Calls to plan ahead for Reading Festival impact

With about 100,000 people set to arrive next week for the Reading Festival, residents and festivalgoers alike are urged to plan ahead.

Reading Borough Council has asked people travelling to the town centre ahead of the festival – which runs from Thursday 27 August to Sunday 30 August – to be prepared for longer travel times.

They are expected to settle down on the Saturday and Sunday but shops and supermarkets are expected to be busier than usual.

Parking restrictions, including no stopping for pick-ups, will be in place around the Richfield Avenue site as normal.

Hills Meadow Car Park will be the dedicated area for drop offs and pick ups and people attending the festival can either walk to the site or use free shuttle buses.

Other festival car parking will be available at Kings Meadow and Mapledurham and a pedestrian bridge has been built to ensure easy and safe access at the latter.

At Kings Meadow, an official festival boat service will be provided free of charge for people going to the site.

The Thames Path will be closed between Scours Lane and the far end of Thameside Promenade from 19:00 to 06:00 on Thursday to Monday.

The council and festival organisers have produced official travel information, along with a wider information page.

Sound testing will take place on Thursday and each day of the festival before live shows under the direct supervision of council officers.

A special hotline number (020 8080 1518) is available for residents who want to offer comments or raise queries during the event.

It will be answered from 09:00 to 17:00 on 26 August and then 24 hours a day from 09:00 on 27 August until 15:00 on 31 August.

Residents can also use the council-run email address ReadingFestivalHotline@reading.gov.uk, which will be regularly checked throughout the festival.

On Tuesday, the festival's organisers were given permission to host music on its main stage on Thursdays from 2027.