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Content:
Oxford
MSO Home - Services List - Oxford
Welcome Break services, M40 at J8a
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Road: M40 (also accessible to traffic on the A40 and the A418)
Junction: J8a
Operator: Welcome Break
Location: Oxfordshire OX33 1JL
Telephone: 01865 877000
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: none
Previous names: Wheatley
Services type: Single site located at a junction.
Official website: Visit Oxford/Welcome Break's official website
Modern services on the M40, Oxford is notable for its fountains around the front and a play area which the AA described a having a "high entertainment value". There is a good amount of open space around the sides, however these all back on to motorways and main roads.
Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
Facilities:
General: Cash Machine, Pay Phones, Picnic Tables, BT Openzone, Gamezone, Children's Play Area, HA Traffic Information, Showers
Food/Drink: Burger King, Coffee Primo, EAT IN, KFC, Primo Deli
Shopping: WH Smith, Fonebitz
Fuel: Shell (pump types unknown)
Motel: Days Inn
Photos:
Click on a photo to view the full size. If you have one to add, contact me. It's never too late to get your name in the limelight.
 | The front of the services, they are very similar to Hopwood Park. Photo taken in 2008. |
 | The various eateries available. Photo taken in 2008. |
 | Coffee Primo. Photo taken in 2008. |
 | The seating area, with WH Smith in the background. Photo taken in 2008. |
 | If you want to eat outside then there are several picnic tables scattered around the site, or these sheltered seats positioned alongside the fountains. Photo taken in 2008. |
 | The Days Inn motel. It's connected to the services by a walkway, so you're never two steps from a KFC. Photo taken in 2006. |
Trivia:
The services opened in 1998 and were the last services to open on the M40, a road which originally held the record for the longest major road that doesn't have any services. They are currently the southernmost services on the road, but both this and them being youngest will no longer be the case when Beaconsfield opens at J2.
The early plans listed the services as 'Wheatley', but this was changed to Oxford at the last minute.
Oxford featured on the BBC's 'Top Gear' in 2006, where The Stig made a pit stop in a race from Surrey to Scotland.
Survey results:
In 2007, the services won a four star loo award. The petrol station was won a three star one.
In 2006 both the building and the petrol station won a four star loo award.
Also in 2006, Holiday Which? rated the services at 4 out of 5.
The services were inspected by the AA on the 3rd and 5th of April 2004. These are their results:
| Category: | Rating: |
| Road safety and parking: | Acceptable |
| Outdoor facilities: | Good |
| Access and indoor facilities: | Acceptable |
| Catering: | Good |
| Shop: | Very Good |
| Service: | Very Good |
| Communications: | Very Poor |
| Hygiene: | Acceptable |
| Pricing: | Very Poor |
| Final Score: | Acceptable |
The services were said to be clean and appealing in many areas, but they had high prices.
Parking Prices:
Vehicle: | For up to 2 hours: | For 2 hours to 24 hours: |
| Cars: | FREE | £8* |
| HGVs & Carvans: | FREE | £20** |
| Coaches: | FREE | £20** |
* Price includes a £2 meal voucher, ** Price includes a £7 meal voucher | ||
Alternatives:
- Warwick Welcome Break services on the M40, 44 miles to the north.
- Cherwell Valley Moto/Costa & M&S services on the M40, 20 miles to the north.
- South Mimms Welcome Break services on the M25, 49 miles to the south.
- London Gateway Welcome Break services on the M1, 49 miles to the south.
- Heston Moto/Costa & M&S services on the M4, 39 miles to the south.
- Chieveley Moto/Costa & M&S services on the A34, 31 miles to the east.
- Oxford Peartree local services on the A40, 10 miles to the west.
Main Page | Location, Map & Directions
AA survey results from the Automobile Association, you can view the full report and what they were looking for in this PDF document.