Reading
River confluence town since Saxon times. 'Three Bs' (beer, bulbs, biscuits) gave way to Silicon Corridor. UK's highest digital density; £13.6bn tech turnover. Saxon market became AI hub.
Reading exists because two rivers meet. Saxon leader Reada settled where the Thames and Kennet converge in the 6th century—'Reada ingas' meant 'the people of Reada.' River transport to London made the site a market town. In 1121, Henry I founded a monastery that transformed Reading into a pilgrimage destination; Parliament even met there occasionally. The abbey's dissolution in 1538 ended that phase, but the location endured.
Victorian Reading became famous for the 'Three Bs': beer (Simonds Brewery, 1785–2010), bulbs (Suttons Seeds, 1837–1974), and biscuits (Huntley & Palmers, 1822–1976). Huntley & Palmers became the world's largest biscuit manufacturer, employing 5,000 workers and producing 400 varieties. Reading was known as 'Biscuit Town.' The railway arrived in 1840, linking London and Bristol; good communications multiplied the town's advantages.
When the Three Bs declined, technology replaced them. The M4 motorway opened in the 1960s, creating a corridor that linked London to Bristol via Reading. American tech companies discovered that Reading offered proximity to Heathrow, skilled graduates, and lower costs than London. Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, and Huawei established headquarters along the M4—'Silicon Valley of England.' Today Reading has the UK's highest digital density, nearly twice that of any competitor.
The digital sector contributes £13.6 billion in annual turnover and over 45,000 jobs. The Thames Valley hosts 56,000 tech professionals in Berkshire alone. Digital accounts for 25% of Reading's productivity. The Elizabeth Line now connects Reading directly to central London.
By 2026, the TVAI (Thames Valley AI) hub will test whether Reading can lead the UK's AI transition. The confluence that drew Saxon settlers now draws global tech investment. Geography still matters.