Reading to Watford by train
Watford lies 46 km (28 mi) north-east of Reading, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 26 min at the speeds typical of United Kingdom rail, over roughly 56 km (34 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Reading | Watford | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Population | 318,014 | 125,707 |
| Elevation | 51 m (167 ft) | 77 m (253 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+1 (Europe/London) | UTC+1 (Europe/London) |
| Stations on record | Tilehurst railway station, Reading West, Reading Green Park railway station | Watford Junction railway station, Cassiobridge tube station, Watford railway station |
| Postal codes | RG1–RG6 | NN6–WD99 |
Where to book trains from Reading to Watford
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Staying in Watford
Live rooms and prices for Watford are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Watford
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Watford from Reading?
46 km (28 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Reading; by road roughly 56 km (34 mi).
How long does it take to get from Reading to Watford by train?
About 26 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Reading and Watford?
No, both are on Europe/London at the moment.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.