5 Shocking Ways England Still Uses Miles (And The Bizarre Hybrid System Tourists Must Know In 2025)

Yes, they absolutely use miles in England, and this fact remains one of the United Kingdom's most curious and enduring quirks in the global measurement landscape. As of December 2025, all road signs for distance and all speed limits across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are officially measured and displayed using the imperial system—specifically, miles and miles per hour (mph). This makes the UK a unique outlier in Europe, which overwhelmingly uses the metric system's kilometres and kilometres per hour (kph).

The UK operates on a complex, often confusing, "hybrid" system, where the metric system is mandatory for most trade and commerce, yet the traditional imperial units—including the mile, yard, foot, and the famous pint—are legally retained for specific, high-profile uses. This article dives deep into the legal, historical, and political reasons behind this choice, providing the most current update on the future of the mile in Britain, including the latest government reviews on imperial measurements.

The Definitive Answer: Why England Still Drives in Miles (and MPH)

For anyone driving or navigating in England, the mile is the only unit of long-distance measurement you will encounter on official signage. This is not a matter of tradition alone; it is enshrined in law, a deliberate exception made during the UK’s staggered process of metrication. The legal framework governing this is clear and consistent across the entire country.

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Road Signs, Speed Limits, and the Law

• Distance Signs: All directional and distance signs on motorways and A-roads are displayed in miles, or fractions of a mile. For shorter distances, such as to the next junction or turning, the unit of measurement switches to yards. This continued use of the yard (1,760 yards = 1 mile) is another distinctly imperial feature.
• Speed Limits: Every speed limit sign you see—from the 30 mph urban limits to the 70 mph national motorway limit—is designated in miles per hour (mph). This is a critical distinction from mainland European countries, which use kilometres per hour (kph).
• The Legal Basis: The current legal mandate for using miles and yards on UK road signs is maintained under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions Act 2016. This law explicitly prohibits the use of metric units like kilometres or metres for speed and distance on public roads, ensuring the mile remains king of the road.

The primary reason the UK government halted the full switch to kilometres in the transport sector, despite beginning the metrication process in the 1960s, was the perceived high cost and massive logistical challenge of changing every single road sign in the country. Public opposition and a strong cultural attachment to the mile also played a significant role in the decision to create this permanent exception.

The UK’s Bizarre Hybrid System: Imperial vs. Metric

Understanding the UK's measurement system requires knowing that the mile is just one part of a confusing patchwork. The country is officially a metric nation for most purposes, but the government allows a parallel use of several imperial units. This creates a "halfway house" system that can baffle visitors and even younger generations of Britons who were primarily educated using the metric system.

A Quick Guide to UK Measurements (Imperial vs. Metric)

While the mile dominates long-distance travel, other measurements are split between the two systems. Here is a breakdown of what you will typically encounter:

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• Road Distance & Speed: Imperial (Miles, Yards, Miles per Hour).
• Fuel Sales: Metric (Litres). Although a car's fuel economy is often discussed in 'miles per gallon' (mpg), the actual petrol or diesel is purchased by the litre.
• Weight (Food & Produce): Metric (Grams and Kilograms) is mandatory for trade, but many market stalls and older Britons still offer produce in pounds and ounces, sometimes displaying both units.
• Height & Personal Distance: Imperial (Feet and Inches) is overwhelmingly preferred for measuring a person’s height. Metric (Centimetres/Metres) is common in medical and construction fields.
• Short Distances & Construction: Metric (Metres and Centimetres) is the standard in construction, engineering, and most technical industries.
• Volume (Drinks): Imperial (Pints). The pint (568ml) is legally retained for the sale of draught beer, cider, and milk in returnable bottles. All other liquids, such as bottled water or soft drinks, are sold in metric units (millilitres and litres).
• Temperature: Metric (Degrees Celsius) is the standard for weather forecasts and daily use, though older generations still commonly use Fahrenheit.

This dual system means a Briton might measure their height in feet and inches, buy a pint of beer, drive 50 miles per hour, but purchase 5 kilograms of flour and 20 litres of petrol. The mile, therefore, is a powerful cultural anchor for the imperial system.

The History of Metrication and the 2025 Imperial Review

The UK’s relationship with the mile is a story of national identity, economic necessity, and political debate. The formal process of 'going metric' began in 1965 with a government announcement to phase out imperial units over a ten-year period. This was largely driven by the need to align with European trading partners and the global scientific community.

The Imperial Holdout

By the 1990s and 2000s, most sectors had successfully metricated, but the road network remained a significant exception. The cost of conversion, estimated to be hundreds of millions of pounds, coupled with strong public resistance—often framed as a defence of British tradition—led to the mile being officially exempted from the metrication process. This decision solidified the mile's place in the British transport sector.

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The Latest Update: The 2024–2025 Government Review

In a significant and recent development, the status of imperial measurements, including the mile, has been brought back into the political spotlight. Following the UK's departure from the European Union (Brexit), the government launched a review of weights and measures legislation. This review, which has been a topic of discussion throughout 2024 and 2025, aims to potentially increase the use of imperial units in trade and daily life, reversing decades of metric-first policy.

While the focus of the review has been on allowing the more widespread use of pounds and ounces for trade, it has reignited the broader debate over the UK’s identity and its measurement systems. Although there are no current plans to switch road distances to kilometres—a move that would be incredibly unpopular and expensive—the conversation around promoting imperial units strengthens the cultural significance of the existing mile-based system. Any future legislation, such as the proposed Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, will be closely watched to see if it further entrenches the mile or opens the door to future change.

Converting from Miles to Kilometres (and Back)

For international visitors or those needing to convert between the two systems, here are the essential conversion factors:

• 1 Mile = 1.60934 Kilometres
• 1 Kilometre = 0.62137 Miles

A simple rule of thumb for quick mental conversion is that 5 miles is approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles ≈ 8 km), and 50 mph is roughly 80 kph. This conversion is a necessity for many British Army vehicles and NATO forces operating in the UK, whose equipment is calibrated in metric, demonstrating the persistent friction between the two systems.

In conclusion, the mile is not just surviving in England; it is thriving in its most visible and critical application: the road network. Despite the UK being largely metric, the mile, the yard, and the mph speed limit are firmly established as the legal standard for long-distance travel, a status that remains unchanged and is even being culturally reinforced by recent government discussions in 2025. When travelling in England, you must think in miles.