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 2022 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
(2022)
TitleTypeCeremonial County
Adur website 64,688District West Sussex
Amber Valley website 126,944 Borough Derbyshire
Arun website 166,366District West Sussex
Ashfield website 127,179District Nottinghamshire
Ashford website 135,610 Borough Kent
Babergh website 94,277District Suffolk
Barking and Dagenham website 219,992London Borough London borough Greater London
Barnet website 389,101London Borough London borough Greater London
Barnsley website 246,482Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Basildon website 188,848 Borough Essex
Basingstoke and Deane website 187,817 Borough Hampshire
Bassetlaw website 120,012District Nottinghamshire
Bath and North East Somerset website 195,618 Unitary authority Somerset
Bedford website 187,466 Borough Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Bexley website 247,835London Borough London borough Greater London
Birmingham website 1,157,603City (1889) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Blaby website 104,182District Leicestershire
Blackburn with Darwen website 155,762 Borough Unitary authority Lancashire
Blackpool website 141,574 Borough Unitary authority Lancashire
Bolsover website 81,553District Derbyshire
Bolton website 298,903Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Boston website 70,806 Borough Lincolnshire
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole website 401,898 Borough Unitary authority Dorset
Bracknell Forest website 126,881 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Bradford website 552,644City (1897) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Braintree website 157,681District Essex
Breckland website 143,479District Norfolk
Brent website 341,221London Borough London borough Greater London
Brentwood website 77,332 Borough Essex
Brighton and Hove website 277,965City (2000) Unitary authority East Sussex
Bristol website 479,024City (1542) Unitary authority Bristol
Broadland website 133,872District Norfolk
Bromley website 329,578London Borough London borough Greater London
Bromsgrove website 100,076District Worcestershire
Broxbourne website 99,103 Borough Hertfordshire
Broxtowe website 112,113 Borough Nottinghamshire
Buckinghamshire website 560,409 Unitary authority Buckinghamshire
Burnley website 95,553 Borough Lancashire
Bury website 194,606Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Calderdale website 207,699Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Cambridge website 146,995City (1951) Cambridgeshire
Camden website 218,049London Borough London borough Greater London
Cannock Chase website 101,140District Staffordshire
Canterbury website 157,550City ( TI ) Kent
Castle Point website 89,731 Borough Essex
Central Bedfordshire website 301,501 Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Charnwood website 184,748 Borough Leicestershire
Chelmsford website 183,326City (2012) Essex
Cheltenham website 119,434 Borough Gloucestershire
Cherwell website 164,155District Oxfordshire
Cheshire East website 406,527 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Cheshire West and Chester website 361,694 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Chesterfield website 104,110 Borough Derbyshire
Chichester website 126,103District West Sussex
Chorley website 118,624 Borough Lancashire
Colchester website 194,394City (2022) Essex
Cornwall website 575,413 Unitary authority Cornwall
Cotswold website 91,311District Gloucestershire
Coventry website 355,600City (1345) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Crawley website 119,509 Borough West Sussex
Croydon website 392,224London Borough London borough Greater London
Cumberland 274,622 Unitary authority Cumbria
Dacorum website 156,123 Borough Hertfordshire
Darlington website 109,469 Borough Unitary authority County Durham
Dartford website 118,820 Borough Kent
Derby website 263,490City (1977) Unitary authority Derbyshire
Derbyshire Dales website 71,752District Derbyshire
Doncaster website 311,027City (2022) Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Dorset website 383,274 Unitary authority Dorset
Dover website 117,473District Kent
Dudley website 324,969Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
County Durham website 528,127 Unitary authority County Durham
Ealing website 369,937London Borough London borough Greater London
East Cambridgeshire website 89,394District Cambridgeshire
East Devon website 154,500District Devon
East Hampshire website 127,319District Hampshire
East Hertfordshire website 151,635District Hertfordshire
East Lindsey website 144,415District Lincolnshire
East Riding of Yorkshire website 346,309 Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
East Staffordshire website 125,760 Borough Staffordshire
East Suffolk website 247,080District Suffolk
Eastbourne website 102,247 Borough East Sussex
Eastleigh website 138,935 Borough Hampshire
Elmbridge website 140,024 Borough Surrey
Enfield website 327,224London Borough London borough Greater London
Epping Forest website 134,989District Essex
Epsom and Ewell website 81,184 Borough Surrey
Erewash website 113,080 Borough Derbyshire
Exeter website 134,939City ( TI ) Devon
Fareham website 114,547 Borough Hampshire
Fenland website 103,035District Cambridgeshire
Folkestone and Hythe website 110,237District Kent
Forest of Dean website 87,937District Gloucestershire
Fylde website 83,008 Borough Lancashire
Gateshead website 197,722Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Gedling website 117,730 Borough Nottinghamshire
Gloucester website 133,522City (1541) Gloucestershire
Gosport website 82,285 Borough Hampshire
Gravesham website 106,970 Borough Kent
Great Yarmouth website 99,862 Borough Norfolk
Greenwich website 291,080 Royal Borough London Borough Greater London
Guildford website 145,673 Borough Surrey
Hackney website 261,491London Borough London borough Greater London
Halton website 128,964 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Hammersmith and Fulham website 185,238London Borough London borough Greater London
Harborough website 100,481District Leicestershire
Haringey website 261,811London Borough London borough Greater London
Harlow website 94,409District Essex
Harrow website 261,185London Borough London borough Greater London
Hart website 100,910District Hampshire
Hartlepool website 93,861 Borough Unitary authority County Durham
Hastings website 90,622 Borough East Sussex
Havant website 124,854 Borough Hampshire
Havering website 264,703London Borough London borough Greater London
Herefordshire website 188,719 Unitary authority Herefordshire
Hertsmere website 108,106 Borough Hertfordshire
High Peak website 91,109 Borough Derbyshire
Hillingdon website 310,681London Borough London borough Greater London
Hinckley and Bosworth website 114,298 Borough Leicestershire
Horsham website 148,696District West Sussex
Hounslow website 290,488London Borough London borough Greater London
Kingston upon Hull website 268,852City (1299) Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
Huntingdonshire website 184,052District Cambridgeshire
Hyndburn website 83,213 Borough Lancashire
Ipswich website 139,247 Borough Suffolk
Isle of Wight website 140,794 Unitary authority Isle of Wight
Isles of Scilly website 2,281 Sui generis Cornwall
Islington website 220,373London Borough London borough Greater London
Kensington and Chelsea website 146,154 Royal borough London Borough Greater London
King's Lynn and West Norfolk website 155,741 Borough Norfolk
Kingston upon Thames website 168,302 Royal Borough London Borough Greater London
Kirklees website 437,593Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Knowsley website 157,103Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Lambeth website 316,812London Borough London borough Greater London
Lancaster website 144,446City (1937) Lancashire
Leeds website 822,483City (1895) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Leicester website 373,399City (1919) Unitary authority Leicestershire
Lewes website 100,677District East Sussex
Lewisham website 298,653London Borough London borough Greater London
Lichfield website 108,352District Staffordshire
Lincoln website 102,545City ( TI ) Lincolnshire
Liverpool website 496,770City (1880) Metropolitan borough Merseyside
City of London website 10,847City ( TI ) Sui generis City of London
Luton website 226,973 Borough Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Maidstone website 180,428 Borough Kent
Maldon website 67,554District Essex
Malvern Hills website 81,024District Worcestershire
Manchester website 568,996City (1853) Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Mansfield website 111,117District Nottinghamshire
Medway website 282,702 Borough Unitary authority Kent
Melton website 52,433 Borough Leicestershire
Merton website 214,709London Borough London borough Greater London
Mid Devon website 83,786District Devon
Mid Suffolk website 105,723District Suffolk
Mid Sussex website 154,930District West Sussex
Middlesbrough website 148,285 Borough Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Milton Keynes website 292,180City (2022) Unitary authority Buckinghamshire
Mole Valley website 87,769District Surrey
Newark and Sherwood website 125,089District Nottinghamshire
Newcastle-under-Lyme website 125,297 Borough Staffordshire
Newcastle upon Tyne website 307,565City (1882) Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
New Forest website 175,942District Hampshire
Newham website 358,645London Borough London borough Greater London
North Devon website 100,505District Devon
North East Derbyshire website 103,783District Derbyshire
North East Lincolnshire website 157,754 Borough Unitary authority Lincolnshire
North Hertfordshire website 134,159District Hertfordshire
North Kesteven website 119,709District Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire website 170,042 Borough Unitary authority Lincolnshire
North Norfolk website 103,227District Norfolk
North Northamptonshire website 359,500 Unitary authority Northamptonshire
North Somerset website 219,145 Unitary authority Somerset
North Tyneside website 210,487Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
North Warwickshire website 65,946 Borough Warwickshire
North West Leicestershire website 107,672District Leicestershire
North Yorkshire 615,491 Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Northumberland website 324,362 Unitary authority Northumberland
Norwich website 144,525City (1195) Norfolk
Nottingham website 328,513City (1897) Unitary authority Nottinghamshire
Nuneaton and Bedworth website 135,481 Borough Warwickshire
Oadby and Wigston website 58,341 Borough Leicestershire
Oldham website 243,912Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Oxford website 163,257City (1542) Oxfordshire
Pendle website 96,110 Borough Lancashire
Peterborough website 217,705City (1541) Unitary authority Cambridgeshire
Plymouth website 266,862City (1928) Unitary authority Devon
Portsmouth website 208,420City (1926) Unitary authority Hampshire
Preston website 151,582City (2002) Lancashire
Reading website 174,820 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Redbridge website 310,911London Borough London borough Greater London
Redcar and Cleveland website 137,175 Borough Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Redditch website 87,132 Borough Worcestershire
Reigate and Banstead website 153,629 Borough Surrey
Ribble Valley website 63,107 Borough Lancashire
Richmond upon Thames website 194,894London Borough London borough Greater London
Rochdale website 226,992Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Rochford website 87,216District Essex
Rossendale website 71,169 Borough Lancashire
Rother website 94,162District East Sussex
Rotherham website 268,354Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Rugby website 116,436 Borough Warwickshire
Runnymede website 88,524 Borough Surrey
Rushcliffe website 121,582 Borough Nottinghamshire
Rushmoor website 101,060 Borough Hampshire
Rutland website 41,151 Unitary authority Rutland
St Albans website 148,358City (1877) Hertfordshire
St Helens website 184,728Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Salford website 278,064City (1926) Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Sandwell website 344,210Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Sefton website 281,027Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Sevenoaks website 121,106District Kent
Sheffield website 566,242City (1893) Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Shropshire website 327,178 Unitary authority Shropshire
Slough website 159,182 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Solihull website 217,678Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Somerset 555,289 Unitary authority Somerset
South Cambridgeshire website 165,633District Cambridgeshire
South Derbyshire website 111,133District Derbyshire
South Gloucestershire website 294,765 Unitary authority Gloucestershire
South Hams website 89,812District Devon
South Holland website 96,983District Lincolnshire
South Kesteven website 144,249District Lincolnshire
South Norfolk website 144,593District Norfolk
South Oxfordshire website 151,820District Oxfordshire
South Ribble website 112,166 Borough Lancashire
South Staffordshire website 111,527District Staffordshire
South Tyneside website 148,667Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Southampton website 252,689City (1964) Unitary authority Hampshire
Southend-on-Sea website 180,915City (2022) Unitary authority Essex
Southwark website 311,913London Borough London borough Greater London
Spelthorne website 103,551 Borough Surrey
Stafford website 138,670 Borough Staffordshire
Staffordshire Moorlands website 95,899District Staffordshire
Stevenage website 89,737 Borough Hertfordshire
Stockport website 297,107Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Stockton-on-Tees website 199,966 Borough Unitary authority County Durham and North Yorkshire
Stoke-on-Trent website 259,965City (1925) Unitary authority Staffordshire
Stratford-on-Avon website 138,583District Warwickshire
Stroud website 123,205District Gloucestershire
Sunderland website 277,354City (1992) Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Surrey Heath website 91,237 Borough Surrey
Sutton website 210,053London Borough London borough Greater London
Swale website 154,619 Borough Kent
Swindon website 235,657 Borough Unitary authority Wiltshire
Tameside website 232,753Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Tamworth website 79,639 Borough Staffordshire
Tandridge website 88,707District Surrey
Teignbridge website 135,952District Devon
Telford and Wrekin website 188,871 Borough Unitary authority Shropshire
Tendring website 151,451District Essex
Test Valley website 132,871 Borough Hampshire
Tewkesbury website 97,000 Borough Gloucestershire
Thanet website 140,689District Kent
Three Rivers website 94,123District Hertfordshire
Thurrock website 176,877 Borough Unitary authority Essex
Tonbridge and Malling website 133,661 Borough Kent
Torbay website 139,479 Borough Unitary authority Devon
Torridge website 68,635District Devon
Tower Hamlets website 325,789London Borough London borough Greater London
Trafford website 236,301Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Tunbridge Wells website 116,028 Borough Kent
Uttlesford website 92,578District Essex
Vale of White Horse website 142,116District Oxfordshire
Wakefield website 357,729City (1888) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Walsall website 286,105Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Waltham Forest website 275,887London Borough London borough Greater London
Wandsworth website 329,035London Borough London borough Greater London
Warrington website 211,580 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Warwick website 151,158District Warwickshire
Watford website 103,031 Borough Hertfordshire
Waverley website 130,063 Borough Surrey
Wealden website 163,012District East Sussex
Welwyn Hatfield website 120,213Borough Hertfordshire
West Berkshire website 162,215 Unitary authority Berkshire
West Devon website 58,190 Borough Devon
West Lancashire website 119,367District Lancashire
West Lindsey website 96,817District Lincolnshire
Westminster website 211,365City (1540) London Borough Greater London
Westmorland and Furness 225,390 Unitary authority Cumbria
West Northamptonshire website 425,700 Unitary authority Northamptonshire
West Oxfordshire website 116,928District Oxfordshire
West Suffolk website 182,228District Suffolk
Wigan website 334,110Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Wiltshire website 515,885 Unitary authority Wiltshire
Winchester website 130,268City ( TI ) Hampshire
Windsor and Maidenhead website 154,738 Royal borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Wirral website 322,453Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Woking website 104,179 Borough Surrey
Wokingham website 180,967 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Wolverhampton website 267,651City (2000) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Worcester website 104,120City (1189) Worcestershire
Worthing website 112,044 Borough West Sussex
Wychavon website 134,536District Worcestershire
Wyre website 114,809 Borough Lancashire
Wyre Forest website 102,328District Worcestershire
York website 204,551City ( 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 1 April 2023 Cumbria Cumberland
Alnwick non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Aylesbury Vale 1 April 2020 Buckinghamshire
Barrow-in-Furness 1 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 1 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 1 April 2020 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 1 April 2023 Cumbria Cumberland
Corby non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021 Northamptonshire North Northamptonshire
Craven 1 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 1 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 1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Harrogate 1 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 1 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 1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Rochester-upon-Medway non-metropolitan district, City1 April 1998 Kent Medway
Ryedale 1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Salisbury non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Scarborough 1 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 1 April 2023 Somerset Somerset
Selby 1 April 2023 North Yorkshire North Yorkshire
Shrewsbury and Atcham non-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
Somerset West and Taunton 1 April 2023 Somerset Somerset
South Bedfordshire non-metropolitan district1 April 2009 Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire
South Bucks 1 April 2020 Buckinghamshire
South Herefordshire non-metropolitan district1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire
South Lakeland 1 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 1 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 1 April 2020 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 [2]
Basingstoke Basingstoke and Deane 20 January 1978 [3]
Beaconsfield South Bucks 1 April 1980 [4]
BedfordNorth Bedfordshire15 October 1975 [5]
Bedford 1 October 1992 [6]
Beverley East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley 12 May 1981 [2]
Blackburn Blackburn with Darwen 2 May 1997(before unitary)
Bosworth Hinckley and Bosworth 20 November 1973
Bracknell Bracknell Forest 27 April 1988 [7]
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 [8]
LangbaurghLangbaurgh-on-Tees1 January 1988 [7]
Redcar and Cleveland 1 April 1996(with unitary)
Medway Rochester-upon-Medway 3 December 1979 [2]
Medway Towns Medway 1 April 1998(with unitary)
Newark Newark and Sherwood 1 April 1985 [8]
Newbury West Berkshire 1 April 1998(with unitary)
North Wolds East Yorkshire 1 February 1981 [2]
Nuneaton Nuneaton and Bedworth 1 October 1980 [2]
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 [9]
Shrewsbury Shrewsbury and Atcham 12 June 1974
Thamesdown Swindon effective 1 April 1997(soon before unitary) [10]
Tiverton Mid Devon 6 February 1978 [11]
Wallingford South Oxfordshire 20 September 1973
West Derbyshire Derbyshire Dales 1 January 1987
West Norfolk King's Lynn and West Norfolk 14 May 1981 [2]
Wimborne East Dorset 1 January 1988 [7]
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 [8]

† 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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan borough</span> Type of local government district in England

A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts within metropolitan counties. All of the metropolitan districts have been granted or regranted royal charters giving them borough status. Metropolitan boroughs have been effectively unitary authority areas since the abolition of metropolitan county councils by the Local Government Act 1985. Metropolitan boroughs pool much of their authority in joint boards and other arrangements that cover whole metropolitan counties, such as Local enterprise partnerships and Combined authorities and combined county authorities, with most of the latter having a directly elected metropolitan mayor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counties of England</span> Geographic divisions of England

The counties of England are a type of subdivision of England. Counties have been used as administrative areas in England since Anglo-Saxon times. There are three definitions of county in England: the 48 ceremonial counties used for the purposes of lieutenancy; the 84 metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties for local government; and the 39 historic counties which were used for administration until 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Broxtowe</span> Non-metropolitan district and borough in England

Broxtowe is a local government district with borough status in Nottinghamshire, England. It lies immediately west of the city of Nottingham, and most of the built-up areas of the borough form part of the Nottingham Urban Area. The council is based in Beeston and the borough also includes the towns of Eastwood, Kimberley and Stapleford and surrounding villages and rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid Devon</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Mid Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. The council is based in the district's largest town of Tiverton. The district also contains the towns of Bampton, Bradninch, Crediton and Cullompton, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. Part of the district lies within the Blackdown Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hertsmere</span> Non-metropolitan district & Borough in England

Hertsmere is a local government district with borough status in Hertfordshire, England. Its council is based in Borehamwood. Other settlements in the borough include Bushey, Elstree, Radlett and Potters Bar. The borough contains several film studios, including Elstree Studios and the BBC Elstree Centre at Borehamwood. The borough borders Three Rivers, Watford, St Albans, and Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire and the three north London boroughs of Harrow, Barnet and Enfield. Hertsmere is located mainly within the M25 Motorway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Swale</span> Non-metropolitan district and borough in England

Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. The council is based in Sittingbourne, the borough's largest town. The borough also contains the towns of Faversham, Queenborough and Sheerness, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. It includes the Isle of Sheppey and is named after The Swale, the narrow channel which separates Sheppey from the mainland part of the borough. Some southern parts of the borough lie within the Kent Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Brentwood</span> District in Essex, England

The Borough of Brentwood is a local government district with borough status in Essex, England. The borough is named after its main town of Brentwood, where the council is based; it includes several villages and the surrounding rural area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local Government Act 1972</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Local Government Act 1972 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Government of 1970–74.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford Borough Council</span> Local authority in Bedfordshire, England

Bedford Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Bedford, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. The town of Bedford was a borough from at least the 12th century until 1974, when the modern district was created. It covers a largely rural surrounding area as well as the town itself. The modern council was initially called Bedford District Council from 1974 to 1975, then North Bedfordshire Borough Council from 1975 until 1992, when the current name was adopted. Until 2009 it was a lower-tier district council, with county-level services provided by Bedfordshire County Council. The county council was abolished in 2009, since when Bedford Borough Council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-metropolitan district</span> Type of local government district in England

Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a two-tier arrangement. Non-metropolitan districts with borough status are known as boroughs, able to appoint a mayor and refer to itself as a borough council. Some shire counties now have no sub divisions so are a single Non-metropolitan district such as Cornwall.

In England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish. Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparished. Many towns and some cities in otherwise rural districts are also unparished areas and therefore no longer have a town council or city council, and are instead directly managed by a higher local authority such as a district or county council.

Borough status is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district. In Scotland, similarly chartered communities were known as royal burghs, although the status is no longer granted.

The wards and electoral divisions in the United Kingdom are electoral districts at sub-national level, represented by one or more councillors. The ward is the primary unit of English electoral geography for civil parishes and borough and district councils, the electoral ward is the unit used by Welsh principal councils, while the electoral division is the unit used by English county councils and some unitary authorities. Each ward/division has an average electorate of about 5,500 people, but ward population counts can vary substantially. As of 2021 there are 8,694 electoral wards/divisions in the UK. An average area of wards or electoral divisions in the United Kingdom is 28.109 km2 (10.853 sq mi).

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) was the statutory body established under the Local Government Act 1972 to settle the boundaries, names and electoral arrangements of the non-metropolitan districts which came into existence in 1974, and for their periodic review. The stated purpose of the LGBCE was to ensure "that the whole system does not get frozen into the form which has been adopted as appropriate in the 1970s". In the event it made no major changes and was replaced in 1992 by the Local Government Commission for England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North East Lincolnshire Council</span> Humberside County Council

North East Lincolnshire Council is the local authority of North East Lincolnshire, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire, England. The council is a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Lincolnshire County Council.

References

  1. "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics . 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. 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 ]
  3. "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.
  4. "No. 46725". The London Gazette . 31 October 1975. p. 13813.
  5. "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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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 ]
  8. "We've changed our name". www.shepway.gov.uk.
  9. The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area)(Borough of Swindon) Order 2003
  10. "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.