What it's like to live in Slough

Housing in the Slough council area splits roughly into half owned, 30.7 per cent privately rented and 19.6 per cent social rented, a little above the England average of 17.1 per cent. Council homes make up 12 per cent and housing association homes 7.6 per cent, so the council remains the dominant social landlord.

Slough Borough Council holds around 5,955 homes. The main housing associations are A2Dominion South with 679 homes, London & Quadrant Housing Trust with 599, Paradigm Homes with 504 and Metropolitan Housing Trust with 481. Average weekly social rents in 2024/25 were about £113 for a one bed, £138 for two beds and £152 for three, which is reasonable for the South East.

The population skews young. Under-16s make up 24.8 per cent of residents, well above the England figure, while just 9.7 per cent are 65 or over, around half the national share. The council's housing register held 2,309 households at March 2025, and 368 social homes were let through the council in 2024-25, so a mutual exchange is often the more realistic route in.

Families are well served for schools within a short distance. Primary options close to the centre include Littledown School, St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Claycots School Town Hall Campus and Iqra Slough Islamic Primary School, with St Bernard's Preparatory School also nearby. Check current Ofsted reports and admission rules before you commit to a swap, as places in popular schools go quickly.

At secondary level the choice is unusually wide. Slough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise College, Upton Court Grammar School, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School and St Joseph's Catholic High School are all within a mile, alongside the independent Long Close School. Slough keeps selective grammar schools, so entrance tests are part of the picture for some families.

For days out with children, Salt Hill Park and the Salt Hill Parkour Park are a short walk from the centre, with Lascelles Playing Fields nearby for sport. The curve library runs as a community space as well as a library, and community centres at Thomas Gray and Chalvey host local groups. Wexham Park Hospital covers emergencies.

Slough station is about a quarter of a mile from the town centre, which is the single biggest draw for commuters. From there you have Elizabeth line and mainline services east towards London and west towards Reading, plus the branch to Windsor and Eton Central. Windsor and Eton Riverside and Datchet stations sit under two miles away, and Langley station is a little over two miles out.

Buses run from Wellington Street in the centre, which is the main stop now that the old bus station site is closed. Services link the town centre with surrounding neighbourhoods and nearby towns, so a car is useful but not essential if you live centrally.

By road, the M4 runs along the southern edge of town and gives quick access to London, Reading and the wider motorway network. Traffic and parking in the centre can be a grind at peak times. On foot, the town centre is compact and flat: the station, shopping centre, library, hospital and several parks are all within half a mile of each other, which makes everyday errands manageable without driving.

Green space is closer than Slough's reputation suggests. Herschel Park, with its restored Victorian layout, is about half a mile from the centre. Salt Hill Park is the bigger open space, with the parkour park next to it, and Lascelles Playing Fields and the small Yew Tree Road Rest Garden add more options.

For culture, the curve is the town's standout building: library, learning space and venue rolled into one, right in the centre. Langley Library and Windsor Library are within a few miles if you want a change of scene. Shopping is centred on the Observatory Shopping Centre and the surrounding streets.

Eating and drinking is straightforward town-centre fare rather than fine dining. The Moon and Spoon, The Herschel Arms, The Brickhouse, The Alpha Arms and The Queen of England are all within a short walk. Independent food shops reflect the town's mix of communities, which is one of the real pleasures of living here. For exercise there are several gyms, including easyGym and Activ8 Gym in the centre and The Gym a mile out.

Slough has long been a working town, and the figures back that up. In the council area, 62 per cent of adults are in work, above the England figure of 57.4 per cent. That reflects a young population, with nearly a third of residents aged 25 to 44, and a local economy built around trading estates, offices and the wider Thames Valley corridor.

The flip side is that unemployment runs higher than average. Around 5.1 per cent of adults in the council area were unemployed at the 2021 Census, against 3.5 per cent for England, and unemployment-related benefit claims stood at about 6 per cent of working-age residents, compared with 4 per cent nationally. Work is available, but competition is real.

For commuters, the station is the asset. Fast trains put central London, Reading and the Thames Valley within reach, which widens your job options considerably if you are willing to travel. Local health services, schools and retail are also significant employers in the town itself.