Quick answer
Direction signs are colour-coded by road type. Blue backgrounds are for motorways, green for primary routes and white for other, local routes. Brown signs point to tourist attractions. Yellow signs with black symbols mark temporary diversions. Route numbers in brackets are roads reached further along that route.
What does each direction sign mean?
Each sign is shown with its official meaning from the Department for Transport. Tap through to the quiz when you’re ready to test yourself.
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100 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a non-primary route -
100 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a primary route -
200 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a non-primary route -
200 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a primary route -
300 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a non-primary route -
300 yards to a roundabout or the next point at which traffic may leave a primary route -
Additional traffic joining from the left ahead (non-primary route) -
Additional traffic lane joining from the left ahead (non-primary routes) -
Additional traffic lane joining from the left in 200 yards. Traffic on main carriageway had priority over joining traffic from the right hand lane of the slip road (primary routes) -
Additional traffic lanes joining from the right ahead. Traffic in the right hand lane joins the main carriageway. Traffic on the main carriageway has priority over joining traffic (primary route) -
Camping and caravan site 300 yards ahead -
Camping and caravan site 300 yards in the direction indicated -
Direction ahead leading to a route for emergency vehicles to an emergency services incident point -
Direction along a route passing through places of interest recognised by a regional tourist board or the English tourist board -
Direction and distance to a multi-storey parking place -
Direction and distance to a tourist attraction -
Direction and distance to a Tourist Information point or centre -
Direction and distance to picnic area -
Direction of temporary diversion route -
Direction of temporary diversion route from junction ahead -
Direction to a lorry park via a U-turn at a roundabout ahead -
Direction to a new housing development -
Direction to a parking place available only on the day specified -
Direction to a parking place for shoppers and showing the total number of spaces -
Direction to a parking place from which a 'Park and Ride' scheme operates -
Direction to a public telephone -
Direction to a shopping area which provides a shopmobility service for disabled people -
Direction to a vehicle ferry -
Direction to destination shown of route advised for goods vehicles -
Direction to public toilets with facilities for disabled people -
Direction to services with details of the services provided -
Direction to tourist attraction indicated by a symbol -
Direction to Vehicle and Operator Services Agency testing station for goods vehicles -
Directions to different types of parking place from a junction ahead -
Distance ahead to parking place with a Tourist Information Point, picnic site, public telephone, public toilets and viewpoint -
Distance ahead to services, with details of the services provided -
Distance and direction to a parking place ahead from which a 'Park and Ride' scheme operates -
Distance to a commercial vehicles parking place ahead with public toilets and telephones -
Diversion route symbol: circular -
Diversion route symbol: square -
Diversion route symbol: Triangular -
End of temporary diversion route -
Entrance or direction to services -
Entrance or junction ahead to services -
General directions to different types of parking place -
Historic castle tourist attraction 10 miles ahead -
Junction ahead leading to a car ferry -
Junction ahead leading to a destination advised for goods vehicles -
Junction ahead leading to a London underground railway station -
Junction ahead leading to a route for emergency vehicles to a temporary incident control point -
Junction ahead leading to a temporary diversion route, follow symbolic route -
Junction ahead leading to a tourist attraction -
Junction ahead leading to route advised for goods vehicles -
Junction ahead of a primary route with non-primary route through a town or village that has been by-passed -
Location of a Tourist information point or centre -
Managed youth hostel 1 mile ahead -
Picnic area 150 yards ahead -
Roundabout ahead leading to a temporary diversion route to the destination shown -
Start of temporary diversion route to the left -
Start of temporary diversion route to the right -
Steam railway tourist attraction 100 yards ahead -
Tourist attraction ahead is closed -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: beach -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: bird garden -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: castle of historic or architectural interest -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: country park -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: cricket ground -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: cycle hire -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: farm park -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: fishing -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: football ground -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: golf course -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: House of historic or architectural importance -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: motor sport -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: national Trust property -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: nature reserve -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: peasure or theme park -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: race course -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: safari park -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: site with Roman remains -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: ski slope -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: ten pin bowling -
Tourist symbol for England and Wales: tourist Information Point or Centre -
Tourist symbol for England only : museum or art gallery -
Tourist symbol for England only: property in the care of English heritage -
Tourist symbol for England only: sports centre -
Tourist symbol for England only: Tourist attraction recognised by a regional tourist board or the English Tourist Board -
Tourist symbol for Scotland only: tourist attraction recognised by 'VisitScotland' -
Tourist symbol for Wales only: Tourist attraction recognised by the Welsh tourist board -
Youth hostel 200 yards in the direction indicated
Ready to test yourself on road signs?
The free road signs quiz uses the same official artwork, with an explanation for every answer. Revise the rules behind them in our Road & Traffic Signs guide.
Start the road signs quizFrequently asked questions
How do you recognise direction signs?
Direction signs are colour-coded by road type. Blue backgrounds are for motorways, green for primary routes and white for other, local routes. Brown signs point to tourist attractions. Yellow signs with black symbols mark temporary diversions. Route numbers in brackets are roads reached further along that route.
Do direction signs come up in the theory test?
Yes. Signs appear throughout the theory test, mainly in the Road & Traffic Signs topic and also in topics such as Road & Traffic Signs. Practise with our free questions until you can read each sign from its shape and colour.
Which other road sign categories should you learn?
Traffic sign images: Crown copyright, Department for Transport. Reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence · Source.