A217 road
Encyclopedia
The A217 is a road
in the United Kingdom
. It runs south from Kings Road
in Fulham
, London
, crossing the Thames at Wandsworth Bridge
, then passing through Wandsworth
, Tooting
, Mitcham
, Cheam
, Banstead
, crossing the M25 motorway
at Junction 8, then passing through Reigate
and terminating shortly before reaching Gatwick Airport.
. It is a straight length of dual carriageway
that runs downhill from the junction with the A2022 to the junction with the B2230 at Belmont.
This length of road has been known locally for generations, used by bikers during the early 80's when starting grids were marked out at either end of the carriageways, then became popular again in early 2000 with the modified car scene where frequent races would take place, usually on Thursday nights. This information spread quite quickly with the use of the internet, as far north as Birmingham and as a result people from all over came to participate and watch these races.
Police presence gradually diffused this illegal activity, but it has not completely disappeared.
Measures to stop these races include crash barriers erected on the centre grass verge which runs the length of this stretch. People used to park here while the races were in progress.
This stretch of road has also made news appearances in the early 2000s as well as documentaries on the modified car scene/cruising.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It runs south from Kings Road
Kings Road
King's Road or Kings Road, known popularly as The King's Road or The KR, is a major, well-known street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both in west London, England...
in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, crossing the Thames at Wandsworth Bridge
Wandsworth Bridge
Wandsworth Bridge crosses the River Thames in west London. It carries the A217 road between the areas of Battersea, near Wandsworth Town Station, in the London Borough of Wandsworth on the south of the river, and the areas of Sands End and Parsons Green, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and...
, then passing through Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
, Cheam
Cheam
Cheam is a large suburban village close to Sutton in the London Borough of Sutton, England, and is located close to the southern boundary between Greater London and Surrey. It is divided into two main areas: North Cheam and Cheam Village. North Cheam includes more retail shops and supermarkets,...
, Banstead
Banstead
Banstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies south of London, west of Croydon and of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt;...
, crossing the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
at Junction 8, then passing through Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
and terminating shortly before reaching Gatwick Airport.
Landmarks on the route
- Wandsworth BridgeWandsworth BridgeWandsworth Bridge crosses the River Thames in west London. It carries the A217 road between the areas of Battersea, near Wandsworth Town Station, in the London Borough of Wandsworth on the south of the river, and the areas of Sands End and Parsons Green, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and...
- Young's BreweryYoung's BreweryYoung's is a British pub chain operating nearly 220 pubs.The company was founded as a brewery in 1831 by Charles Young and Anthony Bainbridge when they purchased the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth...
, Wandsworth - Wandsworth Arndale Centre
- Earlsfield railway stationEarlsfield railway stationEarlsfield railway station is in the London Borough of Wandsworth in south London. The station, which is in Travelcard Zone 3, is operated by South West Trains, as are all the trains serving it....
- Tooting Broadway tube stationTooting Broadway tube stationTooting Broadway is a London Underground station in Tooting, South London. The station is on the Northern Line, between and stations. It is located on the corner of Tooting High Street and Mitcham Road...
- Tooting railway stationTooting railway stationTooting railway station is in the London Borough of Merton in South London, in Travelcard Zone 3. The station is served by First Capital Connect and Southern trains, and is on the Sutton Loop....
- Figges Marsh
- MitchamMitchamMitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
Cricket Green - Mitcham tram station and Station House
- Rosehill Recreation Ground
- Banstead Downs
- Banstead Heath
- ReigateReigateReigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
Town Hall and former castle
Major roads intersected by the route
- A3A3 roadThe A3, known as the Portsmouth Road for much of its length, is a dual carriageway, or expressway, which follows the historic route between London and Portsmouth passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. For much of its length, it is classified as a trunk road...
and A205 South Circular RoadA205 roadThe A205 or South Circular Road is a direct route which crosses South London, UK, running from Woolwich in the east to the junction of the A406 , the M4 and the A4 at Gunnersbury in the west....
at Wandsworth - A24A24 road (Great Britain)The A24 is a major road in England. It runs south from Clapham in southwest London through Morden before entering Surrey and heading through Ewell, Epsom, Ashtead, Leatherhead and Dorking...
at Tooting - A232A232 roadThe A232 is a road running east-west across South London, which connects the A24 in Ewell with the A224 Orpington bypass.Between Croydon and Ewell the road runs close to the Sutton & Mole Valley Line...
at Cheam - M25M25 motorwayThe M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
at Junction 8 - A25A25 roadThe A25 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A26 from Newhaven to Maidstone and the A27 along the south coast. It carries traffic from Guildford in Surrey through Dorking, and thence eastward along the southern edge of the...
at Reigate
Illegal racing
The stretch of the A217 called 'The Mad Mile' has been popular for illegal street racingStreet racing
Street racing is a form of unsanctioned and illegal motor racing which takes place on public roads. Street racing can either be spontaneous or well-planned and coordinated. Well coordinated races are planned in advance and often have people communicating via 2-way radio/citizens' band radio and...
. It is a straight length of dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
that runs downhill from the junction with the A2022 to the junction with the B2230 at Belmont.
This length of road has been known locally for generations, used by bikers during the early 80's when starting grids were marked out at either end of the carriageways, then became popular again in early 2000 with the modified car scene where frequent races would take place, usually on Thursday nights. This information spread quite quickly with the use of the internet, as far north as Birmingham and as a result people from all over came to participate and watch these races.
Police presence gradually diffused this illegal activity, but it has not completely disappeared.
Measures to stop these races include crash barriers erected on the centre grass verge which runs the length of this stretch. People used to park here while the races were in progress.
This stretch of road has also made news appearances in the early 2000s as well as documentaries on the modified car scene/cruising.