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UK Local Administrative Districts

About Local Administrative Districts

Local Administrative Districts (LADs) are geographical areas used for local government in the United Kingdom. They include boroughs, districts, and unitary authorities that are responsible for providing local services and governance. Each district has its own unique code (LAD25CD) and name (LAD25NM) as defined in the 2025 statistical geography.

Use this application to explore district boundaries, view detailed information, and download geographical data in various formats.

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Click any district boundary to view detailed information about that district. Hover over boundaries to see district names. Type in the search box to see suggestions and zoom to districts.

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All Districts (Alphabetical Order)

361 Total Districts
22 Alphabet Groups
2026 Data Version

Local administrative geography: an overview

Hierarchical, layered, and nation‑specific: The administrative geography of the United Kingdom is not a single uniform map – it is a dynamic hierarchy where each nation maintains its own district system. At the core are Local Authority Districts (or their equivalents), the primary units responsible for delivering local services.

England: a mixed system

England has the most complex structure: districts can be unitary (single‑tier) or form a two‑tier system with county councils. Some retain historic names like boroughs or cities. The table below outlines the four main types.

London Boroughs 32

  • Created 1965 – unitary in all but name, part of Greater London.

Metropolitan Districts 36

  • Metropolitan boroughs – county councils abolished 1986 → now unitary.

Unitary Authorities 62

  • Single‑tier – all local services, mostly cities/unitary counties.

Non‑Metropolitan Districts 164

  • Two‑tier: district councils (waste, planning) + separate county council (education, social care).

Scotland: 32 Council Areas

Since 1996 Scotland has used a uniform unitary system. Every council area is responsible for all local government functions within its geographic boundary.

Council areas: Aberdeen City, Highland, Fife, Glasgow City, Edinburgh, South Lanarkshire — all single‑tier.

Wales: 22 Principal Areas

Wales is divided into 22 unitary authorities, officially called counties, county boroughs or cities. Each is a “principal council” with full powers.

Cardiff Swansea Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwynedd Blaenau Gwent Pembrokeshire

Northern Ireland: 11 Districts

After the 2015 reform, Northern Ireland is divided into 11 unitary districts – the only principal authority tier.

Districts: Belfast, Derry & Strabane, Armagh City, Banbridge, Mid & East Antrim, Causeway Coast, Fermanagh & Omagh, Lisburn, Newry, Ards, Antrim.

UK local government at a glance

CountryPrimary local unitNumberType
EnglandMetropolitan districts, London boroughs, unitary authorities, non‑met districts36 / 32 / 62 / 164Mixed: unitary + two‑tier
ScotlandCouncil areas32Unitary
WalesPrincipal areas (counties / county boroughs)22Unitary
N. IrelandDistricts11Unitary

A dynamic and hierarchical geography

Local Authority Districts are part of a broader hierarchy: in two‑tier England, districts sit below county councils. Boundaries are periodically reviewed by the Boundary Commissions. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes up‑to‑date maps (e.g. 'Local Authority Districts, Counties and Unitary Authorities December 2022'). This framework also interacts with civil parishes, wards, and combined authorities — but districts remain the essential administrative building block.

Four nation approaches

England – mixed, two‑tier in many shires
Scotland – 32 unitary council areas
Wales – 22 unitary principal areas
N. Ireland – 11 unitary districts

UK Local Government: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a unitary authority and a two-tier council?
In a two-tier system, responsibilities are split between a county council (education, social care, roads) and district councils (rubbish collection, planning, housing). A unitary authority is a single tier that takes on the functions of both – residents have one council for all local services. [citation:1]
Which part of the UK has the most complex administrative geography?
England. It has a mixed system with London boroughs, metropolitan districts, unitary authorities, and two-tier non-metropolitan districts – plus parish councils in some areas. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use uniform unitary systems. [citation:1][citation:2]
How many local government districts are there in Northern Ireland following the 2015 reforms?
11 local government districts (LGDs). They replaced the previous 26 single-tier districts in April 2015 and are unitary administrations. [citation:2][citation:3]
Why does Scotland have "Council Areas" while Wales has "Principal Areas"?
Different legislation: Scotland’s 32 council areas were created under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. Wales’ 22 principal areas (comprising counties, county boroughs and cities) were established under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. Both are unitary, but the legal names reflect separate parliamentary acts. [citation:2][citation:4]
How often are local authority boundaries reviewed by the Boundary Commissions?
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England typically starts around 25 reviews per year. Each review takes about 15 months, meaning about 50 can be in progress at any time. Reviews may be paused during major reorganisations (e.g. two‑to‑unitary transitions). [citation:5]
What is the role of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in defining UK geography?
The ONS develops and maintains subnational geographies (e.g. International Territorial Levels), publishes boundary maps (such as Local Authority Districts, Counties), and provides statistical analysis at local level. It also runs the Open Geography portal and the Explore Subnational Statistics service. [citation:2][citation:6]
In a two-tier system, which council is responsible for social care and education?
The county council. County councils handle education, adult social care, children’s services, transport, and libraries. District councils in a two-tier area are not responsible for these. [citation:1][citation:7]
Which tier of government handles planning applications and waste collection in England?
In two-tier areas, district councils are responsible for planning applications, waste collection, housing, and environmental health. In unitary areas, a single council does everything. [citation:1][citation:8]
Does "Borough" or "City" status change the actual legal powers of a council?
No, it is purely honorary. Borough or city status (granted by royal charter) does not confer extra legal powers. It may allow ceremonial roles like appointing a mayor or sheriff, but the functions remain identical to other districts. [citation:9]
Who is responsible for local services in Greater London—the Boroughs or the GLA?
London boroughs deliver most local services (schools, waste, planning, social care). The Greater London Authority (GLA), led by the Mayor, handles strategic issues – transport, policing, fire, economic development. Collaboration is voluntary, though proposals exist for deeper devolution to boroughs. [citation:10]
Do unitary authorities perform the same functions as both a county and a district council?
Yes, exactly. A unitary authority combines the functions of both county and district councils. Residents have a single council for all services – from education to bin collections. Examples include Peterborough, Medway, and many city councils. [citation:1][citation:7]
What happened to the Metropolitan County Councils in 1986?
They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1985. Their powers were largely transferred to the metropolitan boroughs (which became unitary in function) and to joint boards for police, fire, and transport. Examples: Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands county councils no longer exist. [citation:2]
How do civil parishes and community councils fit into the district hierarchy?
They are the most local tier, below districts. In England they are called civil parishes (town/parish councils); in Wales communities; in Scotland community councils (with limited powers). They handle allotments, commons, village halls, and some local amenities. Not all areas have them. [citation:1][citation:2]
What is "unitarisation," and which English counties have recently moved to this system?
Unitarisation means replacing a two-tier county (county + districts) with one or more unitary authorities. Recent examples: North Yorkshire, Somerset, Cumbria (2023); Dorset (2019); Northamptonshire (2021). More are planned as the government encourages all two-tier areas to reorganise. [citation:1][citation:7]
Are the "historic counties" of the UK the same as the current administrative boundaries?
No. Historic counties (like Middlesex, Westmorland, Huntingdonshire) are traditional but no longer serve administrative purposes. Current boundaries are based on modern unitary authorities, council areas, and districts. Historic counties are still used for cultural identity, land registration, or lieutenancy in some cases, but not for local government. [citation:2][citation:3]
What is a "Combined Authority," and how does it sit above the district level?
A combined authority (CA) is a legal body set up by two or more councils to co-ordinate transport, economic development, and regeneration across a wider area (e.g. Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire). It sits above district/unitary councils and is usually led by a directly elected mayor. CAs do not replace existing councils but take on strategic functions. [citation:1][citation:10]
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