Below is a list of service areas organised by when they were opened. It gives you an idea how quickly they spread and when the industry really struggled, plus gives you something to compare the current rate of expansion to.
Motorway services in Great Britain
Motorway service areas can be awkward things. They only really count when blue signs are placed on the motorway, as that's when they start to form part of the system. But for all-sorts of reasons, some of these places existed for decades before those road signs were put up.
Where this has happened, we generally sort them by the date the signs were put up, but include the date that the place itself (or a similar facility previously built on that land) was built.
| Services | Road | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Newport Pagnell | M1 between J14 and J15 | phased from 2 November 1959 to August 1960 |
| Watford Gap | M1 between J16 and J17 | phased from 2 November 1959 to September 1960 |
| Strensham | M5 between J7 and J8 | 20 July 1962 (original) 1994 (new northbound) 2002 (new southbound) |
| Medway | M2 between J4 and J5 | 29 May 1963 |
| Charnock Richard | M6 between J27 and J28 | 29 July 1963 |
| Knutsford | M6 between J18 and J19 | 15 November 1963 |
| Keele | M6 between J15 and J16 | 15 November 1963 |
| Toddington | M1 between J11 and J12 | 20 May 1964 (fuel) 1965 (restaurant) |
| Lancaster | M6 between J32 and J33 | from 29 January 1965 |
| Leicester Forest East | M1 between J21 and J21A | 15 February 1966 |
| Frankley | M5 between J3 and J4 | 27 July 1966 |
| Severn View | M48 at J1; M4 at J21 and J22 | 9 September 1966 |
| Heston | M4 between J2 and J3 | phased from 21 February 1967 to 4 January 1968 (rebuilt 1981 and 1998) |
| Trowell | M1 between J25 and J26 | 23 March 1967 |
| Woodall | M1 between J30 and J31 | 1 April 1968 |
| London Gateway | M1 between J2 and J4 | 17 March 1969 |
| Hilton Park | M6 between J10A and J11 | built by 1967 opened 15 May 1970 |
| Washington | A1(M) between J64 and J65 | 27 August 1970 |
| Burton-in-Kendal | M6 between J35 and J36 | 23 October 1970 |
| Rivington | M61 between J6 and J8 | main building rumoured 8 April 1971 rebuilt in 2011 |
| Heart of Scotland (Harthill) | M8 between J4 and J5 | 31 August 1971 rebuilt 1987 rebuilt 2006 |
| Michaelwood | M5 between J13 and J14 | 12 December 1971 |
| Corley | M6 between J3 and J3A | 17 January 1972 |
| Leigh Delamere | M4 between J17 and J18 | from 3 February 1972 main building rumoured 14 March 1972 |
| Membury | M4 between J14 and J15 | phased from around 15 April 1972 |
| Woolley Edge | M1 between J38 and J39 | rumoured 25 April 1972 |
| Killington Lake | M6 between J36 and J37 | rumoured 9 May 1972 (rebuilt 1985) |
| Tebay | M6 between J38 and J39 | 27 June 1972 |
| Southwaite northbound | M6 between J41 and J42 | from 3 July 1972 |
| Birch | M62 between J18 and J19 | phased from 18 December 1972 |
| Gretna | A74(M) between J21 and J22 | 1972 (TRSA) 16 June 1993 (MSA) |
| Gordano | M5 at J19 | 7 May 1973 |
| Hartshead Moor | M62 between J25 and J26 | from 22 May 1973 |
| Fleet | M3 between J4A and J5 | 6 June 1973 |
| Burtonwood | M62 at J8 | rumoured 19 August 1974 |
| Sandbach | M6 between J16 and J17 | 1975 |
| Hamilton | M74 between J5 and J6 | 20 June 1975 rebuilt 1986? |
| Bothwell | M74 between J4 and J5 | 27 June 1975 rebuilt 1986? |
| Rownhams westbound | M27 between J3 and J4 | 21 June 1976 |
| Taunton Deane southbound | M5 between J25 and J26 | 1976 (forecourt / temporary facilities) 15 April 1977 (amenity building) |
| Exeter | M5 at J30 | rumoured 24 May 1977 (would have been phased opening) |
| Southwaite southbound | M6 between J41 and J42 | 1972 (forecourt) 1977 (amenity building) |
| Leeming Bar | A1(M) at J51 | 1977 (TRSA) 2016 (rest area) |
| Northampton | M1 at J15A and A43 | 1978 main building opened July 1979 |
| Kinross | M90 at J6 | 29 May 1979 1981 (likely when it became a service area) |
| Scotch Corner | A1(M) at J53 and A66 | 1980 (TRSA) 2017 (rest area) |
| Sarn Park | M4 at J36 | 1981? rebuilt in May 1986 rebuilt in 2016 |
| Pont Abraham | M4 at J49 | 17 June 1983 |
| Old Inns | M80 at J6 | 1984 (TRSA) 2011 (MSA) |
| Ferrybridge | M62 at J33; A1(M)/A1 at J40 and J41 | from 2 February 1985 |
| Stirling | M9 at J9 and M80 at J6 | 17 March 1986 |
| Sedgemoor southbound | M5 between J21 and J22 | 1975? (rest area) rumoured 28 April 1986 (MSA) |
| Chieveley | M4 at J13 and A34 | 27 June 1986 |
| Sedgemoor northbound | M5 between J21 and J22 | 1975? (rest area) phased from 17 April 1987 (MSA) |
| South Mimms | M25 at J23 and A1(M) at J1 | 24 May 1987 |
| Rownhams eastbound | M27 between J3 and J4 | 1976 (forecourt) 1987? (amenity building) |
| Blyth | A1(M)/A1 at J34 | February 1988 |
| Pease Pottage | M23 at J11 and A23 | 26 May 1988 |
| Taunton Deane northbound | M5 between J25 and J26 | 1976 (forecourt) 1989 (amenity building) |
| Cardiff West | M4 at J33 | April 1990 |
| Tamworth | M42 at J10 and A5 | 24 May 1990 |
| Swansea West | M4 at J47 | 9 August 1991 |
| Magor | M4 at J23A | 8 April 1992 |
| Thurrock | M25 at J30 and J31, A13 and A282 | 1990 (forecourt) 16 June 1992 (permanent facilities) |
| Clacket Lane | M25 between J5 and J6 | phased from 24 May 1993 |
| Tebay southbound | M6 between J38 and J39 | 3 June 1993 |
| Abington | M74 and A74(M) at J13 | 17 June 1993 |
| Cherwell Valley | M40 at J10 and A43 | 31 March 1994 (rebuilt and reopened in June 2011) |
| Cairn Lodge | M74 at J11 and J12 | 1993 (forecourt) 1994 (facilities) |
| Durham | A1(M) at J61 | 23 August 1994 |
| Warwick | M40 between J12 and J13 | June 1994 (forecourt) September 1994 (amenity building) |
| Birchanger Green | M11 at J8 | 9 March 1995 |
| Annandale Water | A74(M) at J16 | 6 April 1995 |
| Reading | M4 between J11 and J12 | 1995 |
| Stafford northbound | M6 between J14 and J15 | 1 April 1996 |
| Maidstone | M20 at J8 | 1997 |
| Oxford | M40 at J8A and A40 | 19 July 1998 |
| Chester | M56 at J14 | 1973 (rest area) 29 July 1998 (MSA) |
| Tibshelf | M1 between J28 and J29 | 1999 |
| Stafford southbound | M6 between J14 and J15 | 1999 |
| Donington | M1 at J23A and J24, A42 and A50 | 8 July 1999 |
| Bridgwater | M5 at J24 | August 1999 |
| Hopwood Park | M42 at J2 | 22 August 1999 |
| Cullompton | M5 at J28 | 3 September 1999 |
| Doncaster (North) | M18 at J5 and M180 | 2000 |
| Cardiff Gate | M4 at J30 | 2000? |
| Peterborough | A1(M)/A1 at J17 | 15 January 2001 |
| Baldock | A1(M)/A1 at J10 | 22 January 2001 |
| Winchester | M3 between J8 and J9 | 2001 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | M65 at J4 | 2002 |
| Telford | M54 at J4 | 17 March 2003 |
| Norton Canes | M6 Toll between JT6 and JT7 | 9 March 2004 |
| Folkestone | M20 at J11 | from 9 January 2008 |
| Wetherby | A1(M) at J46 | from 23 August 2008 |
| Beaconsfield | M40 at J2 | 17 March 2009 |
| Cobham | M25 between J9 and J10 | 13 September 2012 |
| Gloucester northbound | M5 between J11A and J12 | 7 May 2014 |
| Gloucester southbound | M5 between J11A and J12 | 19 May 2015 |
| Leeds Skelton Lake | M1 at J45 | from 30 March 2020 |
| Rugby | M6 at J1 | 30 April 2021 |
Service areas which are still planned aren't normally shown here.
Other Services
The following service areas don't fit in to either of the above categories, but the data has been recorded so might as well be shared.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list: if a period seems to have seen a lot of service areas open, it may just be that there is a lot more data available for that year than others.
A-road service areas didn't have any official status until 1982 (although a few were given official road signs in the 1970s), and many of the older sites have evolved from historic facilities rather than having an obvious opening date. We have therefore tried to include only the places that obviously resemble a service area.
| Services | Road | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Worthy | A33 north of Winchester | 1946 |
| Grantham | A1 at Gonerby Moor Roundabout | 1 January 1964 (transport café) 1972 (started to become a service area) |
| Peartree | A34 at Peartree Interchange | 29 June 1964 |
| Ross Spur | A449 between M50 and A40 | 1966 |
| Lolworth | A14 between J28 and J29 | 1969 |
| Ballinluig | A9 at Ballinluig Junction | 1 March 1970 |
| Oaktree | A1 near Bedale | 1973 |
| Symonds Yat | A40 between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth | 1975 |
| Horsham | A24 Horsham Bypass | October 1982 |
| Tayside Truckstop | A90 at Dundee | 28 October 1983 |
| Newmarket | A14 between J36 and J37, and A11 | 1984 |
| Milton Heights | A34 at Milton Interchange | 1985 |
| Whitchurch | A41 Whitchurch Bypass | 1985 |
| Weyhill | A303 between Andover and Amesbury | 1986 |
| Feering | A12 north-eastbound between J24 and J25 | 1986 |
| Oldbury | A419 near M5 J13 | 1986 |
| Sutton Scotney | A34 north of Winchester | 1986 |
| Nene Valley | A45 between Northampton and Wellingborough | 1987 |
| Handcross | A23 between Crawley and Brighton | 1987 |
| Llanddulas | A55 at J23 | 1987 |
| Copdock Mill | A12/A14 at Copdock Interchange | November 1987 |
| Marston Moretaine | A421 at Marston Moretaine Interchange | March 1988 |
| Guildford | A3 near Guildford | 1988 |
| Thorpe on the Hill | A46 at Hykeham Roundabout | 1988 |
| Podimore | A303 at Podimore Roundabout | 1988 |
| Sixfields | A45 northbound at Northampton | 1988 |
| Markham Moor | A1/A57 at Markham Moor Interchange | 1988 |
| Doddington | A46 at Doddington Roundabout | 1988 |
| Saltash | A38 at Carkeel Roundabout | early 1989 |
| Leicester Markfield | A511 at M1 J22 | February 1989 |
| Colsterworth | A1 at Colsterworth Interchange | early 1989 (southbound Happy Eater) 5 September 1989 (Granada service area) |
| Alfreton | A38 at Watchorn Roundabout | 26 September 1989 |
| Musselburgh | A1 at Old Craighall Junction | 1989 |
| Stonecross | A10 at Downham Market | 1989 |
| Ilminster | A303 at Southfields Roundabout | 1989 |
| Milton Keynes | A5 at Kelly's Kitchen Roundabout | 1989 |
| Fontwell | A27/A29 at Fontwell West Roundabout | 1989 |
| Dreghorn | A720 at Dreghorn Junction | 1989 |
| Oversley Mill | A46 at Oversley Mill Roundabout | 1990 |
| Countess | A303 at Countess Roundabout | 1990 |
| Winthorpe | A17/A46 at Friendly Farmer Roundabout | phased from 28 January 1991 |
| Bangor | A5 at A55 J11 | March 1991 |
| Talke | A500 at Talke Interchange | 15 April 1991 |
| Thrapston | A45 at A14 J13 | June 1991 |
| Buckingham | A420 near Faringdon | 1991 |
| Ely | A10 at Ely | 1991 |
| Buckland | A421 Buckingham Bypass | 1991 |
| Sutterton | A16/A17 at Sutterton Roundabout | 1991 |
| Liphook | A3 between Hindhead and Petersfield | July 1992 (initially not signed) |
| Popham | A303 between Basingstoke and Andover | 1991 |
| Warminster | A36 Warminster Bypass | 1992 |
| Witney | A40 at Ducklington Interchange | 1993 |
| Blue Bell Hill | A229 between the M20 and the M2 | 1993 |
| Pevensey | A27 at Pevensey Roundabout | 1993 |
| Crossbush | A27 at Crossbush Interchange | 1994 |
| Monkton | A77 at Dutch House Roundabout | 1994 |
| Thame | A418 Thame Bypass | 1995 |
| Shrewsbury | A5/A49 at Bayston Hill Roundabout | 1995 |
| Kettering | A14 between J8 and J9 | 1996 |
| Glenshane | A6 Glenshane Road | 24 July 1998 |
| Bellshill | A725 at Bellziehill Junction | 1998 |
| Tot Hill | A34 at Tot Hill Junction | 1998 |
| Maresfield | A22 at Black Down Roundabout | 1998 |
| Four Pools | A46 Evesham Bypass | 1998 |
| Broxden | M90/A9 at Broxden Roundabout | 2000 |
| Cambridge | A14 at J28 | 1 December 2000 |
| Rheged | A66 at Slapstones Roundabout | 2000 |
| Farnham | A31 Farnham Bypass | 2001 |
| Raunds | A45 between Rushden and Peterborough | 2001 |
| Derby | A50 between J1 and J2 | 2001 |
| Petersfield | A3 at Berelands Interchange | 2002 |
| Cirencester | A417 at Cirencester | 2002 |
| Polegate | A27/A22 at Cop Hall Roundabout | 2005 |
| Tunbridge Wells | A21 at Blue Boys Roundabout | 2006 |
| Leicester North | A46 at Wanlip Roundabout | 24 June 2008 |
| Derby with Burton | A38 at Toyota Island and A50 at J4 | 29 July 2008 |
| Uttoxeter | A50 at Derby Road Roundabout | 2011 |
| Cornwall | A30 at Victoria Interchange | from 24 June 2014 |
| Fairfield | A16 at Fairfield Roundabout | 1 November 2014 |
| Templepatrick | M2 between J4 and J5 | 2015 |
| Monmouth | A40 between Newport and Monmouth | 1970s (original) rebuilt and reopened on 16 March 2016 and 21 May 2016 |
| Poppleton | A1237 York Ring Road | 2016 |
| Ashington | A24 at Billingshurst Road Junction | 2016 |
| Lisburn south-westbound | M1 between J3 and J6 | 2016 |
| Lisburn north-eastbound | M1 between J3 and J6 | 2017 |
| Spalding | A16 at Spalding | 2017 |
| Rothwell Truckstop | A14 at J3 | April 2019 |
| Seven Bridges | A419 between Cirencester and Swindon | 9 December 2020 |
| Newark | A1 at Balderton Interchange | 1 March 2023 |
| Thirsk | A19 York Road | 2023 |
Specific Dates in Date Order
The following service areas are the ones we have an exact opening date for.
Note that this is more complicated than you'd think. Most service areas are opened in stages to get the money coming in before the building is finished. Many have a 'dummy run' where they quietly open so they can iron out any issues. Finally, there's then the official opening date, where the press are invited.
As we search our records, we find these dates have been mixed up. We're only interested in the date the main building opened, and have marked any entries where we think it might be wrong.
| Services | Opened |
| Birch (westbound restaurant) | 1 January 1973 |
| Heston (eastbound restaurant) | 4 January 1968 (ceremony held the day before) |
| Folkestone | 9 January 2008 |
| Peterborough | 15 January 2001 |
| Corley | 17 January 1972 |
| Baldock | 22 January 2001 |
| Newark (Winthorpe) | from 28 January 1991 |
| Forton (forecourts) | 29 January 1965 |
| Ferrybridge | from 2 February 1985 |
| Leigh Delamere (forecourts) | from 3 February 1972 |
| Leicester Forest East | 15 February 1966 |
| Heston (forecourts) | 21 February 1967 |
| Newark (Fernwood) | 1 March 2023 |
| Birchanger Green | 9 March 1995 (main building) |
| Norton Canes | 9 March 2004 |
| Leigh Delamere | main building rumoured 14 March 1972 |
| Monmouth (rebuilt eastbound) | 16 March 2016 |
| Scratchwood | 17 March 1969 |
| Stirling | 17 March 1986 |
| Telford | 17 March 2003 |
| Beaconsfield | 17 March 2009 |
| Trowell | 23 March 1967 |
| Leeds Skelton Lake | from 30 March 2020 |
| Cherwell Valley | 31 March 1994 |
| Woodall | 1 April 1968 |
| Stafford northbound | 1 April 1996 |
| Annandale Water | 6 April 1995 |
| Anderton / Rivington / Bolton West / whatever | main building rumoured 8 April 1971 |
| Magor | 8 April 1992 |
| Taunton Deane (southbound building) | 15 April 1977 |
| Membury (forecourts) | rumoured 15 April 1972 |
| Talke | 15 April 1991 |
| Cardiff West | 20 April 1990 (ceremony) |
| Woolley Edge | rumoured 25 April 1972 |
| Sedgemoor southbound | rumoured 28 April 1986 |
| Rugby | 30 April 2021 |
| Gordano | 7 May 1973 |
| Gloucester (North) | 7 May 2014 |
| Killington Lake | rumoured 9 May 1972 |
| Hilton Park (first phase) | 15 May 1970 |
| Sedgemoor northbound (official) | 18 May 1987 |
| Gloucester (South) | 19 May 2015 |
| Toddington (petrol stations and cafés) | 20 May 1964 |
| Monmouth (rebuilt westbound) | 21 May 2016 |
| Hartshead Moor | from 22 May 1973 |
| Exeter | rumoured 24 May 1977 |
| Tamworth | 24 May 1990 |
| Clacket Lane (forecourts) | 24 May 1993 |
| Pease Pottage | 26 May 1988 |
| Farthing Corner | 29 May 1963 |
| Kinross | 29 May 1979 (original information centre) |
| Tebay southbound | 3 June 1993 |
| Fleet | 6 June 1973 |
| South Mimms (main building) | 24 May 1987 |
| Thurrock | 16 June 1992 (temporary facilities available earlier) |
| Gretna Green (motorway service area) | 16 June 1993 (ceremony) |
| Pont Abraham | 17 June 1983 |
| Abington | 17 June 1993 |
| Hamilton | 20 June 1975 |
| Rownhams | 21 June 1976 |
| Leicester | 24 June 2008 |
| Tebay West | 27 June 1972 |
| Bothwell | 27 June 1975 |
| Chieveley | 27 June 1986 |
| Oxford Peartree | 29 June 1964 |
| Cherwell Valley (rebuild) | 30 June 2011 |
| Southwaite | from 3 July 1972 |
| Donington Park | 8 July 1999 |
| Forton (cafés) | from 14 July 1965 |
| Oxford | 19 July 1962 |
| Strensham | 20 July 1962 |
| Clacket Lane (official opening) | 21 July 1993 |
| Frankley | 27 July 1966 |
| Charnock Richard | 29 July 1963 |
| Chester | 29 July 1998 |
| Derby with Burton | 29 July 2008 |
| Cambridge | 9 August 1991 |
| Newport Pagnell (northbound restaurant) | 15 August 1960 |
| Burtonwood | rumoured 19 August 1974 |
| Hopwood Park | 22 August 1999 |
| Wetherby | from 23 August 2008 |
| Durham | 23 August 1994 |
| Washington | 27 August 1970 |
| Harthill | 31 August 1971 |
| Cullompton | 3 September 1999 |
| Colsterworth (Granada) | 5 September 1989 |
| Aust | 9 September 1966 |
| Watford Gap (northbound restaurant) | 13 September 1960 |
| Cobham | 13 September 2012 |
| Swanwick | 26 September 1989 |
| Newport Pagnell (southbound restaurant) | 30 September 1960 |
| Watford Gap (southbound restaurant) | 1 October 1960 |
| Burton West | 23 October 1970 |
| Rothersthorpe | rumoured 24 October 1972, but this must be an error |
| Newport Pagnell (forecourts) | 2 November 1959 |
| Watford Gap (forecourts) | 2 November 1959 |
| Knutsford, Keele | 15 November 1963 |
| Heston (westbound restaurant) | 21 November 1967 |
| Cambridge | 1 December 2000 |
| Michael Wood | 12 December 1971 |
| Birch | 18 December 1972 |