Where should I stop on M6 northbound as Knutsford Services were disgusting

[Mydoghealsmyheart]

I’m due to drive to Lake District and need to find somewhere nice to stop for a coffee and toilet break. Last time I did the journey, the services at Knutsford were appalling for lots of reasons. Can anyone recommend somewhere we can stop instead for a little pit stop? Thanks.

Yes - there’s only one service station on the M6 Toll and you can’t miss it - it’s just before the toll plaza driving north.

Absolutely not, and Aldi is next door if you want to do a cheaper shop.

I’m not sure you’re thinking of the same place as me.

Yes it is. I think it's the only one on the toll section.

It used to be our usual stop but it’s useless now we have an electric car. Rubbish number of chargers, which are slow too. We had to dash for the loo and onto the next services to charge as we’d assumed they’d have a good charger provision. Don’t stop there now.

maybe controversial opinion! I moved to Cumbria. Like a couple of pp, don’t like tebay. Still miss Waitrose! Don’t shop at Booths much. Too small a selection to be able to do a full supermarket shop in. The service can be dreadfully slow in both the shop and cafe. Do love their bags though!

I'm just here to say that I actually have stopped off at Newton-le-Willows when driving north on the M6, and it worked perfectly for that. I normally search google maps for market towns just over halfway to my destination, so we can have lunch, walk the dog, and let the kids run around. In Newton, we had a really nice lunch at the Pied Bull (which had good baby changing), then went for a walk round the park where there was quite a good playground.

The Swan at Winwick, just off the M6/M62 intersection is quite a nice pub too. Or at least it was last time I went which is admittedly quite a few years ago now.

We travel on the M6 regularly; and occasionally go all the way to Oban on holiday. While I agree Tebay is the best; you are nearly there for the Lake District!

I second Rugby and Norton Canes as the next best service stations! Knutsford, the town is a nice place - plenty of cafes and restaurants. There’s a nice pub/restaurant outside of it, called The Dun Cow, but often it’s full. There’s also The Church Inn at Mobberley. Neither are cheap pub grub though.

Use this website to find the mid point between home and your destination and then plan your stop accordingly. https://www.whatshalfway.com/

We often use Sandbach services when travelling from Bristol to the Oban.

It’s not too much of a detour but you could do the m6 - m56 (1 junction) jct 10 and then go to the hollies farm shop at Stretton https://www.theholliesfarmshop.co.uk/farm-shops/farm-shop-lower-stretton/?utm_source=GMBListing&utm_medium=organic
or the stretton fox

Tebay 👏🏼

Thank you, this website will definitely come in handy for road trips.

Stafford isn’t too bad. Not Lancaster, it’s awful and the toilets stink. As others have said, Tebay is definitely the best, but you’ll be practically in the Lake District by then.

Norton Canes on the M6 toll is also good if it’s not too far south for you. It’s usually fairly quiet compared to other services.