M1 motorway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids M1 motorway
London-Yorkshire Motorway
Looking north towards junction 37
Route information
Part of
Maintained by Highways England
Length	193.5 mi (311.4 km)
Existed	1959–present
History	Opened: 1959 Completed: 1999
Major junctions
South end	London A406 (A406) 51°34′32″N 0°14′06″W / 51.5755°N 0.2351°W / 51.5755; -0.2351 (M1 Motorway (southern end))
	J6a → M25 motorway J17 → M45 motorway J19 → M6 motorway J21 → M69 motorway J32 → M18 motorway J42 → M62 motorway J43 → M621 motorway A1(M) motorway
North end	Hook Moor (A1(M)) 53°49′22″N 1°20′20″W / 53.8229°N 1.3388°W / 53.8229; -1.3388 (M1 motorway (northern end))
Location
Counties:	Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
Primary destinations:	London Brent Cross Watford St Albans Hemel Hempstead Luton Milton Keynes Northampton Rugby Leicester Loughborough Nottingham Derby Mansfield Chesterfield Sheffield Rotherham Barnsley Wakefield Leeds
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones ← M1 M2 →

The M1 motorway heading north towards Junction 37 in South Yorkshire.

The M1 motorway is an important motorway in England. It joins London and Leeds. It was the second motorway to be built in the UK, after the Preston bypass (which later formed part of the M6). It was the first UK motorway to be built that joined two cities, London and Birmingham.

Location

The motorway is 193 miles (310 km) long. It was built in four phases. Some of the motorway was opened in 1959. Other sections opened between 1965 and 1968. Two extensions were opened in 1977 and 1999.

The motorway is part of the unsigned European route E13.

History

The first section of the motorway opened between Junction 5 (Watford) and Junction 18 (Rugby). It opened on 2 November 1959. This included two of the motorway's spurs, the M10 at Junction 7, and the M45 at Junction 17. It followed near to the A5.

In 1965, an extension from Junction 18 towards Yorkshire was built. The motorway takes a more northerly route through the East Midlands. It passes near Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham to Sheffield . Here the M18 splits from the M1 at Junction 32.

In 1972 an extension of the M1 was opened into central Leeds. It was called the Leeds South Eastern Motorway. It meets the Leeds South Western Motorway (M621) at Junction 43.

The first motorway service station was built on the M1 in 1959. It is currently operated by RoadChef.

Junctions

M1 motorway junctions
mile	km	Southbound exits (B carriageway)	Junction	Northbound exits (A carriageway)	Coordinates
7.0	11.3	North Circular (West), Brent Cross, Wembley, Hanger Lane, (A406 West)	J1 Southern terminus	Start of motorway	51°34′31″N 0°14′05″W / 51.57515°N 0.23471°W / 51.57515; -0.23471 (M1, Junction 1)
9.1 9.2	14.6 14.8	Central London (The City), Holloway North Circular (A406)(E) A1	J2	No access	51°36′14″N 0°14′23″W / 51.60399°N 0.23977°W / 51.60399; -0.23977 (M1, Junction 2)
12.0	19.3	London Gateway services	Services	London Gateway services	51°38′06″N 0°15′58″W / 51.63513°N 0.26610°W / 51.63513; -0.26610 (M1, London Gateway services)
13.2 13.5	21.3 21.8	Harrow, Edgware A41 (A406 North)	J4	No access	51°38′10″N 0°18′17″W / 51.63612°N 0.30468°W / 51.63612; -0.30468 (M1, Junction 4)
17.1 17.5	27.5 28.1	Harrow, Aylesbury A41 Watford A4008	J5	Aylesbury, Watford, M25 (West) A41	51°40′18″N 0°22′08″W / 51.67162°N 0.36894°W / 51.67162; -0.36894 (M1, Junction 5)
19.7 20.0	31.7 32.2	North Watford A405	J6	St Albans, Harlow, M25 (East) A405	51°42′22″N 0°22′55″W / 51.70602°N 0.38182°W / 51.70602; -0.38182 (M1, Junction 6)
20.4 20.8	32.9 33.5	Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, M40, M4, M3 Stansted Airport, Dartford, M11, M20	J6a M25 interchange	No access	51°43′06″N 0°23′10″W / 51.71831°N 0.38607°W / 51.71831; -0.38607 (M1, Junction 6a - M1-M25 interchange)
22.5 22.7	36.2 36.6	St Albans, Hatfield A414	J7	No access	51°44′57″N 0°24′33″W / 51.74930°N 0.40928°W / 51.74930; -0.40928 (M1, Junction 7)
23.5 23.8	37.8 38.3	Hemel Hempstead	J8	Hemel Hempstead A414	51°45′25″N 0°24′59″W / 51.75695°N 0.41641°W / 51.75695; -0.41641 (M1, Junction 8)
27.9 28.3	44.9 45.6	Redbourn A5183	J9	Dunstable, Redbourn A5183	51°49′12″N 0°25′02″W / 51.82000°N 0.41714°W / 51.82000; -0.41714 (M1, Junction 9)
30.3 30.6	48.8 49.2	Luton Airport A1081	J10	Luton (S) & Airport A1081	51°51′14″N 0°25′25″W / 51.85397°N 0.42370°W / 51.85397; -0.42370 (M1, Junction 10)
33.7 34.0	54.3 54.7	Luton (Centre), Dunstable A505	J11	Luton (Centre), Dunstable A505	51°53′36″N 0°28′12″W / 51.89347°N 0.46988°W / 51.89347; -0.46988 (M1, Junction 11)
		Dunstable (North), Aylesbury A5, A505, A5505	J11A	Dunstable (North), Aylesbury A5, A505, A5505	51°55′18″N 0°29′28″W / 51.92156°N 0.49122°W / 51.92156; -0.49122 (M1, Junction 11A)
38.9	62.6	Toddington services	Services	Toddington services	51°56′52″N 0°30′10″W / 51.94778°N 0.50275°W / 51.94778; -0.50275 (M1, Toddington services)
38.5 38.9	62.0 62.6	Flitwick A5120	J12	Flitwick A5120	51°57′27″N 0°30′58″W / 51.95744°N 0.51606°W / 51.95744; -0.51606 (M1, Junction 12)
45.2 45.4	72.7 73.1	Bedford A421 Woburn, Ampthill A507	J13	Bedford, Milton Keynes (South) A421	52°01′36″N 0°36′13″W / 52.02657°N 0.60360°W / 52.02657; -0.60360 (M1, Junction 13)
49.7 50.2	80.0 80.8	Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell A509	J14	Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell A509	52°03′32″N 0°42′00″W / 52.05877°N 0.70012°W / 52.05877; -0.70012 (M1, Junction 14)
53.7	86.5	Newport Pagnell services	Services	Newport Pagnell services	52°05′00″N 0°44′55″W / 52.08330°N 0.74853°W / 52.08330; -0.74853 (M1, Newport Pagnell services)
61.8 62.3	99.4 100.2	Northampton, Wellingborough A45	J15	Northampton, Wellingborough A45	52°11′09″N 0°53′44″W / 52.18588°N 0.89551°W / 52.18588; -0.89551 (M1, Junction 15)
64.3 64.9	103.5 104.5	Northampton, Oxford A43 (M40) Northampton services	J15a Services	Northampton, Oxford A43 (M40) Northampton Services	52°12′35″N 0°56′40″W / 52.20961°N 0.94435°W / 52.20961; -0.94435 (M1, Junction 15a)
67.9 68.3	109.2 109.9	Northampton A4500	J16	Daventry A45	52°13′49″N 1°00′58″W / 52.23030°N 1.01598°W / 52.23030; -1.01598 (M1, Junction 16)
75.1	120.8	Watford Gap services	Services	Watford Gap services	52°18′25″N 1°07′19″W / 52.30696°N 1.12202°W / 52.30696; -1.12202 (M1, Watford Gap services)
76.6 76.9	123.3 123.8	No access	J17	Coventry (S) M45	52°19′29″N 1°08′26″W / 52.32464°N 1.14069°W / 52.32464; -1.14069 (M1, Junction 17)
78.5 78.9	126.3 126.9	Daventry, DIRFT A428	J18	Hinckley A5 Rugby A428 DIRFT	52°21′03″N 1°09′16″W / 52.35089°N 1.15455°W / 52.35089; -1.15455 (M1, Junction 18)
82.3 82.7	132.4 133.1	Felixstowe, Corby, Kettering A14	J19 M6/A14 interchange	The North West Coventry, Birmingham M6	52°24′19″N 1°10′37″W / 52.40522°N 1.17704°W / 52.40522; -1.17704 (M1, Junction 19)
85.5 86.1	137.6 138.5	Lutterworth A4303 Rugby (A426)	J20	Lutterworth A4303 Market Harborough A4304	52°27′01″N 1°11′29″W / 52.45015°N 1.19146°W / 52.45015; -1.19146 (M1, Junction 10)
96.1 96.6	154.6 155.4	Coventry, Birmingham M69 (M6) Leicester A5460	J21	Coventry M69 Leicester A5460	52°36′01″N 1°11′42″W / 52.60041°N 1.19498°W / 52.60041; -1.19498 (M1, Junction 21)
97.7	157.2	Leicester Forest East services	Services	Leicester Forest East services	52°37′09″N 1°12′21″W / 52.61920°N 1.20579°W / 52.61920; -1.20579 (M1, Leicester Forest East services)
99.3 99.5	159.8 160.1	No access	J21a	Leicester (N), Newark A46	52°38′09″N 1°13′05″W / 52.63577°N 1.21798°W / 52.63577; -1.21798 (M1, Junction 21a)
104.3 104.7	167.8 168.5	Leicester A50, Coalville A511	J22	Ashby, Coalville A511	52°41′45″N 1°17′33″W / 52.69592°N 1.29240°W / 52.69592; -1.29240 (M1, Junction 22)
108.8 109.2	175.1 175.8	Loughborough, Shepshed A512	J23	Loughborough, Shepshed A512	52°45′37″N 1°16′26″W / 52.76032°N 1.27394°W / 52.76032; -1.27394 (M1, Junction 23)
113.4 113.6	182.5 182.8	The SOUTH WEST, Tamworth, Birmingham, A42 (M42)	J23a Services	East Midlands A453 Donington Park services	52°49′09″N 1°18′20″W / 52.81929°N 1.30544°W / 52.81929; -1.30544 (M1, Junction 23a)
114.9 115.4	184.9 185.7	Nottingham, East Midlands A453 Donington Park services	J24	Stoke A50 Derby (A6) Nottingham (S) A453	52°50′38″N 1°17′45″W / 52.84397°N 1.29570°W / 52.84397; -1.29570 (M1, Junction 24)
115.8 116.2	186.3 187.0	Stoke A50 Derby (A6)	J24a	No access	52°51′29″N 1°18′04″W / 52.85796°N 1.30106°W / 52.85796; -1.30106 (M1, Junction 24a)
120.0 120.5	193.2 193.9	Nottingham, Derby A52	J25	Derby, Nottingham A52	52°54′57″N 1°17′59″W / 52.91589°N 1.29969°W / 52.91589; -1.29969 (M1, Junction 25)
124.1	199.8	Trowell services	Services	Trowell services	52°57′44″N 1°16′02″W / 52.96216°N 1.26725°W / 52.96216; -1.26725 (M1, Trowell services)
126.0 126.6	202.8 203.7	Nottingham A610	J26	Ripley, Nottingham A610	52°59′24″N 1°14′04″W / 52.98991°N 1.23455°W / 52.98991; -1.23455 (M1, Junction)
131.5 132.0	211.7 212.4	Heanor, Hucknall A608	J27	Mansfield A608	53°03′48″N 1°16′09″W / 53.06342°N 1.26909°W / 53.06342; -1.26909 (M1, Junction 27)
135.0 135.5	217.2 218.0	Derby A38 Matlock (A615)	J28	Mansfield A38 Matlock (A615)	53°06′05″N 1°19′26″W / 53.10129°N 1.32398°W / 53.10129; -1.32398 (M1, Junction 28)
138.3	222.5	Tibshelf services	Services	Tibshelf services	53°08′19″N 1°19′51″W / 53.13848°N 1.33093°W / 53.13848; -1.33093 (M1, Tibshelf services)
141.7 142.3	228.1 229.0	Mansfield A617 Matlock (A632)	J29	Chesterfield A617	53°11′52″N 1°19′22″W / 53.19773°N 1.32287°W / 53.19773; -1.32287 (M1, Junction 29)
		Markham Vale A6192 Bolsover (A632)	J29a	Markham Vale A6192 Bolsover (A632)	53°14′47″N 1°19′52″W / 53.24647°N 1.33111°W / 53.24647; -1.33111 (M1, Junction 29a)
148.4 148.8	238.9 239.5	Chesterfield (A619) Newark A616	J30	Sheffield (S) A6135 Worksop (A619)	53°17′11″N 1°17′46″W / 53.28651°N 1.29604°W / 53.28651; -1.29604 (M1, Junction 30)
151.3	243.5	Woodall services	Services	Woodall services	53°18′56″N 1°16′56″W / 53.31552°N 1.28214°W / 53.31552; -1.28214 (M1, Woodall services)
153.8 154.2	247.5 248.2	Worksop A57	J31	Sheffield (SE), Rotherham (S) A57	53°21′44″N 1°17′00″W / 53.36221°N 1.28347°W / 53.36221; -1.28347 (M1, Junction 31)
156.3 156.6	251.6 252.1	The NORTH, Doncaster, Hull M18	J32 M18 interchange	The NORTH, Doncaster, Hull, Rotherham (E) M18	53°23′30″N 1°16′56″W / 53.39160°N 1.28231°W / 53.39160; -1.28231 (M1, Junction 32 - M1-M18 interchange)
158.8 159.2	255.6 256.2	Sheffield (C), Rotherham (C) A630	J33	Sheffield (C), Rotherham (C) A630	53°23′55″N 1°20′59″W / 53.39848°N 1.34977°W / 53.39848; -1.34977 (M1, Junction 33)
161.5 161.7	259.9 260.3	Sheffield (E), Rotherham (C), Meadowhall A6109:	J34	Sheffield (E), Rotherham (C), Meadowhall A6178:	53°25′03″N 1°24′23″W / 53.41754°N 1.40634°W / 53.41754; -1.40634 (M1, Junction 34)
164.9 165.4	265.4 266.2	Rotherham (N) A629	J35	Rotherham (N) A629	53°27′21″N 1°26′43″W / 53.45581°N 1.44539°W / 53.45581; -1.44539 (M1, Junction 35)
166.7 166.9	268.2 268.6	No access	J35a	Manchester A616	53°28′31″N 1°27′32″W / 53.47525°N 1.45891°W / 53.47525; -1.45891 (M1, Junction 35a)
168.0 168.5	270.3 271.2	Sheffield (N), Barnsley A61	J36	Barnsley (S) A61	53°29′47″N 1°28′32″W / 53.49632°N 1.47547°W / 53.49632; -1.47547 (M1, Junction 36)
172.1 172.6	276.9 277.8	Barnsley, Manchester A628	J37	Manchester, Barnsley A628	53°32′55″N 1°30′56″W / 53.54872°N 1.51568°W / 53.54872; -1.51568 (M1, Junction 37)
176.4 176.9	283.9 284.7	Huddersfield A637	J38	Huddersfield A637	53°36′11″N 1°33′03″W / 53.60297°N 1.55092°W / 53.60297; -1.55092 (M1, Junction 38)
178.5	287.2	Woolley Edge services	Services	Woolley Edge services	53°37′18″N 1°32′54″W / 53.62161°N 1.54821°W / 53.62161; -1.54821 (M1, Woolley Edge services)
179.9 180.4	289.5 290.4	Denby Dale A636	J39	Wakefield A636	53°39′02″N 1°31′43″W / 53.65064°N 1.52869°W / 53.65064; -1.52869 (M1, Junction)
182.6 183.0	293.8 294.5	Wakefield, Dewsbury A638	J40	Dewsbury, Wakefield A638	53°41′01″N 1°33′18″W / 53.68357°N 1.55508°W / 53.68357; -1.55508 (M1, Junction 40)
185.1 185.6	297.9 298.7	Wakefield, Morley A650	J41	Wakefield A650	53°42′56″N 1°32′07″W / 53.71556°N 1.53534°W / 53.71556; -1.53534 (M1, Junction 41)
186.5 187.0	300.1 301.0	Hull, Pontefract, Manchester, Bradford M62	J42 M62 interchange	Manchester, Bradford, Leeds/Bradford Hull M62	53°43′51″N 1°30′43″W / 53.73087°N 1.51195°W / 53.73087; -1.51195 (M1, Junction 42 - M1-M62 interchange)
188.4 189.0	303.2 304.1	No access	J43	Leeds M621	53°45′17″N 1°30′53″W / 53.75460°N 1.51461°W / 53.75460; -1.51461 (M1, Junction 43)
189.4 189.9	304.8 305.6	Leeds A639 (M621)	J44	Leeds (S) A639	53°45′45″N 1°29′29″W / 53.76256°N 1.49139°W / 53.76256; -1.49139 (M1, Junction 44)
190.8 191.2	307.1 307.7	Leeds A63	J45	Leeds (SE) A63	53°46′34″N 1°28′13″W / 53.77613°N 1.47041°W / 53.77613; -1.47041 (M1, Junction 45)
193.7 194.0	311.7 312.2	Leeds (E) A6120	J46	Leeds (E), Leeds/Bradford A6120 Selby A63	53°47′31″N 1°25′35″W / 53.79198°N 1.42646°W / 53.79198; -1.42646 (M1, Junction 46)
196.6 197.0	316.4 317.1	Castleford A656 Garforth A642	J47	Garforth A642 The SOUTH (A1(M))	53°48′20″N 1°21′41″W / 53.80557°N 1.36149°W / 53.80557; -1.36149 (M1, Junction 47)
197.7	318.1	Start of motorway	A1(M), J43 Northern terminus	The NORTH, Wetherby A1(M) York (A64)	53°49′18″N 1°20′19″W / 53.82178°N 1.33866°W / 53.82178; -1.33866 (M1, Northern terminus with A1(M))
Notes Data from driver location signs/distance marker posts are used to provide distance and carriageway identification information. Where a junction spans several hundred metres and the data is available, both the start and finish values for the junction are shown. Coordinate data from ACME Mapper.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Images for kids

• 

  Looking north from B579 bridge at Chalton. Former cement works at Sundon to the right (May 1958)

• 

  Looking north from a similar position south of Toddington services (July 1959)

• 

  The M1 and M621 interchange on the northbound carriageways at Leeds

• 

  Map showing construction dates of sections of the M1

• 

  M1 at Junction 4. The old overhead lane control gantries are still visible, which were replaced with newer, verge-mounted MS4 variable message signs in 2008.

See also

In Spanish: Autopista M1 (Reino Unido) para niños