London’s first bypass, the New Road from Paddington to Islington, was constructed during the 1750's (the section from Kings Cross renamed Pentonville Road in 1857) and City Road extended this route to the edge of the City of London in 1761.
The world's first urban underground railway opened in 1863 with most of the line following the route of the New Road, from Paddington to Kings Cross stations. Today, the route comprises the A501 and has become an orbital for the northern part of inner London.