54.75%
Level 3 (A level)
1,253
17.47%
No qualifications
726
10.12%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
451
6.29%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
427
5.95%
Total 16+ residents: 7,173

Housing

Housing tenure

Private landlord or letting agency
2,054
56.93%
Owns with a mortgage
574
15.91%
Other social rented
396
10.98%
Owns outright
308
8.54%
Social rents from council
134
3.71%
Total households: 3,608

Property prices in Central Reading South

Based on 86 recent sales, the median property price is £241,500 in Central Reading South area, with individual transactions ranging from £104,500 up to £900,000.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for Central Reading South 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 Central Reading South over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Detached3£469,000
Flats64£220,000
Semi-Detached3£710,000
Terraced16£315,000

10 years median price trend in Central Reading South

Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Central Reading South.

All postcodes in Central Reading South

RG16RD

Laud Close

RG12TH

Windsor Square

RG13AF

Kings Road

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 16/01/2026.