Whether you travel the motorways of Britain daily for work or you’re planning a get-a-away for the bank holiday weekend, it can be hit and miss with the service stations you choose to stop off at, and we all know a service station stop off is all part of the fun. So to avoid disappointment we’ve summarised the best 5 service stations in Britain, in line with the ‘Motorway Services Awards 2012’.
- Motorway Britainbrizzle born and bred / Travel Photos / CC BY-SA
The overall winner of the Services Award was STAFFORD SERVICES (north bound) M6, so what’s so great about this service station?
Let’s start with food, probably the most important reason for a service station stop off! Stafford service station is home to Burger King, E.D.C and Eats In. If you’re looking for something a little healthier, M&S and W.H.Smiths have take-away food options. Other shops at the service station include, Fonebitz and Costa coffee for your caffeine fix before you head off on your travels again. If you have a bit of time to kill or just need a good rest, why not eat your lunch in the picnic area facing the lake, and for children there’s even a play area! As if that wasn’t enough this services also offers free Wi-Fi and has an adult gambling area, just in case you fancy an afternoon flutter. It’s no wonder Stafford Services achieved the ‘top five burger ranking’; you may never want to leave.
“Stopped off for a Costa coffee and was really impressed by the friendly service that I received! The services were clean and fresh, and I was really shocked to see the lake out the back of the services with such an array of wildlife!”
If you don’t happen to be in the Stafford area but are looking for a stop off, these are the runners up in the Motorway Services Awards, all receiving a ‘four burger ranking’ (out of five):
SOUTHWAITE SERVICES, M6
Eat-In Food: Cafe Ritazza, Burger King, Fresh Express
Takeaway Food / General: M&S Simply Food
Other Non-Food Shops: WH Smith
Picnic Area: yes
BURTON-IN-KENDAL SERVICES, M6
Eat-In Food: Burger King, Costa, EDC Restaurant
Takeaway Food / General: WH Smiths
Other Non-Food Shops: WH Smith
Picnic Area: Yes
Children’s Playground: Yes
TEBAY SERVICES (southbound) M6
This service station is more like a holiday park than a service station, with a farm shop and a butchers’ counter, as well as the Westmorland hotel and Westmoorland Caravan Park just northbound of the services.
Children’s Playground: Yes
CHERWELL VALLEY SERVICES M40
Eat-In Food: Costa, Burger King, EDC, Upper Crust
Takeaway Food / General: M&S, WH Smith
Other Non-Food Shops: Cotton Traders
Picnic Area: Yes
Children’s Playground: Yes
Now you know the places to be when you hit the road you might want to make sure you have enough time on your journey, you may not want to leave!
Author bio: Leah Jarratt is a regular guest writer for Fleettankkarten, Belgium’s National Fuel Card.
