Staying in Slough, where to go near & far? September 22-30, '25

Is there a particular reason why you're staying in Slough, maybe family? Otherwise it's not the most obvious place to stay.

Having said that Slough is pretty well connected. The Elizabeth Line will get you straight into central London, albeit at a bit of cost. Going the other way you can get easily to places like Bath, Bristol and Oxford with a simple change at Reading. And you're right next to Windsor.

Windsor would definitely be on my list. It's just a 6 minute train ride from Slough. I found Windsor very charming. Bath is another possibility - it's about 1.5 hours from Slough.

Having spent a week in Reading I can confirm that staying out in that direction is not the most convenient location for a first time visitor. But if you're set on staying in Slough you could also take the train all the way out to Moreton-in-Marsh as either a day trip to get a glimpse of the Cotswolds or to then rent a car and stay for a day or two.

Windsor/Eton/Runnymede are on your doorstep.

Richmond/Kew Gardens.

Thames path - I love the stretch between Marlow and Cookham. Train to Maidenhead and switch to the branch line to Marlow. Lots of pubs/tearooms along the way, and the charming Stanley Spencer gallery in Cookham.

Cliveden - but you will need to take a taxi at least part of the way I think.

Cotswolds or even the Chilterns are lovely for driving around and plenty of walks.

The UK is pretty gluten-free friendly; that should not be a problem. Hobson's has several branches in London & has a gluten-free menu for fish-n-chips. Some options for afternoon tea:
https://www.aladyinlondon.com/2023/11/gluten-free-afternoon-tea-london.html

Have fun! I assume you have your ETA.

Slough is where the original UK version of The Office was set. For the US version, it was set in where they could find most equivalent to Slough, which was Scranton PA. If you’ve got free lodging in Slough, ok. Otherwise, stay in London.

Slough is also where Slow Horses is set.

There seems to be a kneejerk reaction about cost, yet if you pay by contactless the off peak fare to Paddington is £7.10 or £9.90 to any other Zone 1 station. Get a fast train and it is just 17 minutes to Paddington. On the Elizabeth line 38 minutes direct to Tottenham Court Road.

Barely more than a tube fare from Heathrow to Zone 1, and well less than the Elizabeth line fare from Heathrow.

Buses 5, 8 and 704 also run direct to Heathrow Terminal 5, the 8 and 704 half hourly, the 5 hourly- the 8 is a local bus but the 704 runs fast in 22 minutes. The 5 is also pretty fast at 27 minutes.
The A4 also runs to Heathrow Central Bus Station every half hour fast in 24 minutes, and runs 24/7. All these buses cost £3 each, and this is travelling "like a local".

Also, travelling like a local, there is also the Greenline 703 hourly to Victoria- again £3. For those who haven't used it this is very much a locals commuter bus. There is also the Red London bus (at £1.75 London Bus fares) 81 to Hounslow every 15 minutes. Change at Harlington Corner for Heathrow Central- about a 45 to 50 minute journey overall, on the one fare. Truly how the locals travel.

If starting in Slough there are lots of bus routes into Windsor, with a combined service more frequent than the train.

There are also buses out to Chesham and Amersham in 'Metroland' at the end of the Metropolitan line, and to High Wycombe for various places in Buckinghamshire. There is also a weekday bus back from Oxford to Slough via High Wycombe at around 5pm.

There is also the Thames Branches Day Ranger rail ticket- valid all stations Paddington to Reading, and branches to Henley, Marlow and Windsor- valid off peak (0921 onwards) weekdays/any time weekends, for £27.50 or £18.30 with railcard.

In the centre of Slough there is a huge 24/7 Tesco food store.

Slow Horses is not set in Slough. The team is based in Slough House which is in London.

Slightly off topic, John Betjeman famously wrote a poem called ‘Slough’ which starts with line ‘Come, friendly bombs, and rain on Slough!it isn’t fit for humans now’ Apparently it wasn’t specifically about Slough but it didn’t do much for the towns reputation!

Be aware that Slough is not an attractive town. If you’ve been put there as part of a package holiday then it will be purely for cost reasons as it’s a cheap place to stay.

You’ve got lots of good advice about places to visit nearby so you should be able to make the best of it.

Putting the useless spies in Slough House is part of the joke. The name is the antithesis of anything glamorous.