There are several ingredients that make up a great British road trip. Beautiful scenery and fresh country air are a must as well as crumbling historical attractions and quaint villages but a lot can be said for a well located pit stop to refuel, stretch the legs and grab a bite to eat.
Thankfully, Britain’s motorway services are no longer simply a place for fuel and a dash to the loo. Some of the best offer quality meals, accommodation, places for the kids to run around and more making them a blessing for the weary motorway traveler.
One of England’s favourite holiday spots is home to Tebay, the UK’s most loved motorway stop. Located in the pristine Lakes District in Cumbria, between junctions 38 and 39, the locally owned service is well deserving of its reputation, thanks to its top quality food made from local produce, a BBQ area (try the homemade Galloway beef burgers!), an award winning farm, a caravan park and a signed dog walk trail plus more. A stop off at Tebay is a delightful addition to any Lakes District getaway.
If you are exploring Southern Scotland, be sure to stop off at the picturesque Annandale Water, Scotland’s favourite – service stop. Halfway between Moffat and Lockerbie, this popular motorway service area has all the modern amenities packed with rural, rustic charm. Known for its helpful staff, cleanliness and excellent facilities plus beautiful views over the Annandale Water Loch and the Scottish landscapes, this is the perfect place to spend an hour or two away from the steering wheel.
If you are escaping London for the weekend and heading southwest, then break up a long journey at Fleet Services, on the M3 near Basingstoke. Tucked in the middle of the forest, this unique Scandinavian style motorway service is hugely popular with holiday-makers and regular M3 travellers alike thanks to its variety of facilities including fast food outlets, McDonalds, KFC and Burger King.
At the bottom of the M40 in Buckinghamshire, you’ll come across the relatively new Beaconsfield Services, only open since 2009. Sitting directly underneath Heathrow’s flight path, this area is a hit with plane fans. A good range of restaurants, shops and picnic and play areas makes it popular with families. It’s also great if you are travelling with the dog, as there’s plenty of green fields around, safe from the busy motorway for them to run around.
The traditional ‘Gateway to the North’ is Britain’s oldest service stop, Watford Gap. The service is accessible from both the north and the south, between junctions 16 and 17 in Northamptonshire and offers a wide choice of good facilities. Somewhat of an institution, in the 60’s and 70’s Watford Gap was a popular stopping area for bands such as Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones on their UK tours.
Glamorgan in Wales is a great choice for a drive as not only is it beautiful countryside; it’s here you can find the highly rated Sarn Park. Easily accessed when heading eastbound on the M4, at junction 36 this motorway stop is incredibly convenient with friendly staff plus a wide range of quality eating, shopping and washroom facilities.
With these excellent facilities conveniently located along popular routes, free your weekend, grab a map, make sure your car insurance is up to date and hit the open road to escape on a great British drive.
The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like Admiral. The content contained in this article is for information purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.
