By Andrew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0,

Whitley is a suburb of Reading, in Berkshire. It is also an electoral ward of the Borough of Reading. Historically, Whitley was a hamlet outside Reading borough limits, but within the parish of St Giles church in Reading.

The Borough of Reading is responsible for all local government. Whitley is currently covered by parts of the Church,  Katesgrove  and Redlands wards, within the Reading East parliamentary constituency, and includes all of the Whitley electoral ward, within the Reading West parliamentary constituency.

Whitley ward borders Minster, Katesgrove, Church and  Southcote wards, together with parts of the local government district of Wokingham Borough. As with all wards,  it elects three councillors to Reading Borough Council. Elections since 2004 are held by thirds, with elections in three years out of four.

In 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019 a Labour Party candidate won each election.

Notable residents

• Ricky Gervais, comedian, actor, film director and producer, musician and writer.
• Midge Ure, musician, whilst a member of Slik in 1974 lived briefly on Hexham Road.
• M.L.Emmett, poet, editor, Convenor of Friendly Street Poets Inc. lives in Australia but lived as a child in Ashburton Road, Hartland Road and Brayford Road.