From Motorway Services Online
A large service area with many facilities, including a field round the back for dogs and children. The main problem with it is that the junction it's off is very busy and very complex.
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Facilities
General: Local Information, Picnic Area, Children's Play Area, Field, Showers, Wi-Fi
Restaurants: Eat & Drink Co., Burger King, Costa Coffee, Upper Crust, Krispy Kreme
Shops: WH Smith, Ladbrokes, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Thorntons, Fonebitz
Fuel: Esso with pumps for Unleaded, Ultimate Unleaded, Diesel, Ultimate Diesel and AdBlue.
Motel: Travelodge[book rooms]
Parking Prices
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £8 and HGVs £19, or £21 to include a £7.50 food voucher.
Prices can be paid through the phone, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by CP Plus.
Trivia
Queueing outside the services
Cherwell Valley is a large service area and it's the first 'proper' one for traffic coming from the South Coast on the A34. Between the opening of the M40 in 1990 and the opening of the services in 1994, it was possible to drive from Dover to Telford (239 motorway miles) without passing any services.
Its biggest flaw is the junction it's on, which was recently remodelled following the upgrade of the A43. The new junction has five single-lane sliproads, four major exits and three tight roundabouts. One of the roundabouts causes a conflict between traffic heading from the M40 north to the A43 and traffic heading from the A43 to the M40 south, causing queues even outside rush hour. Even if you don't need a break when you see signs for the services, you will when you get there.
The services were one of the first to gain a Marks and Spencers store, which was recently extended along with the Travelodge to keep up with demand. Despite this, Moto tried to claim compensation off the Highways Agency for a loss of traffic due to the roadworks and the new junction layout. Moto lost the case.
The services were considered for six years, and they finally opened on the 31st March 1994 costing £20m and taking up 56 acres of land. Before then there were emergency fuel and toilet facilities located at the junction.
Survey Results
In 2006 the services won a five star loo award and were graded 4/5 by Holiday Which?.
Alternatives
Comments and Reviews
Showing the most recent responses only: for the full thread and the ability to edit your own posts, you need to view the topic in the forums.
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stoped here on my way back from uni, the food and the service was terriable, and which bright spark decided a ladbrokes was needed at a service station? i also lost my wallet, so all in all i throughley enjoyed my visit!!
stoped here on my way back from uni, the food and the service was terriable, and which bright spark decided a ladbrokes was needed at a service station? i also lost my wallet, so all in all i throughley enjoyed my visit!!
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Stopped on the way to Bicester, No one in front of us to be served, there were no plates available, when they arrived they were stone cold, meal was thrown on them not placed staff very ignorant and unhelpful. Coffee machine not working, assistant did not help. Whole complex very cold everyone complaining and loud music rang out not suitable for a relaxing break. Will not stop there again.
Stopped on the way to Bicester, No one in front of us to be served, there were no plates available, when they arrived they were stone cold, meal was thrown on them not placed staff very ignorant and unhelpful. Coffee machine not working, assistant did not help. Whole complex very cold everyone complaining and loud music rang out not suitable for a relaxing break. Will not stop there again.
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i visited m and s to stock up on a few things on my way home and i can only say was a fab store it is and the staff so friendley and helpful. many thanks  i visited m and s to stock up on a few things on my way home and i can only say was a fab store it is and the staff so friendley and helpful. many thanks B)
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Whoever thought putting the toilets at the end of narrow corridor was a good idea clearly wasn't thinking. Obviously this corridor gets very busy, making it hard to get in and out of the disabled toilets which are located along it. This is made worse by the fact that disabled people are usually disabled, meaning they don't want to weave around crowds and may take longer when moving around.
Other than that, the services were fine and very secluded. The first car park access road feels like you're entering someone's house!
Whoever thought putting the toilets at the end of narrow corridor was a good idea clearly wasn't thinking. Obviously this corridor gets very busy, making it hard to get in and out of the disabled toilets which are located along it. This is made worse by the fact that disabled people are usually disabled, meaning they don't want to weave around crowds and may take longer when moving around.
Other than that, the services were fine and very secluded. The first car park access road feels like you're entering someone's house!
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on getting a parking ticket for a night stop in my motorhome the fee was the same a hgv £19 pounds no water no electricity available i will be forwarding this email to the caravan club
on getting a parking ticket for a night stop in my motorhome the fee was the same a hgv £19 pounds no water no electricity available i will be forwarding this email to the caravan club
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Stopped at this services on the way down to Eastbourne, the food is good from the M&S and the Travelodge is great. 10 out of 10!  Stopped at this services on the way down to Eastbourne, the food is good from the M&S and the Travelodge is great. 10 out of 10! :-D
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Generally busy and efficient - but I was sold a loaf of bread in Marks and Spencer Simply Food there on Monday which turned out to be a day out of date. Better stocktaking is needed.
Generally busy and efficient - but I was sold a loaf of bread in Marks and Spencer Simply Food there on Monday which turned out to be a day out of date. Better stocktaking is needed.
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Have been there a few times and had no problem with the junction -- in fact I have never had any problem with the junction !
Have been there a few times and had no problem with the junction -- in fact I have never had any problem with the junction !
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I found the junction a pain but bearable. The services were clean as were the toilets. The food was expensive as always but nice to eat. They are probably one of the most well-placed services on the motorway network with the M40 north to Birmingham, M40 south to London, A34 south to Winchester and the South Coast and the A43 north to Northampton and the M1. For all this traffic visiting, I think the services are very well kept.
I found the junction a pain but bearable. The services were clean as were the toilets. The food was expensive as always but nice to eat. They are probably one of the most well-placed services on the motorway network with the M40 north to Birmingham, M40 south to London, A34 south to Winchester and the South Coast and the A43 north to Northampton and the M1. For all this traffic visiting, I think the services are very well kept.
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Visited last Friday on the way to Birmingham and I was generally impressed, though a member of staff barged past me as I was about to give my order in the self service and ordered herself some lunch. Getting into the place is a complete pain as the roundabout system is total lunacy.
Visited last Friday on the way to Birmingham and I was generally impressed, though a member of staff barged past me as I was about to give my order in the self service and ordered herself some lunch. Getting into the place is a complete pain as the roundabout system is total lunacy.
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| Showing the most recent responses only: for the full thread and the ability to edit your own posts, you need to view the topic in the forums. | | |
Main Page | Photos | Location, Map and Directions
With thanks to the user 'MatthewB6323' for the information used on this page.
