Readind Vs Watford

[milly143]

Found the perfect dress today from Oasis I want to wear to a wedding next weekend and xmas party the following weekend. The only places nearby that have my size are Reading and Watford. I've never been to either so can anyone recommend if either place is better in terms of ease of getting there, parking, access to shops, etc? I'll be going from Chinnor in Oxfordshire (right next to the M40).

[Buenchico]

I've only been to Reading a few times, but I've managed to get stuck in long queues of traffic every time! Using the Park-&-Ride system would probably be a better option than trying to park in the town centre:
http://www.reading-tr...Information/ParknRide

Access to Watford is easier. Simply follow the signs from Jn 19 of the M25. Car parking is well sign-posted and surprisingly cheap:
http://www.watford.go.../car-parks---council/

Shopping in Watford though isn't a particularly great experience. The Harlequin Centre is where you'll find most of the main stores
http://www.theharlequ...%20Guide%20SS2010.pdf
with a few other shops around the town centre.

I've not done much shopping in Reading, so I can't tell you much about it. However the main shopping centre is The Oracle:
http://www.theoracle.com/website/

Chris

[milly143]

Thanks again Chris - I appear to have your undivided attention this evening. :o)

I have looked on both sites and the store I need appears to be in the shopping centres of both places so I am hoping it shouldn't be too hard to find whichever one I go to. Sounds like Watford might be the best option as I only intend to go to one shop and leave again I'm not too worried what the rest of it is like.

[bednobs]

hiya, can't you ask if they can deliver it to the oxford shop for you, or order online? I live in Reading and have never really had any problem getting to the town centre by car, but perhaps chris means queues to get off the motorway into reading itself? This time of year there will be queues everywhere i suppose. Is the dress very expensive?

[milly143]

Hi Bednobs, I tried to order it online when I got home from town yesterday but there was a problem with the site so I couldn't and as I need it for Saturday I was worried about timing (in case it was no good and I would have to find something else). Good news is I found out they had it in House of Fraser in Aylesbury which is pretty close to here and the bonus was that they had a special offer so instead of paying the original £60, I only paid £20 and it looks gorgeous! woohoo!

[gingejbee]

For future reference, it has to be Watford over Reading every time.

[bednobs]

brilliant - i was going into reading tomorrow and thought if it wasn't too expensive i'd get it and meet you halfway or something

[milly143]

Ah Bednobs, I've only just spotted your post here. That would have been a lovely offer. Thank you!

[bednobs]

well, i'm not all that far from chinnor

[milly143]

Aren't you? Do you mind if I ask where - just roughly maybe.

[bednobs]

i reckon wallingford would be about 1/2 way for both of us

[milly143]

Oh wow, you must be fairly close by then. Well I'll meet you in Wallingford in the summer then, we can go for a paddle. :o)