Drivers travelling on the M4 can enjoy a varying range of facilities at motorway service stations.
Between Heston to Pontarddulais, there are 12 services on the motorway, six of which are in Wales.
WalesOnline has complied a list of these service stations, which are Heston, Reading, Chieveley, Membury, Leigh Delamere, Severn View, Magor, Cardiff Gate, Cardiff West, Sarn Park, Swansea West and Pont Abraham, and their ranking based on Tripadvisor reviews.
Here's everything you need to know about the M4 service stations based on what reviewers have said.
Read more: The people living directly above the M4
Heston - 2.0
Heston is a suburban area on the outskirts of London and the first service station on the M4 (if you were to travel from England to Wales of course).
The service station got a ranking of 2.0 and received 78 reviews on Trip advisor.
According to Tripadvisor user, "gizmob2brian" however that is the only time the service station will reach the top of a list.
"One star is too good for this place," they wrote.
"By far and away the worst services I have ever used on any motorway. Dirty, run down and the toilets are a joke, so small and totally unfit for purpose. Avoid this place."
"Ashpearce64" from Swansea agreed and said: "Now I know I need to take into account that I had just been on an eight hour flight from New York to Heathrow and had not long started my drive back to south Wales. However, all I wanted was a coffee and a bacon sandwich.
"First stop was Burger King. Coffee tasted like luke warm tap water, the bacon burger thing I ordered was a tiny bun with 2 small cold sorry looking bits of bacon. So second shot was Greggs. After Queuing for 15 mins for two bacon baguettes, we got rock solid baguettes that cracked my tooth!
"Will never visit this place again and if I am in the area will make sure I have enough fuel to get to the next services."
"SamJ" however, saw the good side to the service station, they said: "A variety of place to eat in and has different range of food for everyone. The toilets are clean and they have a hotel very close if needed.
"You can buy variety of things from news papers to sandwich to burgers. [There] is seating to sit. The staff could be more friendly but they are ok."
Reading - 2.5
Reading service station ranking reached 2.5 and has received an overwhelming 343 reviews so far.
One of which is by "MalcomA", who found the visit to the service station a pleasant one thanks to a man called Ian.
They said: "I frequently visit Reading Eastbound services with my disabled wife . This week calling in to W h Smith we where served by a assistant called Ian .
"What a remarkable man dealing with excitable children and adults who where unable to make there mind up he was jolly and polite with every customer in the queue.
"I have never been served by a assistant like this in a shop even in the likes of Harrods a truly remarkable man. Even when heading for a break my disabled wife spoke to him to thank him and he spent at least 15 mins talking with us. It is not very often assistants know how to deal with and speak to disabled people but he seemed to manage without a problem."
But "MoiraS" from Newport had this to say: "As a frequent user of Reading Services I’ve found it amazing that there is no hot water in the toilets. I have contacted your service department just to be told the matter was in hand. That was months ago. On travelling towards London recently hot water was available. On my return journey eastwards only a 'trickle' of cold water came from the taps.
"Travellers use these facilities and then use the restaurants without proper hand hygiene. At the moment we are being asked to wash hands properly due to the recent very serious health scare. How can this be done under these circumstances?
Get your act together Reading Services and help your visitors help themselves."
Chieveley - 2.0
Chieveley service station has received around 209 reviews on Tripadvisor.
"TheThinMan56" found Chieveley service station better than the other M4 services. They said: "After the nightmare of rush hour M25 Chieveley services seemed like an oasis.
"It's newer than the other M4 services, a bit of a fiddle to find but, worth the effort.
"Clean loos HOORAY!! Clean tables HOORAY!!"
But "lesstoneuk", wasn't a fan of the food that was on offer.
They wrote: "Eat elsewhere, bring sandwiches or eat the grass outside but under no circumstances eat here. We ordered the Chicken, Chips and Peas but sent them back as the chicken was dry and crispy from sitting in the food warmer for an excessive amount of time. The chips were underdone oven chips, the fresh peas were tinned and the gravy was packet.
"When we sat down and tried to eat the chicken we found it impossible to chew, it was so dry and overcooked. My wife immediately took it back, and complained, ordering pie, chips, peas and gravy instead, which was brought to our table as soon as it was ready. This meal was at least edible and we quickly finished.
"This place deserves the lowest marks possible and I urge Tripadvisor to consider a minus point system to accommodate places such as this.
"Avoid this place like the plague, there are better places onsite."
Membury - 2.0
Just on the edge of Wiltshire county, Membury service station has been ranked with 2.0 on Tripadvisor.
But according to "Colchesterltfc" user, it's "quite amazing" that the service station is allowed to stay open to the public.
"Absolutely disgusting toilets - even for a motorway servcie station, dog muck bin overflowing, threadbare everything," they wrote.
"Outdoor seating is obviously an afterthought and situated beneath fume discharge vents from back of the building. General air of an early post-Soviet eastern European town in terminal decline. Suggest you go anywhere else but here. Good luck."
"BT3rd" had this to say: "The place itself is tired in appearance and toilets need cleaning. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Fish and chips at Harry Ramadens. Good size portions, cooked to order and very good quality. Also the serving staff had a smile."
Leigh Delamere - 2.5
Ranked with 2.5 on the website, Leigh Delamere between Bristol and Swindon has received 104 reviews so far.
Trip Advisor user, "jillianharbur", wasn't impressed with the lack of Covid regulations taking place at the station.
They wrote: "Hand sanitiser machines empty, hardly anyone wearing masks, no social distancing. Doors were manual opening no cleaning evident, again no hand sanitizer present.
"The ladies toilets were disgusting, floor covered in water & toilet paper everywhere, the sinks the floors. No trip hazard signage in place , no attendance personnel, no one to ask or inform of how dangerous and dirty it was. Extremely long queues making social distancing impossible.
"Huge groups of football supporters drinking cans/bottles of beer at 10am, loud , obnoxious and no regard for other peoples space or safety. Honestly I'm not a buzz kill but this was just unsafe."
But Tripadvisor user "Howlo" had a very different experience. They wrote: "A halfway stop for us and the dog. Good selection of outlets, clean and adhering to social distancing. Toilets clean, all good for a motorway services".
Severn View - 2.5
Just on the cusp of Wales, some drivers weren't impressed with Severn View's service station.
"Glosspots" from Abergavenny said: "Severn View Motorway Services on the England side of the old Severn Bridge are the most dismal, dingy, disappointing services I have ever visited.
"Not only are they shabby, sad and desolate, they also a must be having a laugh with their prices. Two Fruit Shoots and small bags of Wotsits - £4.48!! I cannot believe they are getting away with it.
"You would have to be absolutely desperate to go there - and I never intend being that desperate again...".
Magor - 2.0
On Tripadvisor, Magor service station near Newport was awarded a modest 2.0.
User, "chainsawdave66", wrote: "Pretty decent for an older style motorway services. The car park isn’t massive so you might struggle to park if it was really busy. The building itself isn’t that big either by modern standards but it does the job.
"Decent little shop inside selling the usual cold drinks, snacks and coffees along with a selection of Welsh gifts such as polo shirts, hats etc.
"There’s a McDonald’s inside the main building and the food from there was freshly cooked The toilets were clean and all seemed to be working. Staff were all friendly".
Cardiff Gate - 2.5
Cardiff Gate service station offers a variety of facilities, such as Starbucks, Burger King and Waitrose.
Tripadvisor user named "729penp" claimed they met the true ambassador for Wales.
"Popped in on the way to Brecon, toilet stop and food," they wrote.
"[Burger King] had just launched vegan Royale and therefore not on the screen. We were served by the true prince of Wales Callum.
"Not only was he polite he was a fantastic asset to BK and Wales. He advised us that the plant based whopper was not completely Vegan due to cooking methods and that the ideal choice for my partner would be the Vegan Royale. Served up piping hot, fantastic portion size and offer of condiments. Best BK we've had!
"Thanks Callum, very much appreciated".
However, not everyone got the same experience, "Taffnat" said that they would never visit the station again.
"This is by far the dirtiest service station I have ever been in and I visit many," they wrote.
"I went in eight toilet cubicles before one was useable and even that had sanitary wear bursting out of the bins. Avoid!"
Cardiff West - 2.5
"Barneyc45" visited the service station's Costa Coffee.
They had this to say: "Superb welcome and service, very well laid out with screens, staff efficient especially Anna from Portugal who goes out of her way to help. Latte always superb and Covid hygiene rules adhered too."
But "David T" from Exeter warned people not to go to the service station.
They wrote: "What a mistake - we stayed overnight with a caravan to break a trip to West Wales. The caravan parking is badly marked, narrow and small. It is also on a slope which is bad for sleeping.
"Joy of joy just when you do get off to sleep you are woken by re-frigerated lorries or an invasion by coaches who use it as a pick up point. There is no proper cafeteria - just fast food outlets.
"The Burger King BK Angus was bad - the flaccid, grey burger patty looked like it was made from minced cadaver. Slimy lettuce. Unlike others we found the only redeeming feature was Greggs who did a wonderful bacon roll with good value tea and coffee from great staff."
Sarn Park - 2.5
The service station in Bridgend has received around 1,011 reviews online.
One of which was by a reviewer named "007Rawson", who had a good experience at Sarn Park.
They wrote: "Excellent services and rest facilities. Multiple charging points for electric vehicles which was great to see. Decent public toilets and a full range of shops. Reasonably priced Starbucks so a great opportunity to have a drink and chill for a short break. Friendly staff placed through all the shops and services.
"Car park was a great size and has lots of accessible parking bays too. Steps and ramp lead up to the large glass fronted entrance. Very clean and tidy nice temperature inside too. Very well presented and definitely felt welcomed when visiting."
But "Jason" gave the service station a one star review. This is what they said: "Don't ever stop for the Starbucks.... It's shocking.
"Unless you like drinking dirty dishwasher."
Swansea West - 2.0
Reviewer "hanna Anne" claimed that people weren't the only ones that used the station. They wrote: "The man serving in Costa coffee was so rude. Didn't have time for me, didn't listen to me and tried to rush my order through.
"There was rats outside the services that were comfortable around people by the outside benches. Toilets were lovely and clean, the services as a whole was clean. I wouldn't visit again if I had a choice."
But "James Gammon" appreciated the facilities on offer. They wrote: "Good clean services with decent facilities, HGV facilities i.e showers need a bit better maintenance, but other than that its a decent place to park, eat, and use the bog."
Pont Abraham - 3.0
"MiserableFoodie" did not hold back in his review of Pont Abraham service station in Pontarddulais.
They wrote: "This place is about as much fun as telling the kids the dogs been put to sleep. You’d have a more fulfilling experience trying to trap farts in a cup whilst in the bath."
But for "923Dan", the service station was "small but useful".
Their review said: "Driving back along the M4, our daughter felt unwell, so pulled into the next available services on the M4, that happened by accident to be Pont Abraham Services.
"A small, but useful M4 motorway services in Wales - toilets, Costa Coffee (thanks for the latte), WHSmiths and free parking - everything you need."
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