What is the best service station in the UK?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and we bet you can’t wait to find out what’s underneath the tree. Before you step into Christmas and head home for the holidays, you may well have a magical journey ahead of you.

If you’re travelling the length and breadth of the country to visit friends and family or stop off at one of the nation’s finest Christmas markets, one thing you’ll want to do is take plenty of breaks. 

It’s important to have a rest when driving long distances so you can freshen up, stretch your legs and grab a snack. Wherever you are off this Christmas, you’ll have time to stop and take a breather before celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.

Motorway service stations have evolved over the years. The majority no longer have grotty toilets with barely working locks and one dilapidated convenience shop. Instead, some now offer fresh farm produce, comfortable places to sit with a coffee and a selection of big-name restaurants.

If you have an electric vehicle, many service stations now offer charging points so you can sit back and relax as you get where you need to go this Christmas time. Of course, many service stations are also now home to convenient hotels so you can get some much-needed rest while you drive where you need to go.

Where is the best service station in the UK?

Although ‘best’ is subjective, there are some service stations that are now a destination within themselves. In fact, two of the below have had Channel 4 documentaries based around them. Here are some of Tempcover’s recommended service stations that have received positive feedback in recent years.

If you’re heading past any of the following over the festive period, it’s well worth a quick pitstop. You might even find some last-minute Christmas gifts…

• Tebay – A family-owned Cumbian business that offers local food and produce from farms in the surrounding area.
• Gloucester – A service station offering indoor and outdoor play area plus a kitchen and farm shop with produce from 130 producers within a 30-mile radius.
• Beaconsfield – A place for travellers to stop, refresh, relax, recharge and refuel.
• Leigh Delamere – One of Europe’s largest service stations – and one that will be familiar to Gavin and Stacey fans, Leigh Delamere.
• Stafford North – A pair of motorway service stations on the M6. Unusually, Moto runs the northbound facility and Roadchef the southbound.
• Cobham – The UK’s biggest – and often claimed to be busiest – service station, Cobham opened in 2012 and is within easy reach of both Heathrow and Gatwick Airport plus Surrey and Sussex’s top tourist destinations.
• Fleet – We have to include the service station closest to Tempcover’s head office in our rundown. It’s perhaps now best known for the Scott Mills Bridge, named after the Radio 2 DJ and Eurovision presenter.
• Rugby – Voted the UK’s best-rated motorway service station in the Transport Focus Motorway Service User Survey, Rugby Services is home to a 24-hour Greggs and WH Smith. It also has a Burger King, Costa and Pret.
• Cornwall – Central to all of Cornwall’s major attractions, this service station – situated on the A30 near Bodmin – even includes a Salt Rock and Mountain Warehouse.
• Oxford – Famed for their sparkling clean toilets (Platinum winner at the Loo of the Year Awards 2024) and close to the city’s universities and castle, Oxford services has a brightly lit food court for weary travellers.

What is the biggest service station in the UK?

Cobham services is the largest service station in the UK. Situated on the M25, it was opened in 2012 and has 36 pumps on its forecourt, making it not only the biggest petrol station in the UK but one of the largest in the world. 

Who operates the UK’s service stations?

A range of companies run and operate the UK’s service stations

• Westmorland Family – A Cumbrian family business, established in 1972. The Westmorland service stations (Tebay, Gloucester and Cairn Lodge) focus on local produce with food coming from farmships and kitchens instead of franchises.
• EG Group – A global convenience retailer with an innovative approach to service station retail, delivering products and services to millions of customers and supporting local communities.
• Extra – 24-hour services so that drivers can top up their petrol, enjoy a meal and take a break. Their service stations are also home to a range of comfortable and affordable hotels.
• Applegreen – Currently the only motorway services operator in Northern Ireland, Applegreen is an Irish family company focused on quality retail, exciting food choices and affordable fuel.
• Roadchef – Roadchef operates 30 different service stations across Britain, claiming to serve over 52 million customers every year. They offer facilities and services to suit every customer.
• Welcome Break – Welcome Break has 59 service stations and 31 hotels based across the UK’s main roads and motorways, offering food, drink and plenty of spaces to enjoy a comfort break.
• Moto – From fresh food to fast Wi-Fi, Moto offers a one-stop shop for fuel stops and rest breaks. 

Can I have a list of all the UK’s service stations?

There are currently 102 service stations across the United Kingdom. Below you’ll find where you can find them and which company operates each one.