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Content:

Toddington

MSO Home - Services List - Toddington

Moto services, M1 between J11 and J12

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Road: M1
Junction: Between J11 and J12
Operator: Moto
Location: Bedfordshire LU5 6HR
Telephone: 01525 878400
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: Granada
Previous names: none
Services type: Two sites located between junctions, connected by a pedestrian footbridge.

Official website: Visit Toddington/Moto's official websiteOpen link in a new window

Enriched with facilities but not good looks, Toddington is a busy service area and the first in a while for traffic heading from the M25.


Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions


The front of the services
Photo taken by 'Two Chevrons Apart'.

Facilities:

Key: northbound only | southbound only

General: Cash Machine, Pay Phones, Children's Play Area, Showers
Food/Drink: Eat & Drink Company, Little Chef, Upper Crust, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King
Shopping: WH Smith, Ladbrokes, Barber Shop, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Retail Store
Fuel: BP with pumps for Unleaded, Ultimate Unleaded, Diesel, Ultimate Diesel and LPG)
Motel: Travelodge

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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

The front of the services.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2005 by 'Two Chevrons Apart'.

A close-up on the entrance

Looking closer at the entrance.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2005 by 'Two Chevrons Apart'.

Inside the services

Inside the services, where we can see a yellow pillar.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2005 by 'Two Chevrons Apart'.

The Little Chef

The Little Chef restaurant.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2008 by Nigel Cox. It's used under this Creative CommonsOpen link in a new window licence.

Inside the services

The M&S store.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2005 by 'Two Chevrons Apart'.

The southbound services

Looking at the southbound services, they're slightly larger than this side and they are above the access road.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2005 by 'Two Chevrons Apart'.

Three statues

Some rather scary-looking statues.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2006 by Martyn Davies. It's used under this Creative CommonsOpen link in a new window licence.

The BP filling station

The BP filling station.

Photo taken whilst travelling northbound in 2008 by Nigel Cox. It's used under this Creative CommonsOpen link in a new window licence.

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Trivia:

Toddington houses Moto's Head Office, meaning that the services have been the pilot test for many things including WH Smith, 'Power Naps' and Marks and Spencer Simply Food. It featured in the BBC's 'Top Gear' and until recently it had Scoop, Halfords, T2 and Birthdays stores.

It was Granada's first service area, opening in 1962. It was the third service area to open on the M1, after Newport Pagnell.

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Survey results:

The services were inspected by the AA on the 24th and 25th of March 2007. These are their results:

Category:Rating:
Road safety and parking:Acceptable
Outdoor facilities:Very Poor
Access and indoor facilities:Good
Catering:Acceptable
Shop:Very Good
Service:Poor
Family Friendliness:Very Poor
Hygiene:Acceptable
Pricing:Acceptable
Final Score:Poor

The services were said to be well priced(!) with secure, clean facilities, but the staff were poor and there was very little to smile about outside. The AA said that the poor result could be down to the fact that the services were being refurbished at the time they were inspected and they would improve afterwards.

In 2006, Toddington was rated 4/5 by Holiday Which?

Also in 2006 the services won a five-star loo award.

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Parking Prices:

Vehicle:

For up to 2 hours:

For 2 to 24 hours:

Cars:FREE£8
HGVs & Carvans:FREE£18*
Coaches:FREE£18*

* For an extra £2, the price will include a £7.50 meal voucher.
The above prices are intended to be a guide only. Tickets must be renewed after 24 hours, and can be obtained from the 'Pay & Display' meters located in each car park.

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Alternatives:

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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.View the thread Post your comment
Author: Message:
Generic MSA if ever there was one. Toilets weren't very clean when I visited and there was a distinct lack of staff throughout the place.
PostPosted: 03 Jan 2009, 16:12
*rolleyes* I was recently in your EDC to have something to eat and drink which i found the food very Tasteless and not much of a Selection. The latte Coffee was not very nice either considering the price, i was very disappointed and wished that i had gone M&S and got a sandwich.
PostPosted: 01 Oct 2008, 13:51
Motos head office. If something new is rolled out here and is a success expect it to be at every moto
PostPosted: 10 Jul 2006, 17:31
Post your comments and reviews for Toddington here, or click hereOpen link in a new window to return to the Services List.
PostPosted: 08 Jan 2006, 11:31
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.View the thread Post your comment

Main Page | Location, Map & Directions


With thanks to the user 'Ziathon' for the information used on this page. AA survey results from the Automobile AssociationOpen link in a new window, you can view the full report and what they were looking for in this PDF documentOpen link in a new window.