When was the first motorway M1 opened?

The first motorway opened in Britain was the M6 (M=Motorway). It was known as the Preston Bypass. It was opened in 1958.

When it was planned, the Preston Bypass was seen as the first piece of a large network. It was deemed a success and led to the construction of a second motorway, the M1, opened in 1959.

There was no speed limit and no crash barriers and hardly any traffic -- now that's what I call motoring!

The M6 is also Britain's longest motorway and Britain's busiest.