Brown tourist sign: what it means
This brown sign shows a tourist attraction ahead. Archer Castle is 10 miles away.
What does the brown tourist sign mean?
Brown signs give directions to tourist destinations. This example shows a castle attraction 10 miles ahead. Know your traffic signs explains that tourist destinations can appear on separate brown signs or brown panels within other direction signs.
The symbol shows the type of destination. After a sign has given the full name and symbol, later signs may use the symbol alone.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Green signs show primary routes.
- Brown signs show the way to tourist attractions.
- A temporary diversion route starts here.
Show answer
B. Brown signs show the way to tourist attractions. Brown signs identify tourist destinations, and this example shows the distance ahead to a castle attraction (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: direction signs on all-purpose roads, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images: image details (spreadsheet), Department for Transport, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
On the approach to tourist attractions, on ordinary roads and on motorways.
What should you do?
If you are heading to the attraction, follow its name and symbol on the direction signs.
What do people get wrong?
Do not read this as the castle entrance. The sign says the attraction is 10 miles ahead.
Common questions
What do brown road signs mean?
They give directions to tourist destinations. Know your traffic signs says brown panels can also appear within other direction signs.
Why do some tourist signs show only a symbol?
Know your traffic signs says later signs may use just the symbol once the destination’s full name and symbol have been shown.
Compare with
Primary route direction signGreen signs show primary routes.
Diversion signA temporary diversion route starts here.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (direction signs on all-purpose roads) and the Department for Transport’s image details list.
- Know your traffic signs: direction signs on all-purpose roads, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images: image details (spreadsheet), Department for Transport, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.