The M25 Motorway, or to give it its official name the London Orbital Motorway, is the road which circles Greater London.
It is one of Europe’s busiest roads with the section between Junction 13 and 14 for the M4 recording over 200,000 daily journeys. It is a road that is never truly quiet and travelling on it late at night or early in the morning surprises users with the volume of other vehicles on it at the same time. When travelling at peak times it can resemble a car park and the frustrations that users experience on it are summed up in Chris Rea’s 1989 classic “The Road to Hell”
M25 Map
The M25 is 117 miles long. Starting on the southside of the Dartford crossing in Kent on the south bank of the Thames and going clockwise through Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex before technically finishing on the north side of the Dartford Crossing.
Click here for a Google Map of the M25 with Junctions, Services and nearby Attractions
M25 Services
There are only 4 Service stations on the M25 motorway with a very uneven spread meaning there are really none on the west sides of the road. Though Heston services on the M4 is not far from the M25
Cobham services was opened in 2012 to reduce the 60 mile plus gap between South Mimms Services and Clackett Lane services which faced travellers going from the M1 round to Gatwick.
M25 Services Map
Click here for a Map of the M25 Service stations
M25 Junctions
There are 31 numbered junctions on the M25 with several A/B junctions meaning there are actually 33 in total. The notable junctions for interchange with other motorways are
- Junction 2 – Darenth for the M2 Motorway
- Junction 12 the Thorpe interchange for the M3 Motorway
- Junction 14 for the M4 Motorway
- Junction 21A for the M1 Motorway
Off Motorway stops near the M25
When on the M25 there’s a wide range of places you could stop as an alternative to Service stations and the fact that you are often turning into Greater London you are heading towards one of the worlds great cities meaning you are never short of options. However we’ll focus on some options away from the 4 service stations
M25 Junction 26 Epping
From the junction you can either head towards Theydon Bois or Waltham Forest. Waltham Forest has a Tesco with Petrol station and the Waltham Abbey Gerdens are close by if you need to stretch your legs. If you head toward Theydon Bois on the here is a Shell Garage and a Miller and Carter Steakhouse / Shell Garage
M25 Junction 18 or 17 Chorleywood or Maple Cross
Chorleywood has a large common which is perfect to stop and stretch your legs. There is an Esso Petrol station within ½ mile of junction 18 and a range of Pubs. Chorleywood highstreet has a good selection of shops and cafes
M25 Junction 13 Egham
On the roundabout at Junction 13 there is an Esso garage (24hrs) and a Burger King (Closes 11pm). To stretch your legs head to the Runnymede Pleasure Ground where there is a cafe and a National Trust property https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/runnymede-and-ankerwycke
M25 Junction 8 Reigate
From the Roundabout at Junction 8 take the A217 towards Reigate. There is an Esso Garage on the edge of reigate just over a mile away. These is a National Trust property at Reigate Hill with a 19th century fort – and cafe!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/reigate-hill-and-gatton-park