It feels like a bit of a strange thing to say, but I have some quite fond memories of stops at motorway service stations.
When I was younger we would go to the south of France on holiday every summer, with my dad driving us the entire way. We would leave in the evening, catching the midnight ferry to France and then drive through the night and into the next day to get there.
I remember stopping at the services on the autoroute du soleil and getting out of the car into the heat of the day. It’s a weird thing to feel nostalgic about, but those stops were sort of markers of being almost there, almost at our destination.
If you’ve ever driven any distance in the UK then chances are you’ve stopped off at a service station along the way. Either to refuel, grab a bite to eat or just stretch your legs.
LeaseCarUK have looked at the different services across the UK and picked their top 5 service stations to stop at.
The service stations they’ve picked are scattered across the country so no matter where you’re headed you can most likely stop at one of these to take a nice break from the car.
The top 5 they’ve chosen are:
Stafford, Northbound
This service station is on the M6 between junctions 14 and 15 and is very popular with families travelling through the Midlands thanks to its children’s play area.
There is also a lake alongside these services so it’s a great spot to stretch your legs somewhere with a pretty view, and even sit outside for a bite to eat in the warmer months.
Norton Canes
These services are on the M6 Toll, between junction 6 and junction 6.
Norton Canes services have come out top in satisfaction surveys in both 2018 and 2019 so it’s a pretty safe bet if you’re travelling through the Midlands. It has lovely picnic areas to sit and eat at, and plenty of places to buy food from including Costa, McDonalds, Chozen Noodle and Krispy Kreme.
Gloucester, Southbound
On the M5 between junctions 11a and 12, these services are a great environmentally friendly, family-run option.
It might look like your standard service station on the surface, but when you really look around you can see how it stands out. There are no big-name franchises here, just small local businesses, selling locally produced meals and snacks to eat in. There are also shops selling locally produced meats, fish, cheeses and pastries.
South Mimms
This ‘welcome break’ service station is at junction 23 of the M25.
On this busy motorway, it’s popular with both commuters and long-distance lorry drivers. There are lots of places to grab something to eat here, from Burger King and KFC to Pret and Subway.
There’s also a WHSmith and a little Waitrose if you need to pick up a few essentials.
Heston, Westbound
This service station is on the M4, between junctions 2 and 3.
If you’re heading West out of London then these services are a good place to stop and take a little break.
You can get something to eat from Burger King or Greggs, or even stop and stay overnight at the Travelodge if you’ve just flown into London from a trip abroad.
I’ve not actually stopped at any of these, but the services at Gloucester in particular sound amazing. I love how the family have put so much heart into it, keeping it such a local business.
I personally have a bit of a soft spot for Leigh Delemere services, because we used to stop there when I would get the coach from Swansea to Kent to visit my family when I was at Uni. There was just something almost comforting about stopping at the same place each time.
Have you ever stopped at any of these services?
Do you have a soft spot for any particular service station?!
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post