- Must visit
Reading Museum
Museum on Reading’s history, Huntley & Palmers and local archaeology, housed in the Victorian Town Hall near the abbey quarter.
Cheapest price on 20 Sept
£19
Average ticket price on 20 Sept
£26
Fastest journey on 20 Sept
53 m
Average journey duration on 20 Sept
1 h 24 m
Trains on 20 Sept
2
Distance
60 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from London to Reading Festival is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from London to Reading Festival will cost around £26 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £19.
On Sun 20 Sept, we found 2 trains from London to Reading Festival, including 2 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 60 km distance in an average of 1 h 24 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 53 m .
The slowest trains will take 1 h 55 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.




Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from London to Reading Festival among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £34 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 18m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £34, while a train costs an average of £34.
Distance: 60 km
Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|
£34 Average Price Cheapest | £25 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 18m Average total duration Fastest 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 19m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
You'll arrive about 31m sooner (48m by train vs 1h 19m by car). Tickets start at around £34 compared to roughly £25 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with South Western Railway, Great Western Railway.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for London to Reading Festival trains for today, Saturday 19 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C48264 | Delayed 23:01 0:01London Paddington (PAD) | 0h47 | 0:48 Reading station (RDG) | 0 changesdirect | |
G15467 | Delayed 23:49 0:49London Paddington (PAD) | 0h56 | 0:47 0:47Reading station (RDG) | 0 changesdirect | |
C48267 | Delayed 0:45 1:45London Paddington (PAD) | 0h49 | 2:34 Reading station (RDG) | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from London to Reading Festival run on average 12 times per day, taking around 48m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £24 if you book in advance.
There are 6 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:03, the last at 23:55. The fastest train covers the 60 km distance in 23m.
Distance 60 km |
Average train duration 48m |
Cheapest ticket price £24 |
Trains per day 12 |
Direct trains 6 |
Fastest train 23m |
First train 0:03 |
Last train 23:55 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 7 days |
Discover the best of Reading Festival — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Reading Festival trip today.
Museum on Reading’s history, Huntley & Palmers and local archaeology, housed in the Victorian Town Hall near the abbey quarter.
Riverside gallery focused on modern and contemporary art, with changing exhibitions in a converted waterworks by the River Kennet.
Specialist university museum exploring farming, countryside life and rural change. Its collections and displays are engaging and distinctive.
Central formal gardens beside the abbey ruins and museum. Popular for walks, monuments and relaxing close to Reading’s historic core.
Attractive stretch along the River Thames with boat activity, open views and a pleasant path linking Reading and Caversham.
Busy pedestrianised shopping street with historic frontages and easy access to the station, market routes and town-centre sights.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from London to Reading Festival by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Reading Festival, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most London to Reading Festival trains use the London Paddington to Reading station pair. Use this guide to compare London and Reading Festival train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
London Paddington has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Wasabi, The Beer House, Barburrito, Upper Crust, The Mad Bishop & Bear (Fullers), The Pasty Shop, Burger King, Pret a Manger, The Savanna, Soboro Bakery, & more
Free Wi-Fi in the station. ATMs are located next to the ticket office.
The ticket office is open 24/7. Information desks are located near Platform 1.
Luggage storage is luggage lockers are located near the taxi stand beside Platform 11. . Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at London Paddington: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at London Paddington: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at London Paddington: Wheelchair access, escalators, elevators.
Nearby hotels include Hilton London Paddington, Mercure London Paddington Hotel, The Pilgrm.
London Waterloo is 1 km from London city centre. Public transport options include:
London Waterloo has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at London Waterloo.
Wi-Fi is available at London Waterloo. ATMs are available at London Waterloo.
Ticket office support is available at London Waterloo. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at London Waterloo: Parking, WC.
Available at London Waterloo: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at London Waterloo: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: There is step free access from the main concourse to all platforms, shops and facilities. Step free exits are exit 1 (Station approach), exit 2 (with a lift to Waterloo Road and lift access to the London Underground Jubilee line), and exit 3 for taxis and onward travel towards the South Bank, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available from the taxi rank on Cab Road / Station Approach, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Ticket machines are located at various locations on the main concourse and are accessible to wheelchair users, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Sutton is 17 km from London city centre. Public transport options include:
Sutton has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental, Information Desk and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Number One Thai Restaurant, Brasserie Vacherin
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Sutton. Information desks are located in the main concourse.
Luggage storage is available at Sutton. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Sutton: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Sutton: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Sutton: Ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn London - Sutton, Travelodge London Sutton, Premier Inn London Sutton Hotel.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need