The motorway that feels like the sixties

Opened in 1959 and not much changed since, the M45 is one of the UK's quietest motorways. It's like stepping back in time to the days when you could have the road all to yourself.

This video was filmed on 11 October 2003, but the date hardly matters - nothing ever changes on the M45 anyway. We've added a more chilled out soundtrack than usual to accompany the zen visuals: there's nobody around and not much to see as the motorway cuts across the sunny Northamptonshire countryside. It's the perfect antidote to modern motorway driving.

You might like our guide to the M45.

Map extract from OS Opendata 1:250,000 Scale Colour Raster under the Open Government Licence 3.0.

With thanks to Steven Jukes for driving!

Date of recording
Routes
M45

What's new

Silver bullet

The Silvertown Tunnel is finally open for business. One question remains: what’s it for?

Skid Risk, Accident, Fog

For the first time, we can share pictures of the pioneering experiment that lit up the Worcestershire countryside with enormous signs 61 years ago.

All change

In July 2024, a new Government entered office with a very different set of priorities. What does it mean for a faltering roads programme?

Share this page

Have you seen...

British Roads FAQ

The most Frequently Asked Questions where British Roads are concerned, and the answers. A good place to start if you're new to the subject or you're looking for quick facts.