| London Gateway | |
| Welcome Break | |
 | |
| Road: | M1 between J2 and J4 (there is no J3) |
| Address: | London NW7 3HB |
| Telephone number: | 02089 060611 |
| Signposted from the road? | As Starbucks/Waitrose |
| Opened: | 1969 |
| Previous operators: | Trusthouse Forte |
| Previous names: | Scratchwood |
| Grid reference: | TQ202938 |
| Services type: | Single site located between junctions with access to both sides. |
| Visit London Gateway/Welcome Break's official website Facebook Page | |
The final services on the M1 before London, London Gateway is a long-distance coach interchange as well as a motorway service area.
Contents |
Facilities
General: BT WiFi, Conference Room, Traffic Information, Showers, Welcome Break Gaming
Restaurants: Burger King, Eat In, Starbucks
Shops: WHSmith (with Costa Express Krispy Kreme), Waitrose
Fuel: Shell (with: Costa Express Autogas LPG)
Motel: Days Hotel[book rooms]
Parking Prices
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £10. Further information is not available, please update this if you know.
Prices can be paid in the shop and restaurant, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by ParkingEye.
Trivia
London Gateway was opened in 1970 under the name 'Scratchwood services'. It utilises an unfinished roundabout which was meant to form M1 J3 with a link road to the A1, but the plans were dropped and never finished.
12 miles away, the guns at HMS Belfast are trained and elevated on the services, although they're not loaded or serviceable any more.
London Gateway is squished between the M1 and the Midland Mainline. It formed a viewpoint when Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral hearse made its way up the M1 to Althorp.
On the weekend of the 16th April 2011 the M1 between J1 and J4 was closed following for several days following a severe fire at a scrapyard next to the services. London Gateway was expecting a lot of custom with several events taking place in London, but instead it lost everything and transferred staff to South Mimms instead. Hotel bookings were cancelled and fresh food had to be thrown out.
Survey Results
In May 2012, Visit England rated the services as 4 stars. In August 2011, they received 3 stars.
In 2008 the services won a five star loo award.
In 2007, London Gateway won a five star loo award. In 2006 it won a four star loo award.
In 2006, Holiday Which? magazine rated the services as 3/5.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| none | Services on the M1 |
Toddington (26 miles) South Mimms (M25 east, 17 miles) Beaconsfield (M40 north, 25 miles) |
| none | Welcome Break services |
Newport Pagnell (39 miles) South Mimms (M25 east, 17 miles) Oxford (M40 north, 51 miles) |