When you see a road sign stating how far to a particular town or city, what does it actually mean? Is it a predetermined point in the centre of the town, or is it when you enter the boundary.
normally its a landmark building such as a cathedral, townhall etc. London’s is charing cross I belive.
It’s the centre of the town/city and yes, Charing Cross in the case of London.
I once nearly ended up scrapping, it started with a sign that said " York 2 miles" and then 100 yards later " welcome to York"
Bloke was bad mouthing Yorkshire and this was his ammunition.
sorry chaps but in london its marble arch.
There is a plaque on the pavement marking the origin for distance measurement behind the statue of King Charles I on the roundabout immediately south of Trafalgar square. The site of the original Charing (Leonore) Cross.
In the past it has been Marble Arch,south end of London Bridge, south end of Westminster Bridge, doors of Bow Church etc.
Thanks OP. Had an entertaining research into this.
I can’t find out if they’re road distances or crow-flying distances.
I was told it was the measurement to the town centres (main) Post Office… 
The wife of Edward first (?) died on their travels in the north. He brought her body back to London and every place they stopped overnight he renamed the place … cross. Waltham Cross, Gerrards cross and buried her at charing Cross.
bbc.co.uk/london/content/art … ture.shtml
Sorry I can’t copy the text.
As far as other cities are concerned, I seem to recall it being the main post office too.
mick.mh2racing:
The wife of Edward first (?) died on their travels in the north. He brought her body back to London and every place they stopped overnight he renamed the place … cross. Waltham Cross, Gerrards cross and buried her at charing Cross.
Correct, Queen Eleanor of Castille, I believe.
I think there was about a dozen places where they stopped but I can’t remember where else. Anyone?
McD’s, KFC and Wetherspoons
mick.mh2racing:
I think there was about a dozen places where they stopped but I can’t remember where else. Anyone?
I think it was something like abbeys, chapels etc for prayers to be said.
raymundo:
McD’s, KFC and Wetherspoons
Must have stooped at quite a few Wetherspoons if they went from up north to London via Waltham Cross AND Gerards Cross!!!
By all accounts the water wasn’t fit to drink in them days so ale was the preferred option, so you’re probably right.
In the year 1290 King Edward was in Scotland on an important trip awaiting the arrival of his wife, Queen Eleanor. On her journey to meet him she was taken ill with a fever and died shortly after at a manor house near Lincoln.The Queen’s body was to be taken from Lincoln to Westminster Abbey for a state burial. The grief stricken King decided that twelve memorial crosses would be installed at each stopping point of her funeral procession.The twelve sites for memorial crosses were:Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford, Geddington, Hardingstone, Stony Stratford, Woburn, Dunstable, St. Albans, Waltham, Cheapside (West Cheap), Charing Cross.The original cross was south of Trafalgar Square where the statue of King Charles I now stands. A plaque can be found on the floor behind the statue stating that mileage distances on road signage are still measured from this point.
mick.mh2racing:
I think there was about a dozen places where they stopped but I can’t remember where else. Anyone?
raymundo:
By all accounts the water wasn’t fit to drink in them days so ale was the preferred option, so you’re probably right.
Sounds like Swindon Truckstop.
On a Map are 2 Marks the Way along with a Number between. The Number (in Blue) is Miles or Kilometers,and the 2 Marks show from where to where.
And,As they are simple Minded ther dont have a Number from A to B and B to A. The Number counts in both directions between the 2 Way Points.
Some Map may show you Town Centre and some are an Outside Way Point. (Start of Motorway is easy to see as Numers are bigger written then A Roads and B roads have it in different Colours