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]
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.
- 32 London boroughs
- 36 metropolitan districts
- 164 non-metropolitan districts (in a two-tier county arrangement)
- 62 unitary authorities (all also non-metropolitan districts, but with the combined powers of non-metropolitan counties and districts)
- City of London (sui generis)
- Isles of Scilly (sui generis)
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
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
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 name | New name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barking | Barking and Dagenham | 1 January 1980 | [2] |
| Basingstoke | Basingstoke and Deane | 20 January 1978 | [3] |
| Beaconsfield | South Bucks | 1 April 1980 | [4] |
| Bedford | North Bedfordshire | 15 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] |
| Langbaurgh | Langbaurgh-on-Tees | 1 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) |
| Wrekin | The Wrekin | 7 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.