Slough hotels cash in on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding as royal well-wishers skip posh Windsor rooms for less-fashionable neighbour
SLOUGH has long been the butt of jokes, but its hoteliers could be having the last laugh on the royal wedding weekend after hiking their prices by up to FOUR times the normal rate.
The Berkshire town lies just three miles north of Windsor where Prince Harry and Meghan will tie the knot on May 19.
With the majority of rooms already taken there - visitors have been forced to turn to its less glamorous neighbour, which poet John Betjeman famously suggested should be bombed into oblivion.
A deluxe family room at the Heathrow/Windsor Marriott in Langley, on the outskirts of Slough, and five miles from the ceremony, leaps to £496 from £102 on May 18.
At the Holiday Inn Express London Heathrow T5, which is also close to Slough Town Centre, one room for the same night is £199 - a massive jump from the £74 it would cost the week before.
A room at Holiday Inn’s Slough-Windsor branch on May 19, booked through booking.com is £293 - four times the usual £71 rate.
Cllr Sabia Hussain, deputy leader of Slough Borough Council, said: “Being Windsor’s neighbour, I imagine Slough will benefit economically from the Royal Wedding.
“There will be lots of people staying in the town’s hotels, and people coming through the town on public transport to get to Windsor.
“More importantly it is a chance to bring communities together and enjoy watching the happy occasion and celebrate together.”
TravelSupermarket spokesperson, Emma Grimster, explained: “Hotel prices are largely driven by supply and demand.
“As Royal fans in their thousands plan to descend on Windsor to enjoy the celebrations it is no surprise to see accommodation prices soar.
“If you are still thinking of going along to Windsor to be a part of the big day, and need accommodation, my advice is to look at the wide surrounding area and compare prices online as soon as possible before accommodation is unavailable, or only available at extortionate rates.”
Crowds are expected to flock in their thousands to see Harry, 33, and American actress Meghan, 36, tie the knot and millions more will watch on TV.
Slough has long been seen as a dreary neighbour to historic Windsor.
Ricky Gervais set hit sitcom The Office on a Slough trading estate.
Slough’s Top Five Attractions According To Tripadvisor
- Black Park Country Park - Lush parkland contains ten miles of paths plus an adventure course with zip wires and rope bridges
- Langley Country Park - Historic park featuring flower gardens, an arboretum and lake, plus scenic trails, wildlife and a cafe
- The Race Hut - Games centre with 16 professional race car simulators to battle friends
- Slough Ice Arena - One-stop ice entertainment venue offering skating, including discos, plus hockey and karting
- Kedermister Library - A rare surviving example of an early 17th century library preserved in its original decorated cupboard
MOST READ IN NEWS
But, it was recently named the best place to work in the UK.
Harry and Meghan’s wedding will take place at St George’s chapel at Windsor Castle.
Around 600 guests have been invited to the ceremony with a further 2,640 members of the public on the day.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.