A Turnoff to the Imaginary
Motorists on the A44 in mid Wales often do a double take near Llandegley, where a sign points confidently toward “Llandegley International Airport – Terminals 1 & 3 – 2½ miles.” No such airport has ever existed. The sign, a perfect spoof of standard UK road signage, was first installed in 2002 by Nicholas Whitehead on private land as a joke.
Public Outcry Over Removal
Despite its fictional status, the sign quickly became a beloved local feature. When it was removed in 2009, public protest led to its return in 2010 and again in 2012. Over the years, it has been updated with added jokes, like instructions for an “Airport Cafe” and notices such as “No 2 Runway 2.”
From Joke to Landmark
The sign gained national media attention and was even mentioned in Parliament in 2003. It’s now listed in the Welsh Government’s heritage database. Whitehead, who spent over £25,000 maintaining it, ended his involvement in 2022, but in 2023, crowdfunding allowed a new sign to be erected, keeping the legend alive.
Drivers on the A44 near Llandegley, Wales, often spot a sign for “Llandegley International Airport – Terminals 1 & 3 – 2½ miles.” But the airport doesn’t exist. It was first installed in 2002 by Nicholas Whitehead on private land as a humorous spoof…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/Ni7tAwMoSe
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 10, 2025