It’s usually regarded as having closeness to towns that are slightly larger – and being within commuting distance of London however Wokingham is a city with plenty to offer visitors as well as most importantly, for the residents who reside there. That’s perhaps the reason why its population has continued rise over the last 10 years or so and goes a long way to explain the many recognitions and titles it’s received in recent years.
There is a sense of happiness all the time in Wokingham. It has received a great deal of praise in recent times and is a regular spot on ‘best places to live’ lists. For 2012, the town was ranked first in the Family Friendly Hotspots Report, that highlights the top places in England and Wales for families to raise their children. This is not a huge surprise due to the wide range of education possibilities available.
It’s also been deemed the most healthy place in the UK in a survey conducted by Public Health England, and the best for general living standards according to a study done by Halifax. Although it’s not at the top of the tables, it will usually be found in or near among the five top places.
Let’s have a closer look at what is it that makes Wokingham such a great location to live.
The ideal location
Like we said, Wokingham’s position in the middle of England isn’t the only thing which makes it the ideal place to live however it is a major draw for many home-buyers.
Just 40 miles from the centre of London and 10 miles from Reading, it has quickly been regarded as a paradise for commuters seeking to escape the bustle of big cities and exorbitant price of property. It’s not just about Reading and London as well – residents can find Basingstoke, Maidenhead, Farnborough and Guildford within easy reach and makes finding work a much easier.
The locational advantages of Wokingham aren’t only about practicality. Although it is located close to several prominent urban areas, the town is located in the middle of nature. In addition to the vast forest areas and lush fields, but the town also has the option of nature preserves and golf courses that they can explore at their leisure.
Transport
Being in such a beautiful area is enough to draw any visitor to a city or town, but not everything will be within the reach of a stroll. If this weren’t the case, Wokingham probably wouldn’t be the characterful and peaceful place it is. This is why Wokingham’s transport infrastructure is essential – with a handy bus system and accessible rail and road connections the residents are able to move around the town’s services without any trouble or hassle.
First, drivers can gain access to the M4 motorway by taking a short trip up the A329, which connects South Wales right through to London including cities and towns like Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, Swindon and Reading as it travels. The M3 is also easily reachable via the southbound portion of the same dual carriageway, and offers straightforward connections to Hampshire and, once again, London.
Wokingham is also well-served by its local train station. From there, it’s possible to get to all the major towns and cities nearby in addition to small and less-known villages such as Crowthorne. In addition, a daily direct service means that vacationers can get to Gatwick Airport in little more than an hour.
You can walk between one side of Wokingham to the other in just 45 minutes, but buses make the journey much easier. First network, for instance. First system, for instance has a variety of stops within the region and takes passengers to nearby towns too.
There’s no place for boredom
Being busy isn’t a problem in Wokingham; the town has plenty in terms of leisure activities, especially in light of the small size.
For a start, there are a lot of parks within the area, such as Barkham Road Recreation Ground, Langborough Recreation Ground, Elms Field and Waverley Park. In addition, there are a variety of playing fields and leisure centers, and it’s easy to see why sporting activities are so abundant. Over 20 teams are based in Pinewood Leisure Centre alone, for example. Like in numerous cities and towns across the UK soccer is extremely well-known. There are Wokingham & Emmbrook F.C representing in the regional lower leagues.
There’s plenty of entertainment to be had away from sports as well. Every August, thousands of people gather from across Berkshire as well as across the country to take part in this festival. Wokingham Music, Food & Drink Festival for instance which is where local artists and food producers get together to exhibit their creations. The medium of film is also given a chance to shine for a week prior to it, as an outdoor cinema is installed in the town.
The best part about Wokingham is the variety of lively villages around the town – offering a taste of the country yet being within the town’s popular attractions. Finchampstead is one such village situated about three miles south of Wokingham, and has a great offering of traditional pubs.
It is home to some exceptional primary schools, and the amazing California Country Park – which includes nature walks, a paddling pool and an adventure playground for kids play area – Finchampstead is a great place for family life.
Moving forward
A lot of Wokingham has been redeveloped over the past few years and Wokingham is by no means standing in a stalemate. Because of an investment of 100 million pounds in a regeneration project orchestrated by Wokingham’s council (under the name of Wokingham Enterprise Limited), the future is extremely promising too. It’s clear that as the population grows steadily, the local government is continuing to explore ways of making sure the standard of living that residents of Wokingham enjoy is as good as it gets.
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Expanding projects are therefore, ongoing; and residents can anticipate seeing the great facilities and amenities get better over the next few years. When this happens it will not just become easier, but also the value of homes in Wokingham will start to rise and it’s an excellent option for both the short and long-term.