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Original poster

Slough - is it that terrible?

34 replies

GeekLove · 10/01/2017 10:26

I am currently looking for employment and Slough is an area where there is a potential vacancy.
We currently have a 3-bed mid terrace with a decent garden and separate garage, current market value ~140K, with just over half the mortgage paid off.

What's the price range of something similar within the vicinity of Slough? We would have a combined income of ~75K per year.
We also have two DCs of primary school age.

I just don't want to live in a gardenless rabbit hutch surrounded by concrete.

OP posts:
CheerfullyIndifferent · 10/01/2017 12:58

waits for Betjeman's quote

I'm in the mumsnet minority who thinks Slough is fine as long as you pick the location well. There are better towns and villages around it but they are generally a lot more expensive - so it depends on how much you could afford really.

On my side of Slough, 3 bed terraced houses start around the 350K mark, though I'm sure you could find cheaper if you're prepared to do some work.

I would suggest having a look at good schools and search around them for an idea of prices.

Original poster
GeekLove · 10/01/2017 13:01

I'm not in a position to do too much homework - I have only applied for a job but that doesn't look great.

I really need a school with decent SEN support particularly for autism - and private education isn't an option.

Not too bothered about it being rural as long as there is decent public transport and decent shops.

OP posts:
CheerfullyIndifferent · 10/01/2017 13:02

Oh and prices seem to be continually rising because of the crossrail - I suspect they're unlikely to be affected much by whatever turmoils Brexit might bring.

GinIsIn · 10/01/2017 13:02

I went to uni near there. It was mostly referred to as Sl-EUURGGH, but I believe it's got better in recent years....

CheerfullyIndifferent · 10/01/2017 13:03

I am not sure about sen support but I can ask around if it helps?

Original poster
GeekLove · 10/01/2017 13:05

I wouldn't worry too much - I have only just applied for a job after all - and my current rate of luck means I'm doing well if I get as far as the rejection.
But I'm looking at tech places - particularly more industrial places as my DH would need to be able to relocate his business too.

OP posts:
CheerfullyIndifferent · 10/01/2017 13:16

There's seems to be a large concentration of techie companies in Winnersh and Reading as well as Slough - DH has been to a couple of interviews that way in the past. Good luck, OP.

LunaLovebad · 10/01/2017 15:40

It really is every bit as awful as everyone thinks. Avoid.

poisonedbypen · 10/01/2017 15:43

Plenty of lovely places within striking distance of Slough - it is right on the edge of Buckinghamshire. Good schools too if you do your research.

Original poster
GeekLove · 10/01/2017 15:52

hmmm. It seems that my pessimism is based in fact.
On a tangent it seems that everybody else is more optimistic about my jobseeking than I am. They are not those who are seeking jobs.

OP posts:
TheNaze73 · 10/01/2017 16:02

The nice bit of Slough is Windsor....

I have to go there for work sometimes & I wouldn't choose to live in Slough.

Stoke Poges was nice though & not that far away

LuxuryWoman2017 · 10/01/2017 16:09

I have mixed feelings as a resident, it's great for transport links, very good schools, close to Windsor and some areas are really nice. There is beautiful parkland and lots of things for families. Plus you are close to Legoland if you have kids.
I believe there is a lot of potential here, a great deal of money is to be invested in town and there are a lot of people coming in from London to buy as they can't afford the London prices but with Crossrail it soon will be part of London basically.
House prices continue to rise here and there is a lot of building going on and it is smartening up a bit.
It's also a very friendly town. There are a lot of major companies here, it's a fairly rich town with dodgy areas you would never need to visit, it's big.

I know this area inside out so if you see a potential house I can tell you about the area.

ladygrinnings0ul · 10/01/2017 17:17

My aunt & uncle live in Burnham ( one stop on the train from Slough) but it's sort of classed as Slough it has a cute little high street nice village vibe and just by the huge trading estate.Slough itself sadly is awful and they never go in unless absolutely unavoidable they shop in Reading or Windsor.

LondonSuperTrooper · 11/01/2017 21:47

Why is it so bad? What's wrong with Slough?

peteneras · 12/01/2017 07:45

Yes, what's wrong with Slough . . . somebody please enlighten me.

Original poster
GeekLove · 12/01/2017 08:05

For me it would be the eye-watering cost of living and what you get in terms of housing for a huge amount of money.

OP posts:
WhatIfWhatIf · 12/01/2017 11:55

'Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough! It isn't fit for humans now...' - there you go, just for you, CheerfullyIndifferent!

Unhelpful though, sorry...

SorrelForbes · 12/01/2017 12:07

It's really is awful. I was born in Slough, but luckily lived in Windsor! Two rather nicer areas to look at are Burnham and Stoke Poges.

LondonSuperTrooper · 12/01/2017 13:12

Everyone is saying that it's awful without any real reasons why.

I wonder whether it's because that people do not like the ethnic mix but are too scared to say this?

LondonSuperTrooper · 12/01/2017 13:14

Sorry, pressed send too soon.

If that's the reason that people do not like it, then it's OK, I can live in a multi culturally diverse town :)

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 12/01/2017 13:26

It's just not pretty! It's very 70's type concrete town. Lots of grey concrete buildings.

It's very busy on the main road through.

It has a huge industrial estate. I attended uni (trained to be a midwife so no choice over uni as they covered both hospitals in my area) and it wasn't the nicest of atmosphere when you walked through the town centre (they had a fab Chinese buffet don't know if it's still there)

I think it has the same stigma as reading. Just a very grey uninspiring town. But the outskirts I'm sure are lovely as are readings.

It's easily commutable from reading to Slough. Especially if on the cemetery junction up to woodley and sonning side as straight down the a4 or onto the a329 and then the m4.

Outside of rush hour I can get to Slough from junction 10 on the m4 in 20 minutes.

The downside is it is the commuter belt so the m4 and. A4 are always jammed with London commuters.

UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter · 12/01/2017 13:29

It is very culturally diverse with a large Asian population, however so are many areas of reading so it's never bothered me.

minijoeyjojo · 12/01/2017 13:33

I live near Slough and it's a really useful place for DIY shops but I wouldn't want to live there. It doesn't seem to have any nice areas, no green space, everything looks a bit tired and its a whole lot of industrial estates (which are very useful!) However all of the surrounding villages are nice so you could live in one of those and commute into Slough easily. I love the area, I have the best of the countryside on my doorstep, yet it's only a 35 min drive to Westfield and London for shopping :)

LuxuryWoman2017 · 12/01/2017 13:54

Slough has 254 hectares of parkland, there are beautiful green spaces, and Black Park nearby on the way to Stoke Poges is stunning as is Langley Park, it's not all grey here.
The industrial estate has had a lot of money spent on it and more to come, the 'rest areas' with shops and trees and cafes will be very swish when finished.
The town centre is grim though, as are many high streets, full of pound shops and phone shops.

It is very diverse and that is one of the reasons I like it. There are some very pretty 'pockets' in Slough - The flats in Upton Park are very sought after. Houses around the town centre are nice Victorian terraces and town houses. It's pretty much like any outer London suburb.

Buckslocal · 12/01/2017 14:11

Slough is not as bad as it's reputation.

The main high street is like many other towns, nothing special a little run down in areas. I've never found the 'atmosphere' intimidating or anything else. There are parks in Slough, there are nice areas to live aswell as God awful ones.

Eton and Windsor is very close by and you can step over the county boarder and enjoy all that south bucks has to offer easily,

There are a lot big companies working out of slough too.