Motorway Services Online

Retrieved from "https://motorwayservices.uk"

Opening Timeline

50 years of Watford Gap.

Below is a list of service areas organised by when they were opened. It gives you an idea how quickly they spread and when the industry really struggled, plus gives you something to compare the current rate of expansion to.

Motorway services in Great Britain

Motorway service areas can be awkward things. They only really count when blue signs are placed on the motorway, as that's when they start to form part of the system. But for all-sorts of reasons, some of these places existed for decades before those road signs were put up.

Where this has happened, we generally sort them by the date the signs were put up, but include the date that the place itself (or a similar facility previously built on that land) was built.

Services Road Opened
Newport Pagnell M1 between J14 and J15 phased from 2 November 1959 to August 1960
Watford Gap M1 between J16 and J17 phased from 2 November 1959 to September 1960
Strensham M5 between J7 and J8 20 July 1962 (original)
1994 (new northbound)
2002 (new southbound)
Medway M2 between J4 and J5 29 May 1963
Charnock Richard M6 between J27 and J28 29 July 1963
Knutsford M6 between J18 and J19 15 November 1963
Keele M6 between J15 and J16 15 November 1963
Toddington M1 between J11 and J12 20 May 1964 (fuel)
1965 (restaurant)
Lancaster M6 between J32 and J33 from 29 January 1965
Leicester Forest East M1 between J21 and J21A 15 February 1966
Frankley M5 between J3 and J4 27 July 1966
Severn View M48 at J1; M4 at J21 and J22 9 September 1966
Heston M4 between J2 and J3 phased from 21 February 1967 to 4 January 1968 (rebuilt 1981 and 1998)
Trowell M1 between J25 and J26 23 March 1967
Woodall M1 between J30 and J31 1 April 1968
London Gateway M1 between J2 and J4 17 March 1969
Washington A1(M) between J64 and J65 27 August 1970
Burton-in-Kendal M6 between J35 and J36 23 October 1970
Hilton Park M6 between J10A and J11 built by 1967
rumoured opening 26 October 1970
Rivington M61 between J6 and J8 main building rumoured 8 April 1971
rebuilt in 2011
Heart of Scotland (Harthill) M8 between J4 and J5 31 August 1971
rebuilt 1987
rebuilt 2006
Michaelwood M5 between J13 and J14 12 December 1971
Corley M6 between J3 and J3A 17 January 1972
Leigh Delamere M4 between J17 and J18 from 3 February 1972
main building rumoured 14 March 1972
Membury M4 between J14 and J15 phased from around 15 April 1972
Woolley Edge M1 between J38 and J39 rumoured 25 April 1972
Killington Lake M6 between J36 and J37 rumoured 9 May 1972
(rebuilt 1985)
Tebay M6 between J38 and J39 27 June 1972
Southwaite northbound M6 between J41 and J42 from 3 July 1972
Birch M62 between J18 and J19 phased from 18 December 1972
Gretna A74(M) between J21 and J22 1972 (TRSA)
16 June 1993 (MSA)
Gordano M5 at J19 7 May 1973
Hartshead Moor M62 between J25 and J26 from 22 May 1973
Fleet M3 between J4A and J5 6 June 1973
Burtonwood M62 at J8 rumoured 19 August 1974
Sandbach M6 between J16 and J17 1975
Hamilton M74 between J5 and J6 20 June 1975
rebuilt 1986?
Bothwell M74 between J4 and J5 27 June 1975
rebuilt 1986?
Rownhams westbound M27 between J3 and J4 21 June 1976
Taunton Deane southbound M5 between J25 and J26 1976 (forecourt / temporary facilities)
15 April 1977 (amenity building)
Exeter M5 at J30 rumoured 24 May 1977 (would have been phased opening)
Southwaite southbound M6 between J41 and J42 1972 (forecourt)
1977 (amenity building)
Leeming Bar A1(M) at J51 1977 (TRSA)
2016 (rest area)
Northampton M1 at J15A and A43 1978
main building opened July 1979
Kinross M90 at J6 29 May 1979
1981 (likely when it became a service area)
Scotch Corner A1(M) at J53 and A66 1980 (TRSA)
2017 (rest area)
Sarn Park M4 at J36 1981?
rebuilt in May 1986
rebuilt in 2016
Pont Abraham M4 at J49 17 June 1983
Old Inns M80 at J6 1984 (TRSA)
2011 (MSA)
Ferrybridge M62 at J33; A1(M)/A1 at J40 and J41 from 2 February 1985
Stirling M9 at J9 and M80 at J6 17 March 1986
Sedgemoor southbound M5 between J21 and J22 1975? (rest area)
rumoured 28 April 1986 (MSA)
Chieveley M4 at J13 and A34 27 June 1986
Sedgemoor northbound M5 between J21 and J22 1975? (rest area)
phased from 17 April 1987 (MSA)
South Mimms M25 at J23 and A1(M) at J1 6 June 1987
Rownhams eastbound M27 between J3 and J4 1976 (forecourt)
1987? (amenity building)
Blyth A1(M)/A1 at J34 February 1988
Pease Pottage M23 at J11 and A23 26 May 1988
Taunton Deane northbound M5 between J25 and J26 1976 (forecourt)
1989 (amenity building)
Cardiff West M4 at J33 April 1990
Tamworth M42 at J10 and A5 24 May 1990
Swansea West M4 at J47 9 August 1991
Magor M4 at J23A 8 April 1992
Thurrock M25 at J30 and J31, A13 and A282 1990 (forecourt)
16 June 1992 (permanent facilities)
Clacket Lane M25 between J5 and J6 phased from 24 May 1993
Tebay southbound M6 between J38 and J39 3 June 1993
Abington M74 and A74(M) at J13 17 June 1993
Cherwell Valley M40 at J10 and A43 31 March 1994 (rebuilt and reopened in June 2011)
Cairn Lodge M74 at J11 and J12 1993 (forecourt)
1994 (facilities)
Warwick M40 between J12 and J13 1994
Durham A1(M) at J61 23 August 1994
Birchanger Green M11 at J8 9 March 1995
Annandale Water A74(M) at J16 March 1995 (ceremony 6 April)
Reading M4 between J11 and J12 1995
Stafford northbound M6 between J14 and J15 1 April 1996
Maidstone M20 at J8 1997
Oxford M40 at J8A and A40 19 July 1998
Chester M56 at J14 1973 (rest area)
29 July 1998 (MSA)
Tibshelf M1 between J28 and J29 1999
Stafford southbound M6 between J14 and J15 1999
Donington M1 at J23A and J24, A42 and A50 8 July 1999
Bridgwater M5 at J24 August 1999
Hopwood Park M42 at J2 22 August 1999
Cullompton M5 at J28 3 September 1999
Doncaster (North) M18 at J5 and M180 2000
Cardiff Gate M4 at J30 2000?
Peterborough A1(M)/A1 at J17 15 January 2001
Baldock A1(M)/A1 at J10 22 January 2001
Winchester M3 between J8 and J9 2001
Blackburn with Darwen M65 at J4 2002
Telford M54 at J4 17 March 2003
Norton Canes M6 Toll between JT6 and JT7 9 March 2004
Folkestone M20 at J11 from 9 January 2008
Wetherby A1(M) at J46 from 23 August 2008
Beaconsfield M40 at J2 17 March 2009
Cobham M25 between J9 and J10 13 September 2012
Gloucester northbound M5 between J11A and J12 7 May 2014
Gloucester southbound M5 between J11A and J12 19 May 2015
Leeds Skelton Lake M1 at J45 from 30 March 2020
Rugby M6 at J1 30 April 2021

Service areas which are still planned aren't normally shown here.

Other Services

The following service areas don't fit in to either of the above categories, but the data has been recorded so might as well be shared.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list: if a period seems to have seen a lot of service areas open, it may just be that there is a lot more data available for that year than others.

A-road service areas didn't have any official status until 1982 (although a few were given official road signs in the 1970s), and many of the older sites have evolved from historic facilities rather than having an obvious opening date. We have therefore tried to include only the places that obviously resemble a service area.

Services Road Opened
Kings Worthy A33 north of Winchester 1946
Grantham A1 at Gonerby Moor Roundabout 1 January 1964 (transport café)
1972 (started to become a service area)
Peartree A34 at Peartree Interchange 29 June 1964
Ross Spur A449 between M50 and A40 1966
Lolworth A14 between J28 and J29 1969
Ballinluig A9 at Ballinluig Junction 1 March 1970
Oaktree A1 near Bedale 1973
Symonds Yat A40 between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth 1975
Tayside Truckstop A90 at Dundee 28 October 1983
Newmarket A14 between J36 and J37, and A11 1984
Milton Heights A34 at Milton Interchange 1985
Whitchurch A41 Whitchurch Bypass 1985
Weyhill A303 between Andover and Amesbury 1986
Feering A12 north-eastbound between J24 and J25 1986
Oldbury A419 near M5 J13 1986
Sutton Scotney A34 north of Winchester 1986
Nene Valley A45 between Northampton and Wellingborough 1987
Handcross A23 between Crawley and Brighton 1987
Llanddulas A55 at J23 1987
Copdock Mill A12/A14 at Copdock Interchange November 1987
Marston Moretaine A421 at Marston Moretaine Interchange March 1988
Guildford A3 near Guildford 1988
Thorpe on the Hill A46 at Hykeham Roundabout 1988
Podimore A303 at Podimore Roundabout 1988
Sixfields A45 northbound at Northampton 1988
Markham Moor A1/A57 at Markham Moor Interchange 1988
Doddington A46 at Doddington Roundabout 1988
Saltash A38 at Carkeel Roundabout early 1989
Leicester Markfield A511 at M1 J22 February 1989
Colsterworth A1 at Colsterworth Interchange early 1989 (southbound Happy Eater)
5 September 1989 (Granada service area)
Alfreton A38 at Watchorn Roundabout 26 September 1989
Musselburgh A1 at Old Craighall Junction 1989
Stonecross A10 at Downham Market 1989
Ilminster A303 at Southfields Roundabout 1989
Milton Keynes A5 at Kelly's Kitchen Roundabout 1989
Fontwell A27/A29 at Fontwell West Roundabout 1989
Dreghorn A720 at Dreghorn Junction 1989
Oversley Mill A46 at Oversley Mill Roundabout 1990
Countess A303 at Countess Roundabout 1990
Winthorpe A17/A46 at Friendly Farmer Roundabout phased from 28 January 1991
Bangor A5 at A55 J11 March 1991
Talke A500 at Talke Interchange 15 April 1991
Thrapston A45 at A14 J13 June 1991
Buckingham A420 near Faringdon 1991
Ely A10 at Ely 1991
Buckland A421 Buckingham Bypass 1991
Sutterton A16/A17 at Sutterton Roundabout 1991
Liphook A3 between Hindhead and Petersfield July 1992 (initially not signed)
Popham A303 between Basingstoke and Andover 1991
Warminster A36 Warminster Bypass 1992
Witney A40 at Ducklington Interchange 1993
Blue Bell Hill A229 between the M20 and the M2 1993
Crossbush A27 at Crossbush Interchange 1994
Monkton A77 at Dutch House Roundabout 1994
Thame A418 Thame Bypass 1995
Shrewsbury A5/A49 at Bayston Hill Roundabout 1995
Kettering A14 between J8 and J9 1996
Bellshill A725 at Bellziehill Junction 1998
Tot Hill A34 at Tot Hill Junction 1998
Maresfield A22 at Black Down Roundabout 1998
Four Pools A46 Evesham Bypass 1998
Broxden M90/A9 at Broxden Roundabout 2000
Cambridge A14 at J28 1 December 2000
Rheged A66 at Slapstones Roundabout 2000
Farnham A31 Farnham Bypass 2001
Raunds A45 between Rushden and Peterborough 2001
Derby A50 between J1 and J2 2001
Petersfield A3 at Berelands Interchange 2002
Cirencester A417 at Cirencester 2002
Polegate A27/A22 at Cop Hall Roundabout 2005
Tunbridge Wells A21 at Blue Boys Roundabout 2006
Leicester North A46 at Wanlip Roundabout 24 June 2008
Derby with Burton A38 at Toyota Island and A50 at J4 29 July 2008
Uttoxeter A50 at Derby Road Roundabout 2011
Cornwall A30 at Victoria Interchange from 24 June 2014
Fairfield A16 at Fairfield Roundabout 1 November 2014
Templepatrick M2 between J4 and J5 2015
Monmouth A40 between Newport and Monmouth 1970s (original)
rebuilt and reopened on 16 March 2016 and 21 May 2016
Poppleton A1237 York Ring Road 2016
Ashington A24 at Billingshurst Road Junction 2016
Lisburn south-westbound M1 between J3 and J6 2016
Lisburn north-eastbound M1 between J3 and J6 2017
Spalding A16 at Spalding 2017
Rothwell Truckstop A14 at J3 April 2019
Seven Bridges A419 between Cirencester and Swindon 9 December 2020
Newark A1 at Balderton Interchange 1 March 2023
Thirsk A19 York Road 2023

Specific Dates in Date Order

The following service areas are the ones we have an exact opening date for.

Note that this is more complicated than you'd think. Most service areas are opened in stages to get the money coming in before the building is finished. Many have a 'dummy run' where they quietly open so they can iron out any issues. Finally, there's then the official opening date, where the press are invited.

As we search our records, we find these dates have been mixed up. We're only interested in the date the main building opened, and have marked any entries where we think it might be wrong.

Services Opened
Birch (westbound restaurant) 1 January 1973
Heston (eastbound restaurant) 4 January 1968 (ceremony held the day before)
Folkestone 9 January 2008
Peterborough 15 January 2001
Corley 17 January 1972
Baldock 22 January 2001
Newark (Winthorpe) from 28 January 1991
Forton (forecourts) 29 January 1965
Ferrybridge from 2 February 1985
Leigh Delamere (forecourts) from 3 February 1972
Leicester Forest East 15 February 1966
Heston (forecourts) 21 February 1967
Newark (Fernwood) 1 March 2023
Birchanger Green 9 March 1995
Norton Canes 9 March 2004
Leigh Delamere main building rumoured 14 March 1972
Monmouth (rebuilt eastbound) 16 March 2016
Scratchwood 17 March 1969
Stirling 17 March 1986
Telford 17 March 2003
Beaconsfield 17 March 2009
Trowell 23 March 1967
Leeds Skelton Lake from 30 March 2020
Cherwell Valley 31 March 1994
Woodall 1 April 1968
Stafford northbound 1 April 1996
Annandale Water 6 April 1995 (ceremony)
Anderton / Rivington / Bolton West / whatever main building rumoured 8 April 1971
Magor 8 April 1992
Taunton Deane (southbound building) 15 April 1977
Membury (forecourts) rumoured 15 April 1972
Talke 15 April 1991
Cardiff West 20 April 1990 (ceremony)
Woolley Edge rumoured 25 April 1972
Sedgemoor southbound rumoured 28 April 1986
Rugby 30 April 2021
Gordano 7 May 1973
Gloucester (North) 7 May 2014
Killington Lake rumoured 9 May 1972
Sedgemoor northbound (official) 18 May 1987
Gloucester (South) 19 May 2015
Toddington (petrol stations and cafés) 20 May 1964
Monmouth (rebuilt westbound) 21 May 2016
Hartshead Moor from 22 May 1973
Exeter rumoured 24 May 1977
Tamworth 24 May 1990
Clacket Lane (forecourts) 24 May 1993
Pease Pottage 26 May 1988
Farthing Corner 29 May 1963
Kinross 29 May 1979 (original information centre)
Tebay southbound 3 June 1993
Fleet 6 June 1973
South Mimms (main building) 6 June 1987
Thurrock 16 June 1992 (temporary facilities available earlier)
Gretna Green (motorway service area) 16 June 1993 (ceremony)
Pont Abraham 17 June 1983
Abington 17 June 1993
Hamilton 20 June 1975
Rownhams 21 June 1976
Leicester 24 June 2008
Tebay West 27 June 1972
Bothwell 27 June 1975
Chieveley 27 June 1986
Oxford Peartree 29 June 1964
Cherwell Valley (rebuild) 30 June 2011
Southwaite from 3 July 1972
Donington Park 8 July 1999
Forton (cafés) from 14 July 1965
Oxford 19 July 1962
Strensham 20 July 1962
Clacket Lane (official opening) 21 July 1993
Frankley 27 July 1966
Charnock Richard 29 July 1963
Chester 29 July 1998
Derby with Burton 29 July 2008
Cambridge 9 August 1991
Newport Pagnell (northbound restaurant) 15 August 1960
Burtonwood rumoured 19 August 1974
Hopwood Park 22 August 1999
Wetherby from 23 August 2008
Durham 23 August 1994
Washington 27 August 1970
Harthill 31 August 1971
Cullompton 3 September 1999
Colsterworth (Granada) 5 September 1989
Aust 9 September 1966
Watford Gap (northbound restaurant) 13 September 1960
Cobham 13 September 2012
Swanwick 26 September 1989
Newport Pagnell (southbound restaurant) 30 September 1960
Watford Gap (southbound restaurant) 1 October 1960
Burton West 23 October 1970
Rothersthorpe rumoured 24 October 1972, but this must be an error
Hilton Park rumoured 26 October 1970
Newport Pagnell (forecourts) 2 November 1959
Watford Gap (forecourts) 2 November 1959
Knutsford, Keele 15 November 1963
Heston (westbound restaurant) 21 November 1967
Cambridge 1 December 2000
Michael Wood 12 December 1971
Birch 18 December 1972