List of English districts

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This is a list of the 296 districts of England, a type of country subdivision governed by a local authority, that cover all of England. Most English districts are known as non-metropolitan districts and are found in non-metropolitan counties. However, primarily in urban areas, other types of districts are found. Each district is contained within one ceremonial county, except Stockton-on-Tees, which is split for this purpose. Population figures are the mid-year estimates for 2024 from the Office for National Statistics. [1]

Contents

Nomenclature

There are currently 296 districts in England. The districts are divided into several categories which determine the powers and functions of the local authority.

Each district can additionally hold the honorific statuses of borough, city and royal borough, which does not affect the powers and functions of the local authority.

List of districts

NameWebsitePopulation (2024) [2] TitleTypeCeremonial County
Adur website 64,889District West Sussex
Amber Valley website 130,451 Borough Derbyshire
Arun website 170,064District West Sussex
Ashfield website 129,572District Nottinghamshire
Ashford website 140,936 Borough Kent
Babergh website 97,033District Suffolk
Barking and Dagenham website 232,747London Borough London borough Greater London
Barnet website 405,050London Borough London borough Greater London
Barnsley website 251,770Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Basildon website 193,632 Borough Essex
Basingstoke and Deane website 193,110 Borough Hampshire
Bassetlaw website 124,937District Nottinghamshire
Bath and North East Somerset website 200,028 Unitary authority Somerset
Bedford website 194,976 Borough Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Bexley website 256,434London Borough London borough Greater London
Birmingham website 1,183,618City (1889) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Blaby website 108,165District Leicestershire
Blackburn with Darwen website 162,540 Borough Unitary authority Lancashire
Blackpool website 144,191 Borough Unitary authority Lancashire
Bolsover website 83,773District Derbyshire
Bolton website 310,085Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Boston website 71,080 Borough Lincolnshire
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole website 408,967 Borough Unitary authority Dorset
Bracknell Forest website 130,806 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Bradford website 563,605City (1897) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Braintree website 164,304District Essex
Breckland website 146,620District Norfolk
Brent website 352,976London Borough London borough Greater London
Brentwood website 79,326 Borough Essex
Brighton and Hove website 283,870City (2000) Unitary authority East Sussex
Bristol website 494,399City (1542) Unitary authority Bristol
Broadland website 138,157District Norfolk
Bromley website 335,319London Borough London borough Greater London
Bromsgrove website 101,685District Worcestershire
Broxbourne website 101,900 Borough Hertfordshire
Broxtowe website 114,565 Borough Nottinghamshire
Buckinghamshire website 578,772 Unitary authority Buckinghamshire
Burnley website 99,233 Borough Lancashire
Bury website 198,921Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Calderdale website 210,929Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Cambridge website 149,352City (1951) Cambridgeshire
Camden website 216,943London Borough London borough Greater London
Cannock Chase website 104,088District Staffordshire
Canterbury website 162,100City ( TI ) Kent
Castle Point website 90,581 Borough Essex
Central Bedfordshire website 315,877 Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Charnwood website 188,385 Borough Leicestershire
Chelmsford website 188,803City (2012) Essex
Cheltenham website 121,739 Borough Gloucestershire
Cherwell website 170,426District Oxfordshire
Cheshire East website 421,298 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Cheshire West and Chester website 371,652 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Chesterfield website 106,045 Borough Derbyshire
Chichester website 128,934District West Sussex
Chorley website 120,839 Borough Lancashire
Colchester website 200,222City (2022) Essex
Cornwall website 583,289 Unitary authority Cornwall
Cotswold website 91,661District Gloucestershire
Coventry website 369,026City (1345) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Crawley website 124,008 Borough West Sussex
Croydon website 409,342London Borough London borough Greater London
Cumberland website 274,622 Unitary authority Cumbria
Dacorum website 161,420 Borough Hertfordshire
Darlington website 112,489 Borough Unitary authority County Durham
Dartford website 125,011 Borough Kent
Derby website 274,149City (1977) Unitary authority Derbyshire
Derbyshire Dales website 71,757District Derbyshire
Doncaster website 319,765City (2022) Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Dorset website 389,947 Unitary authority Dorset
Dover website 119,768District Kent
Dudley website 331,930Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
County Durham website 538,011 Unitary authority County Durham
Ealing website 385,985London Borough London borough Greater London
East Cambridgeshire website 92,906District Cambridgeshire
East Devon website 158,239District Devon
East Hampshire website 129,975District Hampshire
East Hertfordshire website 156,875District Hertfordshire
East Lindsey website 145,183District Lincolnshire
East Riding of Yorkshire website 355,884 Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
East Staffordshire website 129,659 Borough Staffordshire
East Suffolk website 249,664District Suffolk
Eastbourne website 104,259 Borough East Sussex
Eastleigh website 142,933 Borough Hampshire
Elmbridge website 141,926 Borough Surrey
Enfield website 327,434London Borough London borough Greater London
Epping Forest website 137,451District Essex
Epsom and Ewell website 83,288 Borough Surrey
Erewash website 114,253 Borough Derbyshire
Exeter website 138,399City ( TI ) Devon
Fareham website 115,428 Borough Hampshire
Fenland website 104,896District Cambridgeshire
Folkestone and Hythe website 112,411District Kent
Forest of Dean website 89,753District Gloucestershire
Fylde website 85,447 Borough Lancashire
Gateshead website 202,760Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Gedling website 120,179 Borough Nottinghamshire
Gloucester website 138,598City (1541) Gloucestershire
Gosport website 82,921 Borough Hampshire
Gravesham website 110,671 Borough Kent
Great Yarmouth website 100,529 Borough Norfolk
Greenwich website 299,528 Royal Borough London Borough Greater London
Guildford website 151,359 Borough Surrey
Hackney website 266,758London Borough London borough Greater London
Halton website 131,543 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Hammersmith and Fulham website 188,687London Borough London borough Greater London
Harborough website 104,713District Leicestershire
Haringey website 263,850London Borough London borough Greater London
Harlow website 98,235District Essex
Harrow website 270,724London Borough London borough Greater London
Hart website 103,162District Hampshire
Hartlepool website 98,180 Borough Unitary authority County Durham
Hastings website 91,219 Borough East Sussex
Havant website 126,985 Borough Hampshire
Havering website 276,274London Borough London borough Greater London
Herefordshire website 191,047 Unitary authority Herefordshire
Hertsmere website 110,212 Borough Hertfordshire
High Peak website 91,959 Borough Derbyshire
Hillingdon website 329,185London Borough London borough Greater London
Hinckley and Bosworth website 116,682 Borough Leicestershire
Horsham website 151,521District West Sussex
Hounslow website 299,424London Borough London borough Greater London
Kingston upon Hull website 275,401City (1299) Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
Huntingdonshire website 190,619District Cambridgeshire
Hyndburn website 86,058 Borough Lancashire
Ipswich website 140,274 Borough Suffolk
Isle of Wight website 141,660 Unitary authority Isle of Wight
Isles of Scilly website 2,366 Sui generis Cornwall
Islington website 223,024London Borough London borough Greater London
Kensington and Chelsea website 144,518 Royal borough London Borough Greater London
King's Lynn and West Norfolk website 156,206 Borough Norfolk
Kingston upon Thames website 172,692 Royal Borough London Borough Greater London
Kirklees website 447,847Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Knowsley website 162,565Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Lambeth website 316,920London Borough London borough Greater London
Lancaster website 145,006City (1937) Lancashire
Leeds website 845,189City (1895) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Leicester website 388,348City (1919) Unitary authority Leicestershire
Lewes website 102,363District East Sussex
Lewisham website 301,255London Borough London borough Greater London
Lichfield website 111,932District Staffordshire
Lincoln website 105,114City ( TI ) Lincolnshire
Liverpool website 508,961City (1880) Metropolitan borough Merseyside
City of London website 15,111City ( TI ) Sui generis City of London
Luton website 239,090 Borough Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Maidstone website 187,767 Borough Kent
Maldon website 69,131District Essex
Malvern Hills website 83,227District Worcestershire
Manchester website 589,670City (1853) Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Mansfield website 113,138District Nottinghamshire
Medway website 292,655 Borough Unitary authority Kent
Melton website 54,052 Borough Leicestershire
Merton website 218,539London Borough London borough Greater London
Mid Devon website 84,993District Devon
Mid Suffolk website 110,775District Suffolk
Mid Sussex website 161,755District West Sussex
Middlesbrough website 156,161 Borough Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Milton Keynes website 305,884City (2022) Unitary authority Buckinghamshire
Mole Valley website 88,709District Surrey
Newark and Sherwood website 127,886District Nottinghamshire
Newcastle-under-Lyme website 127,727 Borough Staffordshire
Newcastle upon Tyne website 320,605City (1882) Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
New Forest website 176,116District Hampshire
Newham website 374,523London Borough London borough Greater London
North Devon website 101,222District Devon
North East Derbyshire website 106,646District Derbyshire
North East Lincolnshire website 159,911 Borough Unitary authority Lincolnshire
North Hertfordshire website 137,201District Hertfordshire
North Kesteven website 122,468District Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire website 171,336 Borough Unitary authority Lincolnshire
North Norfolk website 103,217District Norfolk
North Northamptonshire website 359,500 Unitary authority Northamptonshire
North Somerset website 224,578 Unitary authority Somerset
North Tyneside website 215,025Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
North Warwickshire website 67,117 Borough Warwickshire
North West Leicestershire website 111,881District Leicestershire
North Yorkshire website 615,491 Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Northumberland website 331,420 Unitary authority Northumberland
Norwich website 147,182City (1195) Norfolk
Nottingham website 331,077City (1897) Unitary authority Nottinghamshire
Nuneaton and Bedworth website 141,565 Borough Warwickshire
Oadby and Wigston website 61,695 Borough Leicestershire
Oldham website 251,560Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Oxford website 166,034City (1542) Oxfordshire
Pendle website 99,777 Borough Lancashire
Peterborough website 223,655City (1541) Unitary authority Cambridgeshire
Plymouth website 272,067City (1928) Unitary authority Devon
Portsmouth website 214,321City (1926) Unitary authority Hampshire
Preston website 162,864City (2002) Lancashire
Reading website 182,907 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Redbridge website 321,231London Borough London borough Greater London
Redcar and Cleveland website 139,228 Borough Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Redditch website 87,847 Borough Worcestershire
Reigate and Banstead website 159,134 Borough Surrey
Ribble Valley website 65,794 Borough Lancashire
Richmond upon Thames website 196,678London Borough London borough Greater London
Rochdale website 235,561Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Rochford website 89,815District Essex
Rossendale website 73,045 Borough Lancashire
Rother website 96,133District East Sussex
Rotherham website 276,595Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Rugby website 122,378 Borough Warwickshire
Runnymede website 92,118 Borough Surrey
Rushcliffe website 126,736 Borough Nottinghamshire
Rushmoor website 105,751 Borough Hampshire
Rutland website 41,443 Unitary authority Rutland
St Albans website 151,012City (1877) Hertfordshire
St Helens website 188,861Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Salford website 294,348City (1926) Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Sandwell website 353,860Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Sefton website 286,281Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Sevenoaks website 122,748District Kent
Sheffield website 582,493City (1893) Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Shropshire website 332,455 Unitary authority Shropshire
Slough website 167,359 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Solihull website 221,242Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Somerset website 555,289 Unitary authority Somerset
South Cambridgeshire website 172,544District Cambridgeshire
South Derbyshire website 117,493District Derbyshire
South Gloucestershire website 306,332 Unitary authority Gloucestershire
South Hams website 92,148District Devon
South Holland website 99,298District Lincolnshire
South Kesteven website 147,151District Lincolnshire
South Norfolk website 148,448District Norfolk
South Oxfordshire website 156,470District Oxfordshire
South Ribble website 116,113 Borough Lancashire
South Staffordshire website 114,423District Staffordshire
South Tyneside website 151,393Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Southampton website 259,424City (1964) Unitary authority Hampshire
Southend-on-Sea website 185,256City (2022) Unitary authority Essex
Southwark website 314,786London Borough London borough Greater London
Spelthorne website 107,074 Borough Surrey
Stafford website 141,556 Borough Staffordshire
Staffordshire Moorlands website 96,651District Staffordshire
Stevenage website 91,774 Borough Hertfordshire
Stockport website 303,929Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Stockton-on-Tees website 206,800 Borough Unitary authority County Durham and North Yorkshire
Stoke-on-Trent website 270,425City (1925) Unitary authority Staffordshire
Stratford-on-Avon website 146,258District Warwickshire
Stroud website 125,680District Gloucestershire
Sunderland website 288,606City (1992) Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Surrey Heath website 94,492 Borough Surrey
Sutton website 214,525London Borough London borough Greater London
Swale website 158,379 Borough Kent
Swindon website 243,875 Borough Unitary authority Wiltshire
Tameside website 239,643Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Tamworth website 81,117 Borough Staffordshire
Tandridge website 90,586District Surrey
Teignbridge website 138,548District Devon
Telford and Wrekin website 195,952 Borough Unitary authority Shropshire
Tendring website 156,759District Essex
Test Valley website 135,201 Borough Hampshire
Tewkesbury website 101,949 Borough Gloucestershire
Thanet website 142,691District Kent
Three Rivers website 95,807District Hertfordshire
Thurrock website 180,989 Borough Unitary authority Essex
Tonbridge and Malling website 136,853 Borough Kent
Torbay website 140,126 Borough Unitary authority Devon
Torridge website 69,841District Devon
Tower Hamlets website 331,886London Borough London borough Greater London
Trafford website 241,025Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Tunbridge Wells website 119,694 Borough Kent
Uttlesford website 95,106District Essex
Vale of White Horse website 149,347District Oxfordshire
Wakefield website 367,666City (1888) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Walsall website 295,678Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Waltham Forest website 279,737London Borough London borough Greater London
Wandsworth website 337,655London Borough London borough Greater London
Warrington website 215,391 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Warwick website 154,889District Warwickshire
Watford website 107,171 Borough Hertfordshire
Waverley website 134,284 Borough Surrey
Wealden website 166,908District East Sussex
Welwyn Hatfield website 122,819 Borough Hertfordshire
West Berkshire website 165,112 Unitary authority Berkshire
West Devon website 58,923 Borough Devon
West Lancashire website 121,995District Lancashire
West Lindsey website 99,208District Lincolnshire
Westminster website 209,996City (1540) London Borough Greater London
Westmorland and Furness website 225,390 Unitary authority Cumbria
West Northamptonshire website 425,700 Unitary authority Northamptonshire
West Oxfordshire website 120,941District Oxfordshire
West Suffolk website 188,485District Suffolk
Wigan website 344,922Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Wiltshire website 523,700 Unitary authority Wiltshire
Winchester website 135,632City ( TI ) Hampshire
Windsor and Maidenhead website 158,943 Royal borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Wirral website 328,873Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Woking website 105,679 Borough Surrey
Wokingham website 187,200 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Wolverhampton website 281,251City (2000) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Worcester website 106,671City (1189) Worcestershire
Worthing website 113,866 Borough West Sussex
Wychavon website 138,017District Worcestershire
Wyre website 118,743 Borough Lancashire
Wyre Forest website 103,913District Worcestershire
York website 209,301City ( TI ) Unitary authority North Yorkshire

Former districts

The current pattern of districts was introduced in 1974 throughout England and Wales, replacing an older system of municipal boroughs, urban districts, rural districts and county boroughs.

In England, several changes have taken place, but only within the framework created then.

Former English districts are as follows

DistrictStatusDate abolishedFormer countySuccessor
Allerdale non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023 Cumbria Cumberland
Alnwick non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Aylesbury Vale non-metropolitan district1 April 2020 Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire
Barrow-in-Furness non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023 Cumbria Westmorland and Furness
Bath non-metropolitan district, City1 April 1996 Avon Bath and North East Somerset
Berwick-upon-Tweed non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire
Blyth Valley non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Boothferry non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
Bournemouth unitary authority, borough1 April 2019 Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bridgnorth non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
Brighton non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1997 East Sussex Brighton and Hove
Caradon non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Carlisle non-metropolitan district, city1 April 2023 Cumbria Cumberland
Carrick non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Castle Morpeth non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Chester non-metropolitan district, City1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire West and Chester
Chester-le-Street non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Chiltern non-metropolitan district1 April 2020 Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire
Christchurch non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019 Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Cleethorpes non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside North East Lincolnshire
Congleton non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire East
Copeland non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023 Cumbria Cumberland
Corby non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021 Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire
Craven non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Crewe and Nantwich non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire East
Daventry non-metropolitan district1 April 2021 Northamptonshire West Northamptonshire
Derwentside non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Durham non-metropolitan district, City1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Easington non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
East Dorset non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
East Northamptonshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2021 Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire
East Yorkshire non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire
Eden non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 Cumbria Westmorland and Furness
Ellesmere Port and Neston non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire West and Chester
Forest Heath non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Suffolk West Suffolk
Gillingham non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1998 Kent Medway
Glanford non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside North Lincolnshire
Great Grimsby non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside North East Lincolnshire
Hambleton non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Harrogate non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Hereford non-metropolitan district, City1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire
Holderness non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire
Hove non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1997 East Sussex Brighton and Hove
Kennet non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Kerrier non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Kettering non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021 Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire
Kingswood non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Avon South Gloucestershire
Leominster non-metropolitan district1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire (part to Malvern Hills)
Macclesfield non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire East
Malvern Hills non-metropolitan district1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire and Malvern Hills
Medina non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1995 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight
Mendip non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 Somerset Somerset
Mid Bedfordshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire
North Cornwall non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
North Dorset non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
North Shropshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
North Wiltshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Northampton non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021 Northamptonshire West Northamptonshire
Northavon non-metropolitan district1 April 1996 Avon South Gloucestershire
Oswestry non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
Penwith non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Poole unitary authority, borough1 April 2019 Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Purbeck non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
Restormel non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Richmondshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Rochester-upon-Medway non-metropolitan district, City1 April 1998 Kent Medway
Ryedale non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Salisbury non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Scarborough non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Scunthorpe non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996 Humberside North Lincolnshire
Sedgefield non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Sedgemoor non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 Somerset Somerset
Selby non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Shrewsbury and Atcham non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
Somerset West and Taunton non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 Somerset Somerset
South Bedfordshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire
South Bucks non-metropolitan district1 April 2020 Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire
South Herefordshire non-metropolitan district1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire
South Lakeland non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 Cumbria Westmorland and Furness
South Northamptonshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2021 Northamptonshire West Northamptonshire
South Shropshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
South Somerset non-metropolitan district1 April 2023 Somerset Somerset
South Wight non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1995 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight
St Edmundsbury non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019 Suffolk West Suffolk
Suffolk Coastal non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Suffolk East Suffolk
Taunton Deane non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019 Somerset Somerset West and Taunton
Teesdale non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Tynedale non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Vale Royal non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire West and Chester
Wansbeck non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Wansdyke non-metropolitan district1 April 1996 Avon Bath and North East Somerset
Waveney non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Suffolk East Suffolk
Wear Valley non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Wellingborough non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021 Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire
West Dorset non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
West Somerset non-metropolitan district1 April 2019 Somerset Somerset West and Taunton
West Wiltshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Weymouth and Portland non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
Wycombe non-metropolitan district1 April 2020 Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire

In most cases, these districts were merged to form unitary authorities, which are indicated in the right.

The exceptions were Malvern Hills and Leominster, which were both split between the new district of Herefordshire and a new district of Malvern Hills.

See List of rural and urban districts of England for a list of the districts as they stood immediately before 1 April 1974.

Renamings

Under section 74 of the Local Government Act 1972, the council of a district, county or London borough (or county borough in Wales) may change its name, providing the resolution to do so gains two-thirds of the votes at a special meeting. Until 1 April 1978, the council had to have the permission of the Secretary of State, but since that date they may do so unilaterally. At least one district name change was vetoed: the shadow authority for North Wolds wished to become "Bridlington and Yorkshire Wolds" before 1974 at the same time as other name changes were allowed.

Several English districts have done this, whilst others have been renamed under the 1990s UK local government reform. A few districts have even changed names twice.

Original nameNew nameDateNotes
Barking Barking and Dagenham 1 January 1980 [3]
Basingstoke Basingstoke and Deane 20 January 1978 [4]
Beaconsfield South Bucks 1 April 1980 [5]
BedfordNorth Bedfordshire15 October 1975 [6]
Bedford 1 October 1992 [7]
Beverley East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley 12 May 1981 [3]
Blackburn Blackburn with Darwen 2 May 1997(before unitary)
Bosworth Hinckley and Bosworth 20 November 1973†
Bracknell Bracknell Forest 27 April 1988 [8]
Crewe Crewe and Nantwich 17 January 1974†
Ellesmere Port Ellesmere Port and Neston 21 June 1976
Grimsby Great Grimsby 1 January 1979
Hammersmith Hammersmith and Fulham 1 April 1979
Hartley Wintney Hart 17 January 1974†
Herefordshire County of Herefordshire 20 June 1997
Huntingdon Huntingdonshire 1 October 1984 [9]
LangbaurghLangbaurgh-on-Tees1 January 1988 [8]
Redcar and Cleveland 1 April 1996(with unitary)
Medway Rochester-upon-Medway 3 December 1979 [3]
Medway Towns Medway 1 April 1998(with unitary)
Newark Newark and Sherwood 1 April 1985 [9]
Newbury West Berkshire 1 April 1998(with unitary)
North Wolds East Yorkshire 1 February 1981 [3]
Nuneaton Nuneaton and Bedworth 1 October 1980 [3]
Pastonacres North Norfolk 20 September 1973†
Petersfield East Hampshire 8 October 1973†
Poole Borough and County of the Town of Poole 1 April 1997(with unitary)
Rutland Rutland County Council 1 April 1997(with unitary)
Shepway Folkestone and Hythe 1 April 2018 [10]
Shrewsbury Shrewsbury and Atcham 12 June 1974
Thamesdown Swindon effective 1 April 1997(soon before unitary) [11]
Tiverton Mid Devon 6 February 1978 [12]
Wallingford South Oxfordshire 20 September 1973†
West Derbyshire Derbyshire Dales 1 January 1987
West Norfolk King's Lynn and West Norfolk 14 May 1981 [3]
Wimborne East Dorset 1 January 1988 [8]
Woodspring North Somerset 1 April 1996(with unitary)
WrekinThe Wrekin7 February 1974†
Telford and Wrekin 1 April 1998(with unitary)
Yeovil South Somerset 1 April 1985 [9]

† The resolutions to change the name of the district were made by the "shadow" councils elected on 7 June 1973.

Additionally, one English county has been renamed. Shropshire was originally formally known as 'Salop'. Its name was changed effective 1 April 1980.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, United Kingdom, June 2024". Office for National Statistics . 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, United Kingdom, June 2024". Office for National Statistics . 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bulletin of Changes in Local Authority Areas, Names and Status 1980-1982" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities October 1979 to April 1980" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "No. 46725". The London Gazette . 31 October 1975. p. 13813.
  7. ↑ "Bulletin of Changes of Local Authority Status, Names and Areas 1 April 1992 – 31 March 1993" (PDF). Department of The Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "Bulletin of Changes of Local Authority Status, Names and Areas 1st April 1987- 31st March 1988" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 April 1984 – 31 March 1985" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "We've changed our name". www.shepway.gov.uk.
  11. ↑ The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area)(Borough of Swindon) Order 2003
  12. ↑ "Alteration in Status and Areas of Local Authorities for Period February 1978 - September 1978" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
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