Reading Festival: How the town is preparing

The annual festival attracted more than 90,000 revellers in 2024

Reading Festival is taking place from Thursday 21 August to Sunday 24 August.

More than 90,000 people attended last year's festival, and this year's is set to host major acts including Chappell Roan, Hozier and Travis Scott.

A number of road closures and other strategies will be used to manage the number of people, according to Reading Borough Council.

Here's everything you need to know as a festivalgoer or a local resident.

Traffic

The council has advised residents wanting to travel into or around the town centre between Wednesday 20 and Friday 22 August to plan their journeys in advance, leave early, and be prepared for longer travel times - particularly on Thursday.

Close to normal travel times are then expected on Saturday and Sunday, but roads are expected to be very busy again on Bank Holiday Monday as festivalgoers leave the site.

Chappell Roan is headlining this year's festival

Road closures

A number of road closures and other traffic management schemes are set to be in place during the festival.

• The Thames Path between Scours Lane to the far end of Thameside Promenade will be closed from 19:00 BST to 06:00 from Thursday 21 to Monday 25 August

• Richfield Avenue will be closed from 23:30 to 01:00 on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so that the 30,000 day ticket holders can leave

There are also two other potential traffic management systems, which will depend on congestion levels. They are:

• Northbound closure of Cow Lane between Portman Road and Cardiff Road, between 07:00 and 15:00 on Bank Holiday Monday - residents are being strongly advised to avoid this area

• There could also be temporary traffic management on the Napier Road/Vastern Road roundabout, also on Monday

Parking

The council has said there will be restrictions - including no stopping for pick ups - around the Richfield Avenue site, and that residents should avoid the area unless absolutely necessary.

Hills Meadow Car Park, with a postcode of RG4 8DH, will be the only dedicated area for pick up and drop off, where festivalgoers can either walk to the site or use the free shuttle boat service.

There are two car parks for those attending the festival who have parking passes:

• Mapledurham, where a pedestrian bridge has been constructed direct to the site

• Kings Meadow, where there's an official, free-of-charge festival boat service to the site

The festival takes place over four days

Other ways of getting there

From Reading Station, the council said the quickest walking route would be via the northern side of the station. People arriving by train can also get a hackney carriage to the site, or use the shuttle bus service.

There will also be a temporary taxi rank on Tessa Road, opposite the Rivermead Leisure Centre. The leisure centre will be closed from 05:30 on Wednesday to 22:00 on Monday.

Noise

The council said sound tests would take place on Thursday evening, and on each day prior to the live shows.

There's a hotline for residents with questions or comments during the event, which will be answered between 09:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday and then 24 hours a day from 09:00 on Thursday to 15:00 on Monday.

The number is 020 8080 1518, and residents can also email [e-mail].