M25 between J9 and J10
Signposted from the road.
KT11 3DB
map and directions
Single site located between junctions with access to both sides.
This is the Extra service area on the M25. For the service station on the A2 in Kent, see Cobham (A2).
Britain's biggest and busiest service area finally opened in September 2012, bringing brand new facilities to the congested London Orbital.
Facilities
Catering: Chopstix Noodle Bar, El Mexicana with Don Churro, Greggs, KFC, LEON, McDonald's, Nando's, PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger, Starbucks, Tapori, West Cornwall Pasty Co., Costa Express, Krispy Kreme, M&S Coffee to Go Shops: M&S Simply Food, Top Gift, WHSmith Amenities: Ramada, Changing Places, Quicksilver, Regus Express, Revolution Laundry, Showers Outdoor Space: Lakeside walk and outdoor terrace around back of hotel; small grass area by coach parking; Children's Play Area Charging Points: GRIDSERVE Electric Highway 50kW CCS, 50kW CHAdeMO & 22kW Type 2; IONITY 350kW CCS Forecourt: Shell, Select, Deli by Shell, Costa Express, Coach Toilet Drop, Free Cash Machine
Parking Prices
First 3 hours free for all vehicles, after which charges apply:
Up to 4 hours (including free period): £10. Up to 6 hours: £22. Up to 8 hours: £30. Up to 15 hours: £33. Up to 24 hours: £38. Up to 48 hours: £66. Up to 72 hours: £100. Each additional 24 hours or part: £35. Trailer swaps: £15. No return within the remaining 24 hour period.
Prices are paid at the parking machines located in the food court, and can be paid with GBP, EUR or fuel cards.
HGVs can also pay by using SNAP. The location code is 5358.
This information is provided to us by third parties. You should always check with staff on site.
Contact Details
🏢 Address:
Cobham Motorway Service Area M25
Cobham
Surrey
KT11 3DB
Trivia and Design
See also: History:Cobham
Official figures for customer levels at motorway service areas are always kept confidential, but an analysis of social media (and our own page views) suggests Cobham is the busiest. As part of their justification for building Colne Valley services, in June 2021 Welcome Break (who provide some facilities at Cobham) stated unequivocally that Cobham is the UK's busiest service area.
Cobham is also the UK's biggest service area, with an incredible 980 car parking spaces and 36 car fuel pumps. If you compare it with other official motorway service areas that cater for all vehicles, it is probably the biggest and busiest in Europe. Seeing as Extra has a policy of leasing out its units like a shopping centre, they don't get to keep all the profit that each franchise makes at Cobham, but they no doubt do very well out of it.
The service area consists of one very large amenity building and an equally large petrol station; even the forecourt is believed to be one of the largest in Britain. The site was built with facilities built to the south of the motorway, with an underpass allowing eastbound traffic to access it. Over 2,500 people a day use the petrol station alone.
The amenity building (signposted as a food court) is similar to most Extra services in that it has the main units spread out around a central atrium, with toilets at the back. The hotel is then connected at the side. A number of temporary-style units are placed in the middle, amongst the seating.
Extra currently hold planning permission to build a drive-thru coffee shop on site. The drive-thru will be a Welcome Break-operated Starbucks and is expected to be built in 2023.
Chozen Noodle & Sushi closed in September 2023 and was replaced by sister brand Chopstix Noodle Bar in October 2023. Moto opened a Pret A Manger store here on 26 February 2024 replacing the former Sourced Market unit.
Road Layout
At night, the coach park officially doubles-up as an overflow lorry park (this tends to happen at most services against their will, but Cobham is currently the only one to embrace this with official signage). In June 2019, work began to build a second HGV parking area with an additional 75 parking spaces, bringing the total to 147. There had been reports of some HGVs parking on the slip roads. One estimate suggested as many as 170 spaces are regularly required.
As a result of the HGV parking issues and the chaotic nature of the busy car park, long lengths of the roads around Cobham services are marked with double red lines - something rarely seen outside of major city centres.
With the choice of three HGV parking areas (the original, the overflow and the new one), trying to help motorists find their way out of the huge car park, and not to mention the confusing matter of explaining which side of the M25 goes where, a visit to Cobham can leave the motorist with a lot of information to take in.
Alternatives
| Previous: | Next: | |
| Clacket Lane (22 miles) Pease Pottage (M23 south, 39 miles) | Services on the M25 | South Mimms (42 miles) Toddington (M1 north, 53 miles) Beaconsfield (M40 north, 26 miles) Heston (M4 east, 21 miles) Reading (M4 west, 42 miles) Fleet (M3 south, 23 miles) Wisley (A3 south, 5 miles) |
| Beaconsfield (M40 north, 26 miles) | Extra services | none |
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