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 from the Office for National Statistics.

Nomenclature

There are currently 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

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
Allerdalenon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023CumbriaCumberland
Alnwicknon-metropolitan district1 April 2009NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Aylesbury Valenon-metropolitan district1 April 2020BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Barrow-in-Furnessnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023CumbriaWestmorland and Furness
Bathnon-metropolitan district, City1 April 1996AvonBath and North East Somerset
Berwick-upon-Tweednon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009NorthumberlandNorthumberland
East Yorkshire Borough of Beverleynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideEast Riding of Yorkshire
Blyth Valleynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Boothferrynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideEast Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
Bournemouthunitary authority, borough1 April 2019DorsetBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Bridgnorthnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009ShropshireShropshire
Brightonnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1997East SussexBrighton and Hove
Caradonnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009CornwallCornwall
Carlislenon-metropolitan district, city1 April 2023CumbriaCumberland
Carricknon-metropolitan district1 April 2009CornwallCornwall
Castle Morpethnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Chesternon-metropolitan district, City1 April 2009CheshireCheshire West and Chester
Chester-le-Streetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
Chilternnon-metropolitan district1 April 2020BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Christchurchnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019DorsetBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Cleethorpesnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideNorth East Lincolnshire
Congletonnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009CheshireCheshire East
Copelandnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023CumbriaCumberland
Corbynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021NorthamptonshireNorth Northamptonshire
Cravennon-metropolitan district1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Crewe and Nantwichnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009CheshireCheshire East
Daventrynon-metropolitan district1 April 2021NorthamptonshireWest Northamptonshire
Derwentsidenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
Durhamnon-metropolitan district, City1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
Easingtonnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
East Dorsetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2019DorsetDorset
East Northamptonshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2021NorthamptonshireNorth Northamptonshire
East Yorkshirenon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideEast Riding of Yorkshire
Edennon-metropolitan district1 April 2023CumbriaWestmorland and Furness
Ellesmere Port and Nestonnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009CheshireCheshire West and Chester
Forest Heathnon-metropolitan district1 April 2019SuffolkWest Suffolk
Gillinghamnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1998KentMedway
Glanfordnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideNorth Lincolnshire
Great Grimsbynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideNorth East Lincolnshire
Hambletonnon-metropolitan district1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Harrogatenon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Herefordnon-metropolitan district, City1 April 1998Hereford and WorcesterHerefordshire
Holdernessnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideEast Riding of Yorkshire
Hovenon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1997East SussexBrighton and Hove
Kennetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009WiltshireWiltshire
Kerriernon-metropolitan district1 April 2009CornwallCornwall
Ketteringnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021NorthamptonshireNorth Northamptonshire
Kingswoodnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996AvonSouth Gloucestershire
Leominsternon-metropolitan district1 April 1998Hereford and WorcesterHerefordshire
Macclesfieldnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009CheshireCheshire East
Malvern Hillsnon-metropolitan district1 April 1998Hereford and WorcesterHerefordshire and Malvern Hills
Medinanon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1995Isle of WightIsle of Wight
Mendipnon-metropolitan district1 April 2023SomersetSomerset
Mid Bedfordshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009BedfordshireCentral Bedfordshire
North Cornwallnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009CornwallCornwall
North Dorsetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2019DorsetDorset
North Shropshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009ShropshireShropshire
North Wiltshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009WiltshireWiltshire
Northamptonnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021NorthamptonshireWest Northamptonshire
Northavonnon-metropolitan district1 April 1996AvonSouth Gloucestershire
Oswestrynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009ShropshireShropshire
Penwithnon-metropolitan district1 April 2009CornwallCornwall
Pooleunitary authority, borough1 April 2019DorsetBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Purbecknon-metropolitan district1 April 2019DorsetDorset
Restormelnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009CornwallCornwall
Richmondshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Rochester-upon-Medwaynon-metropolitan district, City1 April 1998KentMedway
Ryedalenon-metropolitan district1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Salisburynon-metropolitan district1 April 2009WiltshireWiltshire
Scarboroughnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Scunthorpenon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1996HumbersideNorth Lincolnshire
Sedgefieldnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
Sedgemoornon-metropolitan district1 April 2023SomersetSomerset
Selbynon-metropolitan district1 April 2023North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
Shrewsbury and Atchamnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009ShropshireShropshire
Somerset West and Tauntonnon-metropolitan district1 April 2023SomersetSomerset
South Bedfordshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009BedfordshireCentral Bedfordshire
South Bucksnon-metropolitan district1 April 2020BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
South Herefordshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 1998Hereford and WorcesterHerefordshire
South Lakelandnon-metropolitan district1 April 2023CumbriaWestmorland and Furness
South Northamptonshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2021NorthamptonshireWest Northamptonshire
South Shropshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009ShropshireShropshire
South Somersetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2023SomersetSomerset
South Wightnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 1995Isle of WightIsle of Wight
St Edmundsburynon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019SuffolkWest Suffolk
Suffolk Coastalnon-metropolitan district1 April 2019SuffolkEast Suffolk
Taunton Deanenon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019SomersetSomerset West and Taunton
Teesdalenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
Tynedalenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Vale Royalnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2009CheshireCheshire West and Chester
Wansbecknon-metropolitan district1 April 2009NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Wansdykenon-metropolitan district1 April 1996AvonBath and North East Somerset
Waveneynon-metropolitan district1 April 2019SuffolkEast Suffolk
Wear Valleynon-metropolitan district1 April 2009County DurhamCounty Durham
Wellingboroughnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2021NorthamptonshireNorth Northamptonshire
West Dorsetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2019DorsetDorset
West Somersetnon-metropolitan district1 April 2019SomersetSomerset West and Taunton
West Wiltshirenon-metropolitan district1 April 2009WiltshireWiltshire
Weymouth and Portlandnon-metropolitan district, borough1 April 2019DorsetDorset
Wycombenon-metropolitan district1 April 2020BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire

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.