Now that I’m all grown up and since I got my very own licence a couple of decades ago now, I’ve always been up for a road trip. When it was time to buy my first car, I remember choosing a faraway place to buy it from, so I could have a long drive back.
On my many travels up and down the UK and sometimes even Europe, I have come across service stations that I’ve really liked. Even though most look almost identical, and there’s often that feeling of, have I been to this one before?
Okay, let me get to the point. I don’t have pictures of all the service stations I’ve been to before, but I do have one favourite one, which is easy to get to from London. And sometimes, when I’m bored, I drive there to chill and have a coffee. In the past, I’ve even left the office and taken my laptop there and got on with work.
My favourite motorway service station near London is the Moto Services located in Thurrock, on the M25. It’s a standard, maybe even a little run-down service station, but it hides a surprise if you’re willing to explore. If you go inside and make your way to the back of the service station (near Costa Coffee), you will see there’s a door that leads you out in to a balcony and there you will find some outdoor seating and a beautiful view of a little lake.
I know this website is about prayer rooms at motorway service stations, so I think I need to point out that this service station does not have a prayer room. However, there is a lovely mosque situated in a nearby park which I’ve visited before after chilling at this service station. The mosque is called Grays Park Masjid.
I built this website to firstly help fellow travellers to find places to pray easily while on their UK adventures and I’m also using as an excuse to travel around the UK once again to capture photos and videos of the locations. I’m sure along the way I will end up revisiting service stations that have stood out and I will make sure I take pictures to share more beautiful service stations in the UK.
I must make an honourable mention of a service station which is not in the UK, but it really stood out on my European travels. This service station was in France, on the A16 it was called Sailly Flibeaucourt Shell Services; here are some pictures of it and here’s the location if you’re ever travelling that direction. This service station had lots of greenery and had playgrounds for the kids to play in.
If you know of any beautiful service station locations in the UK, Europe or anywhere in the world, please share below in the comments section and I will maybe visit them one day.
