A speed control system for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle in accordance with a target speed value, the system comprising: means for causing automatically a vehicle to travel at a predetermined speed value at least in part by controlling an amount of torque applied to one or more wheels (111, 112) of a vehicle by a powertrain; means for determining a recommended transmission gear ratio for a transmission of the powertrain at a given moment in time; means for providing an indication of the recommended transmission gear ratio to a user; and means for receiving a clutch actuation signal indicative of an actuation state of clutch means that is configured to connect the transmission to a torque drive source of the powertrain, wherein the system is configured automatically to control a speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed determined in dependence at least in part on at least one predetermined parameter when a predetermined one or more conditions are met, the predetermined one or more conditions including the condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the actuation state of the clutch means is such that the torque drive source is at least partially disconnected from the transmission; and wherein: the at least one predetermined parameter includes a signal indicative of a currently selected transmission gear ratio, characterized in that the system is configured to control the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means will be substantially equal to that of an output portion of the clutch means with the currently selected gear ratio. means for causing automatically a vehicle to travel at a predetermined speed value at least in part by controlling an amount of torque applied to one or more wheels (111, 112) of a vehicle by a powertrain; means for determining a recommended transmission gear ratio for a transmission of the powertrain at a given moment in time; means for providing an indication of the recommended transmission gear ratio to a user; and means for receiving a clutch actuation signal indicative of an actuation state of clutch means that is configured to connect the transmission to a torque drive source of the powertrain, wherein the system is configured automatically to control a speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed determined in dependence at least in part on at least one predetermined parameter when a predetermined one or more conditions are met, the predetermined one or more conditions including the condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the actuation state of the clutch means is such that the torque drive source is at least partially disconnected from the transmission; and wherein: the at least one predetermined parameter includes a signal indicative of a currently selected transmission gear ratio, characterized in that the system is configured to control the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means will be substantially equal to that of an output portion of the clutch means with the currently selected gear ratio. the at least one predetermined parameter includes a signal indicative of a currently selected transmission gear ratio, characterized in that the system is configured to control the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means will be substantially equal to that of an output portion of the clutch means with the currently selected gear ratio.