Woodley Berkshire shutterstock 1103732918
Go Back
02/12/19
Local insights

Woodley: Your complete area guide

Woodley is Reading’s largest suburb and lies four miles east of the town, close to neighbouring Earley which is two miles west.

The area is hugely popular with family buyers and renters, thanks in the main to its superb schools and great transport links into Reading and beyond.

Living in Woodley

Families and workers looking for those great schools and comfortable transport links pinpoint Woodley during their property searches in and around Reading.

Close to the popular village of Sonning, Woodley residents also have nature on their doorstep thanks to the River Lodden which runs alongside the suburb and White Swan, Black Swan and Sandford Lakes nearby.

Dinton Pastures Country Park is also massively popular with dog walkers and lovers of outdoor space.

Houses for sale in Woodley

Property for sale in Woodley is mainly mid-20th century and the area is not as well stocked in period homes as neighbouring Earley and Reading.

Buyers should expect to pay in the region of £380,000 for a semi-detached family home, while larger detached properties can fetch around £500,000.

Properties in the north of Woodley, close to Sonning, also tend to attract higher prices.

Average property price in Woodley: £367,294.

Houses to rent in Woodley

Woodley has a fair number of properties to rent, with many of those mid-20th century houses available to family renters.

Renters should expect to pay around £1,200 per month for a three-bedroom house, while larger homes command upwards of £1,800.

Average monthly rent in Woodley: £1,028

Flats for sale, Woodley

Flats for sale in Woodley are mainly made up of conversions, with a few purpose-built blocks and newer developments available, too.

Woodley flats command rents of between £550 (one bedroom) and £900 (three bedroom).

Flats for sale, Woodley

Flats in the south of Woodley are popular with young professionals needing rail links to Reading and London from Earley station.

A two-bedroom flat in Woodley costs, on average, £250,000, with smaller apartments and maisonettes costing around £180,000.

Schools in Woodley

When it comes to schools, Woodley really does shine.

The area is home to two secondary comprehensives, Waingels College for maths and computing and The Bulmershe School (sport).

Both are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Primary schools St Dominic’s RC, Rivermead, Woodley CofE and Willow Bank are all rated ‘Good’, while South Lake Primary carries an ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Transport links in Woodley

Woodley’s location on the eastern side of Reading means road commuters have great access to the M4 for London.

Roads into Reading are also sound, while Earley station is only around a five minute walk for those living in the south of Woodley.

Earley offers trains into London Paddington via Reading in 45 minutes, while services direct to Waterloo take one hour and 20 minutes.

Trains into Reading, meanwhile, take a mere six minutes.

Shopping in Woodley

Woodley has a good number of shops and amenities along Crockhamwell Road, including a Waitrose, Superdrug and New Look.

‘Professional’ shoppers, though, make use of those great train services into Reading for the town’s Oracle Shopping Centre, which is home to a multitude of top brands.

Eating out in Woodley

As with its shops, Woodley also offers some great eateries for those living in the area.

Cozze is extremely popular and in a superb location along Crockhamwell Road, offering Italian dishes, British classics and a great breakfast.

Elsewhere, if you like your food with a kick of spice, head for Jalpari of Woodley on Hurricane Way.

As well as a takeaway service, the restaurant offers classic Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine.

Things to do in Woodley

With Reading on the doorstep, sport lovers can choose between Championship football and rugby union at the Madejski Stadium.

Woodley United FC, meanwhile, play in the Hellenic League at the Rivermoor Stadium in nearby Tilehurst.

Away from sport, Woodley’s location close to Dinton Pastures Country Park makes the area a heaven for outdoor lovers.

The park itself is full of wildlife and a great place to take a walk, or a picnic in the warmer months.

Anglers, meanwhile, head to South Lake in the south of Woodley and watersports fans are catered for at Black Swan Lake in the east close to Dinton Pastures Country Park.

Things to do with the kids

As well as the outdoor space of Dinton Pastures Country Park, ideal for letting the kids run off some energy, Woodley offers plenty of other options for families.

For slightly older children, the Skiplex indoor ski slope is hugely popular, while the Jungle Mania indoor play site is perfect for smaller children or if the weather is off form.

Estate agents in Woodley

Parkers has been selling, letting and managing great properties in Woodley, Wokingham and Sonning for many years.

If you’re looking for a property to buy or rent in Woodley, pop into the branch on Crockhamwell Road, or contact the team through our website.

Other posts you may find useful