Creating the Perfect Custom Street Sign for Your Location

Road names in the UK have been around for centuries, and, for nearly as long as people have lived in cities and roads, there have been signs with street names on them. After all, where would famous places, from Albert Square to Coronation Street to Pudding Lane, from Wall Street to Saville Row, be without their iconic street signs?

So street signs are a bigger part of the history of Britain and our cultural life, than you could have thought.

(Did you know, for example, that in 1940 they were removed under the threat of an invasion?)

And they should always do much more than only tell a visitor where they are – street signage can actively enhance an area’s unique atmosphere.

Road signs in Great Britain broadly comply with EU standards, although some are particular to this country. They are governed by a set of complex and detailed guidlines, and made using specialist computer software.

Street signage, on the other hand, are not legally considered as road signs. This means that city councils and other bodies responsible for them have a great amount of flexibility in how they are designed and where they are placed.

Street signs can be attached to a building, wall, signpost or lamp column.

As a convention, the typeface Transport is often used on street name signs. That mixed-case typeface is utilised on all other permanent fixed road signs except route numbers on motorway signs.

There are two versions of it: Transport Medium (for light words on dark backgrounds) and Transport Heavy (for light backgrounds and darker text).

In addition, it is also quite usual to see street signs with the serif font created by David Kindersley in 1952.

Of course, the great thing about having custom street signs for your area is that you could have far more control over the entire process. And it’s only by customising yours that you can really have it looking exactly the way you would want it. You’ll need to think about keeping your bespoke signage sympathetic with the location.

A street of lovely village cottages, for example, should be signed quite differently to a street near a bustling city or town centre. And, if you are in Wales, you may want to consider having your street names in both English and Welsh.

Look for a custom manufacturer with a vast experience, and ask to see customer testimonials and samples of previous work.

And find out how the maker guarantees the quality of the work. What will they do if you are unhappy with the work they make? Ask about the equipment they work with – will they use the latest digital technology to create the perfect street sign?

Lastly, your budget is going to be one of your considerations. But you might be pleasantly surprised to find just how affordable custom street signs could be.

You will be able to find out more about street signage, and begin researching custom sign makers, online now.