Reading

Directions

If you are travelling along the M4 from the west you can see the stadium on your left. Leave the M4 at Junction 11, bear left on to the A33 relief road which leads you directly to the stadium. The Madejski Complex is well signposted from Junction 11.

One word or warning if you find yourself in the centre of Reading and you follow signs to Reading FC, you will end up at the old Elm Park ground which has been demolished. The stadium is sign posted 'Madejski Stadium Complex'

Car Parking
There is a car park at the ground and at the nearby speedway/greyhound track, both of which cost £7 They hold about 2,500 cars between them. However if you do not arrive in good time before the game you may find that they are already full.

Mark Sugar adds; 'Don't park in the nearby Business Park, unless there is an individual unit charging for matchday parking. You may find yourself with a parking ticket if you do, or even clamped. The Club, in the interests of crowd safety, now prevent traffic from leaving the car parks, until ten minutes after the final whistle'.

If you arrive early enough then there is street parking to be had along Imperial Way. To find this hotel, leave the M4 at Junction 11 and take the A33 towards Reading. After you come off M4 and head towards the stadium on the A33, turn right at the first roundabout into Imperial Way. There is also some parking at the Old Depot by the Courage Brewery on the A33/Imperial Way roundabout at a cost of £7 per car.

Alternatively the Club operate a 'Park & Ride' scheme at Foster Wheeler at Shinfield Park. This costs for the return shuttle bus; Adults £3, Children £1.50. From Junction 11 of the M4, take the B3270 towards Earley and then follow the signs to 'Football Car Park C'. The car park opens at 1pm for Saturday afternoon games with the first bus departing at 1:30pm.

Pubs

Apart from a Harvester on the road towards Reading, there are no pubs near the ground. So either drink in the town centre or alternatively there are bars at the back of the stands, where Courage, Fosters & Guinness are on offer. James Days adds; 'I would recommend  heading to Friar Street in the town centre where there are about 10-15 different bars and pubs to choose from, which are all pretty friendly' However, I have been informed that not many of these town centre pubs allow fans in wearing colours. 

If arriving by train then 'The Three Guineas' on the station approach has been designated as an away fans pub. 

By Train

Get the train to Reading mainline station and then the No 79 'Football Special' bus. The buses leave just down from the station, commencing at 1pm for Saturday afternoon games. Once you come out of the main station entrance turn right and they are about 200 yards down the road on the opposite side - there is normally one waiting. Dave Stuttard a visiting Leicester City fan informs me; 'I would recommend getting in the bus queue no later than 45 mins before kick off as all football traffic goes down the same dual carriageway to the stadium'. The fare is £2.50 return for adults and £1.25 for children and normally takes about fifteen minutes to get to the ground. Across the road from the station is the Forum pub,  which is good for a pint,  but they don't allow you in wearing colours.

Nicholas Small provides the following walking directions from the railway station to the ground:'I would estimate that the ground is about three miles away from Reading Station, and that unless you walk quite quickly, the journey could take over an hour: Leaving the station, head straight up the road in front of you, crossing over Friar Street onto Queen Victoria Street and heading towards the town centre. Upon reaching Broad Street, you will find yourself opposite the John Lewis store. Cross and head down a narrow passageway (Chain Street) which runs down the right hand side of John Lewis. Soon, you reach a churchyard, which you can cross, bearing right, to the corner of Gun Street and Bridge Street. Cross to the other side of Bridge Street and continue down, turning right into Fobney Street. At the end here, you will soon encounter a couple of blue footpath/cyclepath signs, which point the way to the Madejski Stadium. These will lead you down the left hand footpath alongside the busy A329, which becomes the A33 after about 1200 yards. Keep following this road and eventually you will come to a roundabout. Take the road ahead and continue walking along the roadside. You will briefly walk along a dirt track by the roadside as the A33 crosses a waterway, before walking down the bank to the towpath. The towpath now continues straight ahead towards the stadium, still following the blue cycle path signs. You can't miss it from here, but it is still at least a further 15 minutes walk away'.