List of roads zones in Great Britain facts for kids
Have you ever wondered how roads in Great Britain get their names and numbers? It's all part of a clever system! Roads are sorted into different types, mainly 'A roads' and 'B roads'. This helps drivers know how important a road is and where it generally leads. This system makes it easier to find your way around the country.
Contents
Understanding A Roads: Main Routes
A roads are the most important routes in Great Britain. Think of them as the main highways that connect big cities and major towns. They are usually busier and wider than other roads. A roads are designed to carry a lot of traffic over long distances.
Each A road has a number, like A1, A2, or A3. The first digit of the number tells you which 'zone' of Great Britain the road starts in. Imagine Great Britain is divided into nine big pie slices, like a clock face. Zone 1 is in the north, and the numbers go up as you move clockwise around the country. This helps you guess where a road might be just by looking at its number!
For example, the A1 road is a very long road that runs from London all the way up to Edinburgh in Scotland. It's a major route for travel between England and Scotland.
To learn more about how these numbers are chosen, you can look at the article Great Britain road numbering scheme.
A Road Zones: Where They Start
The first number of an A road tells you its starting zone:
- Roads beginning with 1 are in Zone 1
- Roads beginning with 2 are in Zone 2
- Roads beginning with 3 are in Zone 3
- Roads beginning with 4 are in Zone 4
- Roads beginning with 5 are in Zone 5
- Roads beginning with 6 are in Zone 6
- Roads beginning with 7 are in Zone 7
- Roads beginning with 8 are in Zone 8
- Roads beginning with 9 are in Zone 9
Exploring B Roads: Local Connections
B roads are also numbered routes in Great Britain, but they are generally less important than A roads. Think of B roads as connecting smaller towns and villages, or providing alternative routes to A roads. They are often narrower and less busy.
Just like A roads, B roads also have a numbering system. The first digit of a B road's number also tells you which 'zone' it starts in. This zone system is the same as for A roads, helping you understand the general location of the road.
B roads are useful for local journeys. They help people travel between smaller communities without having to use the main A roads all the time. This can make journeys quieter and more scenic.
B Road Zones: Understanding Their Location
The first number of a B road tells you its starting zone:
- Roads beginning with 1 are in Zone 1
- Roads beginning with 2 are in Zone 2
- Roads beginning with 3 are in Zone 3
- Roads beginning with 4 are in Zone 4
- Roads beginning with 5 are in Zone 5
- Roads beginning with 6 are in Zone 6
- Roads beginning with 7 are in Zone 7
- Roads beginning with 8 are in Zone 8
- Roads beginning with 9 are in Zone 9