The first stretch of the M1 runs from Staples Corner in north-west London, past Hendon, Mill Hill and Edgware, and out through Elstree and Watford to the M25 at junction 6A. It is short, but it carries the traffic of half of north London on its way out of the city, and anything that goes wrong here is felt for miles behind.

This section suits anyone heading out of London on a Friday afternoon, commuters coming in from Hertfordshire, and drivers making their way to Brent Cross or the Watford business parks. The map shows where each junction sits among the suburbs, so you can see which one is really yours.

The road on the map is coloured by the live traffic flow speed, the same data as our live M1 traffic flow map. Choose northbound or southbound above the map. Tap any junction number to open that junction’s own page.

Driving Junction 1 to Junction 6A: Distances and Times

From junction 1 to junction 6A is about 14 miles along the M1, about 12 minutes at the 70 mph speed limit in clear traffic. Here it is junction by junction; tap a junction to open its own page.

• J1 to J2: about 2 miles, about 2 minutes
• J2 to J4: about 4 miles, about 4 minutes
• J4 to J5: about 3½ miles, about 3 minutes
• J5 to J6: about 2½ miles, about 2 minutes
• J6 to J6A: about 1½ miles, about 1 minute

Distances are measured along the motorway between the centres of the junctions, from OpenStreetMap, and rounded to the nearest half mile. Times are at a steady 70 mph and do not allow for joining, leaving, roadworks or lower speed limits, so check the live map above and the live M1 speed flow map before you set off.

M1 Junctions 1 to 6A Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks

The Junctions in Section 1

• J1Staples CornerNearest town: Willesden, 1.9 miles south
• J2Five Ways CornerNearest town: Edgware, 1.9 miles north-west
• J4BrockleyNearest town: Edgware, 1.8 miles south-east
• J5BerrygroveNearest town: Watford, 1.7 miles south-west
• J6WaterdaleNearest town: Kings Langley, 3.0 miles west
• J6AChiswellNearest town: Kings Langley, 2.8 miles west