A UK postcode is an alphanumeric code used by Royal Mail to identify a specific geographic area for mail delivery. Each postcode typically covers around 15 addresses and consists of two parts: the outward code (e.g., SW1A) which identifies the district, and the inward code (e.g., 1AA) which narrows it down to a small group of addresses. Postcodes are used throughout the UK for everything from navigation to insurance quotes, property searches and government statistics.
Use the search bar at the top of any page to look up any UK postcode, town, street or school. You can type a full postcode like "SW1A 1AA", a partial postcode like "M1", a town name like "Manchester", or even a street name. Our search will return matching results instantly. You can also browse by country, county and town using the directory.
Each postcode page includes GPS coordinates, the administrative district, county and country it falls within, the parliamentary constituency, local authority, and electoral ward. You'll also find nearby schools with Ofsted ratings, the closest train stations with distances, nearby postcodes, and links to the surrounding town or city page which includes property price data and local demographics.
Our postcode data is refreshed regularly to reflect changes published by Royal Mail. School information is updated following Ofsted inspections and Department for Education releases. Property price data comes from HM Land Registry as new transactions are recorded. Transport data is sourced from National Rail and updated periodically.
The outcode (or outward code) is the first part of a postcode before the space, such as "SW1A" or "M1". It identifies the postcode area and district. The incode (or inward code) is the second part after the space, such as "1AA" or "4BD". It identifies the sector and delivery point within the district. Together, the outcode and incode form a complete postcode that pinpoints a precise location. For the full breakdown, read our complete guide to the anatomy of a postcode.
There are 124 postcode areas in the UK, each identified by one or two letters at the start of the postcode. For example, "SW" covers South West London, "M" covers Manchester, and "EH" covers Edinburgh. These areas are grouped into 12 regions including London, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the English regions. Each postcode area contains multiple districts (like SW1, SW2) which are further divided into sectors and individual postcodes.
Yes, you can search by street name using the search bar at the top of any page. Type a street name like "Baker Street" or "Oxford Road" and our search will return matching postcodes with their full addresses. You can also combine a street name with a town (e.g., "High Street, Cambridge") for more precise results. Each street page shows all postcodes on that street along with a map and nearby amenities.
A postcode area is the broadest geographic division, identified by the first one or two letters of a postcode (e.g., "B" for Birmingham, "SW" for South West London). There are 124 areas across the UK. A postcode district is a subdivision within an area, created by adding a number (e.g., "B1", "SW1"). There are around 3,000 districts. Districts are further divided into sectors (e.g., "B1 1") and then individual postcodes (e.g., "B1 1AA"). This hierarchical system allows Royal Mail to sort and deliver mail efficiently across the country.
Want the full picture? Read the complete anatomy of a British postcode, measured across all 1.8 million live codes.