** [[Highways England Information Point|Traffic Information]]
* [[Toilets]]
* [[Highways England Information Point|Traffic Information]]
==Information and Guidance==
==Information and Guidance==
* [[Parking]][[File:Keele parking sign.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Parking]]{{newline}}A general guide to how parking works at services, answering some of the most common questions.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Pricing|Why are services so expensive?]][[File:Frankley WHSmith.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Pricing]]{{newline}}A look at the other side of the coin as to why services are so expensive, and a few tips to get the better of them.<br style="clear:both" />
A general guide to how parking works at services, answering some of the most common questions.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Professional Drivers]][[File:Lymm lorry parking.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Professional Drivers]]{{newline}}Information written specifically for coaches and HGV drivers, listing some of the offers available to them.<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Frankley WHSmith.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Pricing]][[Pricing|Why are services so expensive?]]===
* [[MSA Policy|MSA Policy (Regulations)]][[File:LFE Granada tender proposal cover.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=MSA Policy]]{{newline}}An explanation of how services are regulated and how the policy on them has changed over the years.<br style="clear:both" />
A look at the other side of the coin as to why services are so expensive, and a few tips to get the better of them.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[:Category:Road Signs|Road Signs]][[File:Granada services sign.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Category:Road Signs]]{{newline}}A non-technical guide to the different road signs used and who is responsible for them.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[:Category:Terminology|Terminology]][[File:Bartlett perfect MSA.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Category:Terminology]]{{newline}}A collection of pages which explain the meaning of various technical and unofficial terms relating to motorway services.
Information written specifically for coaches and HGV drivers, listing some of the offers available to them.<br style="clear:both" />
A collection of pages which explain the meaning of various technical and unofficial terms relating to motorway services.<br style="clear:both" />
==Lists and Analysis==
==Lists and Analysis==
* [[MSO:Ratings|Best and Worst]][[File:Visit England three star.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=MSO:Ratings]]{{newline}}Across the site we ask you to rate different service stations, and here you can see how they all stack up alongside each other.<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Visit England three star.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=MSO:Ratings]][[MSO:Ratings|Best and Worst]]===
* [[History:Motorway service area|How To Design A Service Station]][[File:Watford Gap design.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=History:Motorway service area]]{{newline}}A look at how service station design has evolved, and what the key factors in new service station design are.<br style="clear:both" />
Across the site we ask you to rate different service stations, and here you can see how they all stack up alongside each other.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[MOT Numbers]][[File:Map showing Bignell's Corner services.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=MOT Numbers]]{{newline}}A list of the working titles given to the original service stations. Spot the gaps in the pattern!<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Watford Gap design.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=History:Motorway service area]][[History:Motorway service area|How To Design A Service Station]]===
* [[Mobile Apps]][[File:Moto Deals 2015 App.png|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Mobile Apps]]{{newline}}A look at the different discount and information apps offered to help and persuade motorway users.<br style="clear:both" />
A look at how service station design has evolved, and what the key factors in new service station design are.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[:Category:Old Pubs]][[File:Stoney Cross.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Category:Old Pubs]]{{newline}}Many modern A-road services have adopted a building which pre-dates the road network as we would recognise it. This page lists them.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Postcards]][[File:Farthing Corner postcard.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Postcards]]{{newline}}Motorway services originally sold promotional postcards - find the best of them here.<br style="clear:both" />
A list of the working titles given to the original service stations. Spot the gaps in the pattern!<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Services on TV]][[File:Birch Granada interview 1979.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Services on TV]]{{newline}}A list of services which have played a significant role in a TV show (previously this information was spread out over all the trivia sections).<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Fire|Services which have burnt down]][[File:Fleet southbound fire damage.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Fire]]{{newline}}A list of services which have been reported to have caught fire.<br style="clear:both" />
A look at the different discount and information apps offered to help and persuade motorway users.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Services which have changed names]][[File:Severn View Entrance sign 2014.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Services which have changed name]]{{newline}}An automatically-generated list of services which have changed names.<br style="clear:both" />
* [[Rear Access]][[File:Tebay north rear access.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Rear Access]]{{newline}}A list of all the services with a 'secret exit', as well as information on what these things are and who can use them.
Many modern A-road services have adopted a building which pre-dates the road network as we would recognise it. This page lists them.<br style="clear:both" />
Motorway services originally sold promotional postcards - find the best of them here.<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Birch Granada interview 1979.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Services on TV]][[Services on TV]]===
A list of services which have played a significant role in a TV show (previously this information was spread out over all the trivia sections).<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Fleet southbound fire damage.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Fire]][[Fire|Services which have burnt down]]===
A list of services which have been reported to have caught fire.<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Severn View Entrance sign 2014.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Services which have changed name]][[Services which have changed names]]===
An automatically-generated list of services which have changed names.<br style="clear:both" />
===[[File:Tebay north rear access.jpg|100px|left|class=nophone|link=Rear Access]][[Rear Access]]===
A list of all the services with a 'secret exit', as well as information on what these things are and who can use them.
[[Category:Contents]][[Category:UK only]]
[[Category:Contents]][[Category:UK only]]
Revision as of 23:47, 3 August 2019
'How Things Work' is our creative, catch-all title for our collection of articles which don't form part of the main database. They attempt to provide some background information about different aspects of motorway services, and a little bit about how they work.
Visitors to this section should also look at History, which pays particular attention to closed, unbuilt and the oldest services.
The Basics
A road sign
Our first section examines the topics which we get asked about a lot. It's by far the best place to start!
