The W (Western and Paddington) postcode area, also known as the London W postcode area
is a group of postcode districts covering part of central and part of
West London
West London is the western part of London, England, north of the River Thames, west of the City of London, and extending to the Greater London boundary.
The term is used to differentiate the area from the other parts of London: North Londo ...
, England. The area originates from the Western (W1) and Paddington (W2-14) districts
of the
London postal district. This area covers 35 postcode districts and around 18,554 live postcodes.
Postal administration
The Western district
consists of the single original W1 postal district.
The area that it covers is high-density and so has been subdivided into a number of smaller postcode districts. When districts are used for purposes other than the sorting of mail, such as use as a geographic reference and on street signs, the W1 subdivisions continue to be classed as one 'district'. In June 2000, there was a recoding of the area, with the W1M, W1N, W1P, W1R, W1V, W1X and W1Y districts being replaced.
The
mail centre
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for W1 is
London Central
London Central is a bus company operating in South London. It is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group and operates services under contract to Transport for London.
History
London Central commenced operating on 1 April 1989 when London Bus ...
, and that for W2-14 is
Greenford
Greenford () is a suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, England, lying west from Charing Cross. It has a population of 46,787 inhabitants, or 62,126 with the inclusion of Perivale.
Greenford is served by Greenford Station (L ...
.
Deliveries for W1 (and for
WC1 and WC2) came from the Western District Office on Rathbone Place until it was decommissioned. It was a stop on the former
London Post Office Railway
The Post Office Railway, is a narrow gauge, driverless underground railway in London that was built by the Post Office with assistance from the Underground Electric Railways Company of London, to transport mail between sorting offices. Inspire ...
, which has been mothballed since 2003. The Western District Office was initially on Wimpole Street, which was also a stop on the London Post Office Railway.
The Paddington district
has 13 postcode districts (W2–14).
Other than W2, the districts are arranged alphabetically, run from W3 (Acton) to W14 (West Kensington) and radiate westwards. The Paddington Head District Sorting Office was the western terminus of the London Post Office Railway, which ran to the Eastern District Office, at
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross. Part of the historic county of Middlesex, the area formed ...
.
List of postcode districts
The approximate coverage of the postcode districts, with the historic postal district names shown in ''italics'':
[Map of London district names and numbers](_blank)
from the 1963 edition of Bartholomew's Reference Atlas of Greater London
, -
! W1A
, LONDON
, PO box
A post office box (commonly abbreviated as P.O. box, or also known as a postal box) is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office.
In some regions, particularly in Africa, there is no door to door delivery ...
es & Admail codes in W1
, '' non-geographic''
, -
! W1B
, LONDON
, Portland Place, Regent Street
, Westminster
Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster.
The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...
, -
! W1C
, LONDON
, Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major road in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, running from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch via Oxford Circus. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, with around half a million daily visitors, and ...
(west)
, Westminster
, -
! W1D
, LONDON
, Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century.
The area was develo ...
(south east); Chinatown, Soho Square
Soho Square is a garden square in Soho, London, hosting since 1954 a ''de facto'' public park let by the Soho Square Garden Committee to Westminster City Council. It was originally called King Square after Charles II, and a much weathered ...
, Westminster
, -
! W1F
, LONDON
, Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century.
The area was develo ...
(north west)
, Westminster
, -
! W1G
, LONDON
, Harley Street
, Westminster
, -
! W1H
, LONDON
, Marylebone
Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary.
An ancient parish and latterly a metropolitan borough, it me ...
, Westminster
, -
! W1J
, LONDON
, Mayfair (south), Piccadilly
, Westminster
, -
! W1K
, LONDON
, Mayfair (north), Grosvenor Square
, Westminster
, -
! W1S
, LONDON
, Mayfair (east), Hanover Square, Savile Row
Savile Row (pronounced ) is a street in Mayfair, central London. Known principally for its traditional bespoke tailoring for men, the street has had a varied history that has included accommodating the headquarters of the Royal Geographical ...
, Royal Academy
, Westminster
, -
! W1T
, LONDON
, Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia () is a district of central London, England, near the West End. The eastern part of area is in the London Borough of Camden, and the western in the City of Westminster. It has its roots in the Manor of Tottenham Court, and was urban ...
, Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road (occasionally abbreviated as TCR) is a major road in Central London, almost entirely within the London Borough of Camden.
The road runs from Euston Road in the north to St Giles Circus in the south; Tottenham Court Road t ...
, Camden
, -
! W1U
, LONDON
, Marylebone
Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary.
An ancient parish and latterly a metropolitan borough, it me ...
, Westminster
, -
! W1W
, LONDON
, East Marylebone, Great Portland Street
Great Portland Street in the West End of London links Oxford Street with Albany Street and the A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road. A commercial street including some embassies, it divides Fitzrovia, to the east, from Marylebone to the west. ...
, Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia () is a district of central London, England, near the West End. The eastern part of area is in the London Borough of Camden, and the western in the City of Westminster. It has its roots in the Manor of Tottenham Court, and was urban ...
, Westminster
, -
! W2
, LONDON
, ''Paddington head district:'' Paddington
Paddington is an area within the City of Westminster, in Central London. First a medieval parish then a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Three important landmarks of the district are Padd ...
, Bayswater, Hyde Park, Westbourne Green, Little Venice
Little Venice is a district in West London, England, around the junction of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent's Canal, and the entrance to Paddington Basin. The junction forms a triangular shape basin. Many of the buildi ...
(part), Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a cosmopolitan and multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello Road Ma ...
(part) , , Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea
, -
! W3
, LONDON
, ''Acton district:'' Acton, West Acton
West Acton is a place in West London, England. It is part of Acton, in the London Borough of Ealing
The London Borough of Ealing () is a London borough in West London. It comprises seven major towns: Acton (W3), Ealing (W5, W13, NW10), Gre ...
, North Acton
North Acton is a part of Acton in west London, and is within the London Borough of Ealing. It runs adjacent to the industrial district of Park Royal. Historically part of the Municipal Borough of Acton in the county of Middlesex, it has formed p ...
(part), South Acton, East Acton
East Acton is an area in Acton in London, England, west of Charing Cross. It is partly in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and partly in the London Borough of Ealing. It is served by East Acton Underground station, on the Central ...
(west), Park Royal (south), Hanger Hill Garden Estate, Gunnersbury Park , , Ealing, Hounslow
Hounslow () is a large suburban district of West London, west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hounslow, and is identified in the London Plan as one of the 12 metropolitan centres in ...
, Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham () is a London borough in West London and which also forms part of Inner London. The borough was formed in 1965 from the merger of the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham. The bor ...
, -
! W4
, LONDON
, ''Chiswick district:'' Chiswick, Gunnersbury
Gunnersbury is an area of West London, England.
Toponymy
The name "Gunnersbury" means "Manor house of a woman called Gunnhildr", and is from an old Scandinavian personal name + Middle English -''bury'', manor or manor house.
Development
Gunne ...
, Turnham Green
Turnham Green is a public park on Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London, and the neighbourhood and conservation area around it; historically, it was one of the four medieval villages in the Chiswick area, the others being Old Chiswick, Little S ...
, Acton Green, South Acton (part), Bedford Park , , Hounslow, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham
, -
! W5
, LONDON
, ''Ealing district:'' Ealing, South Ealing, Ealing Common
Ealing Common is a large open space (approx ) in Ealing, West London.
Boundaries
The Ealing Common Area is bounded by Ealing Town Centre to the west, North Ealing and Hanger Hill to the north, Acton to the east and South Ealing and South ...
, North Ealing, Northfields, (south and east), Pitshanger
Pitshanger (sometimes referred to as Pitshanger Village) is a small but busy local suburb, centred on the shops in Pitshanger Lane, located about 1 mile north of Ealing Broadway in west London. First mentioned in 1493, possibly meaning an area o ...
, Hanger Lane , , Ealing, Hounslow
, -
! W6
, LONDON
, ''Hammersmith district:'' Fulham, Hammersmith, Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park or RCP is an public park and garden located in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, England. It is one of the Borough's flagship parks, having won a Green Flag Award. Stamford Brook and Ravenscourt Park tube stations ar ...
, Stamford Brook (part), , Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow
, -
! W7
, LONDON
, ''Hanwell district:'' Hanwell
Hanwell () is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, in the historic County of Middlesex, England. It is about 1.5 miles west of Ealing Broadway and had a population of 28,768 as of 2011. It is the westernmost location of the London post t ...
, Boston Manor
Boston Manor is an English Jacobean manor house built in 1622 with internal alterations, intensively restored in later centuries and Boston Manor Park is the adjoining publicly owned green space including a lake. It was the manor house o ...
(part) , , Ealing
, -
! W8
, LONDON
, ''Kensington district:'' Kensington, Holland Park (part) , , Kensington and Chelsea
, -
! W9
, LONDON
, ''Maida Hill district:'' Maida Hill
Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district consisting of the northern part of Paddington in West London, west of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn. It is also the name of its main road, on the continuous Edgware Road. Maida Vale is p ...
, Maida Vale
Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district consisting of the northern part of Paddington in West London, west of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn. It is also the name of its main road, on the continuous Edgware Road. Maida Vale is ...
, Queen's Park (part), West Kilburn , , Westminster, Brent, Camden
, -
! W10
, LONDON
, ''Ladbroke Grove district: Kensal Town
Kensal Town is a district located partly in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and partly in the City of Westminster. The area lies four miles north-west of Charing Cross and is part of the W postcode area. Kensal Town was an exclave ...
, Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove () is an area and a road in West London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, passing through Kensal Green and Notting Hill, running north–south between Harrow Road and Holland Park Avenue.
It is also a name given ...
, Queen's Park (part) , , Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent
, -
! W11
, LONDON
, ''Notting Hill district:'' Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a cosmopolitan and multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting Hill Carnival and Portobello Road Ma ...
, Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove () is an area and a road in West London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, passing through Kensal Green and Notting Hill, running north–south between Harrow Road and Holland Park Avenue.
It is also a name given ...
(part), Holland Park (part) , , Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham
, -
! W12
, LONDON
, ''Shepherds Bush district:'' Shepherd's Bush, White City White City may refer to:
Places Australia
* White City, Perth, an amusement park on the Perth foreshore
* White City railway station, a former railway station
* White City Stadium (Sydney), a tennis centre in Sydney
* White City FC, a football clu ...
, Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs, known locally as The Scrubs (or simply Scrubs), is an open space in Old Oak Common located in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London. It is the largest open space in the borough, ...
, East Acton
East Acton is an area in Acton in London, England, west of Charing Cross. It is partly in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and partly in the London Borough of Ealing. It is served by East Acton Underground station, on the Central ...
(east) , , Hammersmith and Fulham
, -
! W13
, LONDON
, ''West Ealing district:'' West Ealing
West Ealing is a district in the London Borough of Ealing, in West London. The district is about west of Ealing Broadway. Although there is a long history of settlement in the area, West Ealing in its present form is less than one hundred years ...
, Northfields (north and west) , , Ealing
, -
! W14
, LONDON
, ''West Kensington district:'' West Kensington
West Kensington, formerly North End, is an area in the ancient parish of Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, England, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) west of Charing Cross. It covers most of the London postal area of W14, includ ...
, Kensington Olympia
Kensington (Olympia) is a combined rail and tube station in Kensington, on the edge of Central London. Services are provided by London Overground, who manage the station, along with Southern and London Underground. It is in Travelcard Zone 2. ...
, Holland Park , , Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea
Boundaries
Postcode districts W1 and W2 are central to London, and W3 to W14 are mostly further west. The boundaries of the area and its numbered districts have changed over time and are the result of the working requirements of the
Royal Mail. The boundaries do not coincide with the local authority areas. W1 is almost entirely in the
City of Westminster, with a small part in the
London Borough of Camden
The London Borough of Camden () is a London borough in Inner London. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was established on 1 April 1965 from the area of the former boroughs of Hampstead, Holborn, and ...
. W2 to W14 cover the northwestern part of the City of Westminster, the northern parts of the
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham () is a London borough in West London and which also forms part of Inner London. The borough was formed in 1965 from the merger of the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham. The borou ...
and the eastern parts of the London Boroughs of
Ealing and
Hounslow
Hounslow () is a large suburban district of West London, west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hounslow, and is identified in the London Plan as one of the 12 metropolitan centres in ...
, as well as very small parts of the London Boroughs of
Brent and Camden.
In popular culture
The TV series ''
W1A
The W (Western and Paddington) postcode area, also known as the London W postcode area is a group of postcode districts covering part of central and part of West London, England. The area originates from the Western (W1) and Paddington (W2-14) ...
'' satirises the goings-on at the BBC's
Broadcasting House in Portland Place, whose memorable postcode is W1A 1AA.
AJ Tracey
Ché Wolton Grant (born 4 March 1994), known professionally as AJ Tracey, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is from Ladbroke Grove, West London. Tracey rose to popularity in 2016 and was listed by ''The Guardian'' i ...
released the 2020 track "
West Ten
"West Ten" is a song by English rapper AJ Tracey and English singer Mabel. It was released as a digital download on 2 July 2020 as the second single off the former's second studio album '' Flu Game'' (2021). The song was written by Tracey, Fred, ...
", which refers to the Ladbroke Grove area.
Map
See also
*
Postcode Address File
The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a database that contains all known "delivery points" and postcodes in the United Kingdom. The PAF is a collection of over 29 million Royal Mail postal addresses and 1.8 million postcodes. It is available i ...
*
List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom
*
London postal district
References
External links
Royal Mail's Postcode Address FileA quick introduction to Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF)
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{{Use dmy dates, date=October 2016
Postcode areas covering London
Media and communications in the City of Westminster
Media and communications in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Media and communications in the London Borough of Ealing
Media and communications in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Media and communications in the London Borough of Hounslow
Media and communications in the London Borough of Camden