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Wokingham is a lovely, traditional, family-friendly market town. Just 37 miles west of London and 8 miles southeast of Reading, its story began in Saxon times. The land it now sits on was once the property of a local chieftain, Wocca, and was known as 'Wocca's people's home'. Over the years, its name gradually changed. For a time it was called Oakingham and then, in later years - Wokingham. Its market traditions can be traced back as far as 1258, when the Bishop of Salisbury bought the rights to hold three town fairs a year there. In the Tudor period, it became famous for its silk and you can still see some of the cottages where it was produced in Rose Street. In more modern times, it has become a popular town for commuters and their families. In 2017, it came sixth in a Halifax survey of the top ten places to live in the UK. And, in 2012, it was hailed as the most desirable place in England and Wales to bring up a family. Famous inhabitants have included author Dick Francis and singer Will Young.
Its location makes it ideal for commuting. Nestling in beautiful Berkshire countryside in the M3/M4 corridor, it is only a short drive from London and the fast train will take you from the newly renovated Wokingham Station to Paddington in just 39 minutes. To add to its allure, the town centre has been going through a period of regeneration and, in 2020, the work won top prize in an Award for Planning Excellence. The latest phase of this multi-million pound scheme includes the redevelopment of the Carnival Pool and Fitness Centre.
As an historic market town, there is a decent selection of period property, most of which is to be found in its centre - Broad Street, Denmark Street, Peach Street and Shute End. Outside of those areas, properties tend to be relatively modern, with the town going through a prolonged period of growth that started in the ‘60s. There is certainly a wide range of properties to choose from.
The majority of sales in 2020 were for detached properties, at an average price of £660,775. Semi-detached properties averaged £414,563 and terraced properties £323,133. There is a wide variety of flats, most are purpose-built, with an average price of £227,727. The average rent for a one bed flat is £999, rising to £1,471 for the average house.
As a growing town, there’s no shortage of new developments, including the Lilacs, Mulberry View, Emmbrook Place, The Woodlands and Hampshire Way, Saxons Court and Cranford Pines.
The area is blessed with an impressive number of schools and colleges. There are 40 primary schools listed by Ofsted within a few miles of the town centre. Top of the list are St. Teresa's Catholic Academy, Westcott Infant School and WestEnde Junior School.
There are a further 14 secondary schools. The Holt School, St Crispin's School and The Emmbrook School are some of the best performing ones. There are also two independent schools - Luckley House School and Reddam House Berkshire. Further education is provided by Bracknell & Wokingham College and Reading University is just a few miles away.
There are all the services you would expect in a reasonable-sized market town - doctors and dentists, solicitors, etc. Wokingham has its own hospital and Reading’s many hospitals, including the renowned Royal Berkshire Hospital, are all close by.
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