Reading, England, United Kingdom uses Europe/London, currently BST (UTC+01:00). Clocks move back 1 hour on 25 October 2026.
Reading is a city in the United Kingdom, home to around 318,000 people. Local clocks move forward and back with daylight saving time each year.
The band below is your local scale — accent shows when everyone's business hours overlap. Add or remove a city on the left and this updates too.
Written for people arriving, calling in, or planning a trip around the time difference.
Reading lies west of London where the Kennet meets the Thames, and is a commercial and technology centre with a compact shopping core. The riverside and the ruins of the abbey are the more attractive parts of the town.
The abbey ruins, where a medieval king was buried and where the oldest known song in English was written down, are the historic heart. The Museum of English Rural Life is unexpectedly good, Reading Gaol carries its association with Oscar Wilde, and the Thames path leads out toward Henley.
The centre is walkable and trains reach London in under half an hour, with the Elizabeth line providing a direct cross-city service. The riverside paths are good for walking and cycling.
Late spring through early summer is the most pleasant, with the Thames at its best. The town's large music festival falls at the August bank holiday and fills it entirely.
United Kingdom uses the GBP, calling code +44.
The United Kingdom uses the pound sterling, and English is the everyday language. Card and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere.
