Examples of surprisingly high mileages given to towns on UK road signs

[A Challenge]

Oxford 51
https://goo.gl/J5wvUN

 

[FQTV]

There was a (locally) famous sign on Great Northern Road in Aberdeen, which gave the distance to Inverness as the remarkably precise (though arguably incorrect) '103 1/2' miles. At least I think that it was 103 1/2; it's some time since I passed it last.

From what I can see, it has been replaced by the rather more rounded-down but still lengthy '102' miles marker, as captured here by Google:

 

[flymo]

There is (was ?) a sign of sorts when heading south out of Morpeth towards the A1 where it states 'London 289' or something like that. Always meant to get a photo of that whenever I was in that neck of the woods. Perhaps not in the official design but there nonetheless

 

[lyndhurst25]

I remember a road sign in Liverpool city centre which listed Birmingham as a destination, although I can't remember exactly where it is/was (or if it's still there).

I recall that too. It sticks in my mind as being "Birmingham 99" miles. I can't quite place it but maybe on New Islington, near where the National Express coach station used to be? A look on Google streetview draws a blank so maybe it's not there any more.

 

[Ianno87]

I recall that too. It sticks in my mind as being "Birmingham 99" miles. I can't quite place it but maybe on New Islington, near where the National Express coach station used to be? A look on Google streetview draws a blank so maybe it's not there any more.

Heading south out of Bolton on the A666 St Peters Way, you get (Birmingham 96)

 

[Howardh]

Heading south out of Bolton on the A666 St Peters Way, you get (Birmingham 96)

If I had any bottle I'd go up to that sign and paint "All Out" next to it.

 

[DarloRich]

The largest one i can think of from my travels is the Campbell Town one referred to above

 

[507021]

I recall that too. It sticks in my mind as being "Birmingham 99" miles. I can't quite place it but maybe on New Islington, near where the National Express coach station used to be? A look on Google streetview draws a blank so maybe it's not there any more.

I was thinking it was there too, but I don't remember seeing it last time I was in the area.

 

[initiation]

I'm sure I remember seeing a temporary motorway sign for at least one summer season a few years ago on the M5 south of Bristol listing some long distance cornish destinations, either Penzance or Truro at 147 miles rings a bell. Perhaps I'm dreaming that one?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Does this sign on the A303 near Andover saying that Exeter is a mere 101 miles away count?

Funny I was going to mention that! Though the one I noticed when I was going along the A303 from Popham was Exeter 99.

 

[Busaholic]

Funny I was going to mention that! Though the one I noticed when I was going along the A303 from Popham was Exeter 99.

Which is more than two miles from the Exeter 101 sign - they make them up as they go along!!

 

[Busaholic]

I'm sure I remember seeing a temporary motorway sign for at least one summer season a few years ago on the M5 south of Bristol listing some long distance cornish destinations, either Penzance or Truro at 147 miles rings a bell. Perhaps I'm dreaming that one?

I've never seen Penzance mentioned in one of those signs, or Truro come to that; it's always Redruth for some reason. I suppose Redruth had more strategic importance in the past, when it wasn't the economically depressed and rundown place it's unfortunately become.

 

[Cowley]

I've never seen Penzance mentioned in one of those signs, or Truro come to that; it's always Redruth for some reason. I suppose Redruth had more strategic importance in the past, when it wasn't the economically depressed and rundown place it's unfortunately become.

It’ll never be as bad as Camborne though...

 

[Busaholic]

It’ll never be as bad as Camborne though...

I won't be tempted to get drawn into that one! Actually, the part of Camborne near the station, but going further away from the town, is quite okay from what I've seen of it. Also, the Camborne School of Mines has a worldwide (good) reputation that my wife, who worked for a long period in the mining finance world, would kill me if I didn't mention: the fact it's in Pool is irrelevant!

 

[VauxhallandI]

The "where" in almost every case will be to the Eleanor Cross outside Charing Cross railway station.

As to the routes - no idea, but it would very likely be by whatever was the principal route at the time the sign was placed?

I was always under the impression the distances were measured from a now gone cross just off Trafalgar Sq at the top of Northumberland Avenue?

 

[Cowley]

I won't be tempted to get drawn into that one! Actually, the part of Camborne near the station, but going further away from the town, is quite okay from what I've seen of it. Also, the Camborne School of Mines has a worldwide (good) reputation that my wife, who worked for a long period in the mining finance world, would kill me if I didn't mention: the fact it's in Pool is irrelevant!

Haha. Camborne and Redruth are an interesting couple of towns that’s for sure.
Going back on topic, there must be an old milepost in a bush somewhere down there with 270 (ish) miles to London carved in it.
Get your strimmer out and have a look in the morning Busaholic.

 

[Busaholic]

Haha. Camborne and Redruth are an interesting couple of towns that’s for sure.
Going back on topic, there must be an old milepost in a bush somewhere down there with 270 (ish) miles to London carved in it.
Get your strimmer out and have a look in the morning Busaholic.

If I were allowed in charge of a strimmer I'd be sure to do myself a mischief (my emojis have disappeared, and I don't know how to recover them, so you'll have to take them as read!)

 

[Cowley]

If I were allowed in charge of a strimmer I'd be sure to do myself a mischief (my emojis have disappeared, and I don't know how to recover them, so you'll have to take them as read!)

I don’t know if there is an emoji of a man next to the A30 in Cornwall with one leg lopped off..?

 

[Macwomble]

Yes you're right, I forgot that one. I've seen Campbeltown's mileage given on a road sign at that distance. I've done that journey twice by bus recently and, from memory, there's a sign even closer to Glasgow and saying 126 miles to Campbeltown.

Heading west....just after the Erskine Bridge joining slip road.

 

[Ianno87]

I was always under the impression the distances were measured from a now gone cross just off Trafalgar Sq at the top of Northumberland Avenue?

Yes, that was where the Charing Cross cross formerly stood until it was relocated to in front of the station.

 

[MichaelAMW]

Does this sign on the A303 near Andover saying that Exeter is a mere 101 miles away count?

For down there you want these two, one on the slip road off the M3 and the other at the start of the Honiton Bypass/A30 improvments:

 

[Howardh]

Heading west....just after the Erskine Bridge joining slip road.View attachment 46668

That's just beautiful, that!

 

[greyman42]

Glasgow and Edinburgh are both signposted from near Carlisle.

 

[185143]

There's signs (albeit without mileage) for Belfast and Dublin in Birkenhead near Hamilton Square station

 

[whhistle]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the A38 / A5 or A14 - pretty long roads.

 

[krus_aragon]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the A38 / A5 or A14 - pretty long roads.

Does the A5 in England give mileages all the way to Holyhead? Mileages for London aren't seen in the Gwynedd/Anglesey area (because through traffic is expected to use the A55 and motorway network instead).

 

[transmanche]

Does the A5 in England give mileages all the way to Holyhead?

I don't think so. Even on the A5/A483 multiplex near Oswestry, the signs don't show anything beyond Llangollen (other than a generic NORTH WALES).

 

[gg1]

Britain is unusual in not putting important but distant locations on road signs. For example, on the southbound M6 in Cumbria you won't see signs for Birmingham or London. This may not seem like a big deal but it is surprising to foreigners.

I wonder if that was always the case or if it's a relatively recent development. I recall reading a few years ago (can't remember where, SABRE maybe) that there used to be a sign for London at the start of the A1 in Edinburgh which at some point was replaced to read Berwick.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

No mileage in this, but with regard to long roads: there's a street in Taunton that was once part of the A38 but is now a minor side-street named... Mansfield Road.

 

[transmanche]

No mileage in this, but with regard to long roads: there's a street in Taunton that was once part of the A38 but is now a minor side-street named... Mansfield Road.

Most likely a happy coincidence. The A38 wasn't extended to Mansfield until the 1970s.