Are miles or kilometers used in England?

Answer 1

Miles and kilometres for distances

Although public administration, construction and trade is carried out overwhelmingly in metric in the United Kingdom, speed limits and distances on road signs remain in miles and yards only with no provision for signage in kilometres. The railways also work mainly in miles. In line with this, miles are far more commonly referred to in conversation than kilometres.

Kilometres are not unfamiliar or unused, however. They are used in planning documents and technical reports, on some pedestrian signage and motorway location markers, and on the most recently constructed or renovated railway routes. Print and broadcast news regarding events outside the UK increasingly quotes distances in kilometres without reporters feeling the need to convert back to miles.

Cars have speedometers shown in both miles and kilometres but with miles in larger numerals. The official 'Highway Code' lists everything in miles with km in brackets for comparison, although the Police will always refer to speed in miles per hour.

Although neighbouring Ireland managed to complete a conversion of road signs from miles to km in 2005, there is no official plan to convert signage from miles to kilometres in the UK.

Other road signs

Weight restrictions are now always signposted in metric tonnes. The newest height and width restriction signs give measurements in metres first with an equivalent in feet and inches, although the local government body erecting any such sign may still use an older versions of the sign that shows only feet and inches legally.