- For the "flying tank", see Antonov A-40, for details of the A40 in london, see A40 road (London). WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs from outside St
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| A40 road | |
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|---|---|
| Holborn Viaduct carries the A40 | |
| Direction | East - West (London Radial) |
| Start | City of London |
| Primary destinations1 | Uxbridge Beaconsfield High Wycombe Oxford Cheltenham Gloucester Ross-on-Wye Monmouth Abergavenny Brecon Carmarthen Haverfordwest |
| End | Fishguard |
| Roads joined |  M40 Junctions 1, 2, 3 (northbound only), 5, 8 (northbound only, to Oxford on (A40) only) & 8A M5 Junction 11 A1 road A4 road A41 road A406 road A404 road A38 road A417 road A48 road A449 road |
| Euroroute(s) | |
Notes
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The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales. A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major Road &mdashusually connecting two or more cities, Ports Airports London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Fishguard (Abergwaun = "Mouth of the River Gwaun " is a coastal Town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3300 It is 256 miles long.
It is one of the few remaining of the "old" trunk routes not to have been superseded by a direct motorway link, though some parts, such as the southern section from London to Oxford are served by the M40. Motorway is a term for both a type of Road and a classification or designation Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, The M40 Motorway is a motorway in the English Transport network that connects London to Birmingham. Edward Platt authored a book entitled Leadville, an intriguing mix of sociology and town planning, and a record of how the A40 was conceived and how it shaped and continues to influence those who live beside and travel on it.
Part of the A40 forms a section of the unsigned Euroroute E30. The international E-road network is a numbering system for Roads in Europe developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE. European route E30 is an A-Class West - East European route, extending from the southern Irish port of Cork in the west to the
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Road Description
The road varies from a winding country road to a motorway standard road in places:
- In central London, it forms High Holborn and Oxford Street. Holborn (ˈhoʊbɚn or /ˈhoʊbɝːn/ "ho bun" is an area of Central London, England Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in London, England in the City of Westminster. For the A40 in London, see A40 road (London). The A40 in London is an A road in Central and West London. It runs from outside St
- At Paddington, it forms the Westway, an elevated motorway which takes the A40 to meet Western Avenue. The Westway is a 25 mile-long elevated Dual carriageway section of the A40 route in west London running from Paddington to North Kensington Western Avenue, some 10 miles (16 km in length is one of the major roads leading out of London, England.
- With two exceptions, Western Avenue forms a grade-separated motorway standard dual-carriageway between Paddington (Westway) and the M40 motorway, which goes off towards Oxford and Birmingham. The M40 Motorway is a motorway in the English Transport network that connects London to Birmingham. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um The two exceptions are Gypsy Corner and Savoy Circus, both of which cause the traffic to stop at traffic lights. For the greater part, the road is six lanes wide, with stretches of four lane road.
- At Denham Roundabout, the six lane Western Avenue becomes the M40. The Denham Roundabout is a large road intersection to the west of London at junction 1 (J1 on the M40 motorway. The M40 Motorway is a motorway in the English Transport network that connects London to Birmingham. The A40 then follows the motorway, using the dual carriageway of the A413. The The A413 is a major Road in England that links Gerrards Cross to Towcester.
- A few miles later, the dual carriageway bends away as the A413. The A40 then becomes a single carriageway winding its way through Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the It passes along many town centres such as High Wycombe and Beaconsfield, becoming dual carriageway for brief periods whilst in the towns. See also High Wycombe Western Australia High Wycombe (hai ˈwɪk
- The A40 follows the M40 for 25 miles, meeting it at M40 J1,3,5 and 8A. At junction 8A, the A40 meets the motorway for the last time. At the end of the M40 Oxford spur, the A40 takes over with a dual carriageway towards Oxford, forming the northern part of the Oxford Ring Road. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, Construction The first section of the Oxford ring road was built from Headington to Banbury Road in the mid-1930s and is now part of the A40. Some of the junctions are grade separated, although most are roundabouts.
- After the road passes under the A34(no junction), the A40 reverts back to single carriageway for ten miles. The A34 is a major road in England. It runs from the A6042 in Salford to Winchester in Hampshire. It then turns to dual carriageway again to form the Witney bypass, with a grade separated junction. Witney is a town (population 23765 — 2001 census) in Oxfordshire, England, 12 miles west of Oxford and just north of the A40 The dual carriageway then finishes at a roundabout.
- For the rest of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire until Cheltenham, the road is single carriageway. History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the History See also History of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century Education The road travels through Cheltenham city centre and afterwards becomes dual carriageway and has a junction with the M5 motorway. This article is about the M5 motorway in England See M5 for other roads numbered "M5" The junction is a three-level stacked roundabout, where neither road is interrupted. The A40 then forms the Gloucester bypass, most of which is dual carriageway. Gloucester (ˈɡlɒstɚ) is a city, district and County town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England.
- For the rest of Gloucestershire, and a part of Herefordshire, the road is single carriageway until Ross-on-Wye. Constitution Herefordshire was reconstituted both as a new Non-metropolitan district (effective 19th July 1996 and as a new County comprising the area of the Ross-on-Wye ( Welsh: Rhosan ar Wy) is a small Market town with a population of 10089 (according to the 2001 census in southeastern Herefordshire It then connects with the M50 motorway. After this, forms part of a high quality dual carriageway between South Wales and the Midlands, with only one roundabout and numerous grade-separated junctions. South Wales (De Cymru is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south and Mid Wales and West Wales This article is mainly about the English Midlands For other uses see Midlands (disambiguation.
- In Monmouthshire, the A40 has a grade separated junction with the A449, which continues as dual carriageway to Newport and the M4. Ancient county See also Monmouthshire (historic The ancient county of Monmouthshire was formed from the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales The A449 is a major road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from junction 24 of the M4 motorway at Newport in South Wales to Stafford Newport (Casnewydd is a city and principal area in Wales, in the United Kingdom. The M4 motorway is a Motorway in Great Britain linking London with Wales. The A40 now travels west, still as dual carriageway to Abergavenny. Abergavenny (Y Fenni meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a Market town in Monmouthshire, Wales.
- After the town, the road returns to single carriageway, for a trip through the Brecon Beacons. The Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog is a Mountain range located in the south-east of Wales. This stretch of road lasts fifty miles to Carmarthen, where dual carriageway resumes for fifteen miles to St. Clears. Carmarthen ( Welsh Caerfyrddin - caer fort + Myrddin Moridunum is the County town of Carmarthenshire, Wales. St Clears ( Welsh: Sanclêr) is a small Town on the River Tâf in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales. After this, the road remains as single carriageway for the rest of way to Fishguard. Fishguard (Abergwaun = "Mouth of the River Gwaun " is a coastal Town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3300
The future
There is call for the stretch between Haverfordwest and St. Clears to be dualled. Haverfordwest (Hwlffordd is the County town of Pembrokeshire, in south-west Wales. St Clears ( Welsh: Sanclêr) is a small Town on the River Tâf in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales. This would then allow for a dual carriageway all the way from London (via the M4 and A48) to Haverfordwest. The M4 motorway is a Motorway in Great Britain linking London with Wales. The A48 is a major Trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen This stretch currently has to handle all traffic going to/from the ferry port at Fishguard to Rosslare, and is very busy. Fishguard (Abergwaun = "Mouth of the River Gwaun " is a coastal Town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3300 The dualling would relieve this congestion.
The route
The route passes through the following places in order:
- In central London:
- The road begins as Newgate Street in the City of London where at St. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically Martin's le Grand it shares its terminus with the A1 north of St. Paul's Cathedral. St Paul's Cathedral, is the Anglican Cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London.
- For the majority of its length in Central London it runs in a westerly direction, becoming in turn:
- Holborn Viaduct
- High Holborn
- St Giles High Street
- New Oxford Street
- Oxford Street (to Marble Arch). Holborn Viaduct is a bridge in London and the name of the street which crosses it (which is a section of the A40) High Holborn is a road in Holborn in central London, England. Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in London, England in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in London, England in the City of Westminster. Marble Arch is a white Carrara Marble monument near Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, at the western end of Oxford Street in
- From Marble Arch, the route previously ran along:
- Bayswater Road
- Notting Hill Gate
- Holland Park Avenue
- Uxbridge Road
- Wood Lane to the junction with The Westway
- However, since 2000 when the designation of the elevated section of the Westway to Paddington was reduced from A40(M) (motorway) to A40, the route has changed to run from Marble Arch along:
- Edgware Road (shared with and signposted as A5)
- The Westway
- to Savoy Circus (so called because it was once a roundabout) where the name changes to Western Avenue as far as the Denham Roundabout where it meets the western extremity of the A4020 road (the old Uxbridge Road) and the start of the M40. Bayswater Road is the main road running across the north of Hyde Park London. Notting Hill Gate is one of the main thoroughfares of Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Wood Lane ( A219, formerly A40) is a street in London. It runs north from Shepherd's Bush, under the Westway (A40 past Wormwood The Westway is a 25 mile-long elevated Dual carriageway section of the A40 route in west London running from Paddington to North Kensington 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Paddington is an area of the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Motorway is a term for both a type of Road and a classification or designation Edgware Road is a major Street which passes through the west of Central London, England, in the City of Westminster. Western Avenue may refer to United Kingdom Western Avenue (London Western Avenue (Cardiff - a major road in Cardiff The Denham Roundabout is a large road intersection to the west of London at junction 1 (J1 on the M40 motorway. The M40 Motorway is a motorway in the English Transport network that connects London to Birmingham.
- Denham
- Gerrards Cross
- Beaconsfield
- High Wycombe
- West Wycombe
- Stokenchurch
- Oxford — part of the Oxford Ring Road. Denham is a Village and Civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England north west of Uxbridge, to Gerrards Cross (sometimes referred to in shorthand as GX is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. See also High Wycombe Western Australia High Wycombe (hai ˈwɪk West Wycombe is a small village three miles due west of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England and is the home of the West Wycombe Caves and Stokenchurch is a Village and Civil parish within Wycombe district in the English county of Buckinghamshire (prior to 1896 in Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, Construction The first section of the Oxford ring road was built from Headington to Banbury Road in the mid-1930s and is now part of the A40.
- Eynsham
- Witney
- Burford
- Northleach
- Charlton Kings
- Cheltenham
- Gloucester
- Highnam
- Huntley
- Ross-on-Wye
- Whitchurch
- Monmouth
- Abergavenny - From Here there are links for Merthyr Tydfil via the A465, Newport and M4 via the A4042 and Hereford via the A465. Eynsham ( is a large Village in Oxfordshire, England, lying between Witney and Oxford, with a population of 4665 Witney is a town (population 23765 — 2001 census) in Oxfordshire, England, 12 miles west of Oxford and just north of the A40 Burford (ˈbɜːfəd is a Cotswold Town in Oxfordshire, England. Northleach is a small Cotswold Market town in Gloucestershire, England. Charlton Kings is a suburb of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England. Education Gloucester (ˈɡlɒstɚ) is a city, district and County town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Highnam is a small village on the outskirts of the city of Gloucester. Huntley, Gloucestershire, is a village on the A40 located seven miles west of Gloucester in the north of the Forest of Dean. Ross-on-Wye ( Welsh: Rhosan ar Wy) is a small Market town with a population of 10089 (according to the 2001 census in southeastern Herefordshire Whitchurch ( Welsh: Llandywynnog) is a Village in Herefordshire named after the church of Saint Dubricius which was originally This is about the Welsh town of Monmouth For other uses see Monmouth (disambiguation. Abergavenny (Y Fenni meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a Market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. Merthyr Tydfil today Government The current Borough boundaries date back to 1974 when the former county borough of Merthyr Tydfil expanded slightly to cover The A465 is a major Road in south Wales. It is more commonly known as the Heads of the Valleys Road because it joins together the north ends Newport (Casnewydd is a city and principal area in Wales, in the United Kingdom. The M4 motorway is a Motorway in Great Britain linking London with Wales. The A4042 is a Trunk road that runs from Abergavenny to Newport in the United Kingdom. Hereford ( ˈhɛrɨfəd is a city, Civil parish and County town of Herefordshire, England. The A465 is a major Road in south Wales. It is more commonly known as the Heads of the Valleys Road because it joins together the north ends
- Brecon — the A40 continues from the west side of Brecon for 8 miles to Sennybridge. Brecon (Aberhonddu is an historic Market town in southern Powys, mid Wales, with a population of roughly 8000 with around 6000 in the surrounding area Sennybridge (Pont Senni is a Village in Powys, Mid Wales, about 40 miles from Cardiff and Swansea. There are links here to Merthyr Tydfil/Brecon Beacons (A470) via the A4215 and to Swansea via the A4067. Merthyr Tydfil today Government The current Borough boundaries date back to 1974 when the former county borough of Merthyr Tydfil expanded slightly to cover The Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog is a Mountain range located in the south-east of Wales. The A470 is a major long-distance connective spine road in Wales, running from Cardiff on the south coast to Llandudno on the north coast List of A roads beginning with 4 in Great Britain starting north of the A4 and south/west of the A5. Swansea ( Abertawe "mouth of the Tawe " is a city and county in Wales. The A4067 road is an A road connecting Swansea with Sennybridge in Wales.
- Llandovery — link for the A483 to Builth Wells. Llandovery ( Llanymddyfri) is a Market town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the River Tywi and the A40 road. Builth Wells (Llanfair ym Muallt is a Town in the modern day Welsh county of Powys, in what was the historic county of Brecknockshire
- Llanwrda — link for the A482 to Lampeter. Llanwrda is a Parish and a Village in the county of Carmarthenshire, west Wales, 3½ Miles from the River Towy, (W Lampeter
- Llandeilo
- Carmarthen - From Here there are links to Lampeter via the A485, Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn via the A484 and The M4 and Swansea via the A48. Llandeilo (or Llandilo is a Town in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Tywi by the A483 Carmarthen ( Welsh Caerfyrddin - caer fort + Myrddin Moridunum is the County town of Carmarthenshire, Wales. Lampeter List of A roads beginning with 4 in Great Britain starting north of the A4 and south/west of the A5. Newcastle Emlyn (Castell Newydd Emlyn is a Town, straddling the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in west Wales (though officially The A484 road is an A road in Wales connecting Swansea with Cardigan. Swansea ( Abertawe "mouth of the Tawe " is a city and county in Wales. The A48 is a major Trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen
- St Clears
- Whitland
- Canaston Bridge
- Haverfordwest
- Fishguard
History of the road number
The original (1923) route of the A40 was the City of London to Fishguard. St Clears ( Welsh: Sanclêr) is a small Town on the River Tâf in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales. Whitland ( Hendy-gwyn; literal translation 'Old White House' or sometimes Hendy-gwyn ar Daf; 'Old white house on the river Taf' is a small Town in Canaston Bridge is a village in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales. Haverfordwest (Hwlffordd is the County town of Pembrokeshire, in south-west Wales. Fishguard (Abergwaun = "Mouth of the River Gwaun " is a coastal Town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3300 The road still begins and ends in the same places, but a number of changes have been made to its route. [1]
The first change dates from 1935, between Ross-on-Wye and Abergavenny. The original route of the A40 was via Skenfrith; this road was renumbered the B4521. The A40 was rerouted via Raglan; between Ross and Raglan it replaced part of the A48, between Raglan and Llanvihangel nigh Usk it replaced the B4234, and between Llanvihangel and Abergavenny it replaced part of the A471.
Subsequently, the A40 was rerouted within west London. Western Avenue dates from the 1930s, but was originally opened as the A403. After the Second World War, the A40 was rerouted along part of the A219 (west of Notting Hill) and Western Avenue. The old route (via Acton, Ealing, Southall,Hayes, Hillingdon and Uxbridge) was renumbered the A4020.
See also
References
Further reading
- Edward Platt, Leadville: A Biography of the A40 (Picador, 2001). The Great Britain road numbering scheme is a Numbering system used to classify and identify all Roads in Great Britain. ISBN 0-330-39263-8.
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Gallery
 The Hoover Building, now a Tesco supermarket, is on the A40 |
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