List of motorways in the United Kingdom

List of motorways in the United Kingdom is a complete list of motorways in the United Kingdom. Note that one numbering scheme is used for Great Britain and a separate numbering scheme for Northern Ireland, see Roads in Ireland.

1 Great Britain
2 Northern Ireland
3 Notes

Great Britain

M-designated motorways

Sign Link Route M1The eastern north-south motorway linking London(Hendon) to Leedsand continuing north to the A1near Garforth. The first inter-urban motorway. M2In Kentfrom Rochesterto Faversham. Bypasses the Medway Towns. M3Linking Sunbury-on-Thamesto Southampton. M4Linking London(Hammersmith) to South Wales, just beyond Pontarddulais. M5Linking the M6at Great Barr(on the Birmingham/ West Bromwich/ Walsallborder) to Exminsternear Exeter. M6The western north-south motorway linking the M1near Rugbyto Carlisle. M6 TollA toll motorway bypassing a busy stretch of the M6around the Birminghamand Wolverhamptonareas from near Coleshillto Cannock. M8Linking Edinburghto the A8at Langbank, via Glasgowand Livingston. There is a gap in the motorway between Chapelhalland Bargeddie(south-east and south-west of Coatbridge) where the road is classified as the A8. M9Linking the M8just west of Edinburghto Dunblanevia Stirlingand Falkirk. M10A short spur linking St Albansto the M1near Hemel Hempstead. M11Linking London(Woodford) to Cambridge. M18Linking the M1at Rotherhamto the M62near Goole. M20Linking the M25at Swanleyto Folkestone. M23Linking Hooleyin Surrey(just north of the M25, and south of Coulsdon) to Crawley. M25The Londonorbital motorway, numbered clockwise from Dartfordaround Londonto Thurrock. (The Dartford Crossingbetween Thurrockand Dartfordis not classified as a motorway, being the A282.) M26A short link between the M25at Sevenoaksand the M20before Maidstone. M27The south coast route running from Cadnam, west of Southampton, to Portsmouth. M32A spur from the M4near Winterbourneto central Bristol. M40Linking Uxbridge, west London, to the M42south of Solihull. M42Part of the Birminghamorbital motorway, from the M5near Bromsgrove, running around the south and east of Birminghamand continuing north towards Measham. A section near Coleshillhas been replaced by the M6 Toll. M45A short spur linking the A45south west of Rugbyto the M1south east of Rugbyand north of Daventry. M48The Severn Bridge, linking the M4near Thornburyto the M4near Caldicotover the River Severn. This used to be the M4before the Second Severn Crossingwas built. M49A short link from the M5to the M4west of Bristol. M50Linking the M5north of Tewkesburyto Ross-on-Wye. M53Linking Wallaseyand Chester. M54Linking the M6north of Wolverhamptonto Wellingtonwest of Telford. M55Linking the M6north of Prestonto Blackpool. M56Linking Manchester(Gatley) to the A5117 between Ellesmere Portand Chester. M57The Liverpoolbypass running north-west from the M62near Huytonto Switch Islandbetween Maghulland Aintree. M58Linking Switch Island(between Maghulland Aintree, northern Liverpool) to Wigan. M60The ManchesterOuter Ring Road, an orbital motorway, numbered clockwise from Stockport. M61Linking Bamber Bridgenear Prestonto Manchester(Worsley). M62The trans-Penninelink - connecting Liverpoolto the A63between North Caveand Newport, west of Kingston upon Hull. There is a gap in the motorway between Wintonand Simisterwhere the road has been reclassified to become the northern part of the M60 Manchesterorbital motorway. M65Linking Bamber Bridgenear Prestonto Colne. M66Linking Ramsbottomto the M60at Whitefield, north Manchester. M67Linking the M60at Denton, east Manchester, to Hattersley, east of Hyde. M69Linking Coventryto Leicester. M73Linking the M74near Uddingstonto the A80, south-west of Cumbernauld. M74Linking Glasgow(Rutherglen) to the A74(M)at Abington. M77Linking the M8at Glasgow(Pollokshields) to Fenwicknear Kilmarnock. M80Linking the M8at Glasgow(Blochairn) and the M9south of Stirling. There is a long gap in the motorway between Stepps(north-east Glasgow) and Haggs, near Falkirk, where the road is classified as the A80. M90Linking Inverkeithing, north of the Forth Road Bridge, to Perth. M96Not open to the public, but part of the Fire Service Collegeat Moreton-in-Marsh. Sometimes erroneously referred to as the M91. M180Linking the M18at Thorneto the junction of the A15(south of the Humber Bridge) and A180(west of Grimsby). M181A spur from the M180running to the west of Scunthorpe. M271Spurs from the M27heading north to the A3057 (south of Romsey), and south to Totton. M275A spur from the M27on Horsea Islandinto Portsmouth(Landport). M602Linking the M62at Wintonto Salford, just west of the centre of Manchester. M606A spur from the M62near Cleckheatoninto Bradford. M621Linking the M62at Gildersometo the M1near Rothwell. The motorway runs close to the centre of Leeds. M876Linking the M80near Denny, north-west of Falkirk, to the A876near the Kincardine Bridge. A short section of the motorway north of Stenhousemuiris classified as the M9. M898A spur from the M8near Erskineto the A898, the Erskine Bridgeapproach road.

Upgraded A-road designations

Sign Link Route A1(M)The parts of the A1between Londonand Gatesheadthat have been upgraded to motorway. There are six sections of the A1that have been upgraded:

From the M25 at South Mimms to near Baldock;
From Alconbury (near Huntingdon) to Peterborough;
From Blyth (near Worksop) to Adwick le Street (near Doncaster);
From Darrington (near Pontefract) to the junction with the A64 (near Tadcaster);
From Wetherby to Dishforth (near Ripon);
From Barton (near Darlington) to Birtley (near Gateshead).

A3(M)Linking Horndeanto Havant. A38(M)A spur from the M6at the Gravelly Hill Interchange(Spaghetti Junction) to central Birmingham, also known as the Aston Expressway. It has no central reservation— the number of lanes open in each direction varies according to prevailing traffic conditions. A48(M)Linking the M4near Castletonto Cardiff(St Mellons). A57(M)Known as the Mancunian Way, forms the southern part of Manchester'sinner ring road, running from a junction on Deansgateto the A635near Piccadilly Station. It is elevated and runs through the centre of the campus of UMIST, now part of the University of Manchester. A58(M)The western part of the Leedsinner ring road, running from Wellington Road (A58) to join the A64(M)at the junction with Claypit Lane (also A58). A64(M)The eastern part of the Leedsinner ring road, running from the A58(M)at the junction with Claypit Lane (A58), to York Road (A64). A66(M)A spur from the A1(M)near Cleasbyjoining the A66heading into Darlington. A74(M)Linking the M74at Abingtonto Gretna. A167(M)An urban motorway in central Newcastle upon Tynerunning from just north of the Tyne Bridgeto just north of Newcastle University. A194(M)Linking the A1(M)at Birtley(near Gateshead) to A194near Wardley, leading to the Tyne Tunnel. A308(M)Linking the M4junction 8/9 to the A308 near Bray. A329(M)Linking Bracknellto Winnershnear Reading, crossing the M4. A404(M)Linking the M4junction 8/9 to the A4 at MaidenheadThicket. A601(M)A spur from the M6at Carnforthto the A6near Warton. The southern part is single carriageway. A627(M)Linking Rochdaleand Chaddertonnear Oldham, crossing the M62. A823(M)A spur from the M90near Rosythto the A823 south of Dunfermline.

Former motorways

Roads which used to be motorways but have been downgraded:

Sign Link Route M15The designation for the Ringway 2upgrade of the A406(North Circular Road) and A205(South Circular Road). Only the section between junction 4 of the M11and RedbridgeRoundabout was built to motorway standard, and was initially signed as M11because the section built, at the time only led onto the M11. When the route was extended to Beckton, the section of M11was redesignated as the A406. M41The London West Cross Route, a spur from the London Westway(A40(M)) and the only part of the western section of the London Motorway Boxto be built, now A3220.[1]A18(M)A spur from M18. Mostly now part of M180, although a section has been abandoned. A40(M)The London Westway, now the A40.[1]A41(M) The Tringbypass, now the A41 [2]. A46(M) A spur towards Leicesterfrom M1at junction 21, now part of the A563 [3]. A102(M)The London East Cross Route, in two sections:

Hackney Wick to Old Ford (now the A12);
Blackwall Tunnel to the Sun-in-the-Sands roundabout (now the A102 [1]). Was the eastern section of the London Motorway Box.

A329(M)The northern third of the A329(M) from Winnershto Reading, now the A3290. Downgraded to permit Reading council to dedicate one lane for buses. A6144(M)Formerly the longest single-carriageway motorway spur in the United Kingdom from the M60north of Saletowards Carrington. Now just a spur of the A6144.

Motorways that have been renamed

Sign Link Route M16Originally to be the northern section of the M25but was renumbered prior to opening. M63Merged with parts of the M62and M66to form the new M60 Manchesterorbital motorway. M85 Now M90J10-11. Previously the M90carried on along the spur into Perth, leaving the main route ahead as the M85[4]M531 Now the southern section of the M53 [5]. A20(M) Now the M20from J5-8.[6]A423(M) Originally A4(M)[7]and then part of the M4. Now the A404(M)[8]. A6127(M) Now the A167(M)[9]

Motorways that are not trunk roads

Sign Link Route M62From its western terminus to J6 is not a trunk road and is under the jurisdiction of Liverpool City Council. M65From J10 to J14 is not a trunk road and is under the jurisdiction of Lancashire County Council. M275The motorway is under the jurisdiction of Portsmouth City Council.

Unbuilt motorways

There have been many plans for motorways in the UK that have not been built, for one reason or the other. A lack of money or political will, environmental reasons, traffic reasons and public opposition being the main ones. Below is a list of plans that weren't built (not exhaustive):

M12 in 3 forms [10]:
- From the London end of the M11 to Brentwood;
- From the London end of the M11 to Maplin Sands Airport (also not built);
- From the M25 (in the vicinity of the M11) to Chelmsford.
M13, from East London to Maplin Sands airport passing south of Southend [11].
M17 Castle Donington bypass, a short spur off the M1;
M31, a bypass of the busiest section of the M25, cutting the corner for traffic from the West[12].
M59, M58 junction 2 to south of Preston [13].
M64, between the M6 south of Stoke-on-Trent and the M1 near Derby. Mostly built as the A50.
M272 Portswood Link Motorway, which would have met the M27 at J5 and headed into Southampton.
M601, which would have entered Manchester from the M62 (now the M60) near Pendlebury [14].
M650, Airedale Motorway from near Silsden to Shipley [15].
A6(M) (or M66 extension), which would have formed an eastern bypass for Stockport [16]. As of March 2006, this is still under the planning stage as part of the SEMMMS (south east Manchester multi modal study) project (though not as motorway).
A556(M), which would have cut the corner between the M6 and M56 near Warrington [17].
Chippenham Spur, off the M4 [18]
Strensham - Solihull/Coventry motorway, a link between the M50 and M42 or M69 [19]
Kirkhamgate - Pudsey motorway - a link from the M1 to either/both the M650 or/and Pudsey-Dishforth motorway
Pudsey - Dishforth motorway - a route West of Leeds for the M1 to bypass Leeds and reach the A1.
Spur off M5 at j20 towards Bristol
Spur off M5 at j21 towards Weston
East Coast Motorway from M11 j9 to Sunderland via Boston and the Humber Bridge.

Many cities had urban motorway plans, most of which weren't built. London [20], Newcastle [21], Liverpool [22], Leeds, Manchester/SELNEC, Southampton, Portsmouth, Coventry and Glasgow [23] all had extensive plans.

Northern Ireland

M-designated motorways

Sign Link Route M1Linking Belfastto Dungannon. M2In two sections, one linking Belfastto Antrim, and the other bypassing Ballymena. The section in between was planned, but never built. M3Linking the M2in north Belfastto the A2 Sydenham Bypassin east Belfast. M5Linking the M2in north Belfastto Newtownabbey. M12A spur from the M1near Derrymacashto the north of Portadown. M22Linking the M2at Antrimto Randalstown.

Upgraded A-road designations

Sign Link Route A8(M)A spur from the M2near Glengormleyto the A8 north-west of Newtownabbey.

Unbuilt motorways

The following motorways were planned, but never built.

M11 (Northern Ireland), from the M1 going through Lisburn and then crossing the M1 again and ending at Newry [24]
M23 (Northern Ireland), from the M2 to (London)Derry [25]

There were also urban motorway plans for Belfast [26][27]