Top 5 Service Stations in the UK!

Service stations aren’t exactly the height of excitement, but with them being such an important and regular part of daily life we should strive to make them as helpful and convenient as possible. After searching through numerous services around the UK we’ve singled out the below as the best service stations in the UK, as well as examples of what a service station should offer.

Number 5 – Medway East, M5 (99% rating)

The predominant venue on the M2/A2 route is on the quieter side now but won the punters’ choice.

Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme
Shops: M&S Simply Food, WHSmith
Amenities: Changing Places, Travelodge, &Play, &Relax Drivers Lounge, Full Hou$e, Lucky Coin, Showers
Outdoor Space: Small grass area by hotel car park, Grass area with fence by entrance; Children’s Play Area
Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2

Number 4 – Strensham North, M5 (99% rating)

Strensham is one of Roadchef’s most lucrative venues and a place where they often trial new ideas.

Catering: : Chozen Noodle, Costa Coffee, Dolcetti Ice Cream, Fresh Food Café, McDonald’s, The Cornish Bakery, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme, Skwishee Iced Drinks, Costa Drive Thru
Shops: Cotton Traders, Phone Tech, SPAR, WHSmith
Amenities: Changing Places, Jackpot £500, Showers, Days Inn, Regus Express, UK Truck Clean Truck Wash
Outdoor Space: Large grass area at back of car park; Picnic Tables
Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2
Forecourt: BP, SPAR, Rollover, Starbucks on the Go, Tango Ice Blast4You, LPG, Free Cash Machine

Number 3 – Blackburn with Darwen, M65 (99% rating)

This has been described as ‘one of the strangest motorway service area buildings to walk around’ and there was even conflict over its dual name!

Catering: Costa Coffee, Chopstix Noodle Bar, Greggs, McDonald’s Drive Thru
Shops: none
Amenities: Meeting Room & Special Needs Room, Travelodge, Quicksilver, Showers
Outdoor Space: Tiny grass patch on far left of building; Picnic Tables
Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; IONITY 350kW CCS
Forecourt: Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, Car Wash, Jet Wash, Free Cash Machine

Number 2 – Donnington Park, M1 (99%rating)

It’s one of the few service stations where a hotel is integrally built-in to the main building.

Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, KFC, Pret A Manger, West Cornwall Pasty Co., Costa Drive Thru, Costa Express, Krispy Kreme
Shops: M&S Simply Food, Phone Tech, WHSmith
Amenities: Changing Places, Full Hou$e, Lucky Coin, Revolution Laundry, Showers, Truck Wash, Travelodge
Outdoor Space: Large field and lakeside walk behind building; public footpath connections
Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; NomadPower 22kW CEE 5 Pin
Forecourt: BP, Shop, Greggs, Costa Express

Number 1 – Rugby, M6 (100% rating)

Moto claim Rugby as the ‘UK’s flagship charging service area’ and has been described as a ‘perfect example’ of a zero-emmission future.

Catering: Burger King, Costa Coffee, Greggs, KFC, Pret A Manger, Costa Express, f’real Milkshakes, Krispy Kreme, M&S Coffee to Go, Tango Ice Blast, Costa Drive Thru
Shops: Marks and Spencer Food, WHSmith
Amenities: Changing Places, Children’s Play Area, &Play, Free Cash Machines, Multi Faith Room, Showers
Outdoor Space: Large grass bank to the left of building; Children’s Play Area, Picnic Area
Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway HPC 350kW CCS & 100kW CHAdeMO; Tesla Supercharger 250kW CCS
Forecourt: BP, Shop, Greggs, Costa Express, f’real Milkshakes

That’s just to name a few though, there were many more that just missed the final cut, and hopefully all service stations can be brought up to this standard over time!

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Rich Jevons was first published in the Yorkshire Post at the tender age of fifteen. After graduating at University of Humberside, Rich covered the visual and performing arts for a wide range of regional, national and international magazines, journals and newspapers. He has interviewed the likes of Patrick Stewart, Colin Baker and Christopher Eccleston. Currently, he is writing copy on road trips around the world, all from his office in Wortley, Leeds