River Gardens Reading, West Berkshire
31 addresses across 1 postcode (RG8), about 250 m long, classed as a restricted local access road. USRN 26902965.
- Sales: 27 recorded sales since 1995; in 2025 the median was £495,000 across 1 sale.
- Energy: 18 homes have an energy certificate (B: 5, C: 5, D: 8).
- Flood: 23 addresses on its postcodes are in areas at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band E; Band D in West Berkshire costs £2,505 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 91% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Tilehurst, about 1.2 km (0.7 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden, Arthur Newbery Park, is about 1.3 km (0.8 miles) away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 7.8 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 6.7 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 37 to 39 m above sea level.
- Noise: None of its addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Tilehurst Village Surgery, about 2.2 km (1.3 miles) away.
- People: About 280 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 91% of households owned their home and 42% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 14 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often violence and sexual offences.
Sales on this street
| Year | Sales | Median price | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | £495,000 | £495,000 | £495,000 |
| 2024 | 1 | £310,000 | £310,000 | £310,000 |
| 2022 | 2 | £865,000 | £780,000 | £950,000 |
| 2021 | 1 | £710,000 | £710,000 | £710,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | £1,010,000 | £1,010,000 | £1,010,000 |
| 2018 | 1 | £635,000 | £635,000 | £635,000 |
| 2017 | 2 | £694,500 | £439,000 | £950,000 |
| 2016 | 1 | £285,000 | £285,000 | £285,000 |
| 2014 | 1 | £295,000 | £295,000 | £295,000 |
| 2011 | 2 | £396,000 | £142,000 | £650,000 |
| 2008 | 1 | £700,000 | £700,000 | £700,000 |
| 2007 | 2 | £632,500 | £570,000 | £695,000 |
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov 2025 | 8 RG8 8BX | Detached | £495,000 | |
| 18 Jun 2025 | 3 RG8 8BX | Detached | £450,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 23 May 2024 | 12 RG8 8BX | Detached | £310,000 | |
| 30 Nov 2022 | 7 RG8 8BX | Detached | £950,000 | |
| 6 Jun 2022 | 16 RG8 8BX | Detached | £780,000 | |
| 12 Feb 2021 | 26 RG8 8BX | Detached | £710,000 | |
| 13 Jun 2019 | 25 RG8 8BX | Detached | £1,010,000 | |
| 30 Oct 2018 | 14 RG8 8BX | Detached | £635,000 | |
| 11 Sep 2017 | 1 RG8 8BX | Detached | £950,000 | |
| 24 Jul 2017 | 8 RG8 8BX | Detached | £439,000 | |
| 27 Oct 2016 | 23 RG8 8BX | Other | £355,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 26 Jul 2016 | 19 RG8 8BX | Detached | £285,000 | |
| 18 Mar 2014 | 10 RG8 8BX | Detached | £295,000 | |
| 3 May 2011 | 15 RG8 8BX | Detached | £650,000 | |
| 23 Mar 2011 | 12 RG8 8BX | Detached | £142,000 | |
| 15 Aug 2008 | THE BOATHOUSE RG8 8BX | Detached | £700,000 | |
| 5 Sep 2007 | 17 RG8 8BX | Detached | £695,000 | |
| 20 Aug 2007 | 1 RG8 8BX | Detached | £570,000 | |
| 2 Nov 2006 | 4 RG8 8BX | Detached | £560,000 | |
| 19 May 2006 | 25 RG8 8BX | Detached | £585,000 | |
| 25 Apr 2001 | 1 RG8 8BX | Detached | £170,000 | |
| 20 Mar 2000 | 25 RG8 8BX | Detached | £268,000 | |
| 23 Aug 1999 | 8 RG8 8BX | Detached | £177,500 | |
| 20 Apr 1998 | 15 RG8 8BX | Detached | £62,000 | |
| 4 Dec 1996 | 21 - 22 RG8 8BX | Detached | £30,000 | |
| 31 Oct 1995 | 7 RG8 8BX | Detached | £220,000 | |
| 8 Sep 1995 | 1 RG8 8BX | Detached | £220,000 |
Energy performance certificates
18 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 147 m². Most common: House, detached (14); Bungalow, detached (2); Bungalow, semi-detached (1). Built: 1950-1966 (5); 1976-1982 (3); 1996-2002 (2). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (14); rented (private) (1).
Each home's certificates and sales (9 addresses)
- 1 River Gardens, Purley On Thames
- 6, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
- 10, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
- 14, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
- 15, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
- 19, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
- 24, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
- Annexe, 4 River Gardens, Purley-on-Thames
- The Boathouse, River Gardens, Purley on Thames
Council tax
What each band costs in West Berkshire in 2026-27: Band D £2,505 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,670 | £1,949 | £2,227 | £2,505 | £3,062 | £3,619 | £4,176 | £5,011 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this street: most are in band E (26% of about 890 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: no postcode centre in this street's postcodes is in one.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: none.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Tree preservation orders: 12 protected trees on or by this street.
- Green belt: no.
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Charters Car Sales, Oxford Road, Reading: up to 18 homes, not permissioned (920 m (0.6 miles))
- 1025-1027 Oxford Road, Tilehurst, Reading: up to 12 homes, permissioned (1 km (0.6 miles))
Roadworks
No street works under way, planned or finished in the last three months on this street, in permits up to 31 October 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 23 addresses are in areas at high risk, 0 at medium risk and 0 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: of the 26 homes the Environment Agency counts, 26 are in areas at high risk, 0 medium, 0 low and 0 very low.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: the postcode centre is in flood zone 3. Zone 3 is a 1% (1 in 100) or greater annual chance of flooding from rivers, or 0.5% from the sea, ignoring defences.
Height above sea level
The street's 31 addresses are between 37 m and 39 m above sea level (38 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG8 8BX | 100% | 91% | 91% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Tilehurst 385,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) |
| Pangbourne 374,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 3.7 km (2.3 miles) | |
| Reading West 482,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 4.4 km (2.7 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 4 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 19 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Chestnut Grove Purley on Thames | 150 m |
| Bus or coach station | Purley Social Club Purley on Thames | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| Car parks | Recreation Road Car Park | 2.3 km (1.4 miles) |
| EV charging points | 2 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest ubitricity | 470 m (0.3 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Heathrow Airport LHR | 40.2 km (25 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | Tilehurst Village Surgery | 2.2 km (1.3 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 1 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Overdown Pharmacy | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| NHS dentists | The Triangle Dental Practice | 2.5 km (1.5 miles) |
| Hospital | Prospect Park Hospital | 3.8 km (2.4 miles) |
| Police station | Thames Valley Police | 3 km (1.9 miles) |
| Cash machines | Midcounties Co-Op Reading, Tilehurst Cashzone | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | Arthur Newbery Park 10 ha | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| Play area | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 3,960 m² | 470 m (0.3 miles) |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Bucknells Meadow 1.5 ha | 480 m (0.3 miles) |
| Allotments | Unnamed 1.9 ha | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) |
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Church of St Mary, a listed building (Grade II*), 170 m south-west. 32 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 2 of them Grade I and 6 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Church of St Mary | Listed building, Grade II* | 170 m south-west |
| Purley Park | Listed building, Grade II* | 460 m (0.3 miles) south-west |
| The Old Manor House | Listed building, Grade II* | 490 m (0.3 miles) north |
| Mapledurham House | Listed building, Grade I | 530 m (0.3 miles) north |
| Purley Hall | Registered park or garden, Grade II* | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) west |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Pike Shaw | Wood | 870 m (0.5 miles) south-west |
| Kentwood Deeps | Lake or reservoir | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) south-east |
| Park Wood | Wood | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) north-east |
| Roundabout Plantation | Wood | 1.2 km (0.8 miles) north-east |
| Sandy Hill | Hill | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) east |
| Poplar Island | Island | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) south-east |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 7.8 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 6.7 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 10.5 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; PM2.5 is above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 | 0 | 2 |
| Under 55 | 31 | 29 |
2 of the street's 31 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from railways, above the WHO guidelines.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for West Berkshire: see them on the West Berkshire page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purley CofE Primary School Church of England | Primary | 3–11 | 770 m (0.5 miles) | Report card (Apr 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Expected standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Westwood Farm Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | 860 m (0.5 miles) | Report card (Jul 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Westwood Farm Infant School | Primary | 3–7 | 860 m (0.5 miles) | Good (Nov 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Long Lane Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 1 km (0.6 miles) | No published inspection |
| Downsway Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.4 km (0.8 miles) | No published inspection |
| Denefield School | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.6 km (1 mile) | Good (Nov 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Norcot Early Years Centre | Nursery | 2–5 | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) | No published inspection |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purley Park Social Club RG8 8BG | Pub/bar/nightclub | 190 m | 4 Good | 9 Nov 2012 |
| The Mad Duck Cafe RG8 8BG | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 190 m | 5 Very good | 20 Jul 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 6 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5 |
| Other theft | 1 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1 |
| Public order | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Chestnut Grove (5); On or near Waterside Drive (4); On or near Brading Way (3); On or near Park Walk (1); On or near Church Mews (1).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 13% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 91% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 48% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 0% | 1% |
| Social rented | 0% | 17% |
| Private rented | 9% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 67% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 4% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 23% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | under 1% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 49% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 45% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 2% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 4% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | under 1% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 50% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 13% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 42% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 13% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 7% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 97% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | under 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 9 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
Nothing new since the change feed started on 30 October 2026. New sales and energy certificates, and hygiene ratings, school inspections and flood figures nearby, will be listed here as the sources update.
Postcodes on this street
- RG8 8BX: 31 addresses
Nearby streets
Waterside Drive · Chestnut Grove · Church Mews · St Mary's Avenue · Park Walk · Thames Reach · St Mary's Avenue · Wintringham Way · Brading Way · Chiltern View · The Short · Oak Tree Walk
All the streets in RG8 and across West Berkshire.
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.