Best motorway services in the UK

No one visits a motorway service station for fun. But stop at the wrong one on your next road trip, and you might find dirty facilities and overpriced food.

While the motorway you're travelling on limits your options, our survey revealed that stopping a few junctions earlier or later could make all the difference to your overall experience.

For example, on the M6, stop at the Southwaite Moto at junctions 41-42 (47%), and you'll find a low-quality shops, food outlets and potentially unclean toilets; it gained just two out of five stars in these categories. But if you pull off just two junctions earlier (38-39), Westmorland services in Tebay (83%) offers clean loos and plenty of places to grab a cuppa and lunch. You might even pick up a last-minute gift or two in its excellent farm shop.

On the M1, Donington services, at junctions 23A-24 (60%), is far superior to Trowell at junctions 25-26 (46%); meanwhile, on the M74, Cairn Lodge at junctions 11-12 (69%) rated higher than Abington services at junction 13 (49%).

Use our table below to plan where to stop on your travels this festive season – and where to avoid. Thousands of members rated nearly 70 service stations in a range of categories. And if you find yourself in desperate need of a loo near one of the UK's worst options, we've rounded up alternatives below.

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Best motorway service stations in the UK – and the worst

Find the best motorway service companies from our table. Westmorland has the three best service stations in the UK, where fast-food outlets and high-street coffee chains are replaced by home-cooked food and farm shops selling local produce.

Best motorway service station on the M5 – and overall

Gloucester Services

• Location: M5, between junctions 11A and 12
• Brand: Westmorland
• Customer score: 86%
• Free parking? Yes, for three hours
• Electric vehicle charging available? Yes

To describe the stop between junctions 11A and 12 on the M5 as a service station does it a disservice. Unlike the dreary buildings you usually find on motorways, Gloucester Services has an architect-designed feel, with a roof carpeted in grass and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views over the little lake. It also has outdoor seating by the water. 

Enjoy the views while tucking into a home-cooked meal, such as fish and chips and steak and ale pie. You can also buy local produce from the ‘fabulous’ farm shop, including ‘bread to rival any baker’ and regional cheeses, such as Hereford Hop. No wonder visitors called it an ‘essential part of a journey through Gloucestershire'.

There's free wi-fi and accessible showers, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas. For dog owners, water bowls and poo bins are provided, along with walking trails around the service station. If you decide to stay overnight to break up a long journey, there's accommodation on site, too.

Verdict: The gold standard of service stations.

Best motorway service station on the M6

• Location: M6, between junctions 38-39
• Brand: Westmorland
• Customer score: 83%
• Free parking? Yes, for three hours
• Electric vehicle charging available? Yes

Despite its lovely lakeside location, don't be tempted to stop at the mediocre services at Killington Lake (52%) if you're driving north on the M6. Just 12 miles up the road, you’ll find Tebay Services (run by the same company as Gloucester), located on a working farm in the Cumbrian hills. Unlike Killington, the services do justice to their setting. 

Parking is easy, it’s impeccably clean and spacious – and there’s freshly prepared food on offer. If you’re after a ‘real knife-and-fork meal’, Herdwick lamb and homemade Cumberland sausages are likely to be on the menu, while Penrith fudge and a huge range of other local produce can be bought from the farm shop.

Other amenities include free wi-fi, free and accessible shower facilities and a kids' soft-play area. Pets can enjoy some respite, too, with secure walking routes around the station and water bowls and waste bins provided.

Verdict: First-rate, family-run rest stop.

Best motorway service station on the M1

Donington Services

• Location: M1, junction 23A-24
• Brand: Moto
• Customer score: 60%
• Free parking? Yes, for two hours
• Electric vehicle charging available? Yes

While Which? readers gave Moto Donington Services an average three stars for its prices, the service station earned four stars for its range and quality of shops and food, cleanliness and accessibility. 

‘It's one of the better services in that neck of the woods, generally clean and airy,’ said one Which? member. Respondents particularly liked plenty of outdoor seating and dog-exercising facilities, praising the ‘lovely views and walks at the back’.

Donington services has shower facilities, free wi-fi, changing rooms, accommodation and meeting rooms and even washing machines. Choose from well-known food outlets including Burger King, M&S Food, Pret, Greggs and Costa. 

Verdict: One of the better service stations, but pricey

Best motorway service station on the M4 

Leigh Delamere Services

• Location: M4, junction 17-18
• Brand: Moto
• Customer score: 57%
• Free parking? Yes, for two hours
• Electric vehicle charging available? Yes

With a score of 57%, Moto Leigh Delamere Services is the best of a bad bunch on the M4. Which? readers liked the spacious car park, cleanliness and caravan access, which is why it got a four-star rating for convenience and accessibility. However, it only got two stars for choice of where to eat and shop. 

Moto’s Reading Service station at junction 11-12 performed slightly better on choice and range of shops and eateries, earning three stars for its food and drink selection.

Leigh Delamere’s choices include Burger King, M&S Food, Greggs, Costa Coffee and WH Smith. Other amenities include an indoor play area, free wi-fi, meeting pods, showers and accommodation if you decide to stop for the night. ‘We stop off here regularly, and it's always a pleasant experience on all fronts,’ said one visitor. 

Since this survey took place, the westbound side of the services has reopened its Burger King drive-through lane and added a KFC restaurant and an electric vehicle charging hub. Meanwhile, on the eastbound side, a Pret A Manger has appeared. A Costa Drive Thru is planned for both sides.

Verdict: Leigh Delamere just scrapes the best on the M4, despite a poor choice of places to eat and shop.

Want to shop the sales en route? Find a well-rated UK city for shopping from our survey results.

Best motorway service station on the M40

Beaconsfield Services

• Location: M40, junction 2
• Brand: Extra
• Customer score: 57%
• Free parking? Yes, for three hours
• Electric vehicle charging available? Yes

Despite a 57% customer score, Beaconsfield Services is the best motorway on the M40, according to Which? readers. It scored four stars for its range and quality of shops, food prices and accessibility.

As well as the usual dining options, including McDonald’s, KFC and Greggs, there’s also a JD Wetherspoon, Nando’s and a couple of street-food franchises to choose from. If you're after a quick stop, there’s also a drive-through Starbucks. 

Compliments for Beaconsfield Services included ‘convenient with a good range of food options’, ‘plenty of space’, and 'very clean’. One Which? reader even said it was their favourite motorway service station.

Other amenities include meeting rooms, showers, free wi-fi, a play area, secure walking trails, outdoor seating overlooking a lake, and a large TV showing sports inside. There's an Ibis Budget hotel attached to the service station if you decide to stay overnight. See how Ibis Budget performed in our survey of UK hotel chains.

Verdict: Not spectacular, but not bad if you need to stop. 

Best motorway service station on the M25 

Cobham Services

• Junction: M25, junction 9-10
• Brand: Extra
• Customer score: 52%
• Free parking? Yes, for three hours
• Electric vehicle charging available? Yes

Cobham Services has plenty to offer drivers seeking respite from the motorway, with its lakeside terrace and a wide choice of places to refuel. It scored four stars from Which? readers for its range and quality of food and shops, and three stars for cleanliness, prices and accessibility. 

'You can keep just about everyone happy with the choice of food outlets,’ said one Which? member, adding that it has a ‘better selection of public facilities than many’. Options for food and drink include McDonald’s, KFC, Greggs and Starbucks, as well as a Pizza Express, Nando’s and various 'street food' brands. Wi-fi, shower facilities, washing machines and meeting rooms are also available. If you decide to stay overnight, the service station is attached to the Ramada by Wyndham Cobham hotel. 

Verdict: The M25 is not well-served for service stations. This is your best bet. 

The UK's worst motorway services (and alternative stops nearby)

Bridgwater Services, M5

• Location: M5, junctions 24
• Brand: Moto
• Customer score: 32%

Don’t stop at Bridgwater. Even if you’re desperate for the toilet. Not only is it terrible, but by the time you’ve left the M5, navigated two roundabouts, found a space in the cramped split-level car park and contended with the confusing layout and crowds inside, you may as well have driven the extra 12 miles to either Sedgemoor (52%) or Taunton Dean (57%) services. 

You’ll wish you had. Bridgwater earned one star in every category of our survey, including cleanliness, with recent visitors describing it as ‘dirty’ and ‘depressing’; others complained of a urine smell and toilet paper strewn on the floor. Another simply said it ‘should be demolished’.

Instead, go to…

Gloucester Services, the UK’s best service station just over an hour’s drive north of Bridgwater. If you’re not travelling that far, opt for Taunton Deane Services 20 minutes north of Bridgwater; it offers ‘a range of outlets and easy parking’, according to one Which? reader. Taunton Deane scored 57% overall, with four stars for accessibility and three stars for food and shops, prices and cleanliness.

Gordano Services, M5

• Location: M5, junction 19
• Brand: Welcome Break
• Customer score: 40%

With just two stars for food and drink, prices and cleanliness, Gordano Services offers an average pitstop at best. It was rated the second-worst service station in our survey; visitors said the toilets could have been cleaner, and there wasn’t much choice for food and drink.

Since our survey was carried out, Gordano services has undergone a few changes, including a refurbished KFC and WHSmith store (which now has a food-to-go area).

Instead, go to…

Sedgemoor Services, 30 minutes south of Gordano. It scored 52% overall, with three stars for food and shops, prices and cleanliness. Which? readers rated the spacious car park, clean toilets and good range of food outlets. 

Newport Pagnell Services, M1

• Location:  M1, junctions 14-15
• Brand: Welcome Break
• Customer score: 41%

Scoring two stars for food and shops and cleanliness, one star for prices, and three stars for accessibility, Newport Pagnell was deemed a ‘typical soulless motorway service station’ by one Which? reader. 

A Starbucks Drive Thru is being rolled out on the north side in 2024.

Instead, go to…

Northampton Services. It's 12 miles further north, so if you can wait another 20 minutes it offers a more pleasant experience, according to Which? readers. Scoring 53% overall, with four stars for cleanliness and accessibility and three stars for food and shops, visitors praised it for the wide range of shops and food outlets and clean toilet facilities. Another visitor was impressed by the site's easy caravan access and options for walking dogs.

Our research

In November and December 2020, we surveyed 2,719 Which? members about 6,532 motorway service station visits. We only rated those that received at least 30 responses.