Reading's Main Mall - a community center for the area This is 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! read more

Sometimes, you need to shop. You need to hit a mall. You need to wander from one chain store to the next, 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. read more

The Oracle - From the Reading high street - Shopping Centers Near Me - Reading, RDG

The Oracle is a great place. Even though i had issues with Security in the past unlike the Entertainer and WH Smith, After explaining they were more understanding about my learning dissability and even when they had to ban me in the past due to their policy. There head of security was able to negotiate and suspend the ban. Apart from a few bad experiences at the start back when they didn't know about my learning dissabilty but i can undertsand these were mistakes back then. The Oracle is a great place read more

Not so much 3, not so much 4. But a hell of a lot cooler than a 1 or 2! I was there in 2009, and it seemed a very happening place. Lots of people walking around, bags of items. Restaurants with outside seating were filled. I really enjoyed being able to be outside, step on to one of the bridges, look around, and get quite an eyeful - the shopping centre all around you, with the awnings and tables for eating, the Vue (cinema, with it's really cool beacon of lettering), main street drag in the distance, and all the while, the river under you. Quite refreshing! A definite must see, for a people watcher. read more

The Oracle - Oracle / House of Fraser signs - Shopping Centers Near Me - Reading, RDG

A shopping mall with everything, the Oracle seems to be a place for teens to hang out and busy professionals to pass through for a quick item. Nicely done up and comfortable to walk around the Oracle seems to have something for everyone; Topshop, Debenhams, Disney Store, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Boots, Gap, LUSH, to just name a few. There are a number of restaurants surrounding (McDonalds, Jamie Oliver's restaurant, giraffe, etc) that are both family friendly and good for couples wishing for a bite to eat before heading over to the cinema. When it comes to parking, I suggest heading to the top level of the parking garage. What is a few more seconds in a lift anyways? read more

This is one of the nicer shopping centres in the towns/cities west of London. This also means that traffic here can be horrendous. When you do get here, you notice that the high street shops look a little nicer and they have more things that you can peruse. Throw in the many restaurants dotted in the area and you can't go wrong. It's a busy mall but you can get what you need here. read more

My oh my, what a wonderful place to shop! This is a mecca for shoppers, 2 floors full of Retail heaven, with the largest of stores inside. The Boots in there has 2 floors to explore, and there are all the usual suspects, House of Fraser, HMV, Mango, Zara, The Disney store, New look and many more. It backs on to the Riverwalk, a gorgeous place to go for an evening, with a choice of eateries, Nandos, the Slug and Lettuce and of course McDonalds. There is a Vue Cinema, and some Bars on either side of the river, with bridges to walk accross, and deep steps that you can sit on in the sun to eat your sarnies. You could spend a full day and evening here. read more

You have to love the Oracle. If you remember just how bad shopping in Reading was before the nice clean white interior of the Oracle was constucted as a litttle oasis of heaven in Reading, then you know what I mean! They have (almost) everything under one roof,and even better you can park insideso if its raining you need never know! the only thing I would say is it can be little busy of a weekend afternoon! read more

Large shopping centre in Reading. Great place to shop, large selection of stores. The Riverside offers a great selection of food places as well as some eating places within the shopping centre. Parking can be a little pricey and the car park can get a little busy at times, but there's very few shops missing from the Oracle. Offers great links into the town centre too. read more

The Oracle has been awarded several awards since it opened in 2000. These include the Police safer parking accreditation The Park Mark Award, BCSC & ICSC Awards for Best New Shopping Centre 2001, and they have even won and award for Winner of the Loo of the Year 2001 and 2002.It stands to reason then that this is a pretty decent shopping centre. The entire mall, as well as the Riverside, is always spotless, with waste bins in several convenient locations, of which are seen to be emptied regularly. The Oracle is also a complete non-smoking zone, although areas within The Riverside and its bars and restaurants do have smoking areas. The choice of restaurants, bars and retail outlets far surpasses anything in the nearby towns. I would highly recommend it for a day out! read more

The Oracle shopping centre is a multi-story complex that has a wide variety of clothes and entertainment shops. There are also several restaurants in and around the centre, which cater for all tastes. Although the centre is often very busy, the complex is large, light and spacious so it does not get too crowded most of the time. There are maps and signposts around so you can find your way if you get lost looking for a particular store. read more

Great modern shopping centre, easy parking, Many designer shops, all undercover. Easy access to main Reading shopping centre. Many large department stores, House of Fraser, Debenhams, M & S. Lots of places to eat, bars, restaurants, Cinema. Gets very busy Friday and Saturday evenings. Set around the canal - nice in summer. read more

I live 5 minutes walk from the Oracle shopping centre and go there either for shopping, a meal or just a walk about once a week. the Kennet Canal flows through the middle of it, cutting the Vue cinema and some restaurants and parking off from the main Oracle. The range of shops, cafes and restaurants is fantastic. well worth going to do your christmas shopping. Traffic can be a problem at weekends. read more

There is defintely something for everyone in the Oracle, Reading. A comprehensive enclosed shopping centre with a wide range of shops to cover most people's needs. The centre is propped up at either end with big department stores (Debenhams & House of Fraser) and in the centre there are of clothes shops, book shops, jewellers, perfume counters, a hairdresser and plenty of coffee shops to sustain you whilst you go bargain hunting. If you are looking for something more substantial to eat on the riverside there are a wide range of fast food units and restaurants / bars. If it all becomes too much there is even a cinema to relax in after a hard days shopping. read more

You can get most things you need from the Oracle, as most of the high street shops can be found in there. The best bit is that you get to do your shopping all in one place, and its also warm in there, rather than having to walk frfom shop to shop in the cold (or in the rain!). Also, shops in the Oracle are open until much later (until 8pm) than on the high street (6pm). However, parking can be quite costly in the Oracle and finding a spot during the weekend can be quite difficult. If you enter the parking after 6pm, then it is cheaper. read more

Having lived in this area for many years, I remember when the Oracle first opened. How exciting it was to go there for the first time (not even joking.. Reading was fairly dire for any shops, only John Lewis saved it!). Now over 10 years later and the Oracle still looks impressive and has a wide selection of shops for your general perusal. Whilst some have come and some have gone (Blue Tomato and Warner Bros anyone?) there is still something for everyone. Shops include Debenhams, House of Fraser, H&M, Topshop, Goldsmiths, Disney Store, HMV, Waterstones, Republic, Suits You, Zara, Mango and many others. Believe it or not the toilets on the riverside level won the Loo of the Year prize a few years running! Both inside and outside there is a wide selection of cafes and restaurants, set either side of the River Kennet. These include Old Orleans, Slug and Lettuce and the new Jamies Italian. There is also a Vue Cinema. Often there are locally run events in the main stage area around the River, including sandpits in the summer for kids, and trampolines. It is a classic example of how towns have tried to save the town centre from the clutches of the out-of-town shopping centres. This one has definitely done that. read more

I've learned that anytime you feel homesick, no matter where you might be, just look for a shopping mall. You're bound to find some familiar stores to take the edge off. The Oracle is a two-level shopping mall built around the banks of the River Kennet and flanked by two bridges. What did we find here? The Gap, The Body Shop, Crabtree & Evelyn, Disney Store, L'Occitane, H&M, Krispy Kreme, McDonald's, Starbucks and LUSH among the 90 or so stores. Casual restaurants line the riverfront, and offer scenic outdoor seating which during any other season but winter would probably be filled. There's also a 10-screen movie theatre. It reminds me a bit of (a larger) Santana Row back home, but with more shops and less residential space. read more

The oracle shopping centre is a amazing place to shop with a variety of many different shops you will never have nowhere to go. You could grab a bite to eat in one of the many shops and resteraunts like subway, burger king and mcdonalds, or you could go for a peacfull walk down by the riverside. Whatever you decide to do, it will be your best ever shopping experience. read more

Lovely place, certainly in the summer it's beautiful outside. Good selection of shops. I personally find it all very generic and over-priced, but that's just how malls are. read more

A great variety of shops within a vaguely compacted space (or at least it's not traumatic to get from one end to the other) located in the centre of town. You can find almost anything you want here and once you've shopped til you've dropped it's not far to go to treat yourself to a meal out or a film at Vue cinema. The one big negative to this place is the cost of the parking, but if you can get here via any other means then it's irrelevant. read more

I love the Oracle! Really good shopping centre, centrally located in Reading and offering ample parking apart from peak times like Christmas ( stay away then) . Loads of high quality shops packed into one area so you don't have to walk miles carrying heavy bags. The riverside area is a great places for restaurants and there is a huge choice of different eateries. Great for a day out! read more

The Oracle is all it was planning on being: a great venue for shopping, eating and night entertainment. By day, you can buy high street desinger clothing from Morgan to Timberland and by night you can go drinking, dancing or to the ten screen cinema. The only downside is there's nowhere you can quickly grab a chocolate bar or packet of sweets to give you that sugar rush needed when shopping. read more

The Oracle is great, a place for everyone really. OAPS, young children, busy mums and even miserable teenagers take delight in wandering around. Wide variety of shops, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. Tbh, it's pretty awesome. But because of this fact it does get rather busy, but if you don't spend the whole time complaining about the other people in YOUR shopping centre, you'll have a great time. read more

Loads of choice. Great food area and lots of restaurants! House of Fraser seems to always have a sale on!

A decent layout for a mall and a good selection of both independent and chain stores offering a diverse shopping experience. The mall is easy to navigate and, even when busy, does not feel crowded. All the main names are here and the department stores such as Debenhams are vast and competitively priced. Car parking is good and not too expensive. The mall also offers a nice selection of food outlets. read more

The oracle is a indoor shopping mall, with lots of main high street names being located there, such as HMV and Debenhams. it also has a wide variety of food from old orleans to the slug and lettuce. read more

A great shopping mall for a provincial town like Reading. Contains a mix of decent departments stores and other shops for all standards. Some fairly high end brands and jewelry shops are available, not something expected in a smaller English city. A decent choice of places to eat just outside along the river. A large multi-story car park is available and almost always has few free spaces. Lived in Cambridge few years ago and nothing there comes even close. read more