View source for Slough

{{Short description|Town in Berkshire, England}}
{{pp|vandalism|small=yes}}
{{about|the town}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name        = Slough
| civil_parish         =
| country              = England
| region               = South East England
| coordinates          = {{coord|51.508392|-0.58810504|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference    =
| post_town            = SLOUGH
| postcode_area        = SL
| postcode_district    = SL1–SL3
| dial_code            = 01753
| unitary_england      = [[Borough of Slough|Slough]]
| shire_county         = [[Berkshire]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Slough (UK Parliament constituency)|Slough]]
| hide_services        = Yes
| population           = 143,184
| population_ref       = (2021 Census)
| area_total_km2       = 30.32
| area_total_sq_mi     = 11.71
| static_image_name = {{multiple images|border=infobox
| image1 = Slough town centre.png
<!--please crop me at the top and bottom-->
| image2 = St. Mary's Church, Slough.jpg
| image3 = Old Town Hall, 19 Bath Road, Slough.jpg
| image4 = Slough - Uxbridge Road Gas Works (geograph 5257312).jpg
| image5 = Queensmere Shopping Centre, Slough.jpg
| image6 = High Street, Slough - geograph.org.uk - 2733446.jpg
| image7 = Tower of Our Lady Immaculate ^ St Ethelbert Catholic Church, Slough - geograph.org.uk - 3459586.jpg
| image8 = Aerial View of Slough Trading Estate.JPG
|align = center |total_width = 250|perrow=1 2
}}
| static_image_caption = From top, left to right: Slough skyline, [[St Mary's Parish Church, Slough|St Mary's Church]], [[Slough Town Hall|Old Town Hall]], [[Slough Gas Works|Gas Works]] and surrounding area, Queensmere Shopping Centre, High Street, [[St Ethelbert's Church, Slough|St Ethelbert's Church]] and [[Slough Trading Estate]].
| website              = {{URL|https://slough.gov.uk/}}
}}
'''Slough''' ({{IPAc-en|s|l|aʊ}}) is a town in [[Berkshire]], England, in the [[Thames Valley]], {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of central [[London]] and {{convert|19|mi|km|0}} north-east of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], at the intersection of the [[M4 motorway|M4]], [[M40 motorway|M40]] and [[M25 motorway|M25]] motorways. It is part of the [[Historic counties of England|historic county]] of [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Parishes: Slough |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol3/pp301-302 |website=British History Online |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref> In 2021, the population of the town was 143,184.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slough (Unparished Area, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southeastengland/admin/slough/E43000235__slough/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> The wider [[Borough of Slough]] had a population of 158,500.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slough (Unitary District, Slough, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/admin/slough/E06000039__slough/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

[[Demographics of Slough|Slough's population]] is one of the most ethnically diverse in the United Kingdom,<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1700 Focus on Ethnicity and Diversity]. UK National Statistics. Retrieved 16 February 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/23/gay-bisexual-population-uk| title = Office for National Statistics survey| first = Alan | last = Travis | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | location = London | date = 23 September 2010 }}</ref> attracting people from across the country and the world for labour since the 1920s, which has helped shape it into a major trading centre. As of the 2021 UK census, 46.9% of the population was [[British Asian|Asian]], 35.9% [[White British|White]], 7.5% [[Black British|Black]], 4% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]], 1.2% [[British Arab|Arab]] and 4.5% of [[Other ethnic group (United Kingdom Census)|other]] ethnic heritage.<ref name="2021census" />

Slough has the highest concentration of UK [[Headquarters|HQs]] of global companies outside London. [[Slough Trading Estate]] is the largest industrial estate in single private ownership in Europe, with over 17,000 jobs in 400 businesses.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/001/17.pdf| title = Slough Estates petition to Parliament, Crossrail bill 2005–06}}</ref> [[BlackBerry Limited|Blackberry]], [[McAfee]], [[Burger King]], [[DHL]], [[Telefonica]] and [[Lego]] have head offices in the town.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.centreforcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Cities-Outlook-2017-Web.pdf| title = Centre for Cities}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Slough|Cippenham Moat}}
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 
| image1            = 6664 at Slough, October 1955.jpg
| caption1          = Former [[Great Western Railway|GWR]] locomotive [[GWR 5600 Class|6664]], photographed near the engine shed at Slough, October 1955
| image2            = Slough bus station berkshire.jpg
| caption2          = The Brunel bus station and car park, opened in 1975,<ref>p11, ''The Changing Face of Slough'', Slough Museum, Breedon Books, Derby, 2003</ref> has now been demolished as work has started on the Heart of Slough project.<ref name="sloughobserver.co.uk"/>
| image3            = Slough Library.jpg
| caption3          = Robert Taylor Library
| image4            = 1978 Suters album scan0007.jpg
| caption4          = Suters Limited in Slough High Street, 1978
}}

The name was first recorded in 1195 as ''Slo''. It first seems to have applied to a hamlet between [[Upton, Slough|Upton]] to the east and [[Chalvey]] to the west, roughly around the "Crown Crossroads" where the road to Windsor (now the A332) met the Great West Road.<ref>Fraser (1973), p. 4.</ref> The [[Domesday Book|Domesday]] Survey of 1086 refers to Upton, and a wood for 200 pigs, worth £15. During the 13th century, King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] had a palace at Cippenham. Parts of Upton Court were built in 1325, while St Mary the Virgin Church<ref name="stmarythevirgin">{{cite web | url = http://www.findachurch.co.uk/search/church_view.php?church_id=43878 | title = St Mary the Virgin Church | publisher = findachurch.co.uk | access-date = 29 July 2010 | archive-date = 24 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170924225619/http://www.findachurch.co.uk/search/church_view.php?church_id=43878 | url-status = dead }}</ref> in [[Langley, Berkshire|Langley]] was probably built in the late 11th or early 12th century, though it has been rebuilt and enlarged several times.

From the mid-17th century, [[stagecoach]]es began to pass through Slough and [[Salt Hill]] (later absorbed into Slough), which became locations for the second stage to change horses on the journey out from London. By 1838 and the opening of the [[Great Western Railway]], Upton-cum-Chalvey's parish [[Population of Slough|population]] had reached 1,502. In 1849, a [[Slough to Windsor & Eton Line|branch line]] was completed from [[Slough railway station|Slough]] to [[Windsor & Eton Central railway station|Windsor & Eton Central]], opposite [[Windsor Castle]], for [[Queen Victoria]]'s convenience.

Slough has 96 [[listed building]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slough.gov.uk/documents/app5.pdf |title=Listed buildings in Slough |date=March 2004 |access-date=27 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616142034/http://www.slough.gov.uk/documents/app5.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2007 }}</ref> There are
* [[Grade I listed buildings in Berkshire#Slough|Four Grade I]]: [[St Laurence's Church, Slough|St Laurence's Church]] (Upton), [[St Mary the Virgin Church, Langley]],<ref name="stmarythevirgin"/> [[Baylis House]] and Godolphin Court
* [[Grade II* listed buildings in Berkshire#Slough|Seven Grade II*]]: [[St Mary's Parish Church, Slough|St Mary's Church]] (Upton-cum-Chalvey), Upton Court, the Kederminster and Seymour Almshouses in Langley, St Peter's Church (Chalvey), Ostrich Inn (Colnbrook) and King John's Palace (Colnbrook)
* Grade II listed structures include four milestones, Beech, Oak and Linden Houses at Upton Hospital, [[St Ethelbert's Church, Slough]] and Slough railway station.

1918 saw a large area of agricultural land to the west of Slough developed as an army motor repair depot, used to store and repair huge numbers of motor vehicles coming back from the battlefields of the [[First World War]] in [[Flanders]]. In April 1920, the Government sold the site and its contents to the Slough Trading Co. Ltd. Repair of ex-army vehicles continued until 1925, when the Slough Trading Company Act was passed allowing the company (renamed [[Segro|Slough Estates Ltd]]) to establish an [[Industrial park|industrial estate]].<ref>Fraser (1973), p. 109.</ref> Spectacular growth and employment ensued, with Slough attracting workers from many parts of the UK and abroad. [[Slough Town Hall]], which was designed by [[Charles Holloway James]] and [[Stephen Rowland Pierce]], was completed in 1937.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c20society.org.uk/casework/press/release/slough-town-hall-listing-refused.html|title=Slough Town Hall|publisher=20th Century Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225053917/http://www.c20society.org.uk/casework/press/release/slough-town-hall-listing-refused.html|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>

During the [[Second World War]], Slough experienced a series of [[The Blitz|air raids]], mostly in October 1940 (the largest number of people, five, dying as a result of a raid on the 13th), and an emergency hospital treating casualties from London was set up in Slough. Local air raid deaths and deaths at the hospital account for the 23 civilian lives recorded lost in the borough area.<ref name="cwgc">[http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/4003871/SLOUGH,%20MUNICIPAL%20BOROUGH] CWGC Cemetery Report. Accessed 18 September 2012. Information in this paragraph based on attached casualty reports.</ref>

After the war, several further large housing developments arose to take large numbers of people migrating from war-damaged London.  Between 1955 and 1957 the town was the site of the [[Slough experiment]], a large-scale road safety trial.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/op1265793-1001|title=Road safety : the Slough experiment|last=Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation|date=1957|publisher=HMSO|others=University of Southampton}}</ref>

The old Slough library was opened on 28 November 1974. It was officially called the Robert Taylor Library, named after Alderman Taylor in recognition of his contribution to the library service. The library was officially opened by the Mayor, Councillor DR Peters, on 15 May 1975. It was demolished in May 2017 as part of the programme of redevelopment in the town centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=slough&f=generic_theme.htm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&=theme_record_id=sl-sl-libraries&s=LqvK4sMftRa|title=Search Results - No Matches|website=www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk}}</ref>

===Redevelopment===
{{Main|History of Slough|Cippenham Moat}}

{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Queensmere Shopping Centre, Slough.jpg
| caption1          = The redevelopment of the shopping centre in Slough as part of the [[Heart of Slough]] redevelopment programme
| image2            = Side view of Slough bus station (geograph 3459140).jpg
| caption2          = The newly built Slough bus station in April 2013
| image3            = Slough Curve Library.jpg
| caption3          = 'The Curve', Slough's distinctively shaped Library and Cultural Centre, opened in 2016. It was named 'Best public service building' at the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) excellence awards held in March 2017. It was built by Slough Urban Renewal, a partnership between the council and Morgan Sindall.
}}

[[File:Old Town Hall, 19 Bath Road, Slough.jpg|thumb|[[Slough Town Hall|Old Town Hall]]: Council's headquarters 1937–2011, now a school]]
In the 21st century, Slough has seen major redevelopment of the town centre. Old buildings are being replaced with new offices and shopping complexes. [[Tesco]] has replaced an existing superstore with a larger [[Tesco Extra]]. The [[Heart of Slough]] Project is plan for the large-scale redevelopment of the town centre as a focus and cultural quarter for the creative media, information and communications industries created a mixed-use complex, multi-functional buildings, visual landmarks and a public space in the [[Thames Valley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/6201145.stm |work=BBC News Online |title=Backing for town's £400m makeover|date=21 December 2006 |access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref> Approval was given for the £400 million project by Slough Borough Council's planning committee on 9 July 2009,<ref>[http://www.slough.gov.uk/news/articles/19344.aspx Heart of Slough planning approval]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718215029/http://www.slough.gov.uk/news/articles/19344.aspx |date=18 July 2009 }}</ref> and work began in 2010 for completion in 2018.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/01/21/heart_of_slough_feature.shtml BBC – Berkshire – Features – Heart of Slough].</ref>

In December 2009, two key components of the project were signed: the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) signed its agreement to provide £11m of funding for infrastructure and Thames Valley University (TVU) courses which were due to remain in the town found a new home at the Centre in Farnham Road, Slough.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-14142-progress-for-heart-of-slough-project/ |title=Progress for Heart of Slough project |newspaper=Maidenhead Advertiser |date=17 December 2009 |first=Nick |last=Mayo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724205823/http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-14142-progress-for-heart-of-slough-project/ |archive-date=24 July 2015 }}</ref> In parallel to the town centre redevelopment plan, [[Segro]] (owner of the Slough Trading Estate) planned to spend £600 million over the following 20 years on the estate. This was intended to create environmentally sustainable buildings, open green spaces, two hotels, a conference centre, cafés, restaurants and better transport facilities to improve links to Slough town centre and the surrounding residential areas. It was claimed that the plan would create more than 4,100 new jobs and contribute around £100m a year to Slough's economy.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storycode=3143131 | work = Property Week | title = Segro unveils images of Slough Trading Estate | first = Aditi | last = Shah | date = 18 June 2009 }}</ref> If both plans went ahead, nearly £1 billion would be spent on redeveloping Slough over the next 20 years.

In 2009, [[Herschel Park]] (known as Upton Park until 1949), named for [[astronomer]] [[William Herschel]], was relandscaped in a multimillion-pound effort to bring it back to its former [[Victorian era]] glory.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2009/02/11/herschel_park_slough_feature.shtml Herschel Park multi-million Pound refurbishment].</ref> The park was featured in an episode of the documentary programme ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'' focusing on the TV presenter [[Davina McCall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/331.htm?WT.hp=nf-37600 |title=Who Do You Think You Are? – Davina McCall |publisher=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |access-date=16 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726015103/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/331.htm?WT.hp=nf-37600 |archive-date=26 July 2009 }}</ref>

In 2010, £2 million was set aside to improve disabled access to Slough railway station in preparation for an expected increase in use during the 2012 London Olympics.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2010/03/17/45434-olympic-upgrade-for-slough-station-/ | title = Olympic upgrade for Slough station | newspaper = Slough & Langley Observer | date = 17 March 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150226175924/https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2010/03/17/45434-olympic-upgrade-for-slough-station-/ | archive-date = 26 February 2015}}</ref> Preparations were under way for the regeneration of the Britwell suburb of Slough, involving tearing down a dilapidated block of flats and the closing of the public house the Jolly Londoner in Wentworth Avenue and replacing them with new homes, as well as relocating the shopping parade in the street to nearby Kennedy Park.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2010/03/22/45537-britwell-regeneration-scheme-one-step-closer-to-reality-/ | newspaper = Slough & Langley Observer | title = Britwell regeneration scheme one step closer to reality | first = Mike | last = Greenshields | date = 22 March 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150226190156/https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2010/03/22/45537-britwell-regeneration-scheme-one-step-closer-to-reality-/ | archive-date = 26 February 2015}}</ref>

As part of the Heart of Slough project, construction work on [[Slough bus station|a new bus station]] began in March 2010, following weeks of demolition work to half of the existing bus station and the removal of Compair House near the railway station.<ref name="sloughobserver.co.uk">{{cite news | url = http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2010/03/24/45552-heart-of-slough-beats-faster/ | title = Heart of Slough beats faster | newspaper = Slough & Langley Observer | date = 24 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-15508-video-heart-of-slough-project-begins-450m-work/ |title=Video: Heart of Slough project begins £450m work |first=Claire |last=Smith |newspaper=Maidenhead Advertiser |date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724203905/http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-15508-video-heart-of-slough-project-begins-450m-work/ |archive-date=24 July 2015 }}</ref> It was opened in May 2011.

Redevelopment on this scale has been strongly criticised by conservation groups. [[The Twentieth Century Society]] has stated that
<blockquote>
[A] tragically high quantity of good buildings have been demolished in Slough in recent years, including grand Art-Deco-styled factories by the likes of Wallis Gilbert and high-quality post-war offices. More are to come down as the town tries to erase its past and reinvent itself from scratch. Despite famously heckling Slough, [[John Betjeman]]'s praise for the town hall's architecture as 'a striving for unity out of chaos' in 1948 has never been so relevant as today. C20 believes that the redevelopment of the town hall would be an act of vandalism to the civic centre and is supporting the Campaign to Save Slough's Heritage in their request for a review of the decision.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.c20society.org.uk/casework/press/release/slough-town-hall-listing-refused.html |publisher=The Twentieth Century Society |title=Slough Town Hall Listing Refused&nbsp;— DCMS overturns English Heritage's advice again |date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225053917/http://www.c20society.org.uk/casework/press/release/slough-town-hall-listing-refused.html |archive-date=25 February 2012 }}</ref>
</blockquote>

During November 2016, the Slough Queensmere and Observatory shopping centres were sold to [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]] (ADIA) in a deal worth £130 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/14914489.__130million_deal_sees_Slough_s_shopping_malls_bought_by_Abu_Dhabi_investment_company_subsidiary/|title=£130million deal sees Slough's shopping malls bought by Abu Dhabi investment company subsidiary|date=18 November 2016 }}</ref>

In February 2025, it was reported that the council was considering a number of options to merge with larger local authorities, including joining a London borough or becoming part of the [[Greater London Authority]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/24928140.slough-merge-london-borough-council-says/ | title=Slough could 'merge with London borough' under local government shakeup | date=12 February 2025 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Slough is {{convert|20|mi|km}} west of [[Charing Cross]], central [[London]], {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} north of [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]], {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} east of [[Maidenhead]], {{convert|11|mi|km|0}} south-east of [[High Wycombe]] and {{convert|19|mi|km|0}} north-east of the [[county town]] of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. Slough is within the [[Greater London Urban Area]] and on the border with [[London Borough of Hillingdon]] and [[London Borough of Hounslow]]. Heathrow Airport is 5 miles away. Nearby towns are [[Uxbridge]] to the northeast and [[Beaconsfield]] to the north.

Most of the area that now makes up Slough was [[ancient counties of England|anciently]] part of [[Buckinghamshire]], however, Poyle was historically in Middlesex. The town developed by the expansion and amalgamation of villages along the [[A4 road (England)|Great West Road]]. Over the years Slough has expanded greatly, incorporating a number of different villages. Original villages that are now suburbs of Slough include [[Chalvey]], [[Cippenham]], [[Colnbrook]], [[Langley, Berkshire|Langley]], [[Poyle]], [[Upton, Slough|Upton]], and [[Wexham]].

Named neighbourhoods include Brands Hill, [[Britwell]], [[Huntercombe, Slough|Huntercombe]], Manor Park, [[Salt Hill]], Upton Lea and [[Windsor Meadows]]. The urban area merges into the neighbouring [[parishes]] of [[Burnham, Buckinghamshire|Burnham]], a small area of [[Taplow]] near [[Cippenham]], [[Farnham Royal]] and [[Stoke Poges]] which remain in the county of Buckinghamshire and [[Datchet]] which is in Berkshire. [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]] is narrowly [[buffer zone|buffered]] by the [[Jubilee River]] and by green space (mainly the college playing fields) from part of Slough, and the two areas formerly formed the Eton birth, marriages and deaths registration district.

===Climate===
The nearest [[Met Office]] weather observing station to Slough is [[Heathrow Airport]], about {{convert|5|mi|0}} east of Slough town centre. This part of the [[Thames Valley]] is notable for generally having the warmest daytime summer temperatures on average in the [[British Isles]].{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} Typically, according to 1981–2010 normals, the average high temperature in July is 23.5&nbsp;°C (74.3&nbsp;°F.)

Rainfall is low compared to most of the British Isles, with under {{convert|600|mm|2|abbr=on}} annually, and 105 days<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR1&stationid=1860
|title=1971-00 Wetdays
|access-date=23 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160453/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR1&stationid=1860
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> reporting over 1&nbsp;mm of rain.

{{Heathrow Airport weatherbox}}

==Demography==
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = ST Mary´s Parish Church 4.jpg
| caption1          = Built in 1876, [[St Mary's Parish Church, Slough|St Mary's Church]] is a red brick gothic style Church of England parish church.
| image2            = 
| caption2          = 
}}

{{Main|Demographics of Slough}}
{{Pie chart|color1=DodgerBlue|label1=[[History of Christianity in Britain|Christianity]]|label2=[[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|No Religion]]|label3=[[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam]]|label4=[[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikhism]]|label5=[[Hinduism in the United Kingdom|Hinduism]]|label6=[[Buddhism in the United Kingdom|Buddhism]]|label7=[[Judaism in the United Kingdom|Judaism]]|color2=honeydew|color3=green|color4=yellow|color5=Coral|color6=aqua|color7=darkkhaki|value1=31.96|value2=13.08|value3=29.44|value4=11.35|value5=7.79|value6=0.49|value7=0.05|thumb=right|caption=Faith in Slough (2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=How life has changed in Slough: Census 2021|publisher=[[gov.uk]]|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E06000039}}</ref>|color8=darkorchid|label8=Other Religions|value8=0.45|value9=5.39|color9=lightgrey|label9=Religion not Stated}}According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 census]], Slough is a large town with a population of 158,400 of which 46.9% of the population was [[British Asian|Asian]], 35.9% [[White British|White]], 7.5% [[Black British|Black]], 4% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]], 1.2% [[British Arab|Arab]] and 4.5% of other ethnic heritage.<ref name="2021census">{{Cite web |title=Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref> This makes the town one of the most ethnically diverse local authorities in the country outside of London. 

Despite its diverse population, English is the most spoken language in 2021, with over 110,212 citing English as their first language. Those stating other languages is significantly lower due to the large shares of the [[British Asians|British Asian]] and [[Black British people|Black]] population speaking English as their first language. Aside from English, the most commonly spoken languages are [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Polish language|Polish]], and [[Urdu]].<ref>Census 2021 - [https://democracy.slough.gov.uk/documents/s76262/Appendix%20B%20-%20Slough%20Insights%20-%20March%202023.pdf Slough Insights]  Retrieved 19 June 2024.</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Top countries of birth ([[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 census]])
! Country of birth
! Number resident
|-
|United Kingdom
|87,350
|-
|India
|17,107
|-
|Pakistan
|14,418
|-
|Poland
|8,912
|-
|Romania
|3,551
|-
|Kenya
|1,940
|-
|Sri Lanka
|1,385
|-
|Somalia
|1,336
|-
|Italy
|1,125
|-
|Philippines
|1,064
|-
|}
Figures from the [[2021–2022 United Kingdom censuses|2021 UK census]] showed that 32% of Slough's population identified as [[Christians|Christian]], 29.4% as [[Muslims|Muslim]], 11.4% as [[Sikhs|Sikh]], 7.8% as [[Hindus|Hindu]], 0.5% as [[Buddhists|Buddhist]], 0.1% as [[Jews|Jewish]], 0.5% as having other religions, 13% as having [[Atheism|no religion]] and 5.4% did not answer the question.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=How life has changed in Slough: Census 2021 |url=http://sveltekit-prerender/visualisations/censusareachanges/E06000039/ |access-date=2025-11-11 |website=[[Office for National Statistics]] |language=en}}</ref> 

Compared with the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 UK census]], the percentage of Slough residents identifying as Muslim increased by 6.1%, the largest increase of any religious group in Slough, while those identifying as Christian fell from 41.2% to 32.0%, with those identifying as having no religion rising slightly from 12.1% to 13.1%.<ref name=":0" />

==Governance==
{{Main|Slough Borough Council|Borough of Slough}}

There is one main tier of local government covering Slough, at [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] level: [[Slough Borough Council]], which is based at [[Observatory House]] in the town centre. Most of the urban area is [[Unparished area|unparished]], although some of the suburbs are included in [[civil parish]]es, including [[Britwell]] and [[Wexham Court]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
Slough was historically a hamlet in the parish of [[Upton, Slough|Upton]], also known as Upton-cum-Chalvey, in [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Slough Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10066372#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> Until 1863 it was administered by the parish [[vestry]] and [[manorial court]]s, in the same way as most rural areas. As Slough began developing into a town, the need for more urban forms of local government grew. In 1863 a [[Local board of health#Local Government Act 1858|local government district]] was established for Slough, covering part of the parish of Upton-cum-Chalvey (including the old village of Upton) and a smaller part of the neighbouring parish of [[Stoke Poges]]. The town was then governed by an elected local board.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22753|page=3517|date=14 July 1863}}</ref>

Such local government districts were converted into [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Stoke in Slough Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10010044 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref> In 1900 the Slough urban district was enlarged to absorb most of the residual parts of the old Upton-cum-Chalvey parish that had been outside the urban district, including [[Chalvey]]. The urban district was further enlarged in 1930, when it was significantly expanded to take in most of the neighbouring parish of [[Langley, Berkshire|Langley]] (including the village), the [[Salt Hill]] area from the parish of [[Farnham Royal]], and the [[Cippenham]] area from the parish of [[Burnham, Buckinghamshire|Burnham]]. In 1938 the urban district was incorporated to become a [[municipal borough]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Slough Urban District / Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10002126 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> 

In 1974, the [[Municipal Borough of Slough]] was replaced by a larger [[non-metropolitan district]] with [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] called Slough. The enlarged district gained the [[Britwell]] and [[Wexham Court]] areas, and was transferred from Buckinghamshire to Berkshire.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> The borough was enlarged in 1995 to take in [[Colnbrook with Poyle]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1994|year=1994|number=330}}</ref>

In 1998 Slough Borough Council became a unitary authority when [[Berkshire County Council]] was abolished and the borough council took on the former county council's functions in the borough.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Berkshire (Structural Change) Order 1996|year=1996|number=1879|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

Since 2015, Slough has had a Youth Parliament to represent the views of younger people.

===Town twinning===
Slough is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with:
* [[Montreuil-sur-Mer|Montreuil]], France ''(since 1988)''<ref name="Archant twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|title=British towns twinned with French towns|access-date = 11 July 2013|work=Archant Community Media Ltd}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Red White Blue Slough.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Slough Trading Estate]] played a major part in making Slough an important business centre in South East England.]]
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Tesco Extra slough, Wellington Street.jpg
| caption1          = The [[Tesco]] Extra store, one of the largest in Europe
| image2            = Scottish & Southern Slough Power Station.jpg
| caption2          = The private power station for Slough Trading Estate. This has been supplying heat and power to the estate since 1920. In 2007 it was taken over by energy supplier [[Scottish and Southern Energy]].
| image3            = Slough Retail Park.jpg
| caption3          = Slough Retail Park, one of many large outlets in the town
}}

Before the 19th century, the main businesses of Slough were brickfields and agriculture. The bricks for the building of [[Eton College]] were made in Slough. Later, as the [[A4 road (England)|Great West Road]] traffic increased, inns and pubs sprang up along the road to service the passing trade. Until the town developed as an industrial area, [[Nursery (horticulture)|nurseries]] were prominent in the local economy; the [[Cox's Orange Pippin]] apple was first raised in Colnbrook (not then within Slough) around 1825, and the [[dianthus]] "Mrs Sinkins Pink" was first raised at some point between 1868<ref>p20, ''The Changing Face of Slough'', Slough Museum, Breedon Books, Derby, 2003</ref> and 1883<ref>Fraser (1973), p. 100.</ref> by John Sinkins, the master of the [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]] [[Poor Law Union|Union]] [[Workhouse]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plantprofile_pinks.shtml Plant profiles: Pinks, dianthus]. BBC Gardening. Retrieved 24 February 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205203050/http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plantprofile_pinks.shtml |date=5 February 2009 }}</ref> which lay in Slough.

In the mid-19th century, the only major employer apart from the brickfields was [[James Elliman]], who started as a draper in Chandos Street. In 1847, he changed business and manufactured his Elliman's Embrocation and Royal Embrocation horse [[liniment]] at factories in Wellington Street and Chandos Street. Elliman became a major benefactor to the town, and is remembered today in the names of local roads and schools.

In September 1851, [[William Thomas Buckland]], an [[auctioneer]] and [[surveying|surveyor]] from nearby [[Wraysbury]], began livestock sales in a field near the Great Western Road Railway Station belonging to the North Star Inn. Originally held on the first Tuesday of every month, the Cattle Market's popularity soon saw this increased to every Tuesday. A move to Wexham Street was necessitated by the postwar redevelopment of the town. The Slough Cattle Market was run by Messrs Buckland and Sons until its final closure in 1988.<ref>''The History of Buckland & Sons'' by Edward Barry Bowyer FRICS (1973).</ref>

In 1906, [[Horlicks|James Horlick]], one of the founders of the eponymous [[Horlicks|malted milk]] company, opened a purpose-built red-brick factory near Slough Railway Station to manufacture his malted milk product. In 2015, the business was sold by [[Glaxo Smith Kline]] and in 2017, manufacturing at the site ceased altogether. The site is currently proposed to become residential making use of the original buildings as much as possible.

Starting in the 1920s, [[Slough Estates Ltd]], the operator of the original [[Slough Trading Estate]], created and operated many more estates in the UK and abroad. The Slough Trading Estate meant that the town was largely insulated from many of the effects of [[recession]]. For many years, Slough's economy was mainly manufacturing-based. The company Zwicky Limited, a manufacturer of liquid pumps, filters, compression valves and aircraft refuelling units, runway sweepers were based in Slough.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Zwicky | title=Zwicky - Graces Guide }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Bloxsomes, Slough - Builders' Merchants and Ironmongers | url=https://irp.cdn-website.com/3740d787/files/uploaded/Slough%20Estate%20Journal%201933.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802033840/https://irp.cdn-website.com/3740d787/files/uploaded/Slough%20Estate%20Journal%201933.pdf | archive-date=2024-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postcards-from-slough.co.uk/home/slough-at-war/industry-at-war-part-1/ | title=Postcards from Slough - Industry at War }}</ref>

In the last 20 or so years,{{when|date=April 2025}} there has been a major shift from a manufacturing to an information-based economy, with the closure of many factories (some of which had been in Slough for many decades). The factories are rapidly being replaced by office buildings. Hundreds of major companies have sited in Slough Trading Estate over the years, with its proximity to London [[Heathrow Airport]] and good motorway connections being attractive. In the 1960s, [[Gerry Anderson]]'s film company was based in Slough, and his [[Supermarionation]] series, including ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]'', were filmed there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/15008144.Thunderbirds_return_to_their_Slough_home/|title=Thunderbirds return to their Slough home|date=7 January 2017 }}</ref>

The UK headquarters of [[Mars, Incorporated]] is in Slough, the main factory having been established in 1932 by [[Forrest Mars Sr.]] and [[Frank C. Mars]]. It produced the [[Mars Bar]] in Slough over 70 years ago. One of the Mars factories has been demolished and some production has moved to the Czech Republic. The European head offices of major IT companies such as [[BlackBerry (company)|BlackBerry]], [[McAfee]], [[CA Technologies|Computer Associates]], [[PictureTel]] and Compusys (among others) are all in the town. [[O2 plc|O<sub>2</sub>]] is headquartered in the town across four buildings. The town is also home to the business support organisation [[Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group]] and [[National Foundation for Educational Research]], which is housed in the Mere.

Recent new offices include those of [[Nintendo]], [[Black and Decker]] and [[Abbey business centres]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=502584 Location of registered office of Amazon.co.uk Ltd]. Retrieved 27 December 2008.</ref> The registered office of [[Furniture Village]] lies in the town.<ref>[http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/f33d3433015f53f3d573116a7a132479/compdetails "Furniture Village Limited"], [[Companies House]]. Retrieved 5 March 2011.</ref>

The motor trade has long been represented in Slough. Until 1966, [[Citroën]] assembled cars in a Liverpool Road factory (later used by Mars Confectionery), and it retains its UK headquarters in the town. [[Ford of Britain|Ford]] built [[Ford D series|D Series]] and [[Ford Cargo|Cargo]] lorries at its factory in Langley (a former [[Hawker Aircraft]] site) from 1936 to the 1950s<ref>p120, ''The Changing Face of Slough'', Slough Museum, Breedon Books, Derby, 2003</ref> until the site was redeveloped for housing in the 1990s. [[Ferrari]], [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]], [[Fiat]] and [[Maserati]] now have offices in the town.

==Transport==
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = M4 Foot Bridge Windsor Slough.jpg
| caption1          = The [[M4 motorway]] between Junctions 5 and 6 (facing London)
| image2            = Slough station westbound.JPG
| caption2          = The relief lines at [[Slough railway station]], used for local passenger trains towards [[Reading railway station|Reading]] (Platform&nbsp;4, left) and [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] (Platform&nbsp;5, right)
| image3            = First B&TV ES64037.JPG
| caption3          = A [[First Berkshire & The Thames Valley]] [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro]]
| image4            = Cycle hire scheme at Slough railway station.JPG
| caption4          = The Cycle to Hire scheme was launched in Slough in late 2013.
}}

===Road===
{{Main|First Berkshire & The Thames Valley|Green Line Coaches}}

Located roughly {{convert|20|mi}} west of [[Central London]], Slough is a [[commuter town]] near [[Heathrow Airport]] ({{convert|7|mi}} south-east), Uxbridge ({{convert|6|mi}} north-east), Maidenhead ({{convert|5|mi}} west) and Staines ({{convert|7|mi}} south-east). Slough residents also commute to Windsor, Reading and Bracknell as well as Central London. There are large passenger movements in the morning and evening rush hours. Road transport in Slough includes:
* Within Slough: Buses ([[First Berkshire & The Thames Valley]], [[Arriva Shires & Essex]], Redline & [[Carousel Buses]] (only Sundays)), taxis, minicabs and private cars on roads are also used.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/1039.aspx|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110927010620/http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/1039.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2011|title=Bus & Train Travel|date=31 May 2011|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>
* To Heathrow Airport: [[First Berkshire & The Thames Valley]] bus routes 75, 76, 77 and 78 serve Slough town centre, Langley and Heathrow Airport. First also run bus routes 71 (via [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]], [[Egham]] & [[Staines-upon-Thames]]) and 60/61 (via [[Datchet]], [[Horton, Berkshire|Horton]] & [[Wraysbury]]) to [[Heathrow Terminal 5]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/berkshirethames/heathrow/index.php|title=Home - First Bus|website=First Bus|access-date=5 February 2009|archive-date=20 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120212731/http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/berkshirethames/heathrow/index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[taxicab|Taxis]] and [[Taxicabs of the United Kingdom|minicabs]] are also available at a higher cost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/10035.aspx|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110926215049/http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/10035.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2011|title=Taxis and Minicabs|date=1 June 2007|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>
* To Central London: Buses and Greenline coaches are available, but rail is more generally used as express trains connect Slough to [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] in 14 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenline.co.uk/__80256E2700397232.nsf/vWeb/wpNPOK6CBKGE?OpenDocument|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318200923/http://www.greenline.co.uk/__80256E2700397232.nsf/vWeb/wpNPOK6CBKGE?OpenDocument|title=Greenline Timetables|date=18 March 2009|archive-date=18 March 2009}}</ref>
* To [[Birmingham]]: Bharat Coaches provide services from Southall to [[Birmingham]]/[[Wolverhampton]]/[[Coventry]]/[[Leeds]]/[[Bradford]] and Leicester via Slough.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/5485.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921215451/http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/5485.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2007|title=Slough Borough Council: Bus Passes for the Disabled - Frequently Asked Questions|date=21 September 2007}}</ref>
* Slough is bounded by the [[M4 motorway|M4]] to the south<ref name="maps.google.co.uk">{{cite web|author=M4 |url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-GBGB307GB307&ei=WAyPSZ60JeKtjAehy9mtCg&resnum=0&q=m4+motorway+slough&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=uk&ei=WwyPSb_nBpSIjAenyPGwCg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image |title=m4 motorway slough |publisher=Google Maps |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> and is served by junctions 5, 6 and 7; other roads serving the town include the [[A4 road (England)|A4]], [[A355 road|A355]], and [[A412 road|A412]].

===Rail===
Slough is served by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] stations at [[Burnham railway station|Burnham]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/bnm/details.html |title=National Rail Enquiries – Station Facilities for Burnham (Bucks) |publisher=Nationalrail.co.uk |access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> [[Slough railway station|Slough]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/slo/details.html |title=National Rail Enquiries – Station Facilities for Slough |publisher=Nationalrail.co.uk |access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref> and [[Langley railway station|Langley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/LNY/details.html |title=National Rail Enquiries – Station Facilities for Langley (Berks) |publisher=Nationalrail.co.uk |access-date=18 September 2012}}</ref>
Slough station is a junction between the [[Great Western Main Line]] and the [[Slough to Windsor & Eton Line]] to allow passengers to connect for [[Windsor & Eton Central railway station|Windsor & Eton Central]].

[[Reading railway station|Reading]]: Great Western Railway operate fast services to Reading every half an hour which take about 15 minutes, as well as slow services every fifteen minutes which take 30 minutes.

[[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]: Great Western Railway operate express services to London every half an hour which take 14 minutes, as well as slow services every fifteen minutes taking 26 minutes.

Slough has services on the [[Elizabeth line]], a new railway line across central London opened in 2022.<ref>[http://www.crossrail.co.uk/80256B090053AF4C/Files/whatiscrossrail/$FILE/route+linear+map+september+2007.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521040214/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/80256B090053AF4C/Files/whatiscrossrail/$FILE/route+linear+map+september+2007.pdf|date=21 May 2009}}</ref>

The [[Western Rail Approach to Heathrow]] is a £500m rail project announced by the [[Department for Transport]]; [[Network Rail]] announced the route in 2014. It will directly serve Slough with four trains every hour, reducing travel times to Heathrow to six minutes. It is expected to be operational in the early 2020s.<ref name="sloughobserver">{{cite web |url=http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2013/10/09/93876-final-route-for-500m-western-rail-access-to-heathrow-to-be-announced-by-end-of-year/ |title=Final route for £500m Western rail access to Heathrow to be announced by end of year &#124; News |publisher=Slough Observer |access-date=2014-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108221837/https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2013/10/09/93876-final-route-for-500m-western-rail-access-to-heathrow-to-be-announced-by-end-of-year/ |archive-date=8 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="wrath">{{cite web|url=http://wrath.thamesvalleyberkshire.co.uk/|title=Western Rail Access To Heathrow: Delivering Economic Benefits - TVB|access-date=30 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111115706/http://wrath.thamesvalleyberkshire.co.uk/|archive-date=11 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hounslowchamber.org.uk/route-unveiled-for-western-rail-access-to-heathrow-wrath-project/|title=Route unveiled for Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRAtH) project - Hounslow Chamber|access-date=13 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116160108/http://www.hounslowchamber.org.uk/route-unveiled-for-western-rail-access-to-heathrow-wrath-project/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cycling===
[[National Cycle Route 61]] runs through central Slough. A [[Smoove]] [[bike sharing system]] was launched in October 2013, targeting commuters travelling between the trading estate and nearby railway stations.<ref>{{cite web|author=Simon_MacMichael &nbsp; 22 October 2013 |url=http://road.cc/content/news/96956-come-friendly-bikes%E2%80%A6-cycle-hire-slough-launched-yesterday |title=Come friendly bikes... Cycle Hire Slough launched yesterday |date=22 October 2013 |publisher=road.cc |access-date=2014-01-14}}</ref>

===Canal===
Slough is connected by the [[Slough Arm]] to the main line of the [[Grand Union Canal]] which runs between the Thames at Brentford and Birmingham. It travels from the terminus basin at Stoke Road to the junction with the main line at Cowley Peachey; it was restored to navigability in 1975 having been disused since 1960.<ref name=hill>{{cite web|url=http://www.richardhill.co.uk/the_final_cut.pdf|author=Richard Hill|title=''The Final Cut''|work=Canal and Riverboat Magazine|date=2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220134516/http://www.richardhill.co.uk/the_final_cut.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2012|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

==Museum==

Slough Museum was established in 1986.<ref name="k921">{{cite book | last1=Hoare | first1=Nell | last2=Hull | first2=Karen | last3=Marsh | first3=Geoffrey | last4=Commission | first4=Great Britain Museums and Galleries | title=Exploring Museums: The Home Counties | publisher=H.M. Stationery Office | date=1990 | isbn=978-0-11-290471-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vmotAQAAIAAJ | access-date=22 May 2025 | page=88|quote=Thanks to the enthusiasm and dogged persistence of this group and the museum's first curator, the ambition for a Slough Museum was realised in 1986}}</ref>

==Sports==
Slough has a senior [[non-League football]] team, [[Slough Town F.C.]], who currently play in the [[National League South]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Slough Town F.C.|url=https://www.sloughtownfc.net|access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

[[Slough Cricket Club]] play at the [[Upton, Slough|Upton Park]] ground.<ref>{{cite web |title= Slough CC|url= https://www.sloughcc.co.uk |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> 

Slough RFC is a [[Rugby union|rugby]] club that also plays at Upton Park.<ref>{{cite web |title= Slough RFC|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/slough |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

[[Slough Hockey Club]] is a [[field hockey]] club that also plays at Upton Park and competes in the [[Women's England Hockey League]] and the [[Southern Counties Hockey Association|South Central Hockey League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/slough-hc|title=England Hockey - Slough Hockey Club |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sloughhockeyclub.co.uk |title=Slough Hockey Club |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

[[Slough Jets]] is an ice hockey team that plays in the [[NIHL South Division 1]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Slough Jets|url= https://www.sloughjets.co.uk |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> 

[[Reading F.C. Women]]s and [[Republic of Ireland women's national football team|Republic of Ireland Women]]s goalkeeper [[Grace Moloney]] was born and lives in the town.<ref name="sbnation1">{{cite news|title=Meet the Reading FC Ladies|url=http://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014/2/11/5400568/meet-the-ladies|access-date=6 March 2016|publisher=The Tilehurst End|date=11 February 2014}}</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|List of schools in Slough}}

There are numerous primary and secondary schools serving Slough. Of the latter there are four [[state school|state]] [[grammar school]]s. In addition, [[East Berkshire College]] has a campus in the area. Slough schools are in the top 10 best performers in the country at GCSE level. In 2011, 68.1% of pupils left school with a minimum of 5 A*-C grades (with English and maths). The national average is 58.9%.<ref name="smn">{{cite web |url=http://www.sloughmeansbusiness.co.uk/skills-education/ |title=Skills & Education |publisher=Slough Means Business |access-date=2014-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108235809/https://www.sloughmeansbusiness.co.uk/skills-education/ |archive-date=8 January 2014}}</ref>

[[Thames Valley University]] (Slough Campus) is currently closed due to the [[Heart of Slough]] project. The new campus was scheduled to be opened in 2013 as part of the [[University of West London]], but as of March 2022 there had been no progress, as the former site of the university had been sold for housing.

==Cultural references==
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = Observatory House, Slough.jpg
| caption1          = [[Observatory House]] was given its name because it is the site where [[astronomer]] [[William Herschel]] lived, and erected his great 40-foot telescope.
| image2            = The Office buillding in Slough.jpg
| caption2          = Crossbow House features in the opening sequences and some filming for the [[BBC]] comedy ''[[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]''.
}}

* 1597: In Act IV, Scene 5<ref>[http://william-shakespeare.classic-literature.co.uk/the-merry-wiues-of-windsor/ebook-page-32.asp William Shakespeare – The Merry Wiues of Windsor Page 32]. William-shakespeare.classic-literature.co.uk.</ref> of [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'', Bardolph is mugged: "so soon as I came beyond Eton, (cozeners) threw me off, from behind one of them, in a slough of mire". This could be a reference to Slough.{{cn|date=May 2025}} In the same scene Cole-brooke ([[Colnbrook]]) is referenced along with [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] and [[Maidenhead]].
* 1872: [[Edward Lear]] made reference to Slough in ''[[More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc]]'':<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lear|first1=Edward|title=More Nonsense. Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, Etc.|url=https://archive.org/details/morenonsensepic00leargoog|date=1872|publisher=Robert J. Bush|location=London}}</ref>
::''There was an old person of Slough,''
::''Who danced at the end of a bough;''
::''But they said, 'If you sneeze,''
::''You might damage the trees,''
::''You imprudent old person of Slough.'''
* 1932: (but set in the 26th century) In [[Aldous Huxley]]'s ''[[Brave New World]]'', the chimneys of Slough Crematorium, around which [[Bernard Marx]] flies, are used to demonstrate the physio-chemical equality of all people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huxley.net/bnw/five.html|title= Brave New World Chapter 5|publisher=Huxley.net}}</ref> (Slough's actual crematorium, in the cemetery in Stoke Road, was opened in 1963,<ref name=sloughbmd>{{cite web|url=http://slough.gov.uk/births-marriage-deaths/burials-and-cremations.aspx|title=Burials & cremations|first=Slough Borough|last=Council|date=19 January 2012|website=slough.gov.uk}}</ref> coincidentally the year of Huxley's death. [[Princess Margaret]] was cremated there in 2002.)
* 1937: The poet [[John Betjeman]] wrote his poem ''[[Slough (poem)|Slough]]'' as a protest against the new town and 850 factories that had arisen in what had been formerly a rural area, which he considered an onslaught on the rural lifestyle:
::''Come, friendly bombs and fall on Slough''
::''It isn't fit for humans now''
::''There isn't grass to graze a cow.''
::''Swarm over, death!''
:The poem was published two years before the outbreak of the Second World War, in which Britain (including Slough itself) experienced bombing from enemy air raids. On the centenary of his birth, his daughter said her father "regretted having ever written it", presenting the Mayor David MacIsaac with a book of his poems in which she had written: "We love Slough".<ref name="Poem Slough">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5351512.stm Poetic justice at last for Slough]. BBC News (16 September 2006).</ref>
* 1979: Slough is mentioned by name in the hit single "[[The Eton Rifles]]" by [[the Jam]] from the album ''[[Setting Sons]]'': "There's a row going on down near Slough"
* 1991: Film ''[[Buddy's Song (film)|Buddy's Song]]'' with externals filmed mainly on the [[Britwell]] Estate and the Farnham Road (A355) released.
* 1996: The [[Tiger Lillies]]' album ''The Brothel to the Cemetery'' includes a track called "Slough", probably inspired by Betjeman's poem. The lyrics to the chorus are:
::''Drop a bomb on Slough, Drop a bomb on Slough''
::''Drop a bomb on Slough, Drop a bomb on Slough''
* 1998: The song "Costa del Slough" by the rock band [[Marillion]] posits the town as a post-[[global warming]] coastal resort, possibly in a reference to the comedian [[Spike Milligan]] having presented Slough on TV as a holiday resort.
* 2001: The [[BBC]] comedy series ''[[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]'' was set in the sales office of a paper company in Slough, presenting it as a depressing post-industrial wasteland. The character [[David Brent]] comments on Betjeman's poem in the series, which also appears on the inside sleeve of the video and DVD of Series 1. In the [[The Office (U.S. TV series)|US version]], the office is located on "Slough Avenue" in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]].
* 2004: Slough is mentioned on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' in the episode "[[Homecoming (Lost)|Homecoming]]" of Season 1. In a flashback of Charlie's life, a woman he knows says her father is away purchasing a paper company in Slough.
* 2009: In episode 8, Series 1 of ''[[The Legend of Dick and Dom]]'', a [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] show, the characters find themselves in modern-day Slough.
* 2010-2025: In the ''Slough House'' novels by [[Mick Herron]] and the adapted Apple+ TV series ''[[Slow Horses]]'', Slough House is the MI5 branch where washed-up spies are sent to finish their failed careers on desk duty. The name derives from the fact that, as Slough is distant from London, similarly Slough House is equally far away from the headquarters of MI5 in Regents Park for the disgraced spies hoping to revive their careers.
* 2015: [[Sky One]] comedy drama series ''[[You, Me and the Apocalypse]]'' is set in Slough where a nuclear bunker is located underneath the Slough Trading Estate. Aerial views are seen of Slough throughout the series.
* 2016: [[Ricky Gervais]], in his role as [[David Brent]], released the song ''Slough'' on his album ''Life on the Road,'' the soundtrack to the film by the same title. The chorus runs:
::''Oh oh oh Slough (echo: Slough)''
::''My kind of town''
::''I don't know how''
::''Anyone could put you down''

==Crime==
{{expand section|date=February 2024}}
Slough has a relatively high crime rate; figures for all crime categories are annually above the English average and figures for a few categories are at more than double the frequency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zoopla.co.uk/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307165422/http://www.upmystreet.com/local/crime-in-slough.html| title=Zoopla > Search Property to Buy, Rent, House Prices, Estate Agents|date=23 December 2024|archivedate=7 March 2012|website=www.zoopla.co.uk}}</ref> According to [[British Crime Survey]] statistics, as of September 2013, Slough had the second worst rate of crime among local authority areas in the Thames Valley Police counties (87 recorded crimes per 1,000 population vs Oxford's 104).<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.police.uk/thames-valley/N457/performance/compare-your-area/|title=Compare Britwell / Haymill, Thames Valley Police - Police.uk|access-date=26 January 2014|archive-date=1 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201215341/http://www.police.uk/thames-valley/N457/performance/compare-your-area/|url-status=dead}}</ref> However the borough's crime rate reduced by 29% in the ten years to 2013.<ref name="sloughexpress">{{cite web |url=http://www.sloughexpress.co.uk/News/Council/Reported-crime-in-Slough-drops-over-last-ten-years-15012013.htm |title=Reported crime in Slough drops over last 10 years &#124; Council &#124; Slough News |publisher=SloughExpress |date=2013-01-16 |access-date=2014-01-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108221956/http://www.sloughexpress.co.uk/News/Council/Reported-crime-in-Slough-drops-over-last-ten-years-15012013.htm |archive-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> In the year ending September 2017, the crime rate in Slough was the third highest in the Thames Valley force area, behind Reading (96.42 police recorded crimes per 1000 population) and Oxford (100.71 for the same metric).<ref name="auto"/>

==See also==
* [[List of people from Slough]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book | title = The History of Slough | publisher = Slough Corporation | first = Maxwell | last = Fraser | year = 1973 | isbn = 978-0-904164-00-8 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Slough}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Slough}}
* [http://www.slough.gov.uk/ Slough Borough Council]
* [http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk Slough History Online]

{{Berkshire}}
{{London commuter belt}}
{{Geographic location
| title     = Nearest places
| Centre    = Slough
| North     = [[Farnham Royal]]
| Northeast = [[Uxbridge]]
| East      = [[West Drayton]]
| Southeast = [[Heathrow Airport]]
| South     = [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]]
| Southwest = [[Dorney]]
| West      = {{small|Across small parts of Burnham and [[Taplow]]}}<br />[[Maidenhead]]
| Northwest = [[Burnham, Buckinghamshire|Burnham]]}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Slough| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Berkshire]]