A1M North- best services?
A1M North- best services?
Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

77 months

Friday 5th July 2019
quotequote all
Are there any gems we should stop at, vs sex shops and crappy typical services? It’s me and my 9 year old, so really no sex shops (this time) thanks!

We’re travelling from SE London to Harrogate, A1M most of the way.

mawallace

184 posts

96 months

Friday 5th July 2019
quotequote all
I stop at Grantham services - that's okay

Peterbrough services are great as well

Riley Blue

22,879 posts

249 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
Stop off at one of the OK Diners, there are two northbound on the A1: https://okdiners.com

dontlookdown

2,368 posts

116 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
For the last 20 yrs I have done the same journey 3-4 times a year to see family. M11/A1 is the way to do it from SE London. It can be a bit of a marathon when the traffic is bad.

Services on the A1 have got pretty crap now most of the Little Chefs and big pub/hotels have shut. Not many hidden gems unless you are prepared to detour off the motorway and into the surrounding country. As Riley Blue says the 2 OK Diners are prob your best shout northbound. The most northerly one is at Newark so ca 90mins from Harrogate if you can hang on that long.

There is a decent truckstop southbound for the return journey. Name escapes me but it's at the junction for the Nene Valley railway.

Enjoy the trip!

leyorkie

1,776 posts

199 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
I use the cafes at the Downtown shopping at Newark. Nothing like a services nice facilities and shopping for HWMBO.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

77 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
I use the cafes at the Downtown shopping at Newark. Nothing like a services nice facilities and shopping for HWMBO.
Gonerby Moor (Grantham North).

Trevor555

5,071 posts

107 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
dontlookdown said:
There is a decent truckstop southbound for the return journey. Name escapes me but it's at the junction for the Nene Valley railway.

Enjoy the trip!
Stibbington Diner PE8 6LR

Riley Blue

22,879 posts

249 months

Monday 8th July 2019
quotequote all
dontlookdown said:
Services on the A1 have got pretty crap now most of the Little Chefs and big pub/hotels have shut. Not many hidden gems unless you are prepared to detour off the motorway and into the surrounding country. As Riley Blue says the 2 OK Diners are prob your best shout northbound. The most northerly one is at Newark so ca 90mins from Harrogate if you can hang on that long.
!
We stopped off at the OK Diner near Stamford for the first time last night and suggest you carry on to the Newark one...

Mr Tidy

29,282 posts

150 months

Tuesday 9th July 2019
quotequote all
I used the Baldock services last month.

It's operated by Moto, so has the usual Starbucks, KFC, Greggs, etc. but it's clean, smart and does the job.

Red Devil

13,426 posts

231 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
dontlookdown said:
Services on the A1 have got pretty crap now most of the Little Chefs and big pub/hotels have shut. Not many hidden gems unless you are prepared to detour off the motorway and into the surrounding country. As Riley Blue says the 2 OK Diners are prob your best shout northbound. The most northerly one is at Newark so ca 90mins from Harrogate if you can hang on that long.
!
We stopped off at the OK Diner near Stamford for the first time last night and suggest you carry on to the Newark one...
The latter was indeed OK last time I used it. smile Different vibe from the usual motorway services offerings.
It was rammed so we had to wait a while for a table: could be a good idea to avoid the peak breakfast/lunch hours if possible.

DMN

3,040 posts

162 months

Wednesday 10th July 2019
quotequote all
Here you go OP, knock one yourself out:

http://www.matt-blake.co.uk/up-the-a1-how-the-grea...