View source for A44 road

{{Short description|Major road in the United Kingdom}}
{{Other uses|A44 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{More footnotes|date=August 2010}}
{{Infobox road
|country=GBR
| maint = [[English local authorities]] and [[North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent|North & Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent]] 
|type=A
|route=44
|map=[[File:A44 road map.png|200px]]|map_custom=yes
|length_mi=154.3
|length_ref=<ref name="Seg1"/><ref name="Seg2"/>
|direction_a=East
|direction_b=West
| terminus_a= {{jct|country=GBR|A|40|name1= }} in [[Oxford]]
| destinations= [[Woodstock, Oxfordshire|Woodstock]]<br />[[Chipping Norton]]<br />[[Moreton-in-Marsh]]<br />[[Evesham]]<br />[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]<br />[[Bromyard]]<br />[[Leominster]]<br />[[Kington, Herefordshire|Kington]]<br />[[Old Radnor]]<br />[[Rhayader]]<br />[[Llangurig]]
|terminus_b=  {{jct|country=GBR|A|487|name1= }} in [[Aberystwyth]]
|  junction= {{jct|country=GBR|A|34|name1= }} in [[Oxford]]<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|429|name1= }} in [[Moreton-in-Marsh]]<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|46|name1= }} in [[Evesham]]<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|422|name1= }} near [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|38|name1= }} in Worcester<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|49|name1= }} near [[Leominster]]<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|483|name1= }} at [[Crossgates, Powys|Crossgates]]<br />
{{jct|country=GBR|A|470|name1= }} in [[Rhayader]]
| counties = '''[[England]]''':<br>[[Oxfordshire]], [[Warwickshire]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[Worcestershire]], [[Herefordshire]]<br>'''[[Wales]]''':<br>[[Powys]], [[Ceredigion]]
| previous_type = A
| previous_route = 43
| next_type = A
| next_route = 45
}}

The '''A44''' is a major road in the [[United Kingdom]] that runs from [[Oxford]] in southern [[England]] to [[Aberystwyth]] in west [[Wales]].

==History==
The original (1923) route of the A44 was [[Chipping Norton]] to [[Aberystwyth]].  No changes were made to the route of the A44 in the early years. After the [[Second World War]], the section between [[Rhayader]] and [[Llangurig]] was renumbered [[A470 road|A470]], as part of the {{convert|186|mi}} long road in [[Wales]] that connects [[Cardiff]] on the south coast to [[Llandudno]] on the north coast. The A44 was extended to [[Oxford]] in the 1990s, replacing part of the [[A34 road|A34]] when the [[M40 motorway]] was completed.

On 1 April 1937, a part of the road was classed to be part of the Newport–Shrewsbury [[trunk road]].<ref name="Act 19362">{{cite web |title=Trunk Roads Act 1936 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1936/5/pdfs/ukpga_19360005_en.pdf |accessdate=2025-09-09 |publisher=[[Legislation.gov.uk]]}}</ref>''<ref name="Watson">{{cite web |title=Trunk Roads Act 1936 and 1946 |url=http://www.watsonlv.net/pdf/trunk_roads.pdf |accessdate=2025-09-09 |publisher=Leslie V Watson}}</ref>''

==Route==

===Oxford–Evesham===

The road begins at a [[roundabout]] junction with the [[A40 road]] on the northern section of Oxford's ring road in [[Oxfordshire]]. It has a [[Grade separation|grade separated]] junction with the [[A34 road (England)|A34 road]] (leading to the [[M40 motorway]] and [[Winchester]]). From here, the road runs northwest, and has a {{convert|2|mi|adj=on}} section of [[dual-carriageway]] through the villages of Yarnton and Begbroke before reaching the town of [[Woodstock, Oxfordshire|Woodstock]], home to [[Blenheim Palace]]. The road then reaches the main market street in [[Chipping Norton]] before entering the [[Cotswolds]]. The road here has many hills and turns, and is single-carriageway with some tight bends, with not much opportunity for overtaking.

The road then enters [[Gloucestershire]], and the town of [[Moreton in Marsh]], before sweeping up through woodland until it reaches Fish Hill near [[Broadway, Worcestershire|Broadway]] in [[Worcestershire]]. At this point, it becomes 3-lane and descends steeply through some sharp bends. It then bypasses Broadway before meeting up with the [[A46 road|A46]]/[[A435 road|A435]] [[Evesham]] bypass.

===Evesham–Leominster===

On reaching the northern end of the Evesham bypass the A44 heads northwest, passing [[Wyre Piddle]] and the town of [[Pershore]] before reaching the crossroads near [[Spetchley]]. The road then crosses the [[M5 motorway]] and onto [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]'s eastern bypass ([[A4440 road|A4440]]). It then turns south along the bypass before rejoining its original line west into the city itself. The road passes the [[Worcester Cathedral|cathedral]], crosses the [[River Severn]] and then meets the western end of the bypass.

After leaving Worcester, the A44 continues west past the village of [[Broadwas]], following the [[River Teme]] until [[Knightwick]] where enters [[Herefordshire]] as it climbs over Bringsty Common before descending towards [[Bromyard]]. The A44 bypasses Bromyard town centre and heads west over the downs to [[Bredenbury]]. It then crosses the [[River Lugg]] before meeting the [[A49 road|A49]] [[Leominster]] bypass, where it turns left and heads through the town centre.

===Leominster–Rhayader===
After leaving Leominster, the A44 crosses the [[River Arrow, Wales|River Arrow]] to bypass [[Monkland, Herefordshire|Monkland]]. The road then heads towards the [[black and white village]]s of [[Eardisland]] and [[Pembridge]]. After Pembridge the A44 meanders west, passing numerous orchards en route, before reaching [[Lyonshall]], where the road meets the [[A480 road|A480]] and passes [[Offa's Dyke]]. A couple of miles later and the A44 meets [[Kington, Herefordshire|Kington]]. The road bypasses the town and follows the River Arrow before reaching the [[Wales-England border|Welsh border]]. 
[[File:Lay-by on the A44 at Penlon - geograph.org.uk - 213641.jpg|thumb|A44 at Penlon, near [[Ogof Ffynnon Ddu-Pant Mawr|Pant Mawr]], Powys]]
Leaving [[Herefordshire]] and entering [[Powys]], the road continues through [[Walton, Powys|Walton]] and passes the village of [[New Radnor]], before turning south to [[Llanfihangel Nant Melan]]. The road then turns northwest to do some serious hill-climbing before winding its way downhill to a plateau. A few miles later it reaches [[Penybont]] and [[Crossgates, Powys|Crossgates]], where it meets the [[A483 road]]. Eight miles further the A44 reaches [[Rhayader]].

A [[Llandegley International Airport|spoof sign on this section of the road]], announcing "Llandegley International Airport 2½ {{abbr|m|miles}}", has attracted international press coverage and been mentioned in [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]].<ref name="Brockway">{{cite web |last1=Brockway |first1=Derek |title=Llandegley International Airport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fwales%2Fentries%2F9291ebe7-50e7-3820-bde6-11db3341ce20 |access-date=20 February 2022 |date=6 May 2010}}</ref>

===Rhayader–Aberystwyth===

On reaching the centre of Rhayader, traffic heads to the left of the clock tower before immediately turning right, where the road passes through the town and joins the [[A470 road|A470]] for {{convert|9|mi}} to [[Llangurig]], following the course of the [[River Wye]]. Leaving Llangurig, the road starts clinging to hillsides as it winds its way through the [[Cambrian Mountains]].
[[Image:ElvisRockPowys.jpg|thumb|The 'Elvis Rock' beside the A44 road]]
The road enters [[Ceredigion]] and the next hamlet is [[Eisteddfa Gurig]] which, at 1339 feet (408 metres) above sea level, is its highest point and the location of the iconic [[Elvis Rock]]. The A44 then descends into the remote settlement of [[Ponterwyd]]. The road passes several abandoned mines en route to the villages of [[Goginan]] and [[Capel Bangor]], where it meets the [[River Rheidol]]. The road then passes the village of [[Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion|Llanbadarn Fawr]], continuing for the last mile through the outskirts of [[Aberystwyth]] before terminating on the [[A487 road|A487]] at Penglais Hill.

==Former routes==

===Bypasses and realignments===
* Evesham: the route used to go through the centre of the town, but now runs to the north.
* Evesham–Worcester: the route used to run on a road to the south. The old route is now known as the B4084.
* Leominster–Kington: for {{convert|4.8|mi}} west of Barons' Cross the road formerly followed a more northerly route, crossing the [[River Arrow, Wales|River Arrow]] at [[Eardisland]].
* [[Kington, Herefordshire]], the road bypasses the centre of the town using the former [[Leominster and Kington Railway]] trackbed north of the town.
* [[Wyre Piddle]]. In 2003 the A44 was rerouted down the A4538 between Evesham and Worcester and therefore no longer goes down [[Pershore]] High Street.

==Junction list==
{{GBRinttop|length_ref=<ref name="Seg1">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/51.7884439,-1.2810229/51.9889154,-1.6818286/52.1855817,-2.2116745/52.2329566,-3.1106362/@52.2331798,-3.1165246,16z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu|title=A40 Woodstock Rd, A40, Oxford OX2 8AL, UK to A44, Moreton-in-Marsh, UK to 78-70 A44, Worcester WR5 2DY, UK to A44, Presteigne LD8 2RB, UK|work=[[Google Maps]]|publisher=[[Alphabet Inc.]]|access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="Seg2">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/52.2329566,-3.1106362/52.4160664,-4.0776844/@52.4163831,-4.0804969,17z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu|title=A44, Presteigne LD8 2RB, UK to A487, Aberystwyth SY23 2JT, UK|work=[[Google Maps]]|publisher=[[Alphabet Inc.]]|access-date=22 June 2024}}</ref>
}}
{{GBRint
|county=Oxfordshire
|cspan=7
|location=Oxford
|mile=0.0
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|40|road|Woodstock Road ([[A4144 road|A4144]] south) / Five Mile Drive|M|40|to3=yes|city1=London|city2=Cheltenham|location3=[[Oxford|City centre]]|city4=Wolvercote|location5=[[Summertown, Oxford|Summertown]]|city6=Headington|city7=Witney}}
|notes=Eastern terminus
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Gosford and Water Eaton
|lspan=2
|mile=0.4
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|34|M|40|A|420|A|41|to2=yes|location1=[[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]]|city2=Swindon|city3=The Midlands|city4=Banbury|city5=Northampton|location6=[[Cowley, Oxfordshire|Cowley]]|location7=[[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]]|city8=Bicester|location9=[[Botley, Oxfordshire|Botley]]}}
|notes=To A41 signed eastbound only
}}
{{GBRint
|mile=0.7
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4260|dir1=north|city1=Kidlington}}
|notes=Southern terminus of A4260
}}
{{GBRint
|location_special=[[Shipton-on-Cherwell and Thrupp]]–[[Kidlington]] boundary
|mile=4.3
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4095|name1=Bladon Road / Upper Campsfield Road|city1=Witney|city2=Bicester|city3=Long Hanborough|city4=Bladon|city5=Kirtlington}}
|notes=
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Chipping Norton
|lspan=3
|mile=15.2
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|3400|dir1=north|location1=[[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]]|location2=[[Shipston-on-Stour|Shipston]]}}
|notes=Southern terminus of A3400
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|mile=16.6
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|361|B|4026|dir1=north|name1=Banbury Road|name2=Over Norton Road|city1=Banbury|city2=Over Norton|city3=Great Rollright|city4=Bloxham}}
|notes=Bloxham signed eastbound only; eastern terminus of A361 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|mile=16.8
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|361|B|4450|B|4026|dir1=south|name1=Burford Road|to2=yes|city1=Burford|location2=[[Churchill, Oxfordshire|Churchill]]|city3=Charlbury}}
|notes=Western terminus of A361 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|county_special=[[Oxfordshire]]–[[Warwickshire]] boundary
|location_special=[[Salford, Oxfordshire|Salford]]–[[Little Compton, Warwickshire|Little Compton]] boundary
|mile=20.0
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|436|dir1=west|location1=[[Stow-on-the-Wold|Stow]]|location2=[[Oddington, Gloucestershire|Oddington]]}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A436
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|county=Gloucestershire
|cspan=3
|location=Moreton-in-Marsh
|lspan=2
|mile=24.8
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|429|dir1=north|name1=High Street|location1=[[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]]|city2=Batsford}}
|notes=Batsford signed westbound only; eastern terminus of A429 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|mile=24.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|429|dir1=south|name1=Stow Road|city1=Stow-on-the-Wold|city2=Cirencester|city3=Bourton-on-the-Water}}
|notes=Bourton signed eastbound only; western terminus of A429 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Bourton-on-the-Hill
|mile=28.4
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|424|dir1=south-east|location1=[[Stow-on-the-Wold|Stow]]|city2=Bourton-on-the-Water}}
|notes=Information signed eastbound only; north-western terminus of A424
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|county=Worcestershire
|cspan=12
|location=Evesham
|lspan=
|mile=37.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|46|road|Broadway Road|M|5|A|435|dir1=south|to3=yes|city1=Cheltenham|city2=Evesham|city3=Pershore|city4=Tewkesbury}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A46 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location=Norton and Lenchwick
|lspan=2
|mile=40.2
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|46|M|42|A|435|dir1=north|to2=yes|location1=[[Northern England|The North]]|location2=[[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]]|city3=Birmingham|city4=Redditch|city5=Salford Priors|city6=Alcester|location7=[[Bidford-on-Avon|Bidford]]}}
|notes=The North and Bidford signed eastbound only; western terminus of A46 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|mile=40.4
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4184|B|4088|dir1=south|name2=Evesham Road|city1=Evesham|city2=Harvington|location3=[[Norton and Lenchwick|Norton]]}}
|notes=Northern terminus of A4184
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Pinvin
|mile=46.5
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4104|B|4082|dir1=west|name1=Terrace Road|name2=Main Street|location1=[[Pinvin|Village centre]]|city2=Pershore|city3=Upton Snodsbury}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A4104
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Spetchley
|mile=51.1
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|422|A|4538|M|5|A|38|dir1=east|dir2=north|to3=yes|dir3=north|name2=Pershore Lane|location1=[[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]]|location2=[[Droitwich Spa|Droitwich]]}}
|notes=Western terminus of A422; southern terminus of A4538
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location=Warndon
|mile=52.7
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4440|road|Wildwood Drive|dir1=north|name1=Nunnery Way|location1=[[Worcester, England|Worcester]] (east)|extra=hospital}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A4440 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location_special=[[Whittington, Worcestershire|Whittington]]
|mile=53.5
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4440|M|5|A|4103|A|449|B|4084|dir1=west|name1=Whittington Road|to2=yes|location1=[[Worcester, England|Worcester]] (west)|city2=Hereford|location3=[[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]]|city4=Pershore}}
|notes=Worcester signed westbound only; western terminus of A4440 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location_special=[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]
|lspan=4
|mile=55.0
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|38|dir1=south|name1=Commandery Road|city1=Tewkesbury}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A38 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|mile=55.1
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|38|A|449|dir1=north|to2=yes|city1=Bromsgrove|city2=Kidderminster}}
|notes=Information signed westbound only; western terminus of A38 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|mile=55.5
|mile2=55.6
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|449|A|38|dir1=north|name1=Croft Road|to2=yes|city1=Bromsgrove|city2=Kidderminster}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A449 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|mile=55.7
|mile2=55.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|449|A|38|dir1=south|name1=Bromwich Road|to2=yes|location1=[[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]]|city2=Ledbury|city3=Tewkesbury}}<br>{{Jct|country=GBR|A|443|dir1=north-west|name1=Hylton Road|location1=[[Tenbury Wells|Tenbury]]}}
|notes=Ledbury signed westbound only; western terminus of A449 concurrency; south-eastern terminus of A443
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Rushwick
|mile=57.5
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4103|road|Grove Way ([[A4440 road|A4440]] east)|M|5|A|422|dir1=west|to3=yes|city1=Hereford|city2=Evesham|location3=[[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford]]}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A4103; western terminus of A4440
}}
{{GBRint
|county=Herefordshire
|cspan=7
|location=Bromyard
|mile=69.7
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|465|dir1=west|name1=Hereford Road|city1=Hereford}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A465
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location=Leominster
|mile=80.1
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|49|dir1=south|city1=Hereford}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A49 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location_special=[[Kimbolton, Herefordshire|Kimbolton]]
|mile=80.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|49|dir1=north|city1=Shrewsbury|city2=Ludlow}}
|notes=Ludlow signed eastbound only; western terminus of A49 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location=Monkland and Stretford
|mile=85.5
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4110|A|4113|to2=yes|city1=Hereford|city2=Canon Pyon|location3=[[Knighton, Powys|Knighton]]|location4=[[Kingsland, Herefordshire|Kingsland]]}}
|notes=Brief concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Eardisland
|mile=86.1
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4112|A|438|dir1=south-west|to2=yes|noshield1=yes|city1=Brecon|city2=Dilwyn|city3=Weobley}}
|notes=North-eastern terminus of A4112
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Lyonshall
|lspan=2
|mile=93.1
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|480|dir1=south-east|city1=Hereford|city2=Lyonshall}}
|notes=North-western terminus of A480
}}
{{GBRint
|mile=94.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4111|road|Headbrook|A|438|dir1=south|noshield1=yes|to3=yes|city1=Hereford|city2=Brecon|location3=[[Kington, Herefordshire|Kington]]|city4=Eardisley}}
|notes=Northern terminus of A4111
}}
{{jctbridge
|county_special=[[Herefordshire]]–[[Powys]] boundary
|location_special=[[Lower Harpton]]–[[Old Radnor]] boundary
|mile=97.8
|bridge=[[England]]–[[Wales]] boundary
}}
{{GBRint
|county=Powys
|cspan=5
|location=New Radnor
|mile=105.3
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|481|dir1=west|location1={{ill|Hundred House|cy}}|city2=Builth Wells}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A481
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Penybont
|mile=110.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|488|dir1=north|location1=[[Knighton, Powys|Knighton]]}}
|notes=Southern terminus of A488
}}
{{GBRint
|location_special=[[Crossgates, Powys|Crossgates]]
|mile=112.8
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|483|city1=Llandrindod Wells|location2=[[Newtown, Powys|Newtown]]|location3=[[Llanddewi Ystradenny|Llanddewi]]}}
|notes=Llanddewi signed eastbound only
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location=Rhayader
|mile=120.9
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|470|B|4518|dir1=south|name1=South Street|name2=West Street|city1=Builth Wells}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A470 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|type=concur
|location=Llangurig
|mile=130.0
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|470|A|489|dir1=north|to2=yes|city1=Dolgellau|location2=[[Newtown, Powys|Newtown]]}}
|notes=Western terminus of A470 concurrency
}}
{{GBRint
|county=Ceredigion
|cspan=3
|location=Ponterwyd
|mile=142.6
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4120|dir1=west|location1=[[Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion|Devil's Bridge]]}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of A4120
}}
{{GBRint
|location_special=[[Llanbadarn Fawr, Ceredigion|Llanbadarn Fawr]]
|mile=153.3
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|4120|A|487|dir1=east|name1=Heol-y-Bont|to2=yes|location1={{ill|Southgate, Ceredigion|lt=Southgate|cy|Southgate, Credeigion}}|location2=[[Cardigan, Ceredigion|Cardigan]]}}
|notes=Western terminus of A4120
}}
{{GBRint
|location=Aberystwyth
|mile=154.3
|road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|487|name1=Penglais Road|location1=[[Cardigan, Ceredigion|Cardigan]]|city2=Machynlleth}}
|notes=Western terminus
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}

==See also==
*[[Trunk roads in Wales]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/f99/44.shtml SABRE page on the A44] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522000439/http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/f99/44.shtml |date=22 May 2006 }}

{{GB A road zone 4}}
{{Motorways and Trunk Roads in Wales|state=expanded}}
{{Transport in Powys}}
{{Transport in Worcestershire}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|52.19302|N|2.30335|W|type:landmark_region:GB_dim:90000|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:4-0044}}
[[Category:1923 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Roads in Ceredigion]]
[[Category:Roads in Herefordshire]]
[[Category:Roads in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Oxford]]
[[Category:Roads in Powys]]
[[Category:Roads in Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Transport in Worcester, England]]