List of all Councils in the UK

Browse all 382 councils in the United Kingdom, including district, unitary, metropolitan, county and London borough councils. This table provides links to each council’s official website, along with their region, country and type, helping residents, researchers and newcomers quickly find key local authority information.

Select a country : (not specify) England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales OR council type : (not specify) County Council District Council London Borough Metropolitan District Unitary Authority to filter the list of councils.

Understanding UK Council Types

Local government in the United Kingdom is organized in different ways depending on where you live. While some areas are served by a single council that manages everything, others operate under a "two-tier" system where responsibilities are split. Understanding these distinctions is key to knowing who handles your bins, your roads, and your schools.

Here is a breakdown of the different council types listed in the directory below:

• County Councils: Found in parts of England with a two-tier system, these councils cover large geographical areas (entire counties). They are responsible for strategic, high-budget services such as education, highways, transport planning, and social care.
• District Councils: These sit below County Councils in the two-tier structure. They handle local, community-level services, including rubbish collection, housing, planning permission, and park maintenance. They are sometimes referred to as Borough Councils or City Councils, depending on their royal charter status.
• Unitary Authorities: These are "single-tier" councils responsible for all local government services in their area, combining the functions of both county and district councils. This system is used throughout Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as well as in many English counties and cities.
• Metropolitan Districts: Found in large urban areas (such as Greater Manchester or the West Midlands), these operate very similarly to Unitary Authorities, handling most services independently. However, they often collaborate on strategic issues like public transport through a Combined Authority.
• London Boroughs: The 32 councils that make up Greater London. They are responsible for schools, waste, and social care, while the Greater London Authority (GLA) manages strategic transport (TfL) and policing across the capital.

Facts and Figures about UK Councils:

• There are a total of 317 councils in England: Metropolitan districts (36); London boroughs (32) plus the City of London; Unitary authorities (62) plus the Isles of Scilly; County councils (21); District councils (164). Additionally, Wales has 22 unitary councils, Scotland has 32 Scottish local authorities, and Northern Ireland has 11 local government districts. This amount to 382 councils in the UK.
• Official websites of UK councils: Of the 382 councils in the UK, 377—approximately 99%—use the .gov.uk domain for their official websites; only 5 do not.
• In three cases, two councils share a single official website: ◍ Lewes District Council and Eastbourne Borough Council; ◍ Broadland District Council and South Norfolk District Council; ◍ Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council.

Last updated: 11 December 2025