List of English districts

This is a list of the 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 2019 from the Office for National Statistics.[1]

Nomenclature

There are currently 317 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

Name Website Population
(2019 est.)
Title Type Ceremonial County
Adur website 64,301 District West Sussex
Allerdale website 97,761 Borough Cumbria
Amber Valley website 128,147 Borough Derbyshire
Arun website 160,758 District West Sussex
Ashfield website 127,918 District Nottinghamshire
Ashford website 130,032 Borough Kent
Babergh website 92,036 District Suffolk
Barking and Dagenham website 212,906 London Borough London borough Greater London
Barnet website 395,869 London Borough London borough Greater London
Barnsley website 246,866 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Barrow-in-Furness website 67,049 Borough Cumbria
Basildon website 187,199 Borough Essex
Basingstoke and Deane website 176,582 Borough Hampshire
Bassetlaw website 117,459 District Nottinghamshire
Bath and North East Somerset website 193,282 Unitary authority Somerset
Bedford website 173,292 Borough Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Bexley website 248,287 London Borough London borough Greater London
Birmingham website 1,141,816 City (1889) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Blaby website 101,526 District Leicestershire
Blackburn with Darwen website 149,696 Borough Unitary authority Lancashire
Blackpool website 139,446 Borough Unitary authority Lancashire
Bolsover website 80,562 District Derbyshire
Bolton website 287,550 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Boston website 70,173 Borough Lincolnshire
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole website 395,331 Borough Unitary authority Dorset
Bracknell Forest website 122,549 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Bradford website 539,776 City (1897) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Braintree website 152,604 District Essex
Breckland website 139,968 District Norfolk
Brent website 329,771 London Borough London borough Greater London
Brentwood website 77,021 Borough Essex
Brighton and Hove website 290,885 City (2000) Unitary authority East Sussex
Bristol website 463,377 City (1542) Unitary authority Bristol
Broadland website 130,783 District Norfolk
Bromley website 332,336 London Borough London borough Greater London
Bromsgrove website 99,881 District Worcestershire
Broxbourne website 97,279 Borough Hertfordshire
Broxtowe website 114,033 Borough Nottinghamshire
Buckinghamshire website 543,973 Unitary authority Buckinghamshire
Burnley website 88,920 Borough Lancashire
Bury website 190,990 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Calderdale website 211,455 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Cambridge website 124,798 City (1951) Cambridgeshire
Camden website 270,029 London Borough London borough Greater London
Cannock Chase website 100,762 District Staffordshire
Canterbury website 165,394 City (TI) Kent
Carlisle website 108,678 City (TI) Cumbria
Castle Point website 90,376 Borough Essex
Central Bedfordshire website 288,648 Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Charnwood website 185,851 Borough Leicestershire
Chelmsford website 178,388 City (2012) Essex
Cheltenham website 116,306 Borough Gloucestershire
Cherwell website 150,503 District Oxfordshire
Cheshire East website 384,152 Unitary authority Cheshire
Cheshire West and Chester website 343,071 Unitary authority Cheshire
Chesterfield website 104,900 Borough Derbyshire
Chichester website 121,129 District West Sussex
Chorley website 118,216 Borough Lancashire
Colchester website 194,706 Borough Essex
Copeland website 68,183 Borough Cumbria
Corby website 72,218 Borough Northamptonshire
Cornwall website 569,578 Unitary authority Cornwall
Cotswold website 89,862 District Gloucestershire
Coventry website 371,521 City (1345) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Craven website 57,142 District North Yorkshire
Crawley website 112,409 Borough West Sussex
Croydon website 386,710 London Borough London borough Greater London
Dacorum website 154,763 Borough Hertfordshire
Darlington website 106,803 Borough Unitary authority County Durham
Dartford website 112,606 Borough Kent
Daventry website 85,950 District Northamptonshire
Derby website 257,302 City (1977) Unitary authority Derbyshire
Derbyshire Dales website 72,325 District Derbyshire
Doncaster website 311,890 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Dorset website 378,508 Unitary authority Dorset
Dover website 118,131 District Kent
Dudley website 321,596 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
County Durham website 530,094 Unitary authority County Durham
Ealing website 341,806 London Borough London borough Greater London
East Cambridgeshire website 89,840 District Cambridgeshire
East Devon website 146,284 District Devon
East Hampshire website 122,308 District Hampshire
East Hertfordshire website 149,748 District Hertfordshire
East Lindsey website 141,727 District Lincolnshire
East Northamptonshire website 94,527 District Northamptonshire
East Riding of Yorkshire website 341,173 Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
East Staffordshire website 119,754 Borough Staffordshire
East Suffolk website 249,461 District Suffolk
Eastbourne website 103,745 Borough East Sussex
Eastleigh website 133,584 Borough Hampshire
Eden website 53,253 District Cumbria
Elmbridge website 136,795 Borough Surrey
Enfield website 333,794 London Borough London borough Greater London
Epping Forest website 131,689 District Essex
Epsom and Ewell website 80,627 Borough Surrey
Erewash website 115,371 Borough Derbyshire
Exeter website 131,405 City (TI) Devon
Fareham website 116,233 Borough Hampshire
Fenland website 101,850 District Cambridgeshire
Folkestone and Hythe website 112,996 District Kent
Forest of Dean website 86,791 District Gloucestershire
Fylde website 80,780 Borough Lancashire
Gateshead website 202,055 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Gedling website 117,896 Borough Nottinghamshire
Gloucester website 129,128 City (1541) Gloucestershire
Gosport website 84,838 Borough Hampshire
Gravesham website 106,939 Borough Kent
Great Yarmouth website 99,336 Borough Norfolk
Greenwich website 287,942 Royal Borough London Borough Greater London
Guildford website 148,998 Borough Surrey
Hackney website 281,120 London Borough London borough Greater London
Halton website 129,410 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Hambleton website 91,594 District North Yorkshire
Hammersmith and Fulham website 185,143 London Borough London borough Greater London
Harborough website 93,807 District Leicestershire
Haringey website 268,647 London Borough London borough Greater London
Harlow website 87,067 District Essex
Harrogate website 160,831 District North Yorkshire
Harrow website 251,160 London Borough London borough Greater London
Hart website 97,073 District Hampshire
Hartlepool website 93,663 Borough Unitary authority County Durham
Hastings website 92,661 Borough East Sussex
Havant website 126,220 Borough Hampshire
Havering website 259,552 London Borough London borough Greater London
Herefordshire website 192,801 Unitary authority Herefordshire
Hertsmere website 104,919 Borough Hertfordshire
High Peak website 92,666 Borough Derbyshire
Hillingdon website 306,870 London Borough London borough Greater London
Hinckley and Bosworth website 113,136 Borough Leicestershire
Horsham website 143,791 District West Sussex
Hounslow website 271,523 London Borough London borough Greater London
Kingston upon Hull website 259,778 City (1299) Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire
Huntingdonshire website 177,963 District Cambridgeshire
Hyndburn website 81,043 Borough Lancashire
Ipswich website 136,913 Borough Suffolk
Isle of Wight website 141,771 Unitary authority Isle of Wight
Isles of Scilly website 2,224 Sui generis Cornwall
Islington website 242,467 London Borough London borough Greater London
Kensington and Chelsea website 156,129 Royal borough London Borough Greater London
Kettering website 101,776 Borough Northamptonshire
King's Lynn and West Norfolk website 151,383 Borough Norfolk
Kingston upon Thames website 177,507 Royal Borough London Borough Greater London
Kirklees website 439,787 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Knowsley website 150,862 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Lambeth website 326,034 London Borough London borough Greater London
Lancaster website 146,038 City (1937) Lancashire
Leeds website 793,139 City (1895) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Leicester website 354,224 City (1919) Unitary authority Leicestershire
Lewes website 103,268 District East Sussex
Lewisham website 305,842 London Borough London borough Greater London
Lichfield website 104,756 District Staffordshire
Lincoln website 99,299 City (TI) Lincolnshire
Liverpool website 498,042 City (1880) Metropolitan borough Merseyside
City of London website 9,721 City (TI) Sui generis City of London
Luton website 213,052 Borough Unitary authority Bedfordshire
Maidstone website 171,826 Borough Kent
Maldon website 64,926 District Essex
Malvern Hills website 78,698 District Worcestershire
Manchester website 552,858 City (1853) Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Mansfield website 109,313 District Nottinghamshire
Medway website 278,556 Borough Unitary authority Kent
Melton website 51,209 Borough Leicestershire
Mendip website 115,587 District Somerset
Merton website 206,548 London Borough London borough Greater London
Mid Devon website 82,311 District Devon
Mid Suffolk website 103,895 District Suffolk
Mid Sussex website 151,022 District West Sussex
Middlesbrough website 140,980 Borough Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Milton Keynes website 269,457 Borough Unitary authority Buckinghamshire
Mole Valley website 87,245 District Surrey
Newark and Sherwood website 122,421 District Nottinghamshire
Newcastle-under-Lyme website 129,441 Borough Staffordshire
Newcastle upon Tyne website 302,820 City (1882) Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
New Forest website 180,086 District Hampshire
Newham website 353,134 London Borough London borough Greater London
North Devon website 97,145 District Devon
North East Derbyshire website 101,462 District Derbyshire
North East Lincolnshire website 159,563 Borough Unitary authority Lincolnshire
North Hertfordshire website 133,570 District Hertfordshire
North Kesteven website 116,915 District Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire website 172,292 Borough Unitary authority Lincolnshire
North Norfolk website 104,837 District Norfolk
North Somerset website 215,052 Unitary authority Somerset
North Tyneside website 207,913 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
North Warwickshire website 65,264 Borough Warwickshire
North West Leicestershire website 103,611 District Leicestershire
Northampton website 224,610 Borough Northamptonshire
Northumberland website 322,434 Unitary authority Northumberland
Norwich website 140,573 City (1195) Norfolk
Nottingham website 332,900 City (1897) Unitary authority Nottinghamshire
Nuneaton and Bedworth website 129,883 Borough Warwickshire
Oadby and Wigston website 57,015 Borough Leicestershire
Oldham website 237,110 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Oxford website 152,457 City (1542) Oxfordshire
Pendle website 92,112 Borough Lancashire
Peterborough website 202,259 City (1541) Unitary authority Cambridgeshire
Plymouth website 262,100 City (1928) Unitary authority Devon
Portsmouth website 214,905 City (1926) Unitary authority Hampshire
Preston website 143,135 City (2002) Lancashire
Reading website 161,780 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Redbridge website 305,222 London Borough London borough Greater London
Redcar and Cleveland website 137,150 Borough Unitary authority North Yorkshire
Redditch website 85,261 Borough Worcestershire
Reigate and Banstead website 148,748 Borough Surrey
Ribble Valley website 60,888 Borough Lancashire
Richmond upon Thames website 198,019 London Borough London borough Greater London
Richmondshire website 53,730 District North Yorkshire
Rochdale website 222,412 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Rochford website 87,368 District Essex
Rossendale website 71,482 Borough Lancashire
Rother website 96,080 District East Sussex
Rotherham website 265,411 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Rugby website 108,935 Borough Warwickshire
Runnymede website 89,424 Borough Surrey
Rushcliffe website 119,184 Borough Nottinghamshire
Rushmoor website 94,599 Borough Hampshire
Rutland website 39,927 Unitary authority Rutland
Ryedale website 55,380 District North Yorkshire
St Albans website 148,452 City (1877) Hertfordshire
St Helens website 180,585 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Salford website 258,834 City (1926) Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Sandwell website 328,450 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Scarborough website 108,757 Borough North Yorkshire
Sedgemoor website 123,178 District Somerset
Sefton website 276,410 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Selby website 90,620 District North Yorkshire
Sevenoaks website 120,750 District Kent
Sheffield website 584,853 City (1893) Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire
Shropshire website 323,136 Unitary authority Shropshire
Slough website 149,539 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Solihull website 216,374 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Somerset West and Taunton website 155,115 District Somerset
South Cambridgeshire website 159,086 District Cambridgeshire
South Derbyshire website 107,261 District Derbyshire
South Gloucestershire website 285,093 Unitary authority Gloucestershire
South Hams website 87,004 District Devon
South Holland website 95,019 District Lincolnshire
South Kesteven website 142,424 District Lincolnshire
South Lakeland website 105,088 District Cumbria
South Norfolk website 140,880 District Norfolk
South Northamptonshire website 94,490 District Northamptonshire
South Oxfordshire website 142,057 District Oxfordshire
South Ribble website 110,788 Borough Lancashire
South Somerset website 168,345 District Somerset
South Staffordshire website 112,436 District Staffordshire
South Tyneside website 150,976 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Southampton website 252,520 City (1964) Unitary authority Hampshire
Southend-on-Sea website 183,125 Borough Unitary authority Essex
Southwark website 318,830 London Borough London borough Greater London
Spelthorne website 99,844 Borough Surrey
Stafford website 137,280 Borough Staffordshire
Staffordshire Moorlands website 98,435 District Staffordshire
Stevenage website 87,845 Borough Hertfordshire
Stockport website 293,423 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Stockton-on-Tees website 197,348 Borough Unitary authority County Durham and North Yorkshire
Stoke-on-Trent website 256,375 City (1925) Unitary authority Staffordshire
Stratford-on-Avon website 130,098 District Warwickshire
Stroud website 119,964 District Gloucestershire
Sunderland website 277,705 City (1992) Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear
Surrey Heath website 89,305 Borough Surrey
Sutton website 206,349 London Borough London borough Greater London
Swale website 150,082 Borough Kent
Swindon website 222,193 Borough Unitary authority Wiltshire
Tameside website 226,493 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Tamworth website 76,696 Borough Staffordshire
Tandridge website 88,129 District Surrey
Teignbridge website 134,163 District Devon
Telford and Wrekin website 179,854 Borough Unitary authority Shropshire
Tendring website 146,561 District Essex
Test Valley website 126,160 Borough Hampshire
Tewkesbury website 95,019 Borough Gloucestershire
Thanet website 141,922 District Kent
Three Rivers website 93,323 District Hertfordshire
Thurrock website 174,341 Borough Unitary authority Essex
Tonbridge and Malling website 132,153 Borough Kent
Torbay website 136,264 Borough Unitary authority Devon
Torridge website 68,267 District Devon
Tower Hamlets website 324,745 London Borough London borough Greater London
Trafford website 237,354 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Tunbridge Wells website 118,724 Borough Kent
Uttlesford website 91,284 District Essex
Vale of White Horse website 136,007 District Oxfordshire
Wakefield website 348,312 City (1888) Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire
Walsall website 285,478 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Waltham Forest website 276,983 London Borough London borough Greater London
Wandsworth website 329,677 London Borough London borough Greater London
Warrington website 210,014 Borough Unitary authority Cheshire
Warwick website 143,753 District Warwickshire
Watford website 96,577 Borough Hertfordshire
Waverley website 126,328 Borough Surrey
Wealden website 161,475 District East Sussex
Wellingborough website 79,707 Borough Northamptonshire
Welwyn Hatfield website 123,043 District Hertfordshire
West Berkshire website 158,450 Unitary authority Berkshire
West Devon website 55,796 Borough Devon
West Lancashire website 114,306 District Lancashire
West Lindsey website 95,667 District Lincolnshire
Westminster website 261,317 City (1540) London Borough Greater London
West Oxfordshire website 110,643 District Oxfordshire
West Suffolk website 179,045 District Suffolk
Wigan website 328,662 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester
Wiltshire website 500,024 Unitary authority Wiltshire
Winchester website 124,859 City (TI) Hampshire
Windsor and Maidenhead website 151,422 Royal borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Wirral website 324,011 Metropolitan Borough Metropolitan borough Merseyside
Woking website 100,793 Borough Surrey
Wokingham website 171,119 Borough Unitary authority Berkshire
Wolverhampton website 263,357 City (2000) Metropolitan borough West Midlands
Worcester website 101,222 City (1189) Worcestershire
Worthing website 110,570 Borough West Sussex
Wychavon website 129,433 District Worcestershire
Wyre website 112,091 Borough Lancashire
Wyre Forest website 101,291 District Worcestershire
York website 210,618 City (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

District Status Date abolished Former county Successor
Alnwick non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Bath non-metropolitan district, City 1 April 1996 Avon Bath and North East Somerset
Berwick-upon-Tweed non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Beverley non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire
Blyth Valley non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Boothferry non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
Bournemouth unitary authority, borough 1 April 2019 Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bridgnorth non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
Brighton non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1997 East Sussex Brighton and Hove
Caradon non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Carrick non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Castle Morpeth non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Chester non-metropolitan district, City 1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire West and Chester
Chester-le-Street non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Christchurch non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2019 Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Cleethorpes non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside North East Lincolnshire
Congleton non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire East
Crewe and Nantwich non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire East
Derwentside non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Durham non-metropolitan district, City 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Easington non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
East Dorset non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
East Yorkshire non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire
Ellesmere Port and Neston non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire West and Chester
Forest Heath non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Suffolk West Suffolk
Gillingham non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1998 Kent Medway
Glanford non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside North Lincolnshire
Great Grimsby non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside North East Lincolnshire
Hereford non-metropolitan district, City 1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire
Holderness non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside East Riding of Yorkshire
Hove non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1997 East Sussex Brighton and Hove
Kennet non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Kerrier non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Kingswood non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Avon South Gloucestershire
Leominster non-metropolitan district 1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire (part to Malvern Hills)
Macclesfield non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire East
Malvern Hills non-metropolitan district 1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire and Malvern Hills
Medina non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1995 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight
Mid Bedfordshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire
North Cornwall non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
North Dorset non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
North Shropshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
North Wiltshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Northavon non-metropolitan district 1 April 1996 Avon South Gloucestershire
Oswestry non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
Penwith non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Poole unitary authority, borough 1 April 2019 Dorset Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Purbeck non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
Restormel non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Cornwall Cornwall
Rochester-upon-Medway non-metropolitan district, City 1 April 1998 Kent Medway
Salisbury non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Scunthorpe non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1996 Humberside North Lincolnshire
Sedgefield non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Shrewsbury and Atcham non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
South Bedfordshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire
South Herefordshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 1998 Hereford and Worcester Herefordshire
South Shropshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Shropshire Shropshire
South Wight non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 1995 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight
St Edmundsbury non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2019 Suffolk West Suffolk
Suffolk Coastal non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Suffolk East Suffolk
Taunton Deane non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2019 Somerset Somerset West and Taunton
Teesdale non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
Tynedale non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Vale Royal non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2009 Cheshire Cheshire West and Chester
Wansbeck non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Northumberland Northumberland
Wansdyke non-metropolitan district 1 April 1996 Avon Bath and North East Somerset
Waveney non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Suffolk East Suffolk
Wear Valley non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 County Durham County Durham
West Dorset non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset
West Somerset non-metropolitan district 1 April 2019 Somerset Somerset West and Taunton
West Wiltshire non-metropolitan district 1 April 2009 Wiltshire Wiltshire
Weymouth and Portland non-metropolitan district, borough 1 April 2019 Dorset Dorset

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
BarkingBarking and Dagenham1 January 1980[2]
BasingstokeBasingstoke and Deane20 January 1978[3]
BeaconsfieldSouth Bucks1 April 1980[4]
BedfordNorth Bedfordshire15 October 1975[5]
Bedford1 October 1992[6]
BeverleyEast Yorkshire Borough of Beverley12 May 1981[2]
BlackburnBlackburn with Darwen2 May 1997(before unitary)
BosworthHinckley and Bosworth20 November 1973
BracknellBracknell Forest27 April 1988[7]
CreweCrewe and Nantwich17 January 1974
Ellesmere PortEllesmere Port and Neston21 June 1976
GrimsbyGreat Grimsby1 January 1979
HammersmithHammersmith and Fulham1 April 1979
Hartley WintneyHart17 January 1974
HerefordshireCounty of Herefordshire20 June 1997
HuntingdonHuntingdonshire1 October 1984[8]
LangbaurghLangbaurgh-on-Tees1 January 1988[7]
Redcar and Cleveland1 April 1996(with unitary)
MedwayRochester-upon-Medway3 December 1979[2]
Medway TownsMedway1 April 1998(with unitary)
NewarkNewark and Sherwood1 April 1985[8]
NewburyWest Berkshire1 April 1998(with unitary)
North WoldsEast Yorkshire1 February 1981[2]
NuneatonNuneaton and Bedworth1 October 1980[2]
PastonacresNorth Norfolk20 September 1973
PetersfieldEast Hampshire8 October 1973
PooleBorough and County of the Town of Poole1 April 1997(with unitary)
RutlandRutland County Council1 April 1997(with unitary)
ShepwayFolkestone and Hythe1 April 2018[9]
ShrewsburyShrewsbury and Atcham12 June 1974
ThamesdownSwindoneffective 1 April 1997(soon before unitary)[10]
TivertonMid Devon6 February 1978[11]
WallingfordSouth Oxfordshire20 September 1973
West DerbyshireDerbyshire Dales1 January 1987
West NorfolkKing's Lynn and West Norfolk14 May 1981[2]
WimborneEast Dorset1 January 1988[7]
WoodspringNorth Somerset1 April 1996(with unitary)
WrekinThe Wrekin7 February 1974
Telford and Wrekin1 April 1998(with unitary)
YeovilSouth Somerset1 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

References

  1. "Population Estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Mid-2019". Office for National Statistics. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. "Bulletin of Changes in Local Authority Areas, Names and Status 1980-1982" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  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. "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. "Alteration of Areas and Status of Local Authorities 1 April 1984 – 31 March 1985" (PDF). Department of the Environment. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  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.
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