Northampton Services (M1 J15A)
Northampton services sit right at Junction 15A, the M1’s interchange with the A43, about four miles south of Northampton. It is run by Roadchef, and it was called Rothersthorpe until 2003.
You can legally use either side, whichever way you are heading
There are two separate buildings, one on each side, marketed as Northampton North and Northampton South. Unusually, both are reachable from either carriageway through the junction. The old footbridge is still standing but has been closed to the public since the site was rebuilt in 2002 — it was left in place rather than demolished, because taking it down would have meant closing the M1.
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.
Hard shoulder closure southbound
06:18 (6:18am)15 Oct 2026reported 19 min ago
- Location
- M1 southbound between J22 and J21A
- Direction
- Southbound
- Lanes closed
- Hard shoulder closed
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 09:00 (9am) Sun 30 Nov 2025 → 09:00 (9am) Mon 30 Nov 2026
+ 1 more active roadworks - search all M1 traffic news →
Latest planned roadworks on the M1
The next planned roadworks scheduled on the M1.
M1 northbound Jct 41 to Jct 42 lane 1, 2 and 3 closure (298/3 - 299/1)
06:18 (6:18am)15 Oct 2026reported 19 min ago
- Location
- M1 northbound within J41
- Direction
- Northbound
- Lanes closed
- Lane closures
- Reason
- Maintenance work
- Schedule
- 20:00 (8pm) Thu 15 Oct 2026 → 06:00 (6am) Fri 16 Oct 2026
Forecast - not confirmed
+ 28 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 06:37 (6:37am) Thu 15 Oct 2026.
M1 J25-J26 CLOSED
Time now: Thursday, 15 October 2026, 06:37 (6:37am)06:06 (6:06am)15 Oct 2026set 30 min ago✓ Checked by us 06:37 (6:37am)
M1 J25-J26
CLOSEDOverhead Message
WhereM42 northbound, at J9 · on 1 signAlso onAlso showing on M42 signsSinceSet 06:06 (6:06am) 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 06:37 (6:37am) Thu 15 Oct 2026
Powered by National Highways’ Transport Data Feeds.
What is at Northampton Services
- Food and drink: McDonald’s, Costa, Coco di Mama, Fresh Food Café, Krispy Kreme; LEON on the northbound side, a McDonald’s Drive Thru southbound
- Shops: WHSmith, and a Co-op on the northbound side
- Fuel and charging: a BP forecourt with Wild Bean Café, and GRIDSERVE Electric Highway chargers up to 350kW
- Hotel: none — a hotel here was proposed and refused planning permission
- Lorries: HGV parking on both sides
Two hours free, then £21 for a car and £37 for an HGV, or £40 with a £10 food 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 Northampton Services
The services sit on the stretch between Junction 15 and Junction 15A, which the Department for Transport counts at 123,822 vehicles a day — the 19th busiest of the 42 measured stretches of M1 mainline. Of those, 20,301 are lorries, 16.4% of the traffic. Immediately north, between Junction 15A and Junction 16, the count is 121,280 a day. The site was earmarked by the Ministry as early as 1958 and took roughly twenty years to be built.
Traffic figures are Department for Transport road traffic statistics, annual average daily flow for 2025, both directions combined.