The European route E5 is part of the United Nations international E-road network. It is the westernmost north–south "reference road", running from Greenock in Scotland, south through Great Britain and France to Algeciras, Spain. The route is 1900 mi long. The E5 follows the route Greenock – Glasgow – Gretna – Carlisle – Penrith – Preston – Warrington – Birmingham – Oxford – Newbury – Southampton ... Le Havre – Paris – Orléans – Tours – Poitiers – Bordeaux – San Sebastián – Burgos – Madrid – Córdoba – Seville – Cádiz – Algeciras.

United Kingdom

Although the United Kingdom Government participates fully in activities concerning the E-routes, E-routes are not signposted within the United Kingdom. Hence the first 724 km of the route is not signed. The E5 has a gap at the English Channel between Southampton and Le Havre, France. There is no direct ferry link, but a ferry from nearby Portsmouth, along the M27, connects to Le Havre.

France

The E5 arrives from the non-existing ferry from Southampton in Le Havre. It passes the capital Paris, before continuing southwest to Orléans, Tours and Bordeaux. It ends at the border town of Hendaye with Spain. It covers a distance of 985 km (612 mi).

Spain

The E5 crosses the French border at Irun, it passes the major cities of San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Burgos before it arrives at the nation's capital Madrid. It continues south of Madrid towards Andalusia, passing Córdoba, Seville, Jerez de la Frontera and Cádiz to end at the port city of Algeciras.

Route