Reading, England best airport to Europe

The obvious answer is Heathrow. Reading, Berkshire (nobody but people from the USA ever says {placename}, England) is just west of Heathrow (look at a map), and has a connecting express bus service to Heathrow.

But, this will not be the cheapest. No cut price airlines fly from Heathrow. For cheap you want either Luton or Gatwick airports. But, they are not convenient to Reading. They would need either a long drive or take a train from Reading into London, then the tube, then a train out to the airport.

The third option is to take the train. Reading to London Paddington, short ride on the tube, London St Pancras to Brussels and Brussels to Amsterdam city centre. Slowe but more comfortable than flying. See www.eurostar.com for details.

The obvious answer is Heathrow. Reading, (nobody but people from certain countries in Continental Europe would feel the need to add the borough after the name of a well known city like Reading.)

1)Flights out of Heathrow aren't too bad....I checked a random date in March and the price quoted was $99 one way/$169 return

2) Alternate airports like Gatwick or Luton. To get to either or these, take the Heathrow bus out of Reading to Heathrow Airport. Then change to the direct bus to either Gatwick or Luton airports. No need to go through London. The trips to both airports from Heathrow are between 1 hour 5 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes depending on time of day. (Stay away from Stansted as it's too far away.)

Fares on Easyjet from Gatwick to Amsterdam on the same date were $60/$98 respectively.

However, before you rule out Heathrow, factor in the cost of getting to either Gatwick or Luton and it may just be cheaper, and easier, to fly out of Heathrow.

Heathrow - 3 coaches an hour from outside the railway station.
Gatwick - 1 direct train an hour (no need to go via London or Heathrow).

One slight wrinkle is that the KLM flights from LHR go from terminal 4 which the coach does not serve directly. It does go straight to T5 for British Airways first stop though.

Thank you to all, and for the moral support from Frank II.

Reading has tried to become an official city on three recent occasions, the most recently in 2012. What seems to be one of the issues is much of the population is not inside the current town boundary. The buses though do say 'City Centre' ....

Milton Keynes is another perennial loser in the city game. Not sure really why there is a limit put on these but it seems there is.

Southampton Airport is a good third alternative.