UK Postal Code .. Your full guide to Britain Zip Codes 2023
Here’s all you need to know about UK postal code!
What is it, and how do you use it? Postcodes, paired with area codes, point out exact spots in the UK. I’m about to break all those down for you from my extensive research.
The Correct Format For A Postal Address In Britain
Here’s a simplified guide to addressing mail in the UK:
Name of Recipient
House number, Street
Locality (if needed)
Town (ALL CAPS)
Full postcode (ALL CAPS)
One easy example is:
Mr John Smith
123 High Street
Little Village
LONDON SW1A 1AA
Follow these tips to address mail the UK way:
- Ditch full stops and commas
- Start each line to the left
- Write the town and country in caps
- Always add a return address
For international mail, don’t forget to add the country name (in English) as the last line of the address. Here’s how:
Ms Jane Doe
456 Main Street
Big City
ONTARIO L4B 1C2
CANADA
UK postal code
Understanding the UK postal code system is simpler than it seems!
It’s made up of two parts:
- The first part, with 2 to 4 alphanumeric characters.
- The second part, always with 3 digits.
The code starts with a letter or two for the postal area. After that, you’ll see some numbers indicating a location within that area. A space comes next, then a number for another sector within the previous area, and finally two letters related to the nearby streets and walkways.
Take this as an example:
GL51 0EX – The ”GL51” is the postal code for Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.
Compass directions (such as C, S, N, W, E, NE, NW, SE, SW) can represent locations too.
For instance:
SW15 5PU – This pinpoints to the University of Roehampton in the Southwest.
London postal code
London postal code is: EC1A
Postal code in Birmingham
Birmingham postal code: B
Postal code in Liverpool
Liverpool postal code: L
Postal code in Manchester
Manchester postal code: M
Oxford postal code
Oxford Zip Code: OX1, OX2, OX3, OX4, OX33, OX44
Sunderland Zip Code
Sunderland postal code: G1 – G80
Postal code in Glasgow
Glasgow postal code: G1-G80
Postal code in Leeds
Leeds Zip Code: From LS1 to LS29, LS88, LS99, LS98, WF3
Sheffield Postal Code
Sheffield postal code: S
Postal code in Bristol
Bristol postal code: BS
Blackpool zip code
Its postal code: FY1
Cardiff Postal Code
Cardiff postal code: CF
Postal code in Nottingham
Nottingham postal code: NG
UK Postal Code Finder
To find a postcode in the UK, you can use the Postcode Finder tool provided by Royal Mail Group
Start typing an address or a part of the postcode into the search bar, and it will suggest matches for you. Pick the one you’re searching for from the results.
If you want a full UK Postcode, you can click on the interactive map or choose a city from the list provided. Another way is to simply type in your address into the search bar. It’s that easy!
