[1][2] The road starts in Nottingham at a roundabout which connects Maid Marian Way and Upper Parliament Street spur (A6008).

On 24 May 1967, Barbara Castle opened the section of the M1 from here to junction 27 at Annesley Woodhouse, built by George Wimpey; it was started in December 1964 and was to be finished by January 1967.

After the M1, the route enters a four mile long stretch of dual carriageway, passing Nuthall, Kimberley, Giltbrook and Eastwood to the north, and Awsworth to the south.

[11] The road then reverts to a single carriageway at the Derbyshire border, going underneath the junction with the A608, entering Amber Valley.

The road then bypasses Langley Mill to the south, and passes the Panattoni Business Park with a roundabout for access.

The single carriageway Langley Mill By-Pass opened in 1983 with the official ceremony taken place by councillor Joe Carty on 8 September 1983.

The 1.8 km (1.1 mi) Ripley Bypass was built in the early 1980s by Henry Boot Civil Engineering.

The road passes under the Midland Main Line at a low (15 ft 3 in [4.65 m]) bridge, after which National Grid plc have one of their Pipelines Maintenance Centres (PMC Ambergate) on the right.

[16] A few metres before the A6 T-junction, it passes under the Derwent Valley line next to Ambergate railway station, and the Hurt Arms on the A6.