This dataset is free to download without registration. It is reviewed and updated twice annually, normally in March and September, with stable column names wherever possible.
SHA-256: 54b917ca66ce2f08f0bff76313a9f93d0b03907ddc0042146fa9718629cf5959
Data preview
| ranking group | rank | place name | elevation metres | distance to edge miles | distance to edge kilometres | place url |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| closest | 1 | Princetown | 437 | 61.866 | 99.563 | https://postcodesuk.com/england/devon/princetown-devon |
| closest | 2 | Blaenavon | 404 | 61.886 | 99.596 | https://postcodesuk.com/wales/torfaen/blaenavon-torfaen |
| closest | 3 | Cleehill | 398 | 61.89 | 99.602 | https://postcodesuk.com/england/shropshire/cleehill-shropshire |
| closest | 4 | Ferndale | 392 | 61.894 | 99.608 | https://postcodesuk.com/wales/rhondda-cynon-taf/ferndale-rhondda-cynon-taf |
| closest | 5 | Leadhills | 388 | 61.896 | 99.612 | https://postcodesuk.com/scotland/south-lanarkshire/leadhills-south-lanarkshire |
Data dictionary
- ranking_group
- closest or farthest from the 100 km edge-of-space reference.
- rank
- Rank within the group.
- place_name
- Town or built-up place name.
- county
- County or equivalent area.
- country
- England, Scotland or Wales.
- latitude
- Place latitude in decimal degrees.
- longitude
- Place longitude in decimal degrees.
- elevation_metres
- Recorded ground elevation relative to sea level.
- edge_of_space_metres
- Reference altitude of 100,000 metres.
- distance_to_edge_miles
- Vertical distance remaining in miles.
- distance_to_edge_kilometres
- Vertical distance remaining in kilometres.
- distance_to_edge_metres
- Vertical distance remaining in metres.
- distance_to_edge_feet
- Vertical distance remaining in feet.
- elevation_source
- Source recorded for the elevation value.
- place_url
- Permanent Postcodes UK place page.
Methodology and sources
The edge of space is defined as the 100 km Kármán line. Vertical distance is 100,000 metres minus each place elevation. The 1,000 highest places form the closest group and the 1,000 lowest places form the farthest group. This is a mathematical comparison, not a launch trajectory.
- Postcodes UK towns and places directory
- Open-Meteo elevation data
Source datasets change over time and can contain omissions or revisions. Verify operational, admissions, financial or safety-critical decisions with the responsible authority.
Licence and suggested attribution
You may use this compilation for research, analysis and publishing with attribution to Postcodes UK and compliance with the applicable underlying source licences. The download does not transfer or override third-party rights.
Suggested attribution:
Source: Postcodes UK (postcodesuk.com), “Highest and Lowest Places to the Edge of Space”, September 2026, https://postcodesuk.com/data-downloads/places-to-edge-of-space. Derived from Postcodes UK location data and the named source datasets; underlying source rights and attribution statements apply.
Office for National Statistics and other public-sector information is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Postcode geography may contain Ordnance Survey and Royal Mail rights. HM Land Registry aggregates are derived from Price Paid Data. School fields derive from Department for Education and Ofsted sources.
Elevation values were obtained through Open-Meteo and remain subject to applicable source terms.