How Things Work
'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!
- Information and Guidance
- Parking
A general guide to how parking works at services, answering some of the most common questions. - Why are services so expensive?
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. - Professional Drivers
Information written specifically for coaches and HGV drivers, listing some of the offers available to them. - MSA Policy (Regulations)
An explanation of how services are regulated and how the policy on them has changed over the years. - Road Signs
A non-technical guide to the different road signs used and who is responsible for them. - Terminology
A collection of pages which explain the meaning of various technical and unofficial terms relating to motorway services.
- Parking
- Lists and Analysis
- Best and Worst
Across the site we ask you to rate different service stations, and here you can see how they all stack up alongside each other. - How To Design A Service Station
A look at how service station design has evolved, and what the key factors in new service station design are. - MOT Numbers
A list of the working titles given to the original service stations. Spot the gaps in the pattern! - Mobile Apps
A look at the different discount and information apps offered to help and persuade motorway users. - Category:Old Pubs
Many modern A-road services have adopted a building which pre-dates the road network as we would recognise it. This page lists them. - Postcards
Motorway services originally sold promotional postcards - find the best of them here. - 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). - Services which have burnt down
A list of services which have been reported to have caught fire. - Services which have changed names
An automatically-generated list of services which have changed names. - 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.
- Best and Worst