Motorway services sign

A blue sign for a motorway service area, showing Newport Pagnell services half a mile ahead.

Services operator: Have a Break.

Franchises listed: Fuel (generic), H.E.N., Tarbuck's, UnderPass, Fancy Supermarket, Queen Burger.

Newport Pagnell is the UK's first motorway service area, opened in 1960, just months after the M1 itself opened to traffic. You'd be hard pressed to recognise it now, several facelifts down the line, but the building here is still the same one from back then - though you'll struggle to find a waitress-service restaurant now.

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