'I stopped at the "best motorway services in the UK" and we didn't want to leave'

Stopping off at a motorway service station is one of the biggest lotteries in life isn't it? More often than not you don't necessarily choose the one you want to go to, it's more a case of chancing your luck at the nearest available stop off when your bladder calls.

Now that I have two kids in tow for most of my long journeys or days out in the car, there's also the added problem of hoping the services we stop at will cater for their needs too. By that I mean somewhere with a bit of space for them to run around in and let off steam before the journey continues.

Clean toilets with no queue and a decent range of food and drink options is also up there on the wishlist. But most of the time my motorway service stop offs end in disappointment and frustration.

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Whenever I see studies and polls on the best service stations in the UK it tends to be Tebay on the M6 that grabs the headlines. That venue combines a farm shop and stunning views and is great if you're heading north for a trip up to the Lakes.

But what if you're heading south? Well, I was in for a treat when I was heading away for half term and discovered the joys of Rugby Services at the other end of the M6 in Warwickshire.

My sister had tipped me off about this place, as she had stopped off at the services with her dog and found it to be very dog friendly. There's a dedicated dog walking area and there are even food and water bowls available for pooches outside.

I admit I'd not heard much talk about this service station before, but I've since discovered that this VERY new services (completed in 2021) has won the title of Best Motorway Service Station in the UK for two years