4/5 Tom M. 2 months ago on Google • 53 reviews New
Cobham,
a
new,
yet
well
known
motorway
services
on
the
M25
(circular
car
park
around
London).
It
opened
in
2012
and
is
described
as
the
busiest
motorway
services
in
the
UK.
Stopping
at
lunch
time
the
day
before
Xmas
eve,
it
wasn’t
as
horrifically
busy
as
I
expected.
It
was
packed,
but
I’ve
seen
Cobham
busier
during
the
summer
holidays.
Despite
this,
I’ve
always
liked
stopping
here
as
Cobham
hosts
a
wide
range
of
food
outlets
and
shops
(and
a
business
lounge)
all
in
one
modern,
well
designed
building.
Cobham
is
situated
between
J9
(Leatherhead)
and
J10
for
the
A3
and
is
located
along
the
main
route
between
South-East
London
to
Cornwall.
Cobham
is
an
online
site
(situated
directly
next
to
the
motorway
without
the
requirement
to
leave
at
a
junction)
however
it’s
only
one
building.
Westbound
traffic
can
access
Cobham
directly
from
the
M25
West,
but
Eastbound
traffic
will
leave
the
M25
East
and
drive
through
a
tunnel
taking
you
to
the
services.
It’s
slightly
more
difficult
accessing
Cobham
from
Eastbound,
but
the
tunnel
only
provides
access
to
the
services
so
you
can’t
go
wrong.
I
think
it’s
a
sensible
way
of
taking
motorists
across
the
other
side
of
the
motorway.
Cobham
consists
of
980
car
parking
spaces
(according
to
Motorway
Services
Online)
as
well
as
a
designated
area
for
HGVs
to
park
and
plenty
of
parking
for
caravans
and
coaches.
We
have
a
36-pump
Shell
garage
(which
is
said
to
be
one
of
the
largest
filling
stations
in
Europe)
with
a
Shell
Select
shop
and
Costa
Express.
It’s
a
useful
facility
for
Cobham
and
enables
drivers
to
fill
up,
but
the
prices
are
usually
expensive,
especially
given
the
high
footfall.
There
are
no
drive
thru
coffee
shops
at
Cobham,
however
Welcome
Break
are
said
to
be
constructing
a
Starbucks
Drive
Thru,
however
this
construction
has
not
yet
taken
place.
There
is
a
Ramada
budget
motel
at
Cobham,
offering
customers
an
overnight
stay
if
required.
Pretty
sure
Ramada
offer
breakfasts
as
well
to
customers
of
the
motel.
Around
the
back
of
the
amenity
building
is
a
dog
walking
area.
There
is
also
seating
outside
the
entrance
to
the
amenity
building.
Cobham
contains
Gridserve
EV
chargers
for
electric
vehicles,
which
basically
every
service
station
has
now.
We
also
have
a
Revolution
Laundry
at
the
side
of
the
amenity
building,
useful
to
those
who
are
travelling
long
distance/travelling
for
long
periods
of
time.
The
exterior
of
the
amenity
building
appears
engaging
and
welcoming
for
customers,
with
a
large
glass
frontage.
The
amenity
building,
although
busy,
remains
tidy
and
well
maintained.
The
interior
is
why
I
love
stopping
at
Cobham.
It’s
extremely
spacious
and
can
happily
accommodate
the
extremely
high
numbers
of
customers
it
receives.
Its
brightly
lit,
clean
and
aesthetically
pleasing.
To
the
right
of
the
entrance
is
a
full
Nando’s
restaurant
with
its
own
seating,
and
next
to
the
motel
is
a
full
Pizza
Express
restaurant,
with
seating
of
its
own.
The
food
court
consists
of
the
following
brands:
Chopstix
Noodle
Bar,
West
Cornwall
Pasty
(with
Krispy
Kreme
cabinet),
Tapori
Curry
Bar,
KFC,
Greggs,
McDonald’s,
LEON
and
a
two-storey
Starbucks
lounge.
Wide
range
of
food
outlets
available
(almost
too
many
to
choose
from
lol)
with
a
central
seating
area.
Seating
at
Cobham
can
be
limited
especially
when
the
site
is
busy
such
as
today,
however
I
got
seated
nicely.
I
had
a
KFC,
which
was
made
quickly
and
tasted
good.
Shops
at
Cobham
include
a
WHSmith,
M&S
Simply
Food
and
TopGift
accessories
store.
Upstairs
is
a
large
Regus
Express
Business
lounge,
making
Cobham
services
useful
for
business
needs
whilst
travelling.
Toilet
facilities
are
situated
at
the
back
of
the
amenity
building,
so
customers
walk
past
all
the
food/shops
the
site
has
to
offer
before
reaching
them,
which
is
inconvenient
if
you
desperately
need
to
go.
The
toilets
themselves
are
everything
needed
at
a
motorway
services:
clean,
large
(16
cubicles,
18
basins
and
20
urinal
bowls
with
dividers)
and
modern.
There
is
also
a
Baby
Changing
WC
and
a
Changing
Places
facility
for
physically
disabled
travellers,
which
is
vital
at
a
services.