Jump to Content | Accessibility

Something not working properly? Our hosts are currently conducting essential maintenance, any problems should hopefully be fixed by tomorrow.

------------------
Content:

Cherwell Valley

MSO Home - Services List - Cherwell Valley

Moto/Costa & M&S services, M40 at J10

Rate this service area: Current rating: Your rating:    © hscripts.com

Road: M40 (also accessible to traffic on the A43 and the B430)
Junction: J10
Operator: Moto (signposted as Costa and M&S)
Location: Oxfordshire OX27 7RD
Telephone: 01869 346060
Signed from the motorway? Yes
Previous operators: Granada
Previous names: none
Services type: Singe site located at a junction.

Official website: Visit Cherwell Valley/Moto's official website

A large service area with many facilities, including a field round the back for dogs and children. The main problem with it is that the junction it's off is very busy and very complex.

Choose a section: Main Page | Location, Map & Directions

Facilities:

General: Cash Machine, Pay Phones, Local Information, Picnic Tables, Children's Play Area, Field, Showers
Food/Drink: Caffè Ritazza, Eat & Drink Company, Burger King, Upper Crust, Costa Coffee
Shopping: WH Smith, Scoop, Thorntons, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, T2, Ladbrokes
Fuel: Esso with pumps for Unleaded, Super Unleaded and Diesel
Motel: Travelodge

Back to Top

Photos:

Click on a photo to view the full size. If you have one to add, contact me. It's never too late to get your name in the limelight.

	The usual queues at M40 J10, this sets the tone for trying to access the services. When I took this photo, the time was about 4pm and it took 20 minutes to get there. Photo taken in 2006.
	The front of the services, looking rather like a supermarket. The Caffè Ritazza (now Costa Coffee) is on the other side of the wall. Photo taken in 2007.
	The food-themed doorway. For some reason I get the impression that the M&S is open from 7 'til 10. Photo taken in 2007.
	Standing in the doorway, where you can see the Marks and Spencers to the left. We're off on a hunt to the toilets! Photo taken in 2006.
	The centre of the services, and we still haven't found them. Photo taken in 2006.
	One of the corridors, and the toilets are round the corner at the end. Of course they're well signed, but this shows just how far they are. Photo taken in 2006.
	The restaurant. Photo taken in 2006.
	The "newly extended" Travelodge. Photo taken in 2007.
	The outdoor eating area. Photo taken in 2007.
	Hidden round the back of the services is this field. When I visited, it had flooded. Photo taken in 2007.

Back to Top

Trivia:

Cherwell Valley is a large service area and it's the first 'proper' one for traffic coming from the South Coast on the A34. Between the opening of the M40 in 1990 and the opening of the services in 1994, it was possible to drive from Dover to Telford (239 motorway miles) without passing any services.

Its biggest flaw is the junction it's on, which was recently remodelled following the upgrade of the A43. The new junction has five single-lane sliproads, four major exits and three tight roundabouts. One of the roundabouts causes a conflict between traffic heading from the M40 north to the A43 and traffic heading from the A43 to the M40 south, causing queues even outside rush hour. Even if you don't need a break when you see signs for the services, you will when you get there.

The services were one of the first to gain a Marks and Spencer store, which was recently extended along with the Travelodge to keep up with demand. Despite this, Moto tried to claim compensation off the Highways Agency for a loss of traffic due to the roadworks and the new junction layout. Moto lost the case.

The services were considered for six years, and they finally opened in March 1994 costing £20m and taking up 56 acres of land.

Back to Top

Survey results:

In 2006 the services won a five star loo award and were graded 4/5 by Holiday Which?.

Back to Top

Parking Prices:

Back to Top

Alternatives:

• Warwick Welcome Break services on the M40, 22 miles to the north.
• Tamworth Moto services on the M42, 58 miles to the north.
• Oxford Welcome Break services on the M40, 20 miles to the south.
• Chieveley Moto/Costa M&S services on the A34, 44 miles to the south.
• Northampton RoadChef services on the A43, 22 miles to the east.
• Markfield Moto services on the M1, 63 miles to the east.
• Family Farm services on the A34, 7 miles to the south.

Back to Top

Comments and Reviews:	Showing the most recent responses only: for the full thread and the ability to edit your own posts, you need to view the topic in the forums.
Author: Message: Wack0 Have been there a few times and had no problem with the junction -- in fact I have never had any problem with the junction ! Have been there a few times and had no problem with the junction -- in fact I have never had any problem with the junction ! Posted: 28 Dec 2008, 17:30 Vera I found the junction a pain but bearable. The services were clean as were the toilets. The food was expensive as always but nice to eat. They are probably one of the most well-placed services on the motorway network with the M40 north to Birmingham, M40 south to London, A34 south to Winchester and the South Coast and the A43 north to Northampton and the M1. For all this traffic visiting, I think the services are very well kept. I found the junction a pain but bearable. The services were clean as were the toilets. The food was expensive as always but nice to eat. They are probably one of the most well-placed services on the motorway network with the M40 north to Birmingham, M40 south to London, A34 south to Winchester and the South Coast and the A43 north to Northampton and the M1. For all this traffic visiting, I think the services are very well kept. Posted: 13 Dec 2008, 15:27 davehammer Visited last Friday on the way to Birmingham and I was generally impressed, though a member of staff barged past me as I was about to give my order in the self service and ordered herself some lunch. Getting into the place is a complete pain as the roundabout system is total lunacy. Visited last Friday on the way to Birmingham and I was generally impressed, though a member of staff barged past me as I was about to give my order in the self service and ordered herself some lunch. Getting into the place is a complete pain as the roundabout system is total lunacy. Posted: 19 Nov 2008, 00:01 Anonymous ON RECENT VISIT AFTER A LONG AND ARDUOUS 15 HR SHIFT AS A HGV DRIVER I FOUND 2 THINGS, YES THEY ARE CLEAN AND WELL PRESENTED...HOWEVER.....IT TOOK OVER AN HR TO BE SERVED WITH MY PARKING TICKET AND VOUCHER, ONLY TO USE IT IN BURGER KING, AND BE SERVED BY SOME ADOLESCENT CHILDREN WHO WERE MORE BOTHERED ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOIN AT WEEKEND, OH AND YES MY BURGER WAS?YOU GUESSED IT STONE COLD ON RECENT VISIT AFTER A LONG AND ARDUOUS 15 HR SHIFT AS A HGV DRIVER I FOUND 2 THINGS, YES THEY ARE CLEAN AND WELL PRESENTED...HOWEVER.....IT TOOK OVER AN HR TO BE SERVED WITH MY PARKING TICKET AND VOUCHER, ONLY TO USE IT IN BURGER KING, AND BE SERVED BY SOME ADOLESCENT CHILDREN WHO WERE MORE BOTHERED ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOIN AT WEEKEND, OH AND YES MY BURGER WAS?YOU GUESSED IT STONE COLD Posted: 18 Nov 2008, 20:02 MSAPerson Whenever I've been here, they're clean, welcoming and nice to visit in general. Since they are placed at such a strategic position, of course they will be busy, and it's not the service's fault that the junction they lie on is poorly laid out. Whenever I've been here, they're clean, welcoming and nice to visit in general. Since they are placed at such a strategic position, of course they will be busy, and it's not the service's fault that the junction they lie on is poorly laid out. Posted: 06 Sep 2008, 23:26 MatthewB6323 To my surprise, when heading down the M40 southbound this evening I saw that the services are now branded on the main services facilities signs as 'Costa M&S'. They remain 'Moto M&S' on the distances list, and while one Moto sign has been taken down from the entrance to the services, the main one remains at the door. It seems that Moto might be following RoadChef's lead in experimenting with playing down their own brand in favour of their main licenses. To my surprise, when heading down the M40 southbound this evening I saw that the services are now branded on the main services facilities signs as 'Costa M&S'. They remain 'Moto M&S' on the distances list, and while one Moto sign has been taken down from the entrance to the services, the main one remains at the door. It seems that Moto might be following RoadChef's lead in experimenting with playing down their own brand in favour of their main licenses. Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 23:50 johnfromlondon Yes, don't even try this one. There's nothing wrong with the services, it's that horrid junction. Yes, don't even try this one. There's nothing wrong with the services, it's that horrid junction. Posted: 16 Feb 2007, 19:41 Mike B. The services are fine, but it is too hard to access them. The junction is full of traffic and roundabouts. The services are fine, but it is too hard to access them. The junction is full of traffic and roundabouts. Posted: 07 Feb 2007, 16:34 Admin Post your comments and reviews on Cherwell Valley here, or click here to go back to the services list. Post your comments and reviews on Cherwell Valley here, or click [url=http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/services/cherwell/]here[/url] to go back to the services list. Posted: 10 Sep 2005, 07:42
Showing the most recent responses only: for the full thread and the ability to edit your own posts, you need to view the topic in the forums.

Main Page | Location, Map & Directions

With thanks to the user 'MatthewB6323' for the information used on this page.

Site Map | Contact | Back to top ^

This site is not affiliated with any motorway service area or operator.
All content and images © 2004-2009 Motorway Services Online unless stated otherwise. You may copy information from the site, provided you stick to the conditions stated in the disclaimer.