London Gateway Services (M1 J2–J4)
London Gateway is the first service area on the M1 heading north out of London, sitting between Junction 2 and Junction 4 at Mill Hill. It is run by Welcome Break, and it opened in 1969 under its original name, Scratchwood.
One site, both directions — and it is built on a junction that was never finished
Unlike most M1 services there is only one site here, reached from either carriageway, so there is no wrong side to pull in on and no footbridge to find. It stands on land set aside for a Junction 3 that was never built — a planned M1 to A1 link that was dropped, which is why the M1 jumps from Junction 2 to Junction 4.
Search all the latest M1 traffic news
Latest accident or incident on the M1
The most recent accident or incident on the M1 that we are aware of.
Latest active roadworks on the M1
Roadworks live on the M1 right now.
M1 northbound Jct 10 to Jct 11 hard shoulder closure (MP 49/4 to 49/6)
05:05 (5:05am)15 Oct 2026reported 12 min ago
- Location
- M1 northbound within J10
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Hard shoulder closed
- Reason
- Construction work
- Schedule
- 02:35 (2:35am) Thu 23 July 2026 → 05:00 (5am) Sat 24 Oct 2026
+ 5 more active roadworks - search all M1 traffic news →
Latest planned roadworks on the M1
The next planned roadworks scheduled on the M1.
M1 Jct 25 exit slip road lane closure southbound
05:05 (5:05am)15 Oct 2026reported 12 min ago
- Location
- M1 southbound between J26 and J25
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Slip road closed
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 20:00 (8pm) Wed 14 Oct 2026 → 06:00 (6am) Thu 15 Oct 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
+ 41 more planned roadworks - search all M1 traffic news →
Road closed — on the overhead signs now
National Highways’ overhead signs are showing a road closure, as at 05:17 (5:17am) Thu 15 Oct 2026.
M1 J25-J26 CLOSED
Time now: Thursday, 15 October 2026, 05:17 (5:17am)04:33 (4:33am)15 Oct 2026set 43 min ago✓ Checked by us 05:17 (5:17am)
M1 J25-J26
CLOSEDOverhead Message
WhereM42 northbound, at J9 · on 1 signAlso onAlso showing on M42 signsSinceSet 04:33 (4:33am) Thu 15 Oct 2026We check these overhead signs at least every five minutes, but we can't guarantee a sign is still current if an incident or issue has been cleared and the sign has not been updated yet. Signs and news can each carry something the other does not - check both before you travel.
Search all the latest M1 traffic news
Updated 05:17 (5:17am) Thu 15 Oct 2026
Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds.
What is at London Gateway Services
- Food and drink: Burger King, Subway, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme
- Shops: Waitrose & Partners, WHSmith, and a games arcade
- Fuel and charging: a Welcome Break forecourt, GRIDSERVE Electric Highway, and a 12-bay Tesla Supercharger rated up to 250kW
- Hotel: Ramada London North M1, on site
- Lorries: HGV parking, no booking needed
Parking is free for two hours; after that Welcome Break charges £15 for up to 24 hours for a car, and £35 for an HGV, or £38 with a £12 meal voucher.
Service area details are compiled from the operators’ own published information and were last checked on 14 September 2026. Facilities change — if something here is out of date, please tell us and we will correct it.
The traffic around London Gateway Services
The services sit on the stretch between Junction 2 and Junction 4, which the Department for Transport counts at 66,698 vehicles a day — the 42nd busiest of the 42 measured stretches of M1 mainline. Of those, 3,464 are lorries, 5.2% of the traffic. That makes this the quietest measured stretch of the entire M1 — which is less surprising than it sounds, because most London-bound traffic has already left at Junction 4 for the A41 or at Junction 1 for the North Circular.
Traffic figures are Department for Transport road traffic statistics, annual average daily flow for 2025, both directions combined.