Driving an electric car on a long journey is easier than ever, but choosing where to stop and charge your EV can make a big difference to the trip.
The best motorway service stations for EV charging aren't necessarily just those with the fastest chargers. If you're stopping for 20–40 minutes, you also want somewhere with good food, clean facilities, space to stretch your legs and, ideally, somewhere that doesn't feel like you're simply waiting for your battery percentage to climb.
So, whether you're planning an EV road trip, heading away for the weekend or regularly covering motorway miles, here are five of the best UK motorway service stations (according to the Lease Electric team!) for EV charging.
1. Gloucester Services – M5
Gloucester Services takes our number-one spot because it completely changes what you expect from a motorway service station.
Forget the usual line-up of fast-food chains and identikit coffee shops. Gloucester Services offers something genuinely different: a brilliant farm shop, locally sourced food, plenty of space and attractive surroundings make Gloucester Services, for many, a destination in its own right, not simply a stop along the way.
Its impact goes well beyond the motorway. Run by the Westmorland Family, the services has a strong connection to its local community, championing local producers and supporting community initiatives through the Gloucestershire Gateway Trust.
And yes, we should probably acknowledge that Lease Electric is Gloucester-based. Ironically, that means we don’t often get an excuse to stop at the services on our own doorstep. But local pride aside, Gloucester Services is exactly the kind of place we think works brilliantly for EV drivers.
- Northbound: 24 ultra-rapid charging points
- Southbound: 28 ultra-rapid charging points
- Tesla Supercharges are also available
Gloucester Services Farmshop & Kitchen
2. Tebay Services – M6
Tebay Services has become something of a motorway institution and for good reason.
Located on the M6 in Cumbria, Tebay shares the same independent, food-focused approach as Gloucester Services. Forget the predictable line-up of motorway fast food and coffee chains; here you’ll find a farm shop, locally sourced food and surroundings that make it feel more like a destination in its own right.
For EV drivers travelling between England and Scotland,or heading to and from the Lake District, Tebay is also brilliantly positioned for breaking up a longer journey.
- Northbound: 12 ultra-rapid charging points
- Southbound: 4 ultra-rapid charging points
Tebay Services Farmshop and Kitchen
3. Rugby Services – M6
Rugby Services earns its place on our list for a slightly different reason to Gloucester and Tebay, the sheer amount of EV charging available.
Located at Junction 1 of the M6, Moto Rugby is one of the strongest motorway charging stops in the country, with a huge choice of rapid charging available in one place.
And because Rugby is a single service area accessible from both directions of the M6, there’s no need to choose between separate Northbound and Southbound facilities.
There’s a good selection of places to eat, grab a coffee or pick up supplies for the rest of the journey. It might not have the farm-shop charm of Gloucester or Tebay, but when you’re travelling a long distance in an EV, having dozens of chargers available can be considerably more valuable.
Its position at the start of the M6 also makes Rugby a particularly useful charging stop for drivers travelling between the Midlands and the North, or joining the M6 from the M1.
- 36 Ultra Rapid Charging Bays
M6 Rugby Services moto EV charging point, Rugby - Zapmap
4. Leeds Skelton Lake Services – M1
Leeds Skelton Lake represents a newer generation of motorway service station and it feels very different from the traditional motorway stop.
Located at Junction 45 of the M1, its modern design, spacious interior and lakeside setting give you somewhere genuinely pleasant to spend a charging break.
Its location also makes it a useful charging stop for anyone travelling through Yorkshire, whether you're heading north towards York and the North East or south towards Sheffield and the Midlands.
Just like Rugby, Leeds Skelton Lake is a single service area at M1 Junction 45, accessible to traffic travelling in either direction.
- 16 ultra-high-power charging bays, capable of delivering speeds of up to 400kW.
Leeds Skelton Lake Services M1 (South) EV charging point, Leeds - Zapmap
5. Cobham Services – M25
Cobham Services earns its place on the list thanks to one major advantage location.
Situated between Junctions 9 and 10 of the M25, it’s perfectly positioned for EV drivers travelling around London and across the South East, particularly on longer journeys involving the M25.
It’s a large, modern service area with plenty of places to eat, grab a coffee or simply get out of the car and take a break while you charge.
Better still, Cobham is a single service area accessible from both the clockwise and anticlockwise carriageways, making it a convenient charging stop whichever direction you’re travelling.
- Cobham already offers rapid EV charging, with a new GRIDSERVE Electric Super Hub planned to deliver ultra-rapid charging speeds of up to 400kW.
Cobham Services M25 (West) EV charging point, Cobham - Zapmap
6. Exeter Services - M5
If there’s one motorway service station that demonstrates just how quickly EV charging is changing, it’s Exeter.
Located at Junction 30 of the M5, Exeter Services is perfectly positioned for drivers heading into Devon and Cornwall and its enormous charging hub makes it an obvious place to stop before continuing further into the South West.
The scale of the charging provision is what really sets Exeter apart. With GRIDSERVE, Moto Charge and Tesla charging available, there are now around 100 ultra-rapid charging bays for cars, vans and smaller commercial vehicles, alongside dedicated charging for electric HGVs.
While the car charges, the large Moto service area also gives you plenty of options for food, coffee and a break from the road.
Exeter Services M5 (North) EV charging point, Exeter - Zapmap