A4/Reading - Slough
A4 | ||||||||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||||||||
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From: | Reading (SU712726) | |||||||||
To: | Slough (SU963802) | |||||||||
Distance: | 21 miles (33.8 km) | |||||||||
Meets: | A33, A327, A329, A3290, B3350, B4446, B478, A3032, A321, B477, A404, A404(M), A308, B4447, B3028, A4094, B3026, M4, A355 | |||||||||
Former Number(s): | B3032 | |||||||||
Old route now: | A4155, A3032 | |||||||||
Primary Destinations | ||||||||||
Highway Authorities | ||||||||||
Reading Council • Wokingham Council • Windsor and Maidenhead • Buckinghamshire Council • Slough Council | ||||||||||
Counties | ||||||||||
Berkshire • Buckinghamshire | ||||||||||
Route outline (key) | ||||||||||
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It's not actually possible to drive eastbound through Reading on the A4, thanks to the town's innovative and highly infuriating one-way system. To the south of the town centre the A4 runs in a dead straight line as London Road for about a mile, but only westbound traffic has the privilege of using this short cut. Eastbound traffic has two choices after passing through the suburbs of Calcot and Southcote—either turning right into leafy Berkeley Avenue (the real A4) or continuing straight on down Castle Hill (the A4155). Either route eventually sees the driver sucked onto the infernal Inner Distribution Road, officially the A329. Not quite the road to hell, but the road to the Kings Road Gyratory, which is almost as bad.
Survivors must then endure a half mile crawl along Kings Road before rejoining the A4 proper at Cemetery Junction (watch for the amused smiles from traffic heading west). At this point the ordeal is almost over; just a short, traffic-light-punctuated journey through New Town before an escape route is offered in the form of the A3290 (previously the A329(M)) towards the M4. Often a tempting proposition, but by now the worst is over, the road widens and the driver is safely on their way eastwards towards Maidenhead.
The A4 becomes surprisingly light through Reading's eastern suburbs, helped by being a dual carriageway. The A4 then becomes single for a short while and then dual again as it passes near to Sonning. From Sonning to its junction with the A404(M), the A4 becomes essentially rural in character (well, rural for SE England). If the traffic clears, some of the bends can bring a smile to the face, but nothing to put on a "Top 10" list. A fairly big roundabout marks its junction with the A404(M)) and the A404. Turn north here for High Wycombe and the M40 or south for the M4. The A4 (still single carriageway) becomes a suburban road, through to Maidenhead town centre, where it widens to a dual. You then have to negotiate 4 roundabouts before crossing the Thames. This bridge is always something of a bottleneck, as it is a single carriageway.
The trek to the outskirts of Slough from the Thames takes about 4 miles along a single carriageway road, passing through fields and suburban houses. This stretch can be a nightmare on Sunday afternoons, due to a car boot sale in one of the fields. Another big roundabout marks entry into Slough. You can leave the A4 here for junction 7 of the M4. The A4 now widens into 2 lanes each way, though not strictly dual as there is no separating barrier. Instead of roundabouts, you now have to negotiate untold traffic lights to make your way into Slough town. Very frustrating. But at least you can admire the huge modern office buildings along the way, such as the HQ for Citroen, Fiat, Celltech, O2 etc. Also, see if you can spot a bargain car at the huge Trade Sales site, which straddles the A4.