I Visited the M5’s Worst Motorway Service Station—And Was Shocked by the Empty Car Park

YouTuber and travel vlogger David Burnip, known as Wandering Turnip, recently set out to investigate one of the UK’s most disliked motorway service stations, located just off the M5 near Bridgwater. This particular stop has earned a notorious reputation, with scathing reviews from visitors describing it as “one of the worst” places to pause on a long drive.

Online comments paint a bleak picture: “Don’t do it to yourself, don’t stop here,” warns one. Another echoes the sentiment: “Absolutely the worst services it’s been my misfortune to visit.” Regularly voted among the worst in the country, the Bridgwater service station seemed destined for disappointment.

Curious to see if the negative buzz was justified, David ventured to the site himself. His first impression was that of a “ghost town”—a nearly deserted service station with minimal amenities. What caught him off guard, however, was the massive, almost eerily empty car park that dwarf the tiny station building.

He remarked, “The strangest thing about Bridgwater is how small the service area is inside, yet the car park is huge—like something out of a zombie movie. Not a single car in sight.” He found it baffling that such an enormous parking space was built for what is, by all accounts, a very small and rarely busy service stop. Though there is a Travelodge nearby, David doubts the hotel’s popularity justifies the oversized lot.

With 146,000 subscribers, David’s channel often features travel across the UK, spotlighting both the best and worst roadside experiences. His previous video delved into the worst motorway services in the north, where he faced similar frustrations with cramped parking and lackluster food options. This included a small selection dominated by a Costa and Burger King, which he described as “fatty burgers and bad coffee”—a less than flattering representation of British motorway tastes.

Despite its shortcomings, the Bridgwater station’s ghostly atmosphere and odd car park size paint an intriguing picture of neglected infrastructure and mismatched planning. David’s visit uncovers just how out of sync some service stations can be with their surroundings and visitor needs.