Counties of England (Map and Facts)

Most countries are split into different regions, administrative areas, or have some division for the purposes of statistics, data collection, population census, and governance.

England, which is part of the United Kingdom (UK), is no different. Since becoming a unified country, England has always had some form of regional divisions dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.

Today, one of the main dividing measures used in England is counties. However, the counties of England are relatively complex, convoluted, and can be difficult to understand. This is because the term county applies to four potential different things – historic, ceremonial, metropolitan, and non-metropolitan. Each of these has different meanings and relevance to England and its governance today.

In the below guide, we look in more detail at the counties of England so that you can better understand how the country is divided and what this means.

Map of the Counties of England

A vibrant map of England's counties, each uniquely colored and labeled in black, with a compass rose for orientation.
Counties of England – Ceremonial Counties of England as defined by the Lieutenancies Act of 1997 (City of London not shown)

Ceremonial Counties of England with Population (2020)

CountyPopulation
Greater London9,002,488
West Midlands2,939,927
Greater Manchester2,848,286
West Yorkshire2,345,235
Kent1,868,199
Hampshire1,856,778
Essex1,856,063
Lancashire1,515,487
Merseyside1,434,256
South Yorkshire1,415,054
Devon1,209,773
Surrey1,199,870
Hertfordshire1,195,672
Nottinghamshire1,170,475
Tyne and Wear1,146,624
Staffordshire1,139,794
North Yorkshire1,110,135
Lincolnshire1,098,445
Cheshire1,069,646
Leicestershire1,067,121
Derbyshire1,063,997
Somerset975,782
County Durham931,806
Gloucestershire928,466
Berkshire917,762
Norfolk914,039
West Sussex867,635
Cambridgeshire859,830
East Sussex850,590
Buckinghamshire817,263
Dorset776,780
Suffolk761,246
Northamptonshire757,181
Wiltshire726,951
Oxfordshire696,880
Bedfordshire682,311
East Yorkshire602,327
Worcestershire598,070
Warwickshire583,786
Cornwall575,782
Shropshire506,737
Cumbria499,781
Bristol465,866
Northumberland323,820
Herefordshire193,615
Isle of Wight142,296
Rutland40,476
Population of England in 2020, by ceremonial county, Source: Statista

Understanding English Counties

To understand the counties of England, we must look at the wider context of the subdivisions of England.

Currently, England has an administrative hierarchy that includes administrative divisions and non-administrative ceremonial areas.

These divisions include:

  • 9 Regions (The highest level, although regions are largely ceremonial)
  • 48 Ceremonial Counties (These are also known as the lieutenancy areas of England)
  • 6 Metropolitan Counties
  • 83 Non-Metropolitan Counties
  • 309 Districts
  • 10,449 Civil Parishes

In terms of how the hierarchy works, we can say that regions are split into counties, counties are split into districts, and districts are split into civil parishes.

For the purpose of this article, we are concentrating on the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties as these have the most relevance to modern England and its governance.

A quaint, possibly historic town with a narrow, curving street lined with traditional buildings, some with visible signs.
A traditional fish & chips shop in a seaside town

Metropolitan Counties

Originally, metropolitan counties had a county council (the regional administrative branch of local government). However, they were abolished in 1986. Metropolitan Counties still exist; however, their purpose is mainly geographical and they are largely considered ceremonial counties.

The powers that the abolished county councils have been distributed to the unitary authorities. Although, some services like public transport often span across unitary authorities and are classed by their original metropolitan county designation.

The six metropolitan counties are:

  1. Greater Manchester
  2. Merseyside
  3. South Yorkshire
  4. Tyne and Wear
  5. West Midlands
  6. West Yorkshire

The population of these conurbations ranges from 1.2 to 2.8 million people, with the largest being Greater Manchester. Today, these ceremonial counties do have an acting Lord Lieutenant as per the Lieutenancies Act of 1997 which still gives them some importance. Furthermore, they are still utilised in some statistics, however, they are generally no longer displayed on maps.

A cityscape with construction cranes over buildings, an overpass, and empty streets.
Built-up area in Greater Manchester

Non-Metropolitan Counties

While Metropolitan Counties are largely ceremonial, Non-Metropolitan Counties have a real function and are vital to the governance of England. Non-Metropolitan Counties effectively have two sub-divisions – Shire Counties, and Unitary Authorities.

It is important to understand the difference between these as they have completely different administrative structures.

English Shire Counties:

Shire County is an unofficial term used to describe a two-tier non-metropolitan county. This means it has a two-tier system with an overall county council and is then split into districts, each of which has its own district council.

For example, Derbyshire is a two-tier non-metropolitan county. This is governed by the Derbyshire County Council which has 11 MP representatives in the House of Commons. Derbyshire is then broken into nine districts; each of which has its own local district council. These are High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, South Derbyshire, Erewash, Amber Valley, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover, and the City of Derby.

Below, we have created a list of the current remaining 26 Shire Counties and you can find out more information later in the article:

  1. Cambridgeshire
  2. Cumbria
  3. Derbyshire
  4. Devon
  5. Dorset
  6. East Sussex
  7. Essex
  8. Gloucestershire
  9. Hampshire
  10. Hertfordshire
  11. Kent
  12. Lancashire
  13. Leicestershire
  14. Lincolnshire
  15. Norfolk
  16. North Yorkshire
  17. Northamptonshire
  18. Nottinghamshire
  19. Oxfordshire
  20. Somerset
  21. Staffordshire
  22. Suffolk
  23. Surrey
  24. Warwickshire
  25. West Sussex
  26. Worcestershire
A large castle with towers and battlements sits at the end of a tree-lined path, surrounded by lush greenery under an overcast sky.

In the Shire Counties mentioned above, there are county councils except for Berkshire. Furthermore, the population of these counties is between 109,000 and 1.4 million.

Unitary Authorities:

Unitary authorities can be categorised roughly into three types:

  • Counties with a single district council, and no county council (43 No.)
  • Counties with a single county council, and no district councils (9 No.)
  • Unitary Authorities that are part of Berkshire (6 No.)

This number has swelled in recent years, and Unitary Authorities have only existed since 1992. The Local Government Act of 1992 sought to allow the creation of counties without multiple districts. This is because in some instances, the counties were so small that to split them into multiple districts would be ineffective. 

Most Unitary Authorities were created during the 1990s, but there have been additions and changes as recent as 2021. Indeed, there are further plans to create large unitary authorities in the future. For now, the following is the list of Unitary Authorities in England:

  1. Bath and North East Somerset
  2. Bedford
  3. Blackburn with Darwen
  4. Blackpool
  5. Bournemouth
  6. Brighton and Hove
  7. Bristol
  8. Central Bedfordshire
  9. Cheshire East
  10. Cheshire West and Chester
  11. Darlington
  12. Derby
  13. East Riding of Yorkshire
  14. Halton
  15. Hartlepool
  16. Herefordshire
  17. Kingston upon Hull
  18. Leicester
  19. Luton
  20. Medway
  21. Middlesbrough
  22. Borough of Milton Keynes
  23. North East Lincolnshire
  24. North Lincolnshire
  25. North Somerset
  26. Nottingham
  27. Peterborough
  28. Plymouth
  29. Poole
  30. Portsmouth
  31. Redcar and Cleveland
  32. Rutland
  33. South Gloucestershire
  34. Southampton
  35. Southend-on-Sea
  36. Stockton-on-Tees
  37. Stoke-on-Trent
  38. Swindon
  39. Telford and Wrekin
  40. Thurrock
  41. Torbay
  42. Warrington
  43. York

Greater London

Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London
Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London

Due to the importance and scale of London, it is set apart from the above Shire Counties and Non-Unitary Authorities. Greater London is an administrative division in its own right and is governed by the Greater London Authority. Greater London is split into 33 Local Government Districts, which in turn include:

  • London Boroughs (32 No.)
  • The City of London

Strangely enough, Greater London is also one of the nine regions of England, but is also referred to as a Ceremonial County – such is its importance and prevalence. However, Greater London cannot be considered one of the Historical Counties of England as it was originally Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire.

The Greater London Authority is based in Newham, which is a Borough of London. Here, the Mayor of London works, and the London Assembly is held.

A section of a large Ferris wheel with enclosed capsules against a blue sky with wispy clouds.
The impressive London Eye

London is the most visited location in England in terms of tourism and it is packed full of historic buildings that have huge cultural importance. These include Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the British Museum.

An ornate street lamp in front of a grand, classically designed building with sculptures, under a partly cloudy sky.
The gates and front facade of Buckingham Palace

Individual English Shire Counties Information

To give you a little more information about each of the Shire Counties of England, we have listed all 24 below together with things like population, included districts, and notable attractions.

Cambridgeshire

  • Region: East of England
  • Districts: Fenland, Huntingdonshire, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire, City of Cambridge
  • Approximate Population: 852,000
  • Notable Attractions: Ely Cathedral, King’s College, University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Cumbria

  • Region: North West England
  • Districts: City of Carlisle, Allerdale, Eden, Copeland, South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness
  • Approximate Population: 498,000
  • Notable Attractions: The Lake District National Park, Windermere, Castlerigg Stone Circles

Derbyshire

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Districts: High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, South Derbyshire, Erewash, Amber Valley, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Bolsover, City of Derby
  • Approximate Population: 1.03 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Southern Pennines, Kinder Downfall, Magpie Mine, Bolsover Castle

Devon

  • Region: South West
  • Districts: North Devon, Torridge, Mid Devon, East Devon, City of Exeter, West Devon, Teignbridge, City of Plymouth, South Hams, Torbay
  • Approximate Population: 1.19 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Seaside town of Torquay, Ilfracombe, South West Coastal Path

East Sussex

  • Region: South East England
  • Districts: City of Brighton and Hove, Lewes, Wealden, Eastbourne, Rother, Hastings
  • Approximate Population: 844,000
  • Notable Attractions: Eastbourne, Beachy Head, Liltington White Horse, Seven Sisters Park

Essex

  • Region: East England
  • Districts: Uttlesford, Braintree, Colchester, Tendring, Harlow, Epping Forest, City of Chelmsford, Maldon, Brentwood, Basildon, Rochford, Castle Point, City of Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock
  • Approximate Population: 1.83 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Hedingham Castle, Southend Pier, Colchester Castle.

Gloucestershire

  • Region: South West
  • Districts: Twekesbury, Forest of Dean, City of Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cotswold, South Gloucestershire
  • Approximate Population: 916,000
  • Notable Attractions: The Forest of Dean, Cheltenham Racecourse, the Cotswolds, Gloucester Cathedral

Hampshire

  • Region: South East
  • Districts: Test Valley, Basingstoke, Hart, Rushmoor, City of Winchester, East Hampshire, New Forest, City of Southampton, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, City of Portsmouth, Havant
  • Approximate Population: 1.84 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Danebury Fort, Portsmouth Historic Docks, The New Forest, Winchester Cathedral

Hertfordshire

  • Region: East of England
  • Districts: North Hertfordshire, Stevenage, East Hertfordshire, Dacorum, City of St. Albans, Welwyn Hatfield, Broxbourne, Three Rivers, Watford, Hersmere
  • Approximate Population: 1.184 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Dockey Wood, St. Albans Abbey, Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour, Grand Union Canal

Kent

  • Region: South East
  • Districts: Sevenoaks, Dartford, Gravesham, Tonbridge and Malling, Medway, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Swale, Ashford, City of Canterbury, Folkestone and Hythe, Thanet, Dover
  • Approximate Population: 1.84 million+
  • Notable Attractions: White Cliffs of Dover, Canterbury Cathedral

Lancashire

  • Region: North West
  • Districts: City of Lancaster, Wyre, Blackpool, Fylde, City of Preston, Ribble Valley, South Ribble, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, West Lancashire, Chorley, Blackburn with Darwen, Rodssendale
  • Approximate Population: 1.49 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Ribblehead Viaduct, Blackpool Tower, Clitheroe Castle, West Pennine Moors

Leicestershire

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Districts: North West Leicestershire, Charnwood, Melton, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, Blaby, Hinckley and Bosworth, City of Leicester
  • Approximate Population: 1.05 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Belvoir Castle, The National Space Centre, University of Leicester Botanic Garden

Lincolnshire

  • Region: East Midlands / Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Districts: City of Lincoln, North Kesteven, South Kesteven, South Holland, Boston, East Lindsey, West Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire
  • Approximate Population: 1.08 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Lincoln Cathedral, Thornton Abbey, Tattershall Castle, Skegness, Mablethorpe

Norfolk

  • Region: East of England
  • Districts: Norwich, South Norfolk, Great Yarmouth, Broadland, North Norfolk, King’ s Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland
  • Approximate Population: 903,000
  • Notable Attractions: Norfolk Broads, Great Yarmouth, Cromer, Sandringham House

North Yorkshire

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber / North East
  • Districts: Selby, Harrogate, Craven, Richmondshire, Hambleton, Ryedale, Scarborough, City of York, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees
  • Approximate Population: 1.15 million+
  • Notable Attractions: York Castle, The Shambles in York, Harrogate Turkish Baths, Whitby Abbey, Aysgarth Falls
A person sitting on the grass in front of the ruins of an ancient gothic-style abbey with tall arches and clear blue sky in the background.
Whitby Abbey

Nottinghamshire

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Districts: City of Nottingham, Bassetlaw, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield, Gedling, Broxtowe, Rushcliffe
  • Approximate Population: 1.15 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Nottingham Castle, Sherwood Forest, Newstead Abbey, Creswell Crags, Clumber Park

Oxfordshire

  • Region: South East
  • Districts: City of Oxford, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire
  • Approximate Population: 687,000
  • Notable Attractions: Oxford City, Blenheim Palace, River and Rowing Museum, Didcot Railway Centre

Somerset

  • Region: South West
  • Districts: South Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Sedgemoor, Mendip, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset
  • Approximate Population: 965,000
  • Notable Attractions: Bath, Avon Gorge, Glastonbury, Exmoor National Park, Wells Cathedral

Staffordshire

  • Region: West Midlands 
  • Districts: City of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stafford, East Staffordshire, South Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Tamworth
  • Approximate Population: 1.13 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Lichfield Cathedral, Mow Cop Castle, Alton Towers, Dovedale, Ilam Park, Manifold Way, Peak District National Park
A sheep lying on the grass under the shade of a large tree with leafless branches, in a pastoral setting with rolling hills in the background.
Peaceful landscape of Dovedale

Suffolk

  • Region: East of England
  • Districts: Ipswich, East Suffolk, Mid Suffolk, Babergh, West Suffolk
  • Approximate Population: 758,000
  • Notable Attractions: Dedham Vale, Framingham Castle, Ickworth House, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Orford Ness

Surrey

  • Region: South East
  • Districts: Spelthorne, Runnymede, Surrey Heath, Woking, Elmbridge, Guildford, Waverley, Mole Valley, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge
  • Approximate Population: 1.18 million+
  • Notable Attractions: Leith Hill Tower, Guildford Castle, Waverley Abbey, Claremont Landscape Garden, Key Royal Botanic Gardens, Runnymede (Site of the sealing of the Magna Carta)

Warwickshire

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Districts: North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick
  • Approximate Population: 571,000
  • Notable Attractions: Warwick Castle, Stratford-on-Avon, Chesterton Windmill, British Motor Museum, Kenilworth Castle, Oxford Canal
Aerial view of Warwick Castle with its prominent central tower, surrounded by green lawns and trees, with a backdrop of a residential area.
Warwick Castle

West Sussex

  • Region: South East
  • Districts: Worthing, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Adur 
  • Approximate Population: 858,000
  • Notable Attractions: Chichester Market Cross, Wakehurst Place Gardens, South Downs Way walking trail, Arundel Castle, Worthing Museum & Art Gallery, Wings Museum, Bramber Castle, Nymans House and Gardens

Worcestershire

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Districts: Worcester, Malvern Hills, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Wychavon
  • Approximate Population: 595,000
  • Notable Attractions: Site of the Battle of Powick Bridge, Broadway Tower, Worcestershire Beacon, the Malvern Hills AONB, Worcester Cathedral

Individual English Unitary Authorities Information


To give you more information about the individual Unitary Authorities in England, we have listed them all below. This includes info on population, the parent region and ceremonial county, and notable attractions (if any).

Bath and North East Somerset

  • Region: Southwest
  • Ceremonial County: Somerset
  • Approximate Population: 193,000
  • Notable Attractions: Royal Crescent, The Circus, Pulteney Bridge, Victoria Art Gallery

Bedford

  • Region: East of England
  • Ceremonial County: Bedfordshire
  • Approximate Population: 173,000

Blackburn with Darwen

  • Region: North West
  • Ceremonial County: Lancashire
  • Approximate Population: 149,000

Blackpool

  • Region: North West
  • Ceremonial County: Lancashire
  • Approximate Population: 139,000
  • Notable Attractions: Blackpool Tower, Blackpool Illuminations

Bournemouth

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Dorset
  • Approximate Population: 395,000
  • Notable Attractions: Bournemouth seaside town
A row of colorful beach huts on Bournemouth Beach with sand in the foreground and a clear blue sky above.
Traditional beach huts at Bournemouth

Bracknell Forest

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Berkshire
  • Approximate Population: 122,000

Brighton and Hove

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: East Sussex
  • Approximate Population: 290,000
  • Notable Attractions: Brighton Beach, The Chattri, Stanmer Park, Bevendean Down

Bristol

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Bristol
  • Approximate Population: 465,000
  • Notable Attractions: Wills Memorial Building, Bristol Cathedral, Clinton Suspension Bridge

Buckinghamshire

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Buckinghamshire
  • Approximate Population: 808,000
  • Notable Attractions: Stowe Landscape Garden, The Roald Dahl Museum, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chiltern Hills AONB

Central Bedfordshire

  • Region: East of England
  • Ceremonial County: Bedfordshire
  • Approximate Population: 288,000

Cheshire East

  • Region: North West
  • Ceremonial County: Cheshire
  • Approximate Population: 384,000
  • Notable Attractions: Tatton Park, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Alderley Edge, Lyme Park, Little Moreton Hall

Cheshire West and Chester

  • Region: North West
  • Ceremonial County: Cheshire
  • Approximate Population: 343,000
  • Notable Attractions: Beeston Castle, Cheshire Military Museum, Chester Zoo, Ness Botanic Gardens, Blue Planet Aquarium

Cornwall

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Cornwall
  • Approximate Population: 568,000
  • Notable Attractions: Lizard Peninsula, Land’s End, St Ives, Newquay, Crantock, The Eden Project, South West Coast Path
People sit on a bench overlooking a harbor, boats, a Cornish ice cream cart, and a coastal town on a hill.
St Ives in Cornwall

County Durham

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: Durham
  • Approximate Population: 530,000
  • Notable Attractions: Angel of the North, Durham Castle
An image of the Angel of the North, a large steel sculpture of an angel with outstretched wings, set against a clear blue sky.
The impressive Angel of the North

Darlington

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: Durham
  • Approximate Population: 106,000

Derby

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire
  • Approximate Population: 248,000
  • Notable Attractions: Derby Cathedral, Derwent Valley Mills, Pride Park Stadium, Pickford’s House Museum

Dorset

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Dorset
  • Approximate Population: 378,000
  • Notable Attractions: Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door

East Riding of Yorkshire

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Ceremonial County: East Riding of Yorkshire
  • Approximate Population: 600,000
  • Notable Attractions: Humber Bridge, Beverley Minster, The Deep, Bumby Hall Gardens, MKM Stadium, Bridlington seaside town
A photo from a riverbank showcases a suspension bridge's long cables and tower, with a wide river and clear blue sky behind.
The Humber Bridge

Halton

  • Region: North West
  • Ceremonial County: Cheshire
  • Approximate Population: 129,000
  • Notable Attractions: Halton Castle, Silver Jubilee Bridge, Mersey Gateway Bridge

Hartlepool

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: Durham
  • Approximate Population: 93,000

Herefordshire

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Herefordshire
  • Approximate Population: 192,000
  • Notable Attractions: Arthur’s Stone, Dore Abbey, Hampton Court, Hereford Cathedral, Berrington Hall

Isle of Wight

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Isle of Wight
  • Approximate Population: 141,000
  • Notable Attractions: Compton Chine, Isle of Wight Coastal Path, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Multi-colored sands of Alum Bay, The Needles
A serene view of a coastline with chalk cliffs and calm blue waters under a hazy sky.
The Needles

Kingston upon Hull

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Ceremonial County: East Riding of Yorkshire
  • Approximate Population: 259,000
  • Notable Attractions: Hull Minster, MKM Stadium, Humber Bridge, Hull Docks, Pearson Park

Leicester

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Leicestershire
  • Approximate Population: 329,000
  • Notable Attractions: Leicester Cathedral, Abbey Park, National Space Centre, King Power Stadium (Home of Leicester City FC)

Luton

  • Region: East of England
  • Ceremonial County: Bedfordshire
  • Approximate Population: 213,000
  • Notable Attractions: Wardown Park Museum, The Hat Factory, Whipsnade Zoo, Woburn Safari Park, Dunstable Downs

Medway

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Kent
  • Approximate Population: 278,000
  • Notable Attractions: Chatham Naval Memorial

Middlesbrough

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: North Yorkshire
  • Approximate Population: 140,000
A street view in Middlesbrough showing a historic building with a clock tower, under a cloudy sky.
Middlesbrough City Centre

Milton Keynes

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Buckinghamshire
  • Approximate Population: 248,000

North East Lincolnshire

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire
  • Approximate Population: 159,000
  • Notable Attractions: Waltham Windmill, Cleethorpes, Blundell Park Stadium, National Fishing Heritage Centre

North Lincolnshire

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire
  • Approximate Population: 172,000
  • Notable Attractions: Thornton Abbey, Mount Pleasant Windmill, St. Hybald Church

North Northamptonshire

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Northamptonshire
  • Approximate Population: 359,000

North Somerset

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Somerset
  • Approximate Population: 215,000
  • Notable Attractions: Gordano Valley, Mendip Hills, North Somerset Levels, Woodspring Priory

Northumberland

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: Northumberland
  • Approximate Population: 320,000
  • Notable Attractions: Long Crag, Hadrian’s Wall, Bamburgh Castle, Farne Islands

Nottingham

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Nottinghamshire
  • Approximate Population: 321,000
  • Notable Attractions: Nottingham Castle, The Exchange Arcade, Meadow Lane Stadium, City Ground Stadium, Wollaton Hall
A statue of Robin Hood with a bow and arrow in Nottingham, surrounded by trees with autumn leaves.
Statue of Robin Hood in Nottingham City Centre

Peterborough

  • Region: East of England
  • Ceremonial County: Cambridgeshire
  • Approximate Population: 202,000
  • Notable Attractions: Peterborough Cathedral, Nene Valley Railway

Plymouth

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Devon
  • Approximate Population: 262,000
  • Notable Attractions: Naval War Memorial, Smeaton’s Tower

Portsmouth

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Hampshire
  • Approximate Population: 205,000
  • Notable Attractions: Spinnaker Tower, The Round Tower, HMW Warrior, Portsmouth Dockyard, HMS Victory
A multi-masted historical tall ship is docked in a harbor, surrounded by smaller boats under a clear sky.
HMS Warrior in Portsmouth

Reading

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Berkshire
  • Approximate Population: 161,000
  • Notable Attractions: Reading Festival, Forbury Gardens, Reading Borough Libraries

Redcar and Cleveland

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: North Yorkshire
  • Approximate Population: 137,000

Rutland

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Rutland
  • Approximate Population: 39,000
  • Notable Attractions: Rutland Water, Oakham Castle, Rutland County Museum, Rutland Railway Museum

Shropshire

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Shropshire
  • Approximate Population: 323,000

Slough

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Berkshire
  • Approximate Population: 149,000

South Gloucestershire

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Gloucestershire
  • Approximate Population: 285,000
  • Notable Attractions: Avon Valley Railway, Filton Airfield, The Severn Crossings, Thornbury Castle

Southampton

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Hampshire
  • Approximate Population: 269,000
  • Notable Attractions: SeaCity Museum, National Oceanography Centre

Southend-on-Sea

  • Region: East of England
  • Ceremonial County: Essex
  • Approximate Population: 183,000
  • Notable Attractions: Southend-on-Sea Pier, Southend Carnival, Priory Park, Southend Cliff Gardens

Stockton-on-Tees

  • Region: North East
  • Ceremonial County: Durham, North Yorkshire
  • Approximate Population: 197,000

Stoke-on-Trent

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
  • Approximate Population: 256,000
  • Notable Attractions: Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, bet365 Stadium, The Golden Sculpture

Swindon

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Wiltshire
  • Approximate Population: 222,000

Telford and Wrekin

  • Region: West Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Shropshire
  • Approximate Population: 185,000

Thurrock

  • Region: Ease of England
  • Ceremonial County: Essex
  • Approximate Population: 174,000
  • Notable Attractions: Chafford Gorges Nature park, Grove Wood House, Coalhouse Fort, Tilbury Fort

Torbay

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Devon
  • Approximate Population: 130,000
  • Notable Attractions: Torquay, Paignton

Warrington

  • Region: North West
  • Ceremonial County: Cheshire
  • Approximate Population: 210,000

West Berkshire

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Berkshire
  • Approximate Population: 158,000

West Northamptonshire

  • Region: East Midlands
  • Ceremonial County: Northamptonshire
  • Approximate Population: 425,000

Wiltshire

  • Region: South West
  • Ceremonial County: Wiltshire
  • Approximate Population: 720,000
  • Notable Attractions: Ashcombe House, Barbury Castle, Cotswold Water Park, Fonthill Abbey, Kennet and Avon Canal Museum, Sailsburg Cathedral

Windsor and Maidenhead

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Berkshire
  • Approximate Population: 151,000
  • Notable Attractions: Windsor Castle
A person walking down a tree-lined gravel pathway leading towards a distant building, with autumn foliage on the trees and a cloudy sky above.
The grounds of Windsor Castle

Wokingham

  • Region: South East
  • Ceremonial County: Berkshire
  • Approximate Population: 171,000

York

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
  • Ceremonial County: North Yorkshire
  • Approximate Population: 210,000
  • Notable Attractions: York Castle, The Shambles, York City Walls, York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, National Railway Museum, Yorkshire Museum