Reading itself is home to around 150,000 people, with many more living in the surrounding urban area. Its growth as a city has been helped by its central location - it has become a popular choice of base for high-tech companies and other businesses in recent years and has benefited from considerable inward investment.

The River Thames and River Kennet meet in Reading, providing a number of pleasant riverside locations within the urban area. That it is the meeting place of two rivers is probably one of the reasons that a sizeable settlement originally developed in this location, too.

Reading has a long history. At the time of the Domesday Book, it had a recorded population of 600 people. 250 years later, in medieval times, Reading became the home of a major monastery, Reading Abbey, which was founded by Henry I in 1121. By the 18th and 19th century, Reading had developed into a major industrial centre - thanks in no small part to the benefits of having two navigable rivers running through it, on which cargo could be transported.

Today's Reading is a modern city that's home to a wide range of people and businesses. Van hire in Reading is easily available from a range of local suppliers, each offering a good choice of rental vans:

• Medium / short wheelbase vans - e.g. Ford Transit, Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault Trafic, Volkswagen Transporter
• Small vans - e.g. Vauxhall Combo, Ford Transit Connect, VW Caddy
• Large / long wheelbase vans - e.g. Mercedes Sprinter XLWB, Ford Transit LWB, Renault Master, LDV Maxus
• Luton vans & box vans (3.5 tonne / 3.5t).