The Thames Valley is an excellent place for businesses to set up in the UK. Not only is the region well-placed in terms of its proximity to London, but the Thames Valley also boasts an extensive transport network, with several major established infrastructure projects ensuring outstanding regional, national and international connectivity. Additionally, there are numerous infrastructure projects in the pipeline which will continue to build upon the already established connectivity of the Thames Valley region.
Air
Heathrow is the UK’s only hub airport with 75% of all long-haul flights from the UK taking off from Heathrow. The airport handles over 80 million international passengers annually, flying to 203 worldwide destinations in 84 countries. In 2019, Heathrow was ranked the world’s most connected airport for the third consecutive year.
Rail
From Reading in the West, the Elizabeth Line connects the City and central London, including Heathrow Airport and Canary Wharf, to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Additionally, East-West Rail is creating a new direct connection between Oxford and Cambridge, which once complete will create a world class rail link connecting Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes, Cambridge.
Road
The M4 is the main strategic route between London, the west of England and Wales. It connects people, communities, and businesses, carrying on average 130,000 vehicles per day and is prone to congestion. As well as London, other urban areas in the region rely on junctions 3 to 12 for connectivity, including Reading, Maidenhead, Windsor, Slough, and Hayes.