West of Heathrow the M4 runs past Slough, Windsor and Eton, crosses the Thames near Maidenhead, where the A404(M) leaves for Marlow and High Wycombe, then passes Wokingham and Reading before reaching Theale.

This is Thames Valley commuter country, used by people travelling to Reading, Slough and Bracknell, and by families heading for Windsor and Legoland. Reading services sits between junctions 11 and 12.

The road on the map is coloured by the live traffic flow speed, the same data as our live M4 traffic flow map. Choose westbound or eastbound above the map. Tap any junction number to open that junction’s own page.

Driving Junction 5 to Junction 12: Distances and Times

From junction 5 to junction 12 is about 26 miles along the M4, about 22 minutes at the 70 mph speed limit in clear traffic. Here it is junction by junction; tap a junction to open its own page.

• J5 to J6: about 3½ miles, about 3 minutes
• J6 to J7: about 2 miles, about 2 minutes
• J7 to J8/9: about 3 miles, about 3 minutes
• J8/9 to J10: about 7½ miles, about 6 minutes
• J10 to J11: about 5½ miles, about 5 minutes
• J11 to J12: about 4½ miles, about 4 minutes

Distances are measured along the motorway between the centres of the junctions, from OpenStreetMap, and rounded to the nearest half mile. Times are at a steady 70 mph and do not allow for joining, leaving, roadworks or lower speed limits, so check the live map above and the live M4 speed flow map before you set off.

M4 Junctions 5 to 12 Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks

The Junctions in Section 2

• J5Langley RoundaboutNearest town: Slough, 2.6 miles north-west
• J6Tuns LaneNearest town: Eton, 1.1 miles south
• J7Huntercombe SpurNearest town: Eton, 2.6 miles south-east
• J8/9HolyportNearest town: Maidenhead, 1.7 miles north
• J10WinnershNearest town: Wokingham, 1.6 miles south-east
• J11Three Mile CrossNearest town: Reading, 3.0 miles north
• J12ThealeNearest town: Reading, 4.3 miles east