The M1 motorway is a large motorway in the United Kingdom . The M1 is a major northâ `` south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds , where it joins the A1 ( M ) near Aberford . While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom , the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the Preston Bypass , which later became part of the M6 .