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The town of Slough is the most ethnically diverse center outside of London in all of the United Kingdom. With a population of around 120,000 people, it sits along the Great Western Main Line and the Great West Road. The town has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the Commonwealth, most recently from Indian and Pakistan. Slough claims the greatest percentage of religious followers in England. At only nineteen miles to the West of Central London, it is easily accessible for travelers and also an inexpensive base for exploring the capital.
History of the Slough Area
Originally Slough was only a hamlet between Upton in the East and Chalvey in the West. Its name goes back to the fourteenth century when it was called Sloo. In the early years, little is written about Slough, but neighboring Upton is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Slough saw stagecoaches passing through the area and changing horses on their way out of London in the middle of the 1600's. The Great Western Railway reached the area in 1838, and a branch line came out from Windsor and Eton Central Railway Station to Slough Station in 1849. From this point on, the town started welcoming immigrants. Welsh were the first outsiders to come to Slough in search of work, but they were not the last. After World War I, the army motor repair depot was gradually developed into the Slough Trading Company and then an Industrial Estate. This estate grew and boomed in the following years. Since then, workers from all over the Great Britain and the Commonwealth have come here to work.
Architecture
There are ninety-six listed buildings that have historical and architectural interest in Slough and the surrounding areas. Worth seeing are the St. Laurence's Church, Goldolphin Court, and Baylis House, as well as the St. Mary's Church, Upton Court, St. Peter's Church, and King John's Palace. Slough Station is also of interest for people interested in more modern architecture.
The astronomer William Herschel built his famous forty foot telescope in Slough. This was the largest telescope in the world when he built it at the end of the eighteenth century. It was kept here until the early nineteenth century. On the site where he lived and worked is the Observatory House building now.
Attractions and Entertainment
Slough may be an industrial center, but it has a variety of attractions and entertainment to offer both residents and visitors. The Slough Mela is a fun fair and carnival that is held in Upton Court Park every year. Other carnivals and fun fairs are hosted here during the summer as well. There is also the Slough Ice Arena, which is home to the Slough Jets, an English Premier League hockey team. Besides this, shopping is a big attraction in Slough.
Shopping
Among the various shopping opportunities in Slough, two stand out. The Tesco Extra Store is among the largest of its kind in all of Europe. Besides this, there is the Queensmere Shopping Mall. Visitors will find plenty of places to shop for goods of all kind in Slough.
Accommodation in Slough
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