The 'other' shopping plaza in Reading, Broad Street doesn't have the glitz and glamor of the Oracle…read moreShopping Plaza a short walk away. Which isn't to say it's a poor experience, because it's good! Anchor shops like TJ Maxx and Argos, plus name brands Supercuts, GNC, Ethel Austin, Poundland and Foot Locker. There isn't a food court, but there is a nice atrium with a coffee shop and a bakery (on site baking!) making for a pleasant experience in good weather or bad. There is a staffed kiosk for the Reading bus system for questions and for buying your bus fare debit card.

Although very much the poor relation to the Oracle, there is certainly nothing wrong with The…read moreButts. It has a wide range of shops to explore and always seems very busy. Broad St Mall also has a multistorey carpark attached to it so you don't have to rely on parking at the oracle which can get gridlocked at weekends. If you need a break from shopping there are plenty of places you can get a drink or something to eat to catch your breath before you return to the bargain hunting.

This place never seems to get too many visitors hence the quick turnover of shops It's very close…read moreto the station in Reading (just next to the Vodka bar)... It does have some little gems of shops in there though. There's a high quality tobacconist specialising in cigars, an sweet shop where you can buy by weight, there are fab circus skills shop selling juggling stuff, frisbees etc, a second hand record shop (usually quite busy) and there is at least 1 antique shop. Worth a browse at least.

Harris Arcade really is the place to visit, you can't walk…read morepass without a little browse, go and support our local traders, it really is a special place to be Fabulous shops, gifts, Arts, antiques and lots more.

Reading's Main Mall - a community center for the area This…read moreis a unique place for a lot of different reasons. It is in the heart of Reading and serves as a main community center for the area. The south side of it opens onto an area with at least 2-foot bridges over the River Kennet. On the north side you are in the heart of Broad Street, the brick-lined walking space that seems a Hallmark of the city. Inside, the mall boasts a wide selection of high-street brands, boutiques, and specialty stores, making it a shopaholic's paradise. As of September 2021, they hosted over 80 stores and restaurants. I visited recently one of their big anchor stores that was closing. It offers a plethora of dining options, from international cuisine to local delicacies. The Riverside dining area is particularly popular, providing a scenic backdrop for a meal. Their website seems to suggest that they host various events and activities throughout the year, keeping the atmosphere lively and engaging. I tried the McDonalds. It was extremely busy but it was also right off the riverside dining area and accessed from outside the main structure. Whether you're looking for a day of retail therapy, a delicious meal with a view, or a fun outing with friends and family, The Oracle shopping center in Reading offers it all. It's a vibrant hub that epitomizes modern urban living and leisure. If you can't find what you are looking for in the mall, you have the option of looking right outside along Broad Street. Enjoy!

Sometimes, you need to shop. You need to hit a mall. You need to wander from one chain store to the…read morenext, filling up your bags and emptying your wallet. If you're in Reading, the place to do that is right here at the Oracle shopping center, which sits on both sides of the River Kennet just off the Reading high street. Lots of top name shops here, including a Disney Store (they're everywhere!), Debenham's, House of Fraser and John Lewis, plus of course Boots. Plenty of restaurants and boots to pick up everything from this years selections of calendars to pictures for your phone. And on the subject of phones, they also have representation of the major mobile companies Vodaphone, Orange and more. I did find the PC World to be a little lacking of some of the lower tier items for computers, but they have high end stuff like big screen TV's and desktops. Decent hours: Mon-Fri 9.30 to 20, Sat 9 to 19 and Sun 11 to 17.

quality is no longer priority all clothes Chinese or Bangladeshi, sizes are awful and so is cut of…read moregarments .They also wash up poorly. many years ago they proudly displayed signs stating 90% of items sold British made. M And S will surely disappear from the high street you can't sell this rubbish for long

Marks and Sparks. I've heard so much about M&S from Mrs. K. (my wife is a Brit who moved to the…read moreStates), I had to make sure to stop by here at least once. Marks is the quintessential British department store. With departments selling everything from clothing to kitchen appliances to bed and bath soft furnishings, plus a major supermarket of food, it's possible that you could shop M&S and never need to go anywhere else. They literally sell everything but cars! Very good quality stuff. Not just the clothing (which tends to run more towards the expensive side than the moderate end), the food options are plentiful. Lots of ready-to-heat items and things that need little preparation. I managed to find exactly what I needed - a decent pair of sneakers and a warm sweater. I also stocked up on a few eats too. Yay, Marks and Sparks! I'll be back.

They were really friendly, with a good range of clothes, and good prices! Certainly vintage and not…read morejumble sale. Staff very knowledgable. Spacious shop

Massive department store on Reading's high street, John Lewis has everything. No cheap knock-offs…read morehere, it's all name brands and it's all expensive. Similar in theme to Macy's or Dillard's or Bloomingdale's in the States, the John Lewis department store is carved up into various sections for menswear, ladieswear, boys, girls, housewares, electronics, jewelry, perfumes and more. Very good service, which is what you are paying for. The electronics department includes televisions, radios and computers, priced at what I think are above PC World and Argos prices. All that said, it's a lovely store and a pleasant shopping experience. If I ever win the lottery, this is where I will blow most of my winnings.

I like John Lewis and the Reading store is one of my favourite destinations…read more Until last Saturday when the shop staff made me feel like a criminal. I was looking at their Xmas decorations along with other shoppers. First I noticed one shop assistant shadowing my every step then i went to look at the table settings and another assistant tailing me again. I looked around several times at the other shoppers and none of them appeared to be receiving the same dogged attention. This continued even after I purchased some items and moved to the cooking utensils. As the only black female on the shop floor, I left the store feeling harassed and victimised. I am still upset reliving the horrible experience. I will not be visiting again for the foreseeable future.

Just the same as "TJ Maxx" in the States, we have TK Maxx over here. They sell the same stuff, some…read moreoverpriced and some quite reasonable. I was able to pick up a jumper ('sweater' in American) and browse through some of the other menswear. Some fashionable, some quite picked over. There are also the usual other departments you would expect in a department store - shoes, women's clothing, boys and girls, gifts and housewares. Paying for your purchase is always a bit of a challenge, especially in a country that doesn't really have a service industry. A few tills ('registers'), but always a queue ('line'). There are a few good bargains here and there, but a lot of it is crap. It's all up to you and your fashion sense.

A few years ago you wouldn't have seen me dead in this place. However, I have to grudgingly admit…read morethat the range of clothing and household goods are staggering and the prices even more so. Be prepared to battle with every chav that Reading possesses as you wade through all the clothing chucked on the floor. And be prepared to queue for a very long time at the check-out. All said and done though, you will get some serious bargains here.

High fashion, which reminded me of Macy's or Sax's Fifth Avenue in the States. Lots of "famous"…read morename brand clothing at undiscounted prices for those who simply must wear whatever it is that's in season this season. Needless to say, that's not me. This store also has a furniture and housewares department with prices that just about gave me a nosebleed. But if that's you, this is your store. Ask about the personal shopper and the "gold shopper" lounge. Woo!

This is a great Debenhams.its massive, and really has everything you could hope for in a debenhams!…read more The staff are superhelpful, and when I recently went in to get some makeup needed to cover a blackeye(darn muggers!) for an interview, they were much nicer than the ladies in Boots in trying to help me find the best solution!

I ventured to Reading on an excursion from Uxbridge expecting to find a fairly monotonous, dull…read moretown. That's what I found in all honesty except for one or two gems. This place was one of the gems. More specifically than Oxfam it is an Oxfam Music Shop and it's really one of the best offerings Oxfam has. There are boxes filled with records of all genres from bluegrass to techno and a good selection of CDs and music books too. The prices are much better than you'd find in London and more akin to a charity shop than a record store. For me the best part was the classical music selection. 10 records for £5. That's 50p for an LP. Insane. I was giddy, I couldn't take too many back with me but I managed to find 10 with some supremely awesome arrangements and wonderfully designed covers. At 50p you can just pick 10 random records and take them home to listen to, if you don't like it you can redonate it at no really great loss and if you do then it's a bonus. I really wish I lived closer so I could go back time and time again. Also, erm, the staff were supremely hot. I mean it's kind of a cliché that hot indie types would work in an Oxfam music store but they do. Seriously.

This interesting charity shop is set just off Broad Street and sells primarily CDs, DVDs, sheet…read moremusic, LPs, EPs and other vinyls. Sometimes there can be some real classics to purchase, and when I was in there a customer enquired about an Iron Maiden LP which I think was priced around £35, so some collectors items can be had. I bought two pieces of sheet music which they priced at 99p each (both single songs). They have music for piano, recorder, organ, keyboard, double bass and guitar. I was very tempted by a Placebo CD for £3.99 in excellent condition although I refrained. Definitely worth a look if you're into music, and also want to help a worthwhile cause.

the manger Mark discriminates are targets people with hidden dissbilities. He banned me just…read morebecause I was struggling a lot and lashed out In his shop due to my learning disability and keeps calling the police for no reason when im either standing outside or if I'm clumsy and accidentally drop my drink. seems like if you have a hidden dissability he's going to get you arrested because he hates people with hidden or learning disabilitys. . I've got my own issues going on and he keeps targeting me

Toy shop on the Reading high street, they carry all the stuff for the little ones up to the early…read moreteens. Barbie's and GI Joe and other dolls, board games, electronic toys, you name it. Prices are reasonable and the staff is very helpful. If you don't know quite what you need, they're happy to offer suggestions based on the age of the recipient. Good stuff!