Brown road signs: tourist and ancient monument
Updated •5 min read
Brown road signs with white lettering show the route to tourist attractions and leisure facilities. They are direction signs, not orders: follow them if you are going to the place they name.
The Highway Code says "Brown panels show the route to tourist attractions" (gov.uk: traffic signs). Its examples include the sign for an "Ancient monument in the care of English Heritage" and a general "Tourist attraction" sign.
What brown signs look like
| Detail | Brown tourist signs |
|---|---|
| Shape | Mostly rectangular, like other direction signs; some point the way with an arrow-shaped end |
| Colours | Brown background, white lettering, symbols and border |
| Category | Direction sign |
| What they show | The route to a tourist destination, often with a symbol for the type of place |
Know your traffic signs says tourist destinations "may be shown on separate signs with brown backgrounds, or on brown panels incorporated into other direction signs" (gov.uk: Know your traffic signs, direction signs). So you may see a whole brown sign, or a brown panel on a green primary route sign or a white local route sign.
The ancient monument sign
The Highway Code's example is a brown sign pointing to an English Heritage site. Its symbol is a white square outline with short bars sticking out on every side, followed by the name of the place and a white chevron pointing the way. The Highway Code captions it "Ancient monument in the care of English Heritage".
Know your traffic signs lists "English Heritage" among its examples of tourist symbols. The others include tourist information, castle, historic house, National Trust, theme park, country park, bird garden, nature reserve, ten-pin bowling and ski slope.
Our sign list has the ancient monument sign and the tourist attraction sign.
What else brown signs can show
Know your traffic signs gives more uses:
- Brown signs may show places that provide restaurant facilities, light refreshments or overnight accommodation.
- Licensed camping and caravan sites, youth hostels, picnic areas, viewpoints and parking places with tourist information may also be shown on brown signs.
- Once a destination's full name and symbol have been shown, later signs may show only the symbol.
- Some symbols face the way traffic turns at a junction; for destinations straight ahead, symbols generally face left.
How brown fits the colour system
| Colour | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Brown | The route to tourist attractions and facilities |
| Green background | Signs on primary routes |
| Blue background | Signs on motorways |
| White background with a black border | Signs on non-primary and local routes |
All four colours come from the Highway Code's traffic signs page. Our ring road sign guide covers the green primary route signs in more detail.
What you should do
A brown sign gives information, so there is nothing you must do. If you are heading for the place it names, follow it and get into the right lane in good time. If you are not, you can ignore it.
How the theory test asks about it
Road signs are one of the subject areas the car theory test must cover, and Know your traffic signs is one of the three books gov.uk says the questions are based on (gov.uk: revision and practice). Gov.uk does not publish the questions.
A question may ask what a brown sign with white lettering shows. Try our practice question What does a brown sign with white lettering typically indicate?. The answer is a tourist attraction. Wrong answers usually mix brown up with the other sign colours.
Our road signs guide explains how to learn signs by shape and colour.
Start free
Start free with the theorytest.ai diagnostic to see whether road signs are a weak area for you. theorytest.ai is independent and is not affiliated with the DVSA, the Department for Transport or English Heritage.
Frequently asked questions
What does a brown sign with white lettering mean?
It shows the route to a tourist attraction or facility. The Highway Code says brown panels show the route to tourist attractions.
What does the ancient monument sign look like?
A brown sign with a white square outline with short bars on every side, the name of the place and a white chevron pointing the way. The Highway Code captions it "Ancient monument in the care of English Heritage".
Are brown signs only for tourist attractions?
Mostly. Know your traffic signs says brown signs may also show places with food or overnight accommodation, licensed camping and caravan sites, youth hostels, picnic areas and viewpoints.
Do you have to follow a brown sign?
No. Brown signs are direction signs. Follow one only if you are going to the place it names.