Junction 23

The intersection with the A1 / A1M there are motorway services here and a nearby village. The roundabout has an unjustified reputation for being confusuing, in fact it is well signposted although negotiating it can be slow at busy times as peak flows are well over capacity. For both the services and South Mimms village just stay in the lane marked "Services". The services are operated by Welcome Break with the usual food concessions and a small Waitrose which is very handy for late night shopping, especially on a Sunday. Electric vehicle charging is available from both Ecotricity and Tesla.

December 2023 - Tesla chargers are often busy with queues. Construction has started on a new bank of chargers.

The cashpoints charge a fee but see below. An unusal feature is a laundrette located in the coach park just outside the door to the main building.

The filling station is expensive (see Juntion 22 for an alternative) but has an M&S food outlet and a free cashpoint. I have been told that the garage is a totally separate property and is not managed by Welcome Break.

The services have a drive through Starbucks near the exit. Just outside the exit from the main services approaching the filling station there is an area outside of the services normally occupied by a tea stall where a cup of tea and a bacon roll will cost less than a fancy coffee from the drive through. According to the sign displayed (December 2023)opening hours are 06:00 to 14:00 Monday to Friday. There are hotels in the main services and through the separate lorry services. For South Mimms village go through the lorry services and then turn left over the A1M. There are two public houses offering meals and a petrol station. I have sampled the White Hart which serves decent inexpensive meals, the former petrol station in the village is now a car wash. 

NOTE September 2022 - the White Hart has been closed with concrete blocks across the car park since at least February. I don't know if this is a permanent closure but so far there is no activity suggesting redevelopment.
December 2023 - Still closed with no sign of activity

 

 From the village you can continue anti-clockwise parallel to the motorway on the B556 and rejoin at junction 22. This is also a good route out of the services at peak times.