A1 road facts for kids

Quick facts for kids A1 road
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Route information
Part of E15
Length	410 mi (660 km)
Major junctions
South end	City of London
	A40 road A406 road M1 motorway A41 road M25 motorway A421 road A428 road A14 road A15 road A47 road A16 road A606 road A43 road A52 road A17 road A46 road A57 road M18 motorway M62 motorway A63 road A64 road A168 road A61 road A66 road A66(M) motorway A689 road A690 road A194(M) motorway A1231 road A19 road A69 road A167 road A720 road
North end	Edinburgh55°57′08″N 3°11′19″W / 55.9522°N 3.1886°W / 55.9522; -3.1886
Location
Primary destinations:	Hatfield, Hertford, Stevenage, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Stamford, Grantham, Newark-on-Trent, Retford, Doncaster, Pontefract, Leeds, Wetherby, Harrogate, Scotch Corner, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, Morpeth, Alnwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Haddington, Edinburgh
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones

The A1 is a very important and long road in Great Britain. It is also known as the Great North Road. This road stretches all the way from London, England, up to Edinburgh in Scotland.

It is about 410 miles (660 km) long. This makes it the longest numbered road in the United Kingdom. The A1 connects many towns and cities. It also has many junctions with other major roads and motorways.

What is the A1 Road?

The A1 is a main route that runs along the eastern side of England. It goes from the south to the north. It helps people travel between London and Edinburgh.

Even though it is not always a motorway, much of the A1 is built to very high standards. This means it is often wide and fast. It is one of two main roads that go from London to the North. The other big road is the M1 motorway.

A Journey Through History

The A1 follows a very old path. For much of its length, it uses the route of an ancient Roman road called Ermine Street. The Romans built these roads thousands of years ago.

Later, this same path became a popular route for horse-drawn coaches. These coaches carried people and mail between London and Edinburgh. So, the A1 has been an important travel route for hundreds of years.

Key Places Along the A1

As you travel along the A1, you pass through many interesting places. It goes through different landscapes and counties.

From London to the North

The road starts in the busy City of London. It then heads north, passing through counties like Nottinghamshire. Here, the road goes near the famous Sherwood Forest. This forest is known from the legends of Robin Hood.

Famous Landmarks You'll See

Further north, in North Yorkshire, you will reach a place called Scotch Corner. This spot has been important for a very long time. It is where travelers going to Glasgow and western Scotland would split off from those going to Edinburgh. This has been happening for centuries.

From North Yorkshire to Durham, the A1 follows another old Roman road. This one is called Dere Street. Dere Street used to connect the Roman city of Eboracum (which is now York) to the Antonine Wall in Scotland.

A1(M): Motorway Sections

Some parts of the A1 are built like a motorway. These special sections are called A1(M). They are designed for faster travel. They have fewer exits and entrances. This helps traffic flow more smoothly.