List of motorways in the United Kingdom
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This list of motorways in the United Kingdom is a complete list of motorways in the United Kingdom. Note that the numbering scheme used for Great Britain does not include roads in Northern Ireland, which are allocated numbers on an ad hoc basis.[1]
Great Britain
M-designated motorways
Number | Length (mi) | Length (km) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Formed | Removed | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M1 | 193.5 | 311.4 | Staples Corner, London (A406) | Hook Moor, Leeds (A1(M) (Great Britain)) | 1959 | current | The first long-distance motorway in the country to be built.[2] | |
M2 | 25.7 | 41.4 | Strood | Faversham | 1963 | current | A west-east motorway bypassing Medway. | |
M3 | 58.6 | 94.3 | Sunbury-on-Thames | Chilworth | 1971 | current | A northeast-southwest motorway linking London to Southampton. | |
M4 | 189 | 304 | Chiswick | Pont Abraham | 1963 | current | An east-west motorway linking London to South Wales. | |
M5 | 162.9 | 262.2 | West Bromwich | Exminster | 1962 | current | A northeast-southwest motorway in South West England, linking Birmingham to Exeter. | |
M6 | 232.2 | 373.7 | Catthorpe | Gretna | 1958 | current | A southeast-northwest motorway linking the West Midlands to North West England and Scotland. Continues as A74(M). The first and longest motorway in the country to be built.[2] | |
M6 Toll | 27 | 43 | Coleshill | Cannock | 2003 | current | A tolled bypass of the M6 in the West Midlands. | |
M8 | 60.3 | 97.0 | Sighthill | Langbank | 1965 | current | A motorway linking Edinburgh to Glasgow. | |
M9 | 33.0 | 53.1 | Newbridge | Dunblane | 1968 | current | A motorway linking Edinburgh to Stirling. | |
M10 | 2.8 | 4.5 | Hemel Hempstead (M1) | St Albans | 1959 | 2009 | A spur from the M1 to St Albans. Now part of the A414. | |
M11 | 55.0 | 88.5 | South Woodford | Girton | 1975 | current | A motorway linking London to Cambridge. | |
M15 | 1 | 1.6 | South Woodford | Redbridge | 1977 | 1987 | Number allocated for Ringway 2, section between junctions 3 and 4 built and opened as motorway due to inescapably leading to M11 until A406 opened. | |
M16 | 3 | 4.8 | South Mimms | Potters Bar | 1975 | 1975 | Number allocated for Ringway 3. Short section opened before plans were reworked to merge Ringway 3 and Ringway 4 into a single M25. | |
M18 | 26.5 | 42.6 | Thurcroft (M1) | Rawcliffe (M62) | 1967 | current | A motorway linking Rotherham to Goole as part of a Sheffield to Hull route. | |
M20 | 50.6 | 81.4 | Swanley | Folkestone | 1971 | current | A motorway linking London to Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel. | |
M23 | 15.9 | 25.6 | Hooley | Pease Pottage | 1974 | current | A motorway linking London to Gatwick Airport and Crawley. | |
M25 | 117 | 188 | Dartford (Dartford Crossing southern approach) | Thurrock (Dartford Crossing northern approach) | 1975 | current | A ring road of London numbered clockwise from Dartford. | |
M26 | 9.9 | 15.9 | Chevening | Addington | 1980 | current | A motorway linking the M25 to the M20. | |
M27 | 25.0 | 40.2 | Cadnam | Portsmouth | 1972 | current | South Coast Motorway bypassing Southampton and Portsmouth. | |
M32 | 4.4 | 7.1 | Hambrook | St Pauls | 1966 | current | A spur from the M4 into central Bristol. | |
M40 | 89.0 | 143.2 | Denham | Tanworth in Arden | 1967 | current | A motorway linking London to Birmingham. | |
M41 | — | — | — | — | — | 2000 | The former number for the West Cross Route, now part of the A3220.[3] | |
M42 | 40.0 | 64.4 | Catshill | Appleby Magna | 1976 | current | A quarter-orbital motorway bypassing Birmingham to the south and east, continuing anticlockwise and then northeast as A42 to the M1 at Kegworth. | |
M45 | 7.9 | 12.7 | Watford Gap | Thurlaston | 1959 | current | A spur from the M1 south of Rugby. | |
M48 | 12 | 19 | Awkley | Undy | 1966 | current | The original route over the Severn Bridge bypassed by the M4's new route between Bristol and Caldicot. | |
M49 | 5.0 | 8.0 | Redwick | Lawrence Weston | 1996 | current | A western bypass of Bristol avoiding not only Cribbs Causeway but also Almondsbury, which heads northwest to the M4 and southeast to the M5. | |
M50 | 21.6 | 34.8 | Strensham | Ross-on-Wye | 1960 | current | A motorway between the M5 and Ross-on-Wye forming part of a Midlands-South Wales route. | |
M53 | 18.9 | 30.4 | Bidston | Hoole Village | 1972 | current | A motorway linking Birkenhead (and Liverpool via Kingsway Tunnel) to Chester. | |
M54 | 23.0 | 37.0 | Essington | Wellington | 1975 | current | A motorway linking Wolverhampton to Telford. | |
M55 | 12.2 | 19.6 | Fulwood | Blackpool | 1958 | current | A motorway linking Preston to Blackpool. | |
M56 | 33.3 | 53.6 | Cheadle | Mollington | 1971 | current | A motorway linking Manchester to Chester. | |
M57 | 10 | 16 | Huyton | Switch Island, Aintree | 1972 | current | An eastern bypass of Liverpool linking the M62 to Maghull. | |
M58 | 12 | 19 | Switch Island, Aintree | Orrell | 1977 | current | A motorway linking Liverpool to Wigan. | |
M60 | 36 | 58 | Manchester Outer Ring Road | 1960 | current | A ring road of Manchester numbered clockwise from Stockport. | ||
M61 | 20.0 | 32.2 | Worsley | Bamber Bridge | 1969 | current | A motorway linking Manchester to Preston. | |
M62 | 100 | 160 | Liverpool | North Cave | 1960 | current | A motorway linking Liverpool to Hull. | |
M63 | 15 | 24 | Worsley | Stockport | 1960 | current | Manchester eastern and southern bypasses. Became part of M60. | |
M65 | 25.8 | 41.5 | Bamber Bridge | Colne | 1981 | current | A motorway linking Preston to Burnley. | |
M66 | 8.0 | 12.9 | Edenfield | Simister Island | 1975 | current | A motorway bypassing Bury. | |
M67 | 5.0 | 8.0 | Denton Island | Hattersley | 1978 | current | A motorway linking Manchester to Hadfield. | |
M69 | 15.7 | 25.3 | Coventry | Leicester | 1976 | current | A motorway linking Coventry to Leicester. | |
M73 | 7.0 | 11.3 | Uddingston | Mollinsburn | 1969 | current | An eastern bypass of Glasgow. | |
M74 | 40 | 64 | Tradeston | Abington | 1966 | current | A motorway linking Glasgow towards North West England. Continues as the A74(M) south of Abington. | |
M77 | 20.0 | 32.2 | Kinning Park | Fenwick | 1977 | current | A motorway linking Glasgow to Kilmarnock. | |
M80 | 25.0 | 40.2 | Blochairn | Bannockburn | 1974 | current | A southwest-northeast motorway linking Glasgow to Stirling. | |
M90 | 36.0 | 57.9 | Junction 1a of the M9 | Perth | 1964 | current | A south-north motorway linking Edinburgh to Perth. | |
M180 | 25.0 | 40.2 | Stainforth | Elsham | 1977 | current | A motorway linking Thorne to Grimsby. Continues as the A180 after the exit for the Humber Bridge. | |
M181 | 2.0 | 3.2 | East Butterwick | Scunthorpe | 1978 | current | A spur of the M180 leading to Scunthorpe. | |
M271 | 2.3 | 3.7 | Totton | Upton | 1975 | current | A spur of the M27 bypassing Southampton to the west. | |
M275 | 2.0 | 3.2 | Paulsgrove | Portsmouth | 1976 | current | A spur from the M27 to central Portsmouth and Cosham. | |
M602 | 4.0 | 6.4 | Worsley | Ordsall, Salford | 1971 | current | A motorway linking the M62 to Salford. | |
M606 | 3.0 | 4.8 | Cleckheaton | Bradford | 1972 | current | A spur from the M62 to Bradford. | |
M621 | 7.7 | 12.4 | Gildersome | Rothwell | 1972 | current | Two conjoined spurs linking Leeds to the M1 and M62. | |
M876 | 8.0 | 12.9 | Dennyloanhead | Bowtrees near Kincardine Bridge | 1980 | current | A motorway linking Bonnybridge to Kincardine. | |
M898 | 0.5 | 0.80 | Erskine | Erskine near Erskine Bridge | 1975 | current | A spur from the M8 leading to Erskine Bridge. | |
Upgraded A-road designations
Number | Length (mi) | Length (km) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Formed | Removed | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A1(M) | 24 | 39 | South Mimms | Stotfold | 1962 | current | ||
A1(M) | 13 | 21 | Alconbury | Orton Southgate | 1998 | current | ||
A1(M) | 15.2 | 24.5 | Blyth | Red House, near Skellow | 1961 | current | western bypass of Doncaster | |
A1(M) | 93.8 | 151.0 | Darrington | Birtley | 1965 | current | ||
A3(M) | 5.0 | 8.0 | Horndean | Bedhampton | 1979 | current | A motorway linking the A3 to the A27 near Portsmouth. | |
A8(M) | 02 | 3.2 | Baillieston Roundabout | Swinton Roundabout | 2016 | current | A spur from the M8 and M73 to Ballieston. | |
A38(M) | 2.0 | 3.2 | Gravelly Hill | Birmingham city centre | 1972 | current | A spur from the M6 to central Birmingham. | |
A40(M) | — | — | — | — | — | 2000 | The former number for the Westway, now part of the A40.[3] | |
A48(M) | 2.0 | 3.2 | Castleton, Newport | Castleton, Newport | 1977 | current | A spur from the M4 towards central Cardiff. | |
A57(M) | 2.0 | 3.2 | — | — | — | — | Forms part of a ring road of Manchester. Also known as the Mancunian Way. | |
A58(M) | 2.0 | 3.2 | — | — | — | — | Forms the western part of the Leeds inner ring road. | |
A64(M) | 0.5 | 0.80 | — | — | — | — | Forms the eastern part of the Leeds inner ring road. | |
A66(M) | 2.0 | 3.2 | — | — | — | — | A spur from the A1(M) to the A66 south of Darlington. | |
A74(M) | 45 | 72 | Abington | Longtown | 1991 | current | A motorway linking the M74 to North West England. Continues as the M6. | |
A102(M) | — | — | Hackney Wick | Old Ford | — | 2000 | The former number for the East Cross Route. Now part of the A12.[3] | |
A102(M) | — | — | Greenwich Peninsula | Sun in the Sands roundabout | — | 2000 | The former number for the East Cross Route. Now part of the A102.[3] | |
A167(M) | 1.1 | 1.8 | Jesmond | Tyne Bridge north end | 1975 | current | An urban motorway in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. | |
A194(M) | 4.0 | 6.4 | Washington | — | 1975 | current | A motorway linking the A1(M) to the Tyne Tunnel. | |
A308(M) | 0.6 | 0.97 | M4 Junction 8/9 | Maidenhead (Braywick) | 1971 | current | A spur from the M4 south of Maidenhead. | |
A329(M) | 4.0 | 6.4 | Bracknell | Winnersh | 1972 | current | A motorway linking Bracknell and Reading to the M4. Was incorporated into unrealised M31 plans | |
A404(M) | 2.4 | 3.9 | M4 Junction 8/9 | Maidenhead (The Thicket) | — | — | Forms part of the original Maidenhead bypass and is on its forth number (A4(M), M4, A423(M), A404(M)). Linked up with the Marlow bypass to form a new High Wycombe to Maidenhead trunk road. | |
A601(M) | 1 | 1.6 | A6 north of Carnforth | B6254 between Over Kellet and Carnforth | 1960 | 2023 | A spur that ran from the M6 to Carnforth and Over Kellet. Now part of the A6070 and B6601.[4][5] | |
A627(M) | 3.5 | 5.6 | Rochdale | Chadderton | 1972 | current | A motorway linking Rochdale to Oldham, and both towns to the M62. | |
A823(M) | 1 | 1.6 | Inverkeithing | Rosyth | 1964 | current | A spur from the M90 to Dunfermline. | |
A1077(M) | 0.8 | 1.3 | — | — | — | — | A former part of the M181 serving Scunthorpe. Was detrunked and will be downgraded when housing development built | |
A6144(M) | 1.2 | 1.9 | Urmston | Carrington | 1987 | 2006 | A spur that ran from the M60 to Carrington. It was unique for being single carriageway throughout. | |
Northern Ireland
Number | Length (mi) | Length (km) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Formed | Removed | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M1 | 38.0 | 61.2 | Belfast | Dungannon | 1962 | current | Via Lisburn and Craigavon, in the direction of Sligo, Enniskillen and Omagh. The motorway forms the main Dublin-Belfast route until Sprucefield. | |
M2 | 28 | 45 | Belfast | Ballymena | 1966 | current | In two sections built at different stages, one linking Belfast to Antrim, and the other bypassing Ballymena. The section in between was planned, but never built. Main route out of Belfast to Derry, Coleraine and Larne. | |
M3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | M2 in north Belfast | A2 Sydenham Bypass in the east of the city | 1995 | current | Lagan Bridge | |
M5 | 1.4 | 2.3 | M2 in north Belfast | Newtownabbey | 1980 | current | Forms part of the Belfast-Carrickfergus route. | |
M12 | 1.5 | 2.4 | M1 | Craigavon | 1970 | current | A spur from the M1 near Derrymacash to the centre of Craigavon. | |
M22 | 5.6 | 9.0 | Antrim | Randalstown | 1971 | current | Linking the M2 at Antrim to Randalstown. Forms part of the main road between Belfast and Derry. | |
A8(M) | 1.0 | 1.6 | M2 | Ballyhenry | 1966 | current | A spur from the M2 at Sandyknowes near Glengormley to Corr's Corner Roadabout on the A8 north-west of Newtownabbey. Forms part of the Belfast-Larne route. | |
See also
- List of motorway service areas in the United Kingdom
- Roads in the United Kingdom
- List of numbered roads in the British Isles
- Motorways in the Republic of Ireland
- List of controlled-access highway systems
- Evolution of motorway construction in European nations
Notes
- ^ "Northern Ireland Assembly – WRITTEN ANSWERS Friday 15 December 2000". Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ a b "Ten speedy facts about motorways". Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d "The GLA Roads Designation Order 2000". Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "The Lancashire County Council (A601(M) Partial Revocation) Scheme 2022 Confirmation Instrument 2023". Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "The Lancashire County Council (A601(M) Partial Revocation) Scheme 2019 Confirmation Instrument 2020". Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2024.