If you go on a long car journey, a service station is likely to feature as part of the trip – whether it’s to use the toilet, stop for a coffee or grab a bite to eat. There’s nothing glamorous or luxurious about the service stations around the UK. However, some are certainly better than others. So, what makes a good service station? And which are the best and worst of the bunch around the UK?
Customer survey
Transport Focus, the travel watchdog, recently conducted a survey of some 8,700 customers. It looked at key areas around their visits to service stations, including the food, staffing and those all-important toilet facilities. The results revealed that some of the service stations were rather impressive, while others left a lot to be desired.
Based on the survey’s results, the top five service stations in the UK are:
• Reading Westbound M4 (Berkshire)
• Rivington Northbound M61 (Bolton, Lancashire)
• Corley Northbound M6 (Warwickshire)
• Gloucester Southbound M5 (Gloucestershire)
• Gloucester Northbound M5 (Gloucestershire)
At the other end of the scale, the worst five stations are:
• Heston Eastbound M4 (Middlesex)
• Stafford Southbound M6 (Staffordshire)
• Rownhams Southbound M27 (Hampshire)
• Rownhams Northbound M27 (Hampshire)
• Toddington Southbound M1 (Bedfordshire)
(Credit – Ian S)
What makes best and worst
Heston was rated as the worst in the country. The company that runs it, Moto, pointed out that the survey was done while there were building works going on. That may explain why some people complained about the “very smelly toilets.” Heston is also one of the smallest service stations in the entire Moto network and could therefore not provide many of the facilities of larger sites.
At the top of the chart, Reading scored an impressive 100% on its satisfaction survey, ironically also operated by Moto. According to the Transport Minister, John Hayes, service stations should be places for drivers to enjoy, rather than endure. This certainly seems to be the case with Reading’s westbound M4 offering, which was praised by reviewers for cleanliness, friendliness of staff and value for money.
Aiming for high standards
The survey asked drivers what they look for in a service station. Obviously, the basics are at the heart of the service – cleanliness, a range of relevant services and facilities and a decent selection of food options. Many service stations now have a number of food outlets under one roof, ranging from coffee shops to fast food joints. Many also offer a supermarket presence, such as Marks & Spencer or Waitrose, for drivers to stock up on essentials for the rest of the journey, conference facilities or hotels. One site (Beaconsfield on the M40) even offers a pub as part of its motorway service station. There’s also a trend towards drive through coffee shops in some locations.
Gloucester is one location that ranks in the top five (twice). It sets an example of the way forward for service stations. Instead of the typical fast food outlets, this service station is home to a café and a farm shop. In fact, the food there is so good that it received a nomination for the Best Food Retailer from the BBC Food and Farming Awards. It sources most of its foods from within 30 miles of the station and even provides an on-site butcher.
Sometimes it’s the additional features that make the difference for drivers. A lake to sit beside while eating your McDonald’s is one example, while a safe playground for the kids to let off some steam is another popular option.
Increasingly, service stations are offering more than just a place to have a burger and a toilet break. No doubt service stations up and down the country will now be considering how they can improve their performance before next year’s rankings.
Have you had a particularly good (or particularly bad) experience at a service station? We would love to hear about it – leave a comment below to share your experiences!
Most service station are reasonably pleasent these days but all suffer from the same problem over priced! espeacialy the fuel stations
En-route to Spain this year, I made it my business to gauge my tank of fuel. Petrol was £1.32 on the motorway services. In Spain, it was £1.05 motorway, even with a week pound @ €1.12. At the supermarkets in Spain. As low as 82p diesel and 98p Petrol.
Better food, lower prices.
*stations
*pleasant
*especially
Sack your autocorrect
*Unnecessary correction
*Unnecessary correction
*Unnecessary correction
Sack your etiquette teacher.
I am usually towing a caravan when I visit a service station and find the provision of dedicated parking for caravans is very poor in most cases. Begrudgingly shunted off to park amongst HGV’s where we are wanted neither by the ‘service’ providers nor the HGV drivers does not make for a happy experience. Proper dedicated slots for caravanners, of the standard common on the continent, would greatly improve the experience for caravan and Motorhome owners.
Perhaps if “Weekend Gypsies” paid additional road tax (like HGVs do) they might find some dedicated parking spots. SMH…..
We already do – it costs almost twice as much per mile to fuel a car when towing hence we are paying extra fuel duty. Surely you can work that out.
What is needed are pull offs as per the Aire in France and similar in Switzerland/Germany. They have toilets, seat & fresh water in general or just a pleasant pulling off space.
Are you sure thats what these places are for?
Heartfelt agreement! It would be wonderful just to have Pull-offs as in France, for the essentials of toilets, and a relatively peaceful place to rest and let children and/or dogs run about a bit. Food and drink + fuel + HGV and Caravan parking would be v helpful. A break + speed and convenience are what we really need on a long journey, not facilities for a day out and money grabbing leisure activities.
Fuel prices are the biggest disgrace. Recently £1.38 in various Mway services and in one case less than 5 miles away at a local supermarket only £1.18. Frequently 10-15p/litre at local branded fuel stations. This is one area the Government should step in to have fair price or explain why it is so much more.
Tony, that’s why we use PetrolPrices!
I don’t know what criteria was used for your survey but , as a frequent private car driver between Bath and Ballater in northern Scotland and also Bath to London, I would dispute your results. the two Gloucester stations on the M5 are streets ahead of all others countrywide and Tebay on the M6, not even mentioned, rates very highly. I fail to understand your rating for Stafford services, it is modern, has a lake and great facilities both north and south and is far superior to any of the other stations on that portion of the M6. I would rate Reading services east bound ahead of their westbound station though it is busier
I’ve got to agree with Richard – Tebay has always been my favourite particularly if you have a dog or children and the weather is good. It is also a joy to have the two new Gloucester service stations open which show what can be done in the U.K as marks of excellence.
Rownhams isn’t that bad. Always easy to park in the northbound one. I’ve been in worse service stations. And Tebay, north M6, has wonderful food. This survey is rubbish!!
The issue which is most annoying is the number of service stations which have closed their toilet facilities to customers – now reserved for staff use only.
I think it should be obligatory for all service stations to provide this facility. And referral to a super store some 100+ yds away is not good enough.
All motorway service stations provide full toilet facilities. It’s a legal requirement. The only service station I know that doesn’t provide toilet facilities is Musselburgh on the A1, because the amenity building where the little chef and burger king were is now abandoned.
If you only stop at shoddy petrol stations in little villages they don’t need to provide toilets by law.
M6 N&S @ Tebay
M5 N&S @ Gloucester
M6 N @ Stafford
are all great
On the M4 I deliberately miss out Reading and stop at Leigh Delaware. So much more pleasant and relaxed, as well as being so much easier to get in and out of.
Interesting to see the Cobham services near Heathrow aren’t mentioned – always found it easy to park there and a good selection of food on offer.
I stayed at the Travelodge at the Cardiff M4 service station and still received a parking ticket for £100 despite being assured this would not happen, I feel disliked and certainly not welcome.
You haven’t mentioned Tbay on M6 ! Have travelled there as the purpose of the journey !
Tebay on the M6 has always been rated amongst the best. Couldn’t your reviewers travel that far.
The reviewers do not travel further from London as they might get lost ! Some southerners who review have never left their offices in London
You’ve definitely missed off Tebay unless that was number 6 on your list. We always head for that one on the way back from Scotland.
I’ll second that farmer owned and run , a model for all other services
I suggest that Tebay didn’t make the list because it’s on a far less heavily-used stretch of motorway, so gets less passing trade, relatively speaking. Even a large proportion of people travelling to the Lake District from the south don’t go that far up the M6. Anyway, I’d rather it was kept a bit of a secret!
Not been to the Gloucester Services but Tebay on the M6 at Shap is a similar style and we always stop there on our way to Scotland. Surprised that it didn’t feature in the top 5.
Westmorland Limited run Tebay & Gloucester which are the best. I often visit Tebay & always visit Gloucester when travelling to or from Cornwall. I was surprised to find Rivington (M61) on the best list as not is the worst that I have been to. It was also surprising to find Stafford on the worst list.
Correction
Westmorland Limited run Tebay & Gloucester which are the best. I often visit Tebay & always visit Gloucester when travelling to or from Cornwall. I was surprised to find Rivington (M61) on the best list as it is the worst that I have been to. It was also surprising to find Stafford on the worst list.
Taunton south on the M5 has the most expensive fuel I have ever seen. 20p per litre dearer than most of the higher price fuels I have used
The Westmorland Farm Shops service area southbound between Penrith and Kendal on the M6 is different and includes local produce. A pleasure to visit.
Totally agree with this. It is the very best if you’re looking for quality goods, service and environment. Makes it an enjoyable break on the Cotswolds-Edinburgh trip for me – not just a necessary stop to be endured. Five stars for Westmorland.
In Spain the fuel prices are more less the same on motorways as elsewhere. I believe the government have something to do with this.
However I have noticed that the prices rise a cent or two on Friday and then drop back on Monday!
I cannot believe that Westmorland Services do not figure in the Best catagory. I travel the entire network of Motorways and I have yet to find one to meet the Westmorland standards.
Could not agree more. Independent with goid food great farm shop
I don’t know about “best” or “worst” motorway services, my gripe is that there are zero proper motorway services for those of us making journeys overnight. You might be able to get a coffee and a sandwich, but trying to get a proper break — as hundreds of “Tiredness Kills” warning signs tell us to do — requires a place to sit down to a proper meal. That’s impossible, because the food vendors are closed overnight. On many occasions I’ve thought I’ll pull over, take a long break, over a full English breakfast, only to find all the food outlets are closed.
Add my vote for Tebay. It’s so good that if I am up in the Lake District I call in even if I do not need to stop. The view from the southbound restaurant is stunning.
And more votes for Tebay, Stafford and Gloucester, our 3 favourites for breaking the long journey between Scotland and Devon. Can usually complete the journey without re-fuelling, but if we do need to, Haydock, just off the M6, is very reasonable.
Bridgwater service station not in the bottom 5?! I’m shocked!
Gloucester services are great,they have thought of everything including dog walks . Good food and a lovely farm shop
So what was so bad about Toddington that it got on the naughty list? I used it a couple of months ago & everything was fine for me, the toilets were clean, the food was edible & the staff were polite & helpful, so what was so wrong with it?
Most service station are reasonably pleasent these days but all suffer from the same problem over priced! espeacialy the fuel stations
En-route to Spain this year, I made it my business to gauge my tank of fuel. Petrol was £1.32 on the motorway services. In Spain, it was £1.05 motorway, even with a week pound @ €1.12. At the supermarkets in Spain. As low as 82p diesel and 98p Petrol.
Better food, lower prices.
*stations
*pleasant
*especially
Sack your autocorrect
*Unnecessary correction
*Unnecessary correction
*Unnecessary correction
Sack your etiquette teacher.
I am usually towing a caravan when I visit a service station and find the provision of dedicated parking for caravans is very poor in most cases. Begrudgingly shunted off to park amongst HGV’s where we are wanted neither by the ‘service’ providers nor the HGV drivers does not make for a happy experience. Proper dedicated slots for caravanners, of the standard common on the continent, would greatly improve the experience for caravan and Motorhome owners.
Perhaps if “Weekend Gypsies” paid additional road tax (like HGVs do) they might find some dedicated parking spots. SMH…..
We already do – it costs almost twice as much per mile to fuel a car when towing hence we are paying extra fuel duty. Surely you can work that out.
What is needed are pull offs as per the Aire in France and similar in Switzerland/Germany. They have toilets, seat & fresh water in general or just a pleasant pulling off space.
Are you sure thats what these places are for?
Heartfelt agreement! It would be wonderful just to have Pull-offs as in France, for the essentials of toilets, and a relatively peaceful place to rest and let children and/or dogs run about a bit. Food and drink + fuel + HGV and Caravan parking would be v helpful. A break + speed and convenience are what we really need on a long journey, not facilities for a day out and money grabbing leisure activities.
Fuel prices are the biggest disgrace. Recently £1.38 in various Mway services and in one case less than 5 miles away at a local supermarket only £1.18. Frequently 10-15p/litre at local branded fuel stations. This is one area the Government should step in to have fair price or explain why it is so much more.
Tony, that’s why we use PetrolPrices!
I don’t know what criteria was used for your survey but , as a frequent private car driver between Bath and Ballater in northern Scotland and also Bath to London, I would dispute your results. the two Gloucester stations on the M5 are streets ahead of all others countrywide and Tebay on the M6, not even mentioned, rates very highly. I fail to understand your rating for Stafford services, it is modern, has a lake and great facilities both north and south and is far superior to any of the other stations on that portion of the M6. I would rate Reading services east bound ahead of their westbound station though it is busier
I’ve got to agree with Richard – Tebay has always been my favourite particularly if you have a dog or children and the weather is good. It is also a joy to have the two new Gloucester service stations open which show what can be done in the U.K as marks of excellence.
Rownhams isn’t that bad. Always easy to park in the northbound one. I’ve been in worse service stations. And Tebay, north M6, has wonderful food. This survey is rubbish!!
The issue which is most annoying is the number of service stations which have closed their toilet facilities to customers – now reserved for staff use only.
I think it should be obligatory for all service stations to provide this facility. And referral to a super store some 100+ yds away is not good enough.
All motorway service stations provide full toilet facilities. It’s a legal requirement. The only service station I know that doesn’t provide toilet facilities is Musselburgh on the A1, because the amenity building where the little chef and burger king were is now abandoned.
If you only stop at shoddy petrol stations in little villages they don’t need to provide toilets by law.
M6 N&S @ Tebay
M5 N&S @ Gloucester
M6 N @ Stafford
are all great
On the M4 I deliberately miss out Reading and stop at Leigh Delaware. So much more pleasant and relaxed, as well as being so much easier to get in and out of.
Interesting to see the Cobham services near Heathrow aren’t mentioned – always found it easy to park there and a good selection of food on offer.
I stayed at the Travelodge at the Cardiff M4 service station and still received a parking ticket for £100 despite being assured this would not happen, I feel disliked and certainly not welcome.
You haven’t mentioned Tbay on M6 ! Have travelled there as the purpose of the journey !
Tebay on the M6 has always been rated amongst the best. Couldn’t your reviewers travel that far.
The reviewers do not travel further from London as they might get lost ! Some southerners who review have never left their offices in London
You’ve definitely missed off Tebay unless that was number 6 on your list. We always head for that one on the way back from Scotland.
I’ll second that farmer owned and run , a model for all other services
I suggest that Tebay didn’t make the list because it’s on a far less heavily-used stretch of motorway, so gets less passing trade, relatively speaking. Even a large proportion of people travelling to the Lake District from the south don’t go that far up the M6. Anyway, I’d rather it was kept a bit of a secret!
Not been to the Gloucester Services but Tebay on the M6 at Shap is a similar style and we always stop there on our way to Scotland. Surprised that it didn’t feature in the top 5.
Westmorland Limited run Tebay & Gloucester which are the best. I often visit Tebay & always visit Gloucester when travelling to or from Cornwall. I was surprised to find Rivington (M61) on the best list as not is the worst that I have been to. It was also surprising to find Stafford on the worst list.
Correction
Westmorland Limited run Tebay & Gloucester which are the best. I often visit Tebay & always visit Gloucester when travelling to or from Cornwall. I was surprised to find Rivington (M61) on the best list as it is the worst that I have been to. It was also surprising to find Stafford on the worst list.
Taunton south on the M5 has the most expensive fuel I have ever seen. 20p per litre dearer than most of the higher price fuels I have used
The Westmorland Farm Shops service area southbound between Penrith and Kendal on the M6 is different and includes local produce. A pleasure to visit.
Totally agree with this. It is the very best if you’re looking for quality goods, service and environment. Makes it an enjoyable break on the Cotswolds-Edinburgh trip for me – not just a necessary stop to be endured. Five stars for Westmorland.
In Spain the fuel prices are more less the same on motorways as elsewhere. I believe the government have something to do with this.
However I have noticed that the prices rise a cent or two on Friday and then drop back on Monday!
I cannot believe that Westmorland Services do not figure in the Best catagory. I travel the entire network of Motorways and I have yet to find one to meet the Westmorland standards.
Could not agree more. Independent with goid food great farm shop
I don’t know about “best” or “worst” motorway services, my gripe is that there are zero proper motorway services for those of us making journeys overnight. You might be able to get a coffee and a sandwich, but trying to get a proper break — as hundreds of “Tiredness Kills” warning signs tell us to do — requires a place to sit down to a proper meal. That’s impossible, because the food vendors are closed overnight. On many occasions I’ve thought I’ll pull over, take a long break, over a full English breakfast, only to find all the food outlets are closed.
Add my vote for Tebay. It’s so good that if I am up in the Lake District I call in even if I do not need to stop. The view from the southbound restaurant is stunning.