In your opinion, what is your favourite service station?

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chefshoes@reddit

growing up, aust services as you could walk up to the cliff and look at the original severn bridge.

now..

hilton park as its no fuss getting off and on the motorway, massive car park and enough there to get you in and out in minutes.

places like gordano or frankley where you need to be driving a go kart to negotiate the bloody place

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JeffSergeant@reddit

Cairn Lodge on the M74; especially in comparison to Abington.

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Historical_Project86@reddit

There's a nice one on the M5, with a farm shop or something. It's rather pleasant. I guess it's Gloucester services, from what others have written.

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Always make a stop there on the way to Cornwall simply for the freshness of the food available to buy at the farm shop and restaurant compared to most of the others on route just being the same old greasy fast food joints

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JoPOWz@reddit

Interesting to me that currently Tebay and Gloucester are the top two, would’ve been my picks too - and I believe they’re owned by the same family.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

People say it is expensive but compared to other services, it is pretty comparable if you want a snack or a meal or a drink. You actually feel you are getting something for your money then rather than just something you'd get in Tesco but triple the price.

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Intrepid_Bearz@reddit

Their honey mustard sausage pots alone are worth the visit 🤤

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chris552393@reddit

I live in Bath and travel to Yorkshire alot.

Gloucester services is insanely good but its too close to stop when leaving and too close to home when returning so never seem to stop there anymore. First world problems.

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Jeggasyn@reddit

Have you considered moving to a more convenient location to fix this problem?

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Absentmined42@reddit

I live in South Glos and have to drive to Birmingham regularly. I’m only two junctions down the M5 from Gloucester Services and I always stop on my way back!

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melonator11145@reddit

I live about 5 miles from Gloucester services. I didn't go for years because there was no point.

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OkSun8521@reddit

It's literally the exact opposite of what I want from a service station.

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Scorpiodancer123@reddit

This one without a doubt. Expensive. But absolute top quality and a a welcome change from the usual service station offering.

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LouTheOM@reddit

just gotta take out a mortgage at the checkout.

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pgnlzbth@reddit

Gloucester is top tier

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OkSun8521@reddit

It's literally the worst service station.

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pgnlzbth@reddit

What?! In what way, exactly? If you’re looking got big brands or fast food then yes, I guess it is.

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somewhat-similar@reddit

The correct answer.

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cloakandagger123@reddit

Fleet or Gloucester

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gettin-swole@reddit

This is like a topic from “mid morning matters”

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Abaqueues@reddit

Favourite condiment, go.

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Tuscan777@reddit

Gravy

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having_an_accident@reddit

That’s not a condiment it’s a hot sauce

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Tuscan777@reddit

Bisto then.

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EUskeptik@reddit

Topic was my favourite chocolate bar. They don’t make it any more. 😢

Plain chocolate Bounty was my second favourite. Also gone. 😢

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Jack1ngton@reddit

I'm pretty sure it is a topic from mid morning matters

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StiffAssedBrit@reddit

Donington services near East Midlands Airport. Not the easiest to access from the M1, but it has some really nice grounds out the back, with some good views. It was always our lunch stop on our family holiday trips to the south coast to catch a ferry to France.

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mawarup@reddit

I always wonder what sort of hell it is waking up in one of those hotel rooms with a window overlooking the food court in there. I do like the services though!

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StiffAssedBrit@reddit

Oh yes. I'd forgotten about that. Yeah. Some nice countryside there and your bedroom view is a Greggs.

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EUskeptik@reddit

Tebay Services on the M6 in Cumbria. Family owned, excellent wholesome food, superb shop and a truly wonderful hotel.

The same family owns Gloucester Services on the M5 but that’s not a route I use often.

-##-

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morph9494@reddit

Fleet services

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MoonShineWashingLine@reddit

Tebay. Love the ducks.

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audigex@reddit

The only problem with Tebay is that I can't buy a normal Coca Cola or Pepsi

I get it, they want to be different and stock stuff from smaller brands, farm-shop style... but I'm sorry, those suppliers make shit coke knockoffs and I need caffeine on my long journey. Just let me buy a proper fucking coke, please

That and the fact it's absolutely rammed in summer and you genuinely can't always get a parking space, which is nuts for a service station

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MoonShineWashingLine@reddit

I don't drink stuff like that so the variety is perfect for me. Never had an issue with parking or anything. Plenty of other services to get a standard coke from anyway.

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Smeeble09@reddit

Never been but been told we're stopping there on the way to Scotland as its nice.

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TrousersTrousers@reddit

They sell black pudding Cumberland sausages that are to die for

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AlternativeAd1984@reddit

Tebay for sure, but it’s always jam packed whenever we stop there now. The sausage rolls are great but it’s not worth it 😂

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festering_knacker@reddit

Fiver for a sausage roll? Nah.

Southwaite all the way

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MoonShineWashingLine@reddit

They're all the same price wise these days. Even a packet of ready salted at a Moto is about £2.50.

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West_Yorkshire@reddit

They have the best coffee in the world.

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speedythoughts@reddit

For some reason I really dislike Tebay services. Not sure why! I had always thought this then saw lots of posts about how it is a favourite, which shocked me.

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WhatsThePlanPhil95@reddit

I live near an M&S one, the fuel is from BP I think, but anyway you'd think that the M&S food there would be no different to high street M&S Food - dude it's totally different, it was like different food

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Jeggasyn@reddit

Maybe because it was SO expensive, like the next tier of expensive, that it changed your tastebuds

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-Rhymenocerous-@reddit

None of them.

Theyre rotten dirty places.

Source: I used to work nationwide cleaning a lot of service stations grease extract ducting and im telling you now theyre often heavily infested with rats.

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Colman91@reddit

Oh so you’ve been to every service station across the country I assume?

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-Rhymenocerous-@reddit

Pretty much mate i worked nationwide for 10 years doing that job.

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kkir@reddit

Tebay is always a firm favourite but stopped by Beaconsfield Services off M40... It was like a nightclub of service stations!

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Jeggasyn@reddit

I mean... A furkin Wetherspoons at a service station is top notch nightlife vibes.

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VisitWinchester@reddit

Beaconsfield and it’s not close. It has literally everything

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intergalacticscooter@reddit

Apart from phone signal. Its a complete blacksmith for my network provider. I always used to go there but stop at Oxford services instead now as its quite and I can check my phone while I eat

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Jeggasyn@reddit

Have you considered changing your service provider to fix this problem

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Incognito-DeVito@reddit

Yes. Obviously Tebay and Gloucester are all fancy and that, but Beaconsfield has everything I actually want.

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No-Extension-2378@reddit

Not Tebay.

Was desperate for a can of fizzy pop but all they had was artisan yoghurt and hand reared lamb

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audigex@reddit

I've just said the exact same thing on another commen. I'm on a long journey, I just need a coke or pepsi for caffeine.

I don't want some random unknown-brand artisan cola which tastes like absolute shit

I don't mind buying some bougoisie crisps and their pies etc are really good... but these Rola Cola brands are fucking awful, please just let me buy a real coke or pepsi

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SubTeamLeader@reddit

Indeed. Every bit as much of a grift as all the rest, but sponsored by the Guardian Lifestyle section.

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OkSun8521@reddit

I am a Guardian subscriber. I think Tebay is absolutely shit.

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SmartPriceCola@reddit

I’d genuinely spend a night at Tebay services as a weekend getaway

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AdhesivenessNo9878@reddit

As someone from NI and has driven quite a lot across England and Scotland, all I can say is you are all very deprived of Applegreen.

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PetitePlayToyy@reddit

welcome break is the best

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JeffTheGoliath@reddit

On actual motorways - Warwick... when I have to drive home thats my favourite place to stop - it means I am not too far from home and that the motorways are done.

But my favourite is Sutton Scotney (A34). It feels like a different world that I have stepped out of time.

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Extension_Pickle_581@reddit

Gloucester Services. Whenever we travel down to Cornwall we always stop by there. It’s so nice and clean and the food is really good. On a sunny day sitting outside next to the pond is so nice.

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WhiteDiamondK@reddit

Cobham on the M25. It has EVERYTHING. Also partial to Cherwell Valley although the access roads and car park desperately need resurfacing.

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WhiteDiamondK@reddit

Gloucester and Tebay will always lead the comments here because they dress up as little country parks and feel cosy. Whenever I’m travelling to Devon/Cornwall for holidays I always stop off there.

But I also drive a lot for work and wouldn’t stop at either of those services. When I’m in work mode I need Greggs and an M&S. I don’t need a hand-filled venison pie and elderflower spritz that cost £30.

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ydktbh@reddit

Skelton Lake cos it has a GDK now

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Sc0ttiShDUdE@reddit

Aberdeen South end has a great glory hole, highly recommended!!

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having_an_accident@reddit

M25 Cobham eastbound

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YarnPenguin@reddit

The new M1 one in Rotherham. Always a pistol before gigs in Leeds.

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Koda614@reddit

Annandale - Not for the service station itself but for the resident geese!

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Able-Necessary2956@reddit

Gloucester is the GOAT. Taunton has a cosy feel. Avoid Bridgewater at all costs (yup, I’m on the M5 a lot).

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Additional-Nobody352@reddit

Leeds Skelton Lakes on the M1

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MoonShineWashingLine@reddit

Is that the one where everything is sort of in a circle? We had good noodles there.

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sharkkallis@reddit

Pleasantly surprised by this when we stopped there. Miles better than Hartshead Moor.

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gemmanotwithaj@reddit

M4 Chieveley

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Sailor747@reddit

They are literally the worst. Not even an argument

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gemmanotwithaj@reddit

Not for me. Got a Greggs and tons of circling red kites

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JanCueElQi@reddit

Everyone's going to say Gloucester or Tebay but in terms of sheer practicality, facilities and ease of access, it's Tibshelf. Killington Lake is also nice.

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nogeologyhere@reddit

I was trapped in the Days Inn for a night at Killington Lake after a breakdown and it was a horrible experience, so I'm personally totally against that place

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Beginning-Cow-6682@reddit

Killington Lake is a good shout

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SuperExstatic@reddit

Clacket lane

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stellactatwat@reddit

Warwick

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Bossman_Mike@reddit

Rugby. Newly opened in 2021, very clean, good car park layout, excellent choice of shops and eateries.

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Inevitable-Yard6567@reddit

I always liked Fleet Services for all the trees

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MrAverageWang@reddit

was waiting for someone to shout out my tiny town :))

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Fatbloke-66@reddit

To me, it means you're heading west on holiday

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ouzo84@reddit

And the pizza express.

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KingKhram@reddit

It's great for a walk in the woods

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Zealousideal_Fold_60@reddit

Agree, its the best

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FlagVenueIslander@reddit

I only ever go to fleet on a coach trip, and you need your hiking boots to get to the coach park!

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Inevitable-Yard6567@reddit

Trees and exercise 😆

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Alert_Mine7067@reddit

I spent a lot of time on the M6, Preston was my favourite. That said, I'm from Northern Ireland and we have Applegreen which I can't really complain about, they're all fit for purpose and not overly expensive than the English services, but still inferior to the English motorway services.

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I-Am-The-Warlus@reddit

Cambridge Services

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hoganpaul@reddit

Leicester Forest East. It's comfortingly shite. You can get shit coffee and overpriced petrol (overpriced everything tbh)

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Douiret@reddit

And you can eat a fry up sitting on top of a motorway! What's not to love?

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DoctorOctagonapus@reddit

I miss the cafe it used to have before they turned it into yet another Starbucks.

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PomPomBumblebee@reddit

There's also like 9 ways to get Starbucks there..I'm not even kidding!

A machine in each WHS/ TSJ (2) a machine in at least another shop on each side (2), a Starbucks in the middle (1), a Starbucks drive through on either side (2) and am machine in each petrol station (2)

It's crazy. I'm not sure which service station has the most but Ive been to LFE enough to know it has at least 8-9

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musicallymotivated93@reddit

Tamworth. Purely because that's the pre-Bloodstock meeting point.

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Thestolenone@reddit

I've heard good things about Tamworth, it seems to be very popular with people who travel the country going to animal shows.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Kings Sedgemoor Drain.

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SteelSparks@reddit

Ashby de la zouch has a drive-thru Greggs….

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Cold-Society3325@reddit

Beaconsfield. Tapori Indian Street Food. Yum.

Great for food generally.

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CatsChat@reddit

I have a soft spot for Hopwood Park on the M42. Specifically the upstairs Starbucks, which has an amazing floor to ceiling window looking out int the woods. Oddly peaceful for a motorway services.
There’s now about 5 places there that you can get Starbucks, so it always reminds me of Taco Bell in Demolition Man!

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TSC-99@reddit

Leeds Skelton Lake

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D1789@reddit

In Sandbach or Stafford as it means I’m nearly home.

The absolute worst is Keele, as it means I’ve missed my junction.

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InviteAromatic6124@reddit

I stop at Sandbach services every time I drive back to see my parents

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remy-xyz@reddit

Oxford services. Clean toilets, nice outside space, ideal distance between my part of the north and the part of London I often visit. Also as I found out the weekend gone, having the choice of the M40 or A40 can be handy if there's bad traffic.

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kroblues@reddit

Love the actual services bit, but it’s always a last resort stop for me as it’s not had the upgrade to its EV charging so it’s not reliable for me.

Which is annoying as I drive 150ish miles to near that services every 6 weeks or so and wouldn’t mind being able to charge there!

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remy-xyz@reddit

Ah that's a shame. Hopefully they do it soon - seemed like a well used stopping point. How long do you have to wait for an EV to charge?

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kroblues@reddit

On the new Gridserve ones that are at pretty much every services you’re looking at about 30-45 minutes. Basically by the time you’ve gone in, used the loo and had some food you’re pretty much ready to go.

I don’t charge loads as we have a home charger but it’s not massively inconvenient as I’d be stopping for a break anyway.

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remy-xyz@reddit

Ah that's quicker than expected.

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BobBobBobBobBobDave@reddit

Yeah, it is well located if you are travelling that sort of route. When I lived in London and my parents came down to visit from the Midlands, they always stopped at Oxford Services for a coffee and a cake.

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horrible_goose_@reddit

Can't help but love Tebay. Just discovered Rheged, but not sure if that's technically a service station.

I have an irrational dislike of both Keele and Toddington

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PingouinFluffy@reddit

I like Beaconsfield, not because its great but because it means I am almost home.

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Belle_TainSummer@reddit

Johnstonebridge/Annandale Water.

Not because it is particularly good, but it means I am almost home.

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Plus_Pangolin_8924@reddit

All the geese though!! Well worth the stop for those.

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jungleddd@reddit

Obviously the owners of Tebay, Gloucester, and Cairn Lodge do make lovely services by they are really pricey.

My shout would be Annandale Water a Roadchef on the M74. It’s actually really nice there.

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felineunderling@reddit

Donnington. The hotel design on the inside is nice and there are picnic tables by a little pond.

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BeanOnAJourney@reddit

I don't know that it's the best but it's the one that i hold dear to my heart because it's the first we would stop at whenever we were on our way for a family holiday and reminds me of my late dad: Michaelwood on the M5 northbound.

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cenjui@reddit

Tebay north, and the m6 toll services.

Tebay north has nice winegums. M6 toll is exactly my bladder distance from Glasgow to Reading.

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Gixxer1000k@reddit

Oxford. I like watching the fish.

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CoffeeandaTwix@reddit

Killington Lakes because everyone else is wanking off over artisan whatever it is at Tebay leaving plenty of room to enjoy my maccies with a stunning view down the road.

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Background-Wall-2647@reddit

Annandale water services.
Johnstonebridge.
Beautiful views.
Always visit that 1 when I’m going to Scotland.

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Dangerous_Pepper1024@reddit

Tebay services, the food is amazing both in the cafe and the deli

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Due-Tough2038@reddit

Hopwood

Cozy

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-usernamewitheld-@reddit

Cartgate Lodge off the a303.

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Western-Baker3479@reddit

Hopwood, Annandale or Gloucester

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Zealousideal_Fold_60@reddit

For questions like this is the reason reddit exists.

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Due-Tough2038@reddit

Michaelwood

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DollySheep32@reddit

Any one that has a Burger King.

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draxcs@reddit

As someone that drives to Sheffield and Nottingham from Kent often, Birchanger is the perfect place for a toilet and coffee break once you're through the tunnel and off the M25.

Worst services I've seen recently is the M6 Toll... great time people watching though.

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fruoel@reddit

Norton Canes (M6 toll)

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QuackersMcDackers55@reddit

Exeter isn't too shabby, also means am halfway there to Cornwall!

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shamone_mofo@reddit

Hell of a bastard to get to off the motorway .I was pulling my hair out with the crazy roundabouts and traffic lights .

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QuackersMcDackers55@reddit

Yes, though that's why it's so rewarding when you make it into the carpark 😂

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zolo9@reddit

I like a good Welcome Break that has plenty of car chargers

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kunstlich@reddit

Annandale Water services on the M74, because it has nice scenery.

Otherwise its the Tesco Carlisle Junction 43, because I can drive from London to Aberdeen in one stint stopping for fuel and a slash there.

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December126@reddit

Birchanger Services. I don't drive and I live in Scotland but just saying it because Robbie Knox from Jaack Mate's Happy Hour has mentioned it a few times 🇳🇺

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BlaMenck@reddit

Tebay no competition. The because they sell The Toffee Shop fudge.

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Ill_Refrigerator_593@reddit

Keele

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miemcc@reddit

Tebay, nothing else like it.

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Timely_Egg_6827@reddit

Tebay and Cairn Lodge are both excellent if expensive. I also like Rugby - it is slightly off the road, nice sitting area, nice lay-out and just more pleasant than Corby or Watford Gap.

I also have a liking for Todhills (M6) - it is just a garage and a car park with small grass area but staff are lovely and it is very quick to refuel without the hassle of a service station.

Annadale service station is interesting if travelling latish as quite often you are sharing with petrol station forecourt with a lot of geese.

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lammy82@reddit

One’s favourite service station is not actually a matter of opinion though.

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Mysterious_County154@reddit

Any that aren't Gloucester or Tebay

Stupid overpriced farm shops

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Astonednerd@reddit

I love how the top 3 comments for me were Tebay, Gloucester, then this

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Mysterious_County154@reddit

If I'm travelling I just want something cheap and familiar like McDonald's

Not a £7 bacon roll I've never had before with no idea if it will upset my stomach or something

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Jack1ngton@reddit

Call me crazy, I like a bit of gordano

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