I holidayed at a service station – it was the most refreshing week of my year

A childhood fascination, curiosity and a hectic year lead to an unconventional escape beside the M1 Spending a week at a service station off the M1 motorway[1] probably isn't everyone's idea of a break. But after a hectic year, packed with a lot of travel, I found the fuss-free convenience to be a surprisingly relaxing escape.

I'd stopped at Moto Donington Park[2] services a few times when flying from nearby East Midlands Airport. Feeling particularly tired one day, I wondered what staying there would be like. Ranked as the country's second-best services in a 2022 survey by watchdog Transport Focus - with an overall satisfaction rating of 99 per cent - Moto Donington Park offered a quiet sanctuary where I could unwind after a year of work assignments that had taken me from rural California to Ukraine.

When I told my parents about my plan, they weren't surprised. As a child, I would often ask them what it would be like to live in one of these so-called "non-places" as we passed on our way to somewhere more interesting. So, I booked myself a room at the Travelodge.

For a week. Pulling into Moto Donington Park in December, after bumping along motorway potholes, I checked into my no-frills, but perfectly comfortable, room.

Moto Donington Park is just off the M1 in the Midlands (Photo: Finbarr Toesland)

I managed to pay just under GBP40 a night, but with rooms starting as low as GBP25, it's a solid budget option. The view from the window was of well manicured shrubs, skeletal trees and airport buildings, and the unmistakable sight of countless parked heavy goods vehicles.

Filled with fast food outlets like KFC[3] and Burger King[4], as well as Pret A Manger[5], Greggs[6] and the West Cornwall Pasty Company, the cavernous atrium offered a good deal of options when I got hungry. I ordered an oat cappuccino (GBP4.35) and chicken wrap (GBP6.95) from Pret, noting that prices were at a premium, and popped over to the atrium to enjoy. Thanks to long opening hours - Costa Coffee is open 24 hours - I was able to get some work done whenever I felt the urge to pop down to one of the booths and order a hot drink.

As a night owl, this was one of the most productive places I've worked from, with no worrying about closing times. With modern booths fitted with wireless charging pads, comfortable seats and plug sockets, it wasn't surprising to see quite a few people working on their laptops with a cup of coffee to hand. It felt more like a smart co-working space than the stereotypical motorway service station.

The cosy seating booths overlook the greenery outside (Photo: Finbarr Toesland)

Taking a break from screen time, I wandered outside for some fresh air.

While sparse, with most of the trees having shed their leaves, the recreation space was unexpectedly large, with a big sign recognising the area as a gateway to the National Forest. Dotted with picnic tables, the area felt surprisingly rural and didn't feel like being seconds away from the UK's first urban motorway. I spotted a hare and a couple of little birds, one of which managed to make its way into Burger King later on.

At other times, I revelled in people watching from the walkways high above the dining area, or while working in the atrium: truck drivers stopping for a break, families pausing for food on long journeys, business travellers making a pitstop before meetings. A similar mix of people stayed at the hotel, alongside some visitors sleeping over before early flights at East Midlands Airport. I slept unusually well, knowing I had no time pressures or rush to do anything the next day.

I quickly got into a routine of dropping down for breakfast at Costa or Pret, getting some work done, going for a stroll around the grounds, and having much-needed lie-ins. While not particularly exciting, the food offering didn't get boring, partially due to my love of Pret sandwiches[7]. All-in, my unorthodox retreat cost me around GBP250 (plus an extra GBP1 for a bouncy ball from a toy vending machine, for nostalgia's sake).

As I left the service station after a week and returned to the real world, I was pleased that my curiosity had got the better of me. The slower pace, flexibility to do what I wanted, when I wanted, gave me a tangible sense of freedom and relaxation, without the pressure of an itinerary. For most people, a motorway service station is functional but forgettable.

But after an intense year, this break gave me a chance to decompress and leave re-energised.

References

1. ^ motorway (inews.co.uk)
2. ^ Moto Donington Park (moto-way.com)
3. ^ KFC (inews.co.uk)
4. ^ Burger King (inews.co.uk)
5. ^ Pret A Manger (inews.co.uk)
6. ^ Greggs (inews.co.uk)
7. ^ Pret sandwiches (inews.co.uk)