Typical Symbols shown on Directional Signs with Examples

Green backgrounds represent a directional sign on a Primary Route.

In some cases they can be used to guide pedestrians, cycles and equestrians of a particular route to take. These signs have a pedestrian, cycle or horse symbol on them respectively. 

White backgrounds with a black border represent a directional sign on a Non-Primary Route, or a local route.

Blue backgrounds are used for Motorways.

In some cases they can be used to guide pedestrians, cycles and equestrians of a particular route to take. These signs have a pedestrian, cycle or horse symbol on them respectively. 

Black backgrounds are used to direct goods vehicle traffic to a suitable route.

White backgrounds with red borders are used to direct traffic to an Ministry of Defence site.

Brown backgrounds are used to direct traffic to a tourist attraction or a tourist route.

Yellow backgrounds are used on signs that are used to denote a temporary or diversion route.

Red backgrounds are used on signs that are used to denote a route for works traffic through road works.

This panel is used to indicate a motorway commences from the junction ahead.

This panel is used to indicate a Primary route commences from the junction ahead.

This panel is used to indicate a Non primary route commences from the junction ahead.

This panel is used to indicate a tourist attraction can be reached  from the junction ahead.

This panel is used to indicate a route that goods vehicles should use to reach the destination

This panel is used to indicate a Ministry of Defence site.

This panel is used to indicate a cycle route that cyclists can use to reacha destination

Upper: Panel indicating a route to a motorway service area, access to which is reached from a primary or non-primary route

Lower: Panel indicating a route to services on primary or non-primary route (Shown on a primary route sign)

Route leading directly to a motorway (for use on signs indicating a motorway entry slip road)

Route for goods vehicles

Route for pedal cycles

Route for pedestrians

Route equestrians

Airport

National Rail Station

UPPER: London Underground station.

LOWER: London Buses station.

Vehicular Ferry. The symbols have either a car, lorry or both to denote the applicable vehicles that can use it.

Pedestrian Ferry.

Examples of temporary diversion routes. Traffic should follow these symbols to reach the original route.

Recycling Centre

Public Toilets

Facilites for Disabled Pedestrians

Shopmobility

Public Telephone

Road Charging

Police Station

Hospital with A&E

Hospital with A&E, but not 24hrs

Hospital without A&E

Park and Ride Scheme, that utilises a bus

Park and Ride Scheme, that utilises the London Underground

Park and Ride Scheme, that utilises a tram

Off-street Parking Place suitable for all vehicles

Off-street Parking Place suitable for motorcars

Off-street Parking Place suitable for buses

Off-street Parking Place suitable for motorcyles

Off-street Parking Place suitable for caravans

Off-street Parking Place suitable for HGVs

Off-street Parking Place suitable for electric motorcyles

Off-street Parking Place suitable for electric motorcars

Off-street Parking Place with an information point

Off-street parking for cycles

Off-street parking for cycles

 Regional CycleRoute

National Cycle Route

Junction number for a motorway junction

Tourist Information Point

Castle of historic or architectural interest

House of historic or architectural interest

Picnic site

Youth hostel

Caravan camping site

Outdoor camping site

Woodland recreation area

Viewpoint

Light refreshments

Restaurant

Overnight accommodation

National Trust property

Manx National Heritage site

Flower garden

Tourist or historic railway

Watersports activity

Church

Cathederal

Wildlife Park

Windmill

Zoo

Agricultural museum

Equestrian centre

Country park

Bird garden

Pleasure or theme park

Nature reserve

Historic dockyard

Air museum

Farm park

Pottery or craft centre

Manx Electric Railway

Laxey Wheel

Manx Crosses

Raad ny Foillan (Way of the Gull)

Tunnel

Headroom through an arch bridge or obstruction

Zebra crossing

Cattle grid

Open tram crossing

Low electrified cables

Cycle crossing

UPPER: No left turn
LOWER: No right turn

No U-turn

No entry to vehicular traffic

No vehicles (with exception plate)

Environmental weight limit

White arrows are used on signs with a blue, brown or black backgrounds

Red arrows are only used in conjunction with a red bordered sign to denote a Ministry of Defence site. 

Black arrows are used on signs with a white or yellow background

These arrows are used to denote a u-turn is required at a roundabout ahead.

A named crossroads ahead with non-primary routes extending left and right, with a tourist destination. The M11 can be reached by turning onto another route ahead.

 A non-primary route to the left ahead.

A sign on a non-primary route where the destinations have distances in miles. 

A non-primary directional sign where a cycle route extends from the left and a parking place for buses and cars are to the right.

These symbols are used to denote an exit slip road on motorway or dual carriageway.

This denotes a roundabout. Below are different symbols for different roundabout types

This symbol is used to denote a double roundabout. Two roundabouts are connected by a short spur. 

This symbol is used to denote a roundabout ahead with a dedicated lane to the first exit

This symbol is used to denote a mini-roundabout ahead.

This symbol is used to denote a double mini-roundabout ahead. Two roundabouts are connected by a short spur, or are immediately after one another.

This symbol is used to denote a roundabout that has a motorway commence from it. The longer arms denote the exit that drivers take in order to avoid driving onto the exit slip road.

This symbol is used to denote a u-turn is required at a roundabout in order to reach a destination. This is usually used where a righ turn is prohibited due to a physical barrier or central reservation. 

This symbol is used to denote a a bypassed town or village. It is generally used as an alternative to conventional advance direction signs and are therefore applicable to local unnumbered routes leading into the town or village. The purpose of the sign is to indicate to drivers that the route through the town or villag leads back to the main route on which they are travelling

This symbol is used to denote a route that is a no through route for vehicles. The symbol on the left is used with non-primary routes and the right is used on primary routes.

Indication of appropriate traffic lanes at a junction or at a junction ahead where the left hand lane leads to one  route and the two right hand lanes lead to another (destinations placed above the arrows and horizontal bar)

Indication of appropriate traffic lanes at a junction or at a junction ahead where the routes reached from both the left hand and right hand lanes can also be reached from the centre lane (destinations placed above the horizontal bars)

Indication of appropriate traffic lanes that diverge at a junction (destinations placed above the arrows and horizontal bar)

Indication of appropriate traffic lanes at a junction or at a junction ahead where the centre lane divides into two directions (destinations placed above the horizontal bars)