The worst (and best) motorway services in the UK revealed

Britain's motorway services have been ranked from best to worst

Moto’s Rugby services on the M6 came top of the list
Author: Chris MaskeryPublished 19th Oct 2022

We all have our favourite and we all have the one we really don't want to stop at unless we're desperate... Well now the best and worst motorway services in the UK have been revealed!

A survey of 31,000 people ranked 119 services and ranked Hartshead Moor East in West Yorkshire the least popular.

The survey by watchdog Transport Focus showed the Welcome Break-owned site on the M62 near Huddersfield got an overall satisfaction rating of just 80%.

Only three out of four (75%) visitors were satisfied with the toilets.

The services is on the busiest route across the Pennines from Lancashire to Yorkshire.

Hartshead Moor also has a section for westbound traffic, which received a score of 87%.

Welcome Break said in a statement: “We are very disappointed with the results from our site at Hartshead Moor East.

“We have received the detailed comments from Transport Focus and we will be working closely with our teams to address the feedback from the report as well as prioritising the site for future investment.”

The services ranked top

The ranking was topped by Moto’s Rugby services on the M6 in Warwickshire.

This was the only location to score 100%.

The average satisfaction score given by all users of services was 93%, including 61% who said they were very satisfied.

Just 3% said they were very or fairly dissatisfied.

Value for money of refreshments was a key area of concern, with only 63% of respondents describing it as fairly or very good.

In contrast, some 88% of visitors were satisfied with the toilets.

Meanwhile, 31% said they felt tired, stressed or frustrated when they arrived at a services, but just 7% had those feelings when they left.

The top five motorway services

Here are Britain’s top five motorway services based on their overall satisfaction score, according to a Transport Focus survey:

  1. Rugby (M6): 100%
  2. Donington Park (M1): 99%
  3. Blackburn with Darwen (M65): 99%
  4. Strensham North (M5): 99%
  5. Medway East (M2): 99%

The worst five motorway services

Here are Britain’s bottom five motorway services based on their overall satisfaction score, according to the Transport Focus survey:

  1. Hartshead Moor East (M62): 80%
  2. Lancaster South (M6): 83%
  3. Charnock Richard South (M6): 83%
  4. Birchanger Green (M11): 83%
  5. Warwick South (M40): 84%

Visitors to services were asked for their views on the toilets, staff, value of the food and drink, electric vehicle charging, and the impact their visit had on their mood.

The survey was carried out between May 25 and July 17.

Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.