When you’re on a long road trip and your fuel light comes on, your partner is crossing their legs for the loo and the kids are shouting ‘I’m hungry’ - there’s no better sight than a sign reading ‘Services 1 mile’.
If you’re planning a UK staycation, you might want to consider which services you’d like to stop at en route, with some receiving much better reviews than others. After all, the journey there is as much a part of the holiday as the trip itself.
Car dealer Brindley Group set out to find the best - and the worst - motorway services across the country to see which pit-stops are worth grabbing a coffee and fueling up at.
The research looked at reviews of more than 100 service stations on 29 motorways across the country, which found the M40 to have the best services - especially Beaconsfield services.
Tebay services, located in the North West, officially takes the top spot for the UK's best motorway services. With an average score of 4.24 out of 5, users have resoundingly voted for it as the best place to refuel, recharge, stretch the legs and grab a bite to eat on a journey.
Beaconsfield and Gretna took second and third place, which both are worth visiting if you find yourself driving on the M40 or A74 during your travels.
These are the top 10 motorway services in the UK, and what drivers had to say about them:
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Tebay, M6 between J38 and J39 - “Absolutely lovely services, abundant nature right next to the motorway.”
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Beaconsfield, M40 at J12 - “Facilities are brilliant and there’s a wide range of retail and food options.”
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Gretna, A72(M) between J21 and J22 - “Definitely worthwhile as a stop-off point for those driving into or out of Scotland.”
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Gloucester, M5 between J11A and J12 - “One of the UKs best! It’s essentially a big beautiful farm shop.”
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Donington, M1 at J23A and J24, A42 and A50 - “Good toilets and a nice outdoor seating area just past the Burger King.”
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Cairn Lodge, M74 at J11 and J12- “Excellent services just off the motorway but not too far away from slip roads.”
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Oval, M1 at J16 - “You can’t miss the place - bright, airy and feels safe.”
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Blackburn with Darwen, M65 at J4 - “Nice service area with good food outlets and very pleasant staff.”
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Sarn Park, M4 at J36 - “Small services but has everything you would need for a quick stop.”
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Rivington, M61 Between J6 and J8 - “Clean and tidy with cheaper fuel than other services.”
At the other end of the scale, Telford was ranked the UK's worst motorway services, with an average score of just 2 out of 5.
When one of your most notable reviews is a chilling warning to "Stay hungry. Stay thirsty. Whatever you do, don't stop" then you should probably just persevere and wait until the next services.
In second place, Heart of Scotland's prices came in for plenty of criticism.
Elsewhere, sixth place Michaelwood was described as "soulless", while one unfortunate motorist stated it took them an hour just to get out of the car park.
These are the 10 worst rated services and what users had to say when they left:
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Telford, M54 at J4 - “"Stay hungry. Stay thirsty. Whatever you do, don't stop here.”
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Heart of Scotland (Harthill), M8 between J4 and J5 - “If you ever need to go here, get a second mortgage first.”
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Birchanger Green, M11 at J8 - “It’s fine driving in but total chaos getting out.”
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Bridgwater, M5 at J24 - “Doesn’t offer much and time has left it behind.”
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Bothwell, M74 Southbound between J4 and J5 - “”Not bad but spoiled by the unclean facilities.”
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Michaelwood, M5 between J13 and J14 - “Just another soulless experience.”
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Toddington, M1 between J11 and J12 - “You’re better off making a picnic up at home.”
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Broxden, M90/A9 Broxden roundabout - “One of the businest in Scotland and also one of the dearest.”
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Gordano, M5 at J19 - “Took an hour to get out of the car park!”
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Lancaster, M6 between J32 and J33 - “Overall, unfortunately what you expect from a motorway service area.”
