What’s the difference between a street and a road?

In the UK, while the terms “street” and “road” are often used interchangeably, there are some general historical and practical distinctions:

1. Streets typically:

• Were traditionally developed within towns and cities
• Tend to be lined with buildings on both sides (either residential or commercial)
• Often have pavements (sidewalks) and are designed for pedestrian access
• Usually have lower speed limits
• Frequently feature retail shops and residential buildings

2. Roads traditionally:

• Were routes between towns and settlements
• Were routes to a specific landmark out of the urban area, e.g. mill road, station road
• May or may not have buildings along them
• Focus more on vehicular traffic
• Often have higher speed limits
• Can be found in both urban and rural settings

However, these distinctions have become quite blurred over time, and many modern developments use both terms without strictly following these historical differences. You’ll find many examples that don’t follow these general rules, like residential roads and high streets, but many of these may have originally been semi-rural but have been subsumed by the urban environment.

This historical distinction is also reflected in the etymology: “street” comes from the Latin “strata” meaning a paved way, while “road” comes from the Middle English “rode” meaning a mounted journey.

There are also a multitude of other types of road such as a:

• Lane – a narrow road
• Boulevard – often a wide city street with vegetation
• Drive – often a long winding road that makes its way around geographical features
• Terrace – usually a street that follows the top of a slope
• Circle or crescent – usually a road that has a circular or semicircular shape with two or more exits
• Cul-de-sac – a dead-end road
• Avenue – a road with trees either side.