Slough is a large town equidistant between London and Reading. It’s a perfect commuter base, though people move here for the local job opportunities as there are many large international companies at Slough Trading Estate.
Transport links in Slough are brilliant. Regular trains to London Paddington station take just 20 minutes. It’s easy to get about by car, too, as Slough is sat at the intersection of the M4, M40 and M25. Heathrow airport is just over a 15-minute drive away, and Gatwick is roughly 45 minutes away.
Slough has some excellent schools, which is a big draw for families. There are plenty of nurseries for young children and a great range of primary schools, including St Mary’s Church of England Primary School and Willow Primary School. Secondary schools are also excellent here, with The Westgate School and Herschel Grammar School both achieving an outstanding rating from Ofsted.
Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre is just a short walk from Slough train station. It has 120 shops, including TK Maxx, Primark, banks, jewellers like Ernest Jones, and places to eat like Nandos and KFC. Windsor Royal Station is a Grade II listed Victorian railway station a few miles from Slough, with luxury brands such as Jigsaw, Hobbs and Molton Brown. There are some lovely places to eat and drink there too, like Patisserie Valerie and Café Rouge.
Slough has so many restaurants you won’t have to cook if you don’t want to. The Renaizance is a contemporary Indian restaurant, and Kai’s Oriental Restaurant & Bar serves delicious Chinese food and supports local suppliers. If you’re after something extraordinary, book into Heston Blumenthal’s award-winning The Fat Duck, which is just seven miles away. For an after-dinner drink, try The Three Tunns, The Red Lion or Millionaire Club.
Slough has good healthcare with plenty of GP services and Upton Hospital, which is right in the centre of town.
Before visiting Slough, many people don’t realise that it’s a town with a lot of green space. Black Park is 250 hectares of land, some of which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There’s play areas, woodlands, Go Ape, and a beautiful lake too. Salt Hill Park is more local, with a play area, tennis courts and café.
Windsor is just a few miles away from Slough and is worth a day out for Windsor Castle alone.