Hilton Reading

The four-star Hilton Reading hotel is a clean, well-appointed and functional hotel but it could do with a bit of character and a more central (or at least more vibrant) location. It is not a particularly good value hotel when compared to other hotels of a similar standard in Reading.

The guest bedrooms all feature floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable beds, a work desk with an ergonomic chair, a laptop safe, a flat-screen television, ironing facilities, a small fridge and tea and coffee making facilities plus an en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries. Deluxe rooms feature bathrobes and larger beds.

There are also several suites at the Hilton. These are larger 44m2 (473 sq ft) rooms located on the top floor that feature separate living and sleeping areas.

Wi-Fi wireless internet access is free in the business centre and other public areas of the hotel, but Wi-Fi in the rooms costs £14.99 per 24 hours.

Most accommodation packages include a cooked breakfast although the included breakfast does not always apply to all guests staying in the room.

Other facilities in the hotel include a business centre with meeting rooms and offices that you can rent plus a fitness centre, beauty spa, swimming pool and bars and restaurants.

The LivingWell Health Club is the Hilton’s excellent fitness centre, which includes a gym plus a sauna and steam room and a swimming pool that is heated to 29º C (although several guests say that it is too cold to swim in).

The hotel has a bar and restaurant, which is a very good thing as there are very few dining options in the immediate vicinity.

Bar K is the hotel bar, which serves coffee, beer, wine and cocktails as well as a lunch menu and is open daily till 1am. The Larder restaurant has a more extensive menu and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a focus on contemporary British cuisine.

The hotel is 3.2km (2 miles) south of Reading town centre. The immediate vicinity is a pleasant residential neighbourhood with modern blocks of flats plus a few office buildings and car dealerships but it feels sterile and there are no pubs, restaurants and cafes around to add life to the area. Local bus routes 40, 50a, 52a, 53a, 60a and 60e stop outside the hotel with a regular service into Reading town centre. Alternatively, it takes around 40 minutes to walk into the town centre; the first 10 minutes or so is along the busy A33 but the rest of the walk is on a footpath alongside the River Kennet.

The Hilton Reading is not a bad option if you’re driving and free parking is available in the hotel’s underground car park.