London commuter town once ridiculed is now crowned as the best

A small town just 30 minutes from London, once the butt of many jokes, has been crowned as the Capital’s top commuter spot.

Famously, a poem created back in 1937 by Sir John Betjeman, detailed the lacklustre impression of the Berkshire town, as the poem read: “Come, friendly bombs and fall on Slough. It isn’t fit for humans now.”

Adding to this, the popular TV show The Office was set in an office in Slough, chosen to epitomise the monotony of the typical nine-to-five work life. Even the website iLivehere.com ranked Slough as the fourth worst place to live in 2023.

This harsh critique solidified a negative image that still lingered in many people’s minds until The Telegraph pointed out the plus points of living there. 

Nowadays, it would seem that Slough is a great commuter town because of its “fast access to London, high employment and excellent schools”.

With the new Elizabeth Line, residents of Slough can reach the popular destination of Paddington within just 31 minutes.

Moreover, house prices are significantly lower here than that in the Capital, making it an appealing place to reside. According to Rightmove, the average property price in Slough last year was £437,812, compared to London’s hefty average of £779,685.

The town has also been hailed as “the world’s second-largest data centre hub” and its “proximity to Heathrow” provides a wealth of job opportunities.

Over time, significant investment has been poured into Slough, with plans in place for a major redevelopment of the town centre.

Estate agents Chancellors have listed several factors that draw people to Slough, including its cultural diversity, ample amenities, and access to beautiful green spaces and the countryside.

Part of the historic county of Buckinghamshire, Slough not only has easy access to the Capital but is near beautiful countryside, meaning you can have the best of both worlds. 

One such noteworthy area of outstanding natural beauty is Chiltern Hills, which is just over half an hour’s drive away from Slough’s town centre.