• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Unofficial motorway services

Status
Not open for further replies.

Drsatan

Established Member
Joined
24 Aug 2009
Messages
1,884
Location
Land of the Sprinters
I am interested if anyone could suggest what could be termed 'unofficial motorway services'. These are petrol stations and places where one can purchase refreshments, from drinks and snacks to eating in a cafe-style environment, adjacent, or no more than a five minute drive from, motorways. The main advantage in stopping at these places is that they're cheaper than motorway services.

In the past few months, I've used Hedge End Sainsburys (M27 J7, adjacent to the motorway) and the Tesco Metro in Solihull (M42 J4) as unofficial motorway services.
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Cowley

Forum Staff
Staff Member
Global Moderator
Joined
15 Apr 2016
Messages
15,687
Location
Devon
Good idea for a thread.
Just off Junction 30 of the M5 at Exeter is Exeter Vale - a big Tesco’s with a petrol station.
It’s way cheaper than Exeter services and less than a mile from the junction.
Also at Cullumpton on the M5 (junc 28), if you avoid the services and head towards the town centre for about 200 yards there’s another large Tesco’s with a fuel station.
 

daveo

Member
Joined
13 Dec 2015
Messages
158
Amazon has a number of books that provide the information you are looking for. Two are -
"The extra mile" and
"Just off the motorway"
 

JamesT

Established Member
Joined
25 Feb 2015
Messages
2,640
There is a large Tesco with filling station just on the Carlisle side of the M6 at junction 43 (A69)

I normally head for the next junction (44) and go to the Asda that’s just off the junction. Asda are usually the cheapest petrol around, though the cafe in the supermarket could have a bit more of a selection.
 

dgl

Established Member
Joined
5 Oct 2014
Messages
2,391
Also a very large ASDA with petrol station not far off J13 of the M3 at Eastleigh/Chandlers Ford and a large Tesco at Sunbury-on-Thames where the M3 turns into the A308.
Another one is at Beaconsfield, where there are shops within 2 miles from the actual services, and close by is Slough, off the M4 J6 where there is one of the largest Tesco's in the country.
 

Glenmutchkin

Member
Joined
14 Dec 2011
Messages
617
Location
Scotland
I normally head for the next junction (44) and go to the Asda that’s just off the junction. Asda are usually the cheapest petrol around, though the cafe in the supermarket could have a bit more of a selection.
There is also a Morrison's with fuel not too far from J44. The thing to know is that for the next 80 miles or so north there are no large towns and no handy supermarkets by the side of the M74.
 

gazthomas

Established Member
Joined
5 Jun 2011
Messages
3,040
Location
St. Albans
I own a book called "Off the Motorway", while a little old still fulfills this brief quite well
 

richw

Veteran Member
Joined
10 Jun 2010
Messages
11,213
Location
Liskeard
There's a Sainsburys with petrol on the retail park near the Taunton exit of the M5.

This is always my choice. Diesel typically 20p or more cheaper than Taunton Deane services.

Asda at Cribbs causeway, and there’s a garden centre just off at Cullompton that does amazing food. These are the 3 places I use to avoid proper services.
 

433N

Guest
Joined
20 Jun 2017
Messages
752
Two suggestions ...

Not technically motorway but I always use the Tesco Extra at Kingston Park (also Macdonalds and various others) just off the A1 to the north of Newcastle.

When in the area (i.e. going for Eurotunnel) I always use Tesco Extra Crooksfoot just outside Ashford in Kent (M20 Jn10) - very convenient.

(I also go for the Asda at J44 near Carlisle)

10 (or more likely 15) years ago, I picked up a paper copy of a Tesco Store Directory which I always carry with me when travelling - one of the best, moneysaving freebies ever ... Don't think they still do them mores the pity.

ADDED BONUS GEN : At Kingston Park Tesco you can also sit in your car with your munchies and do some Metro spotting.
 
Last edited:

MarlowDonkey

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2013
Messages
1,094
Another one is at Beaconsfield, where there are shops within 2 miles from the actual services, and close by is Slough, off the M4 J6 where there is one of the largest Tesco's in the country.

There's a number around that area. On the M40, the junction after Beaconsfield gives access to a Tesco, but you cannot get back onto the motorway if heading west. The next junction at Handy Cross has both Asda and Waitrose just off the roundabout. Asda has a MacDonalds and Waitrose a cafe. Only the Asda sells fuel though.
 

Comstock

Member
Joined
19 Jun 2012
Messages
535
The Windmill pub near junction 19 of the M6 is a very nice alternative to motorway services and is literally just off the motorway. Tea, coffee cakes etc on offer as well as a full food menu.

Also a petrol station nearby. I've got no idea how fuel prices compare though I can't believe they aren't at least a bit cheaper than the motorway.
 

Iskra

Established Member
Joined
11 Jun 2014
Messages
7,787
Location
West Riding
Tesco Extra off J17 of the M60 in Manchester is a very useful one. There are a few eateries around there too.
 

Gathursty

Established Member
Joined
31 May 2011
Messages
2,517
Location
Wigan
M6 Wigan J25 has a Siansburys and a McDonalds close by but the junction is restricted meaning you have to approach/leave from the South.
 

Qwerty133

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2012
Messages
2,453
Location
Leicester/Sheffield
M1 21 has an Asda and a Sainsburys about 2 minutes away with both have petrol stations and Cafes. There are also 2 branches of Mcdonalds within a 5 minute drive including one that is quite possibly nearer to the Asda petrol station that the main Asda.
 

Howardh

Established Member
Joined
17 May 2011
Messages
8,120
M61; at the junction where the football ground is within 1/4m there's a large Tesco with petrol/cafe/free parking. It's on the edge of Middlebrook retail park.
 

Lucan

Established Member
Joined
21 Feb 2018
Messages
1,211
Location
Wales
Not necessarily because off the motorway is cheaper, but maybe you want something different from the bustling McDonalds/Costa ambience of M-way services.

I sometimes use The Plough, half-a-mile south of J15 M4 (Swindon) and a usually cheap petrol station further up the hill.
The Swan, half a mile north of J16 M5 (Almondsbury) and close to the M4 too.

As others have said, there are a few books published on this theme, but they get out of date.
 

Busaholic

Veteran Member
Joined
7 Jun 2014
Messages
14,029
Which of these suggestions offers a 24 hour service? That's the only real alternative to motorway services imo: oh, and how many have lavatories and, more importantly, grant you access in the case of petrol stations?
 

Tom B

Established Member
Joined
27 Jul 2005
Messages
4,602
The M4 at Chippenham has a truck stop just off the motorway, whilst not "unofficial" per se its not a big chain, and caters for all vehicles. Excellent food in the cafe.

The A1M at Peterborough, if you turn off at Yaxley theres a 24h Tesco, petrol station, and large selection of food places at a well placed out of town retail park.

A1M at Stirling Corner has a Morrison's with fuel and cafe and loos.
 

TheEdge

Established Member
Joined
29 Nov 2012
Messages
4,489
Location
Norwich
Which of these suggestions offers a 24 hour service? That's the only real alternative to motorway services imo: oh, and how many have lavatories and, more importantly, grant you access in the case of petrol stations?

That's going to really only going to ever be McDonalds or 24hr superstores.
 

175mph

On Moderation
Joined
25 Jan 2016
Messages
661
Off the M180, follow the M181 and at the end, there is a 24 hour Tesco, a 24 hour McDonald's, a large pub and a Travellodge.
 

underbank

Established Member
Joined
26 Jan 2013
Messages
1,486
Location
North West England
I've used the Morrisons at Walsall a few times which is just a few minutes from the M6. It's actually getting more common to find retail parks and supermarkets quite close to motorway junctions. Far better and massively cheaper than motorway service stations. I far prefer Morrisons cafes as opposed to Tesco and Asda. I tend to google for Morrisons along my route when planning longer drives.
 
Joined
25 Sep 2018
Messages
253
That's going to really only going to ever be McDonalds or 24hr superstores.
Bear in mind that, even if the shop isn't open 24 hours, many superstore garages offer 24 hour pay-at-pump petrol, if you only need a fill up.

My suggestion is for the A1(M) and the big Tesco at Yaxley. It's 10 minutes or so off the main route, but I always prefer it to Peterborough Services.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top