M1

M1

to

London-Yorkshire Motorway
London
Hook Moor

The M1 is Britain's first full-length motorway and possibly its most iconic. It is also one of the most important, forming the main road north from London, serving the industrial East Midlands and the most populous areas of Yorkshire before handing the north-south baton to the A1(M) near Leeds.

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M1

M1

The main road north from London is missing the connections that would have integrated it with London's planned urban motorways.

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M1

The Minister's cake 24 January 2019

In 1968, the Minister of Transport travelled up to Yorkshire to open a long length of the brand new M1. There was just one problem. Where was the cake?

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Opening booklets

In days gone by, new roads were often celebrated with a grand opening ceremony and the issue of a commemorative booklet heralding the exciting new highway. You'll find some of them here, complete with a glimpse of all that empty tarmac and a healthy dose of modernist optimism.

Histories

Mistakes

Making road signs is a tricky business, but fortunately the professionals who design them get it right. Usually.

Routes

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?

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Have you seen...

Ringways

The story of an incredible plan to reshape London into a city of motorways, with the history from creation to cancellation and details on every unbuilt road.