UK Local Administrative Districts
Interactive maps and free GeoJSON / KML downloads for all 361 UK local authority district boundaries.
Local Administrative Districts (LADs) are geographical areas used for local government in the United Kingdom. They include boroughs, districts, and unitary authorities responsible for providing local services and governance. Each district has a unique code (LAD25CD) and name (LAD25NM) as defined in the 2025 statistical geography.
Interactive District Boundaries Map
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Click any district boundary to view detailed information. Hover to see district names. Use the search box to find and zoom to a specific district.
All Districts (Alphabetical Order)
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B
C
D
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F
G
H
I
K
L
M
N
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W
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.
Created 1965 – unitary in all but name, part of Greater London.
Metropolitan boroughs – county councils abolished 1986 → now unitary.
Single-tier – all local services, mostly cities/unitary counties.
Two-tier: district councils + separate county council.
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 include Aberdeen City, Highland, Fife, Glasgow City, Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire.
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. Examples include Cardiff, Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Gwynedd.
Northern Ireland: 11 Districts
After the 2015 reform, Northern Ireland is divided into 11 unitary districts — including Belfast, Derry & Strabane, Armagh City, Banbridge, and Mid & East Antrim.
UK local government at a glance
| Country | Primary local unit | Number | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Metropolitan districts, London boroughs, unitary authorities, non-met districts | 36 / 32 / 62 / 164 | Mixed: unitary + two-tier |
| Scotland | Council areas | 32 | Unitary |
| Wales | Principal areas (counties / county boroughs) | 22 | Unitary |
| N. Ireland | Districts | 11 | Unitary |
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 and the Explore Subnational Statistics service. This framework also interacts with civil parishes, wards, and combined authorities — but districts remain the essential administrative building block.
UK Local Government: frequently asked questions
Data source: ONS Open Geography Portal — Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database rights 2025. Dataset: LAD 2025 UK Boundaries.