The short answer
There are 382 principal councils in the UK. In England, most places have either one council or two. A unitary authority, metropolitan borough or London borough runs every local service on its own. In two-tier areas, a county council runs the big services (schools, social care, roads, waste disposal) and a district council runs the local ones (bin collection, housing, planning applications).
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have a single tier of councils. Above the councils, many English areas now have a strategic authority (combined authority, often with a mayor). Below them sit thousands of small parish and town councils. If you sell to councils, the tier matters: it decides which council writes the Tender.
Council finder map
Search for a council, a place or a postcode, or click the map. You'll see what type of council it is, which other councils share the area, and which services it's responsible for buying.
Postcode lookups use the free postcodes.io service via our server. We don't store your postcode.
Boundaries: ONS, May 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right. Shetland shown inset.
Pick a council
Click an area on the map or search above to see what type of council it is, which other councils share the area, and what it buys.
The types of council
Counts are from the Office for National Statistics boundaries for May 2026.
Unitary authorities
One council runs every local service. Common in cities and in counties that have been reorganised.
- How many
- 62, plus the Isles of Scilly
- Where
- England: cities, large towns and reorganised counties
- Examples
- Bristol, Cornwall, Brighton and Hove
County councils
The upper tier in a two-tier area. Runs the big, county-wide services such as schools, social care and roads.
- How many
- 21
- Where
- England: two-tier areas
- Examples
- Kent, Hertfordshire, Surrey
District councils
The lower tier in a two-tier area. Runs local services such as bin collection, housing and planning applications.
- How many
- 164
- Where
- England: inside a county council's area
- Examples
- Stevenage, Cambridge, Guildford
Metropolitan boroughs
A single-tier council in one of the six big English conurbations, like Greater Manchester or the West Midlands.
- How many
- 36
- Where
- England: the six metropolitan counties
- Examples
- Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham
London boroughs
One of 32 single-tier London councils, plus the City of London Corporation. The Greater London Authority sits above them.
- How many
- 32, plus the City of London
- Where
- Greater London
- Examples
- Camden, Croydon, the City of London
Scottish councils
Scotland has 32 single-tier councils, each running all local services in its area.
- How many
- 32
- Where
- Scotland
- Examples
- Glasgow City, Highland, Fife
Welsh councils
Wales has 22 single-tier principal councils, each running all local services in its area.
- How many
- 22
- Where
- Wales
- Examples
- Cardiff, Gwynedd, Powys
Northern Ireland councils
Northern Ireland has 11 councils with a narrower remit: schools, social care, roads and housing are run by other public bodies.
- How many
- 11
- Where
- Northern Ireland
- Examples
- Belfast, Derry City and Strabane
Strategic authorities
Combined authorities and combined county authorities group neighbouring councils to run things like transport, skills and economic growth, often under an elected mayor. In London, the Greater London Authority runs Transport for London, policing oversight and the fire service. The councils underneath carry on running their own services.
Parish, town and community councils
England has about 9,000 parish and town councils (community councils in Wales and Scotland). They look after things like allotments, bus shelters, play areas and community centres, and rarely run formal tenders.
Who buys what
This is the part that matters if you sell to councils. In a two-tier area, pitching waste collection to the county or highways to the district means talking to a council that doesn't buy it. The table shows who is responsible for each service in England, and so who runs the procurement.
| Service | County | District | Unitary, metropolitan, London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schools and education | – | ||
| Social care | – | ||
| Transport and roads | – | ||
| County-level planning | – | ||
| Libraries | – | ||
| Trading standards | – | ||
| Public health | – | ||
| Waste disposal | – | ||
| Fire and public safety | – | ||
| Bin collection and recycling | – | ||
| Housing | – | ||
| Planning applications | – | ||
| Council Tax collection | – |
Sources: GOV.UK “Understand how your council works”; Local Government Finance Act 1992 s.1 (Council Tax); Environmental Protection Act 1990 s.30 (waste); NHS Act 2006 s.2B (public health). In metropolitan areas and London, fire, police and public transport run through joint authorities or the Greater London Authority, and some areas have a joint waste disposal authority.
Why the names are so confusing
“Borough”, “city” and “royal borough” are titles. A council gets them by royal charter or letters patent, and they don't change what it does. So the name tells you very little about the type:
| Council | Actually a… |
|---|---|
| Cambridge City Council | District council |
| Brighton and Hove City Council | Unitary authority |
| Guildford Borough Council | District council |
| Bracknell Forest Borough Council | Unitary authority |
| Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead | Unitary authority |
| Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames | London borough |
County names cause a similar mix-up. “Berkshire” is still a county on the map, but it has no county council: its six councils are all unitaries. When you're qualifying a Tender, check the Buyer's type in the finder above rather than trusting its name.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- —Scotland: 32 councils. Single-tier since 1996. Each council runs schools, social care, roads, housing, planning and waste. Police and fire are national services.
- —Wales: 22 councils. Single-tier principal councils since 1996, with community councils below them in most areas.
- —Northern Ireland: 11 councils. Formed in 2015, with a narrower remit than councils elsewhere. Education, social care, roads, public housing, fire, water and libraries are run by other public bodies, such as the Education Authority and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Local government reorganisation
Position as of .
The map of English councils keeps changing. The most recent changes came in April 2023, when Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset became unitary areas. The government's English devolution programme set out to replace the remaining two-tier areas with unitary councils.
So far only one change is confirmed: Surrey will be replaced by two new unitary councils, East Surrey and West Surrey, on 1 April 2027. Decisions for other areas were withdrawn or paused for review in September 2026, and no new timetable has been published.
What reorganisation means for suppliers
When councils merge, their contracts pass to the new council, but it then has to bring several sets of suppliers into one. Expect contracts to be re-tendered, frameworks to be renewed, and incumbents to face fresh competition. For suppliers who weren't on the old councils' books, that's an opening.
How councils buy
In England, councils buy under the Procurement Act 2023 as sub-central contracting authorities (Scotland has its own procurement rules, and Wales and Northern Ireland have some). From 1 January 2026 the threshold for their goods and services contracts is £207,720 including VAT; above it the full competitive rules apply. See our procurement thresholds guide for the rest.
Below the threshold, a council contract worth £30,000 or more is still “notifiable”: if the council advertises it, it must publish a tender notice. Since 24 February 2025, these notices go on Find a Tender. Many councils also buy through shared framework agreements and run their own e-tendering portals.
Following hundreds of council Buyers
With 382principal councils, keeping an eye on the ones that matter to you is a job in itself. RevnIQ reads every notice from the UK's national tender platforms and gives each one a Fit Score against your business, whichever council published it.
Full list of UK councils
Show all 361 district, unitary and single-tier councils
| Council | Type | County council | Strategic authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen City | Scottish council | – | – |
| Aberdeenshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| Adur | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Amber Valley | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| Angus | Scottish council | – | – |
| Antrim and Newtownabbey | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Ards and North Down | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Argyll and Bute | Scottish council | – | – |
| Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Arun | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Ashfield | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Ashford | District council | Kent | – |
| Babergh | District council | Suffolk | – |
| Barking and Dagenham | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Barnet | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Barnsley | Metropolitan borough | – | South Yorkshire |
| Basildon | District council | Essex | – |
| Basingstoke and Deane | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Bassetlaw | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Bath and North East Somerset | Unitary authority | – | West of England |
| Bedford | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Belfast | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Bexley | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Birmingham | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Blaby | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| Blackburn with Darwen | Unitary authority | – | Lancashire |
| Blackpool | Unitary authority | – | Lancashire |
| Blaenau Gwent | Welsh council | – | – |
| Bolsover | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| Bolton | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Boston | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Bracknell Forest | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Bradford | Metropolitan borough | – | West Yorkshire |
| Braintree | District council | Essex | – |
| Breckland | District council | Norfolk | – |
| Brent | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Brentwood | District council | Essex | – |
| Bridgend | Welsh council | – | – |
| Brighton and Hove | Unitary authority | – | Sussex and Brighton |
| Bristol, City of | Unitary authority | – | West of England |
| Broadland | District council | Norfolk | – |
| Bromley | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Bromsgrove | District council | Worcestershire | – |
| Broxbourne | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| Broxtowe | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Buckinghamshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Burnley | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Bury | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Caerphilly | Welsh council | – | – |
| Calderdale | Metropolitan borough | – | West Yorkshire |
| Cambridge | District council | Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Camden | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Cannock Chase | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| Canterbury | District council | Kent | – |
| Cardiff | Welsh council | – | – |
| Carmarthenshire | Welsh council | – | – |
| Castle Point | District council | Essex | – |
| Causeway Coast and Glens | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Central Bedfordshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Ceredigion | Welsh council | – | – |
| Charnwood | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| Chelmsford | District council | Essex | – |
| Cheltenham | District council | Gloucestershire | – |
| Cherwell | District council | Oxfordshire | – |
| Cheshire East | Unitary authority | – | Cheshire and Warrington |
| Cheshire West and Chester | Unitary authority | – | Cheshire and Warrington |
| Chesterfield | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| Chichester | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Chorley | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| City of Edinburgh | Scottish council | – | – |
| City of London | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Clackmannanshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| Colchester | District council | Essex | – |
| Conwy | Welsh council | – | – |
| Cornwall | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Cotswold | District council | Gloucestershire | – |
| County Durham | Unitary authority | – | North East |
| Coventry | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Crawley | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Croydon | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Cumberland | Unitary authority | – | Cumbria |
| Dacorum | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| Darlington | Unitary authority | – | Tees Valley |
| Dartford | District council | Kent | – |
| Denbighshire | Welsh council | – | – |
| Derby | Unitary authority | – | East Midlands |
| Derbyshire Dales | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| Derry City and Strabane | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Doncaster | Metropolitan borough | – | South Yorkshire |
| Dorset | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Dover | District council | Kent | – |
| Dudley | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Dumfries and Galloway | Scottish council | – | – |
| Dundee City | Scottish council | – | – |
| Ealing | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| East Ayrshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| East Cambridgeshire | District council | Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| East Devon | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| East Dunbartonshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| East Hampshire | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| East Hertfordshire | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| East Lindsey | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| East Lothian | Scottish council | – | – |
| East Renfrewshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | Unitary authority | – | Hull and East Yorkshire |
| East Staffordshire | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| East Suffolk | District council | Suffolk | – |
| Eastbourne | District council | East Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Eastleigh | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Elmbridge | District council | Surrey | – |
| Enfield | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Epping Forest | District council | Essex | – |
| Epsom and Ewell | District council | Surrey | – |
| Erewash | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| Exeter | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| Falkirk | Scottish council | – | – |
| Fareham | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Fenland | District council | Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Fife | Scottish council | – | – |
| Flintshire | Welsh council | – | – |
| Folkestone and Hythe | District council | Kent | – |
| Forest of Dean | District council | Gloucestershire | – |
| Fylde | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Gateshead | Metropolitan borough | – | North East |
| Gedling | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Glasgow City | Scottish council | – | – |
| Gloucester | District council | Gloucestershire | – |
| Gosport | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Gravesham | District council | Kent | – |
| Great Yarmouth | District council | Norfolk | – |
| Greenwich | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Guildford | District council | Surrey | – |
| Gwynedd | Welsh council | – | – |
| Hackney | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Halton | Unitary authority | – | Liverpool City Region |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Harborough | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| Haringey | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Harlow | District council | Essex | – |
| Harrow | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Hart | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Hartlepool | Unitary authority | – | Tees Valley |
| Hastings | District council | East Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Havant | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Havering | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Herefordshire, County of | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Hertsmere | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| High Peak | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| Highland | Scottish council | – | – |
| Hillingdon | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| Horsham | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Hounslow | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Huntingdonshire | District council | Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Hyndburn | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Inverclyde | Scottish council | – | – |
| Ipswich | District council | Suffolk | – |
| Isle of Anglesey | Welsh council | – | – |
| Isle of Wight | Unitary authority | – | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Isles of Scilly | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Islington | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Kensington and Chelsea | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | District council | Norfolk | – |
| Kingston upon Hull, City of | Unitary authority | – | Hull and East Yorkshire |
| Kingston upon Thames | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Kirklees | Metropolitan borough | – | West Yorkshire |
| Knowsley | Metropolitan borough | – | Liverpool City Region |
| Lambeth | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Lancaster | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Leeds | Metropolitan borough | – | West Yorkshire |
| Leicester | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Lewes | District council | East Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Lewisham | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Lichfield | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| Lincoln | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| Lisburn and Castlereagh | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Liverpool | Metropolitan borough | – | Liverpool City Region |
| Luton | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Maidstone | District council | Kent | – |
| Maldon | District council | Essex | – |
| Malvern Hills | District council | Worcestershire | – |
| Manchester | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Mansfield | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Medway | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Melton | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| Merthyr Tydfil | Welsh council | – | – |
| Merton | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Mid and East Antrim | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Mid Devon | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| Mid Suffolk | District council | Suffolk | – |
| Mid Sussex | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Mid Ulster | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| Middlesbrough | Unitary authority | – | Tees Valley |
| Midlothian | Scottish council | – | – |
| Milton Keynes | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Mole Valley | District council | Surrey | – |
| Monmouthshire | Welsh council | – | – |
| Moray | Scottish council | – | – |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | Scottish council | – | – |
| Neath Port Talbot | Welsh council | – | – |
| New Forest | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Newark and Sherwood | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Metropolitan borough | – | North East |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| Newham | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Newport | Welsh council | – | – |
| Newry, Mourne and Down | Northern Ireland council | – | – |
| North Ayrshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| North Devon | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| North East Derbyshire | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| North East Lincolnshire | Unitary authority | – | Greater Lincolnshire |
| North Hertfordshire | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| North Kesteven | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| North Lanarkshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| North Lincolnshire | Unitary authority | – | Greater Lincolnshire |
| North Norfolk | District council | Norfolk | – |
| North Northamptonshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| North Somerset | Unitary authority | – | – |
| North Tyneside | Metropolitan borough | – | North East |
| North Warwickshire | District council | Warwickshire | – |
| North West Leicestershire | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| North Yorkshire | Unitary authority | – | York and North Yorkshire |
| Northumberland | Unitary authority | – | North East |
| Norwich | District council | Norfolk | – |
| Nottingham | Unitary authority | – | East Midlands |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | District council | Warwickshire | – |
| Oadby and Wigston | District council | Leicestershire | – |
| Oldham | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Orkney Islands | Scottish council | – | – |
| Oxford | District council | Oxfordshire | – |
| Pembrokeshire | Welsh council | – | – |
| Pendle | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Perth and Kinross | Scottish council | – | – |
| Peterborough | Unitary authority | – | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| Plymouth | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Portsmouth | Unitary authority | – | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Powys | Welsh council | – | – |
| Preston | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Reading | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Redbridge | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Redcar and Cleveland | Unitary authority | – | Tees Valley |
| Redditch | District council | Worcestershire | – |
| Reigate and Banstead | District council | Surrey | – |
| Renfrewshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | Welsh council | – | – |
| Ribble Valley | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Richmond upon Thames | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Rochdale | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Rochford | District council | Essex | – |
| Rossendale | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Rother | District council | East Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Rotherham | Metropolitan borough | – | South Yorkshire |
| Rugby | District council | Warwickshire | – |
| Runnymede | District council | Surrey | – |
| Rushcliffe | District council | Nottinghamshire | East Midlands |
| Rushmoor | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Rutland | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Salford | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Sandwell | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Scottish Borders | Scottish council | – | – |
| Sefton | Metropolitan borough | – | Liverpool City Region |
| Sevenoaks | District council | Kent | – |
| Sheffield | Metropolitan borough | – | South Yorkshire |
| Shetland Islands | Scottish council | – | – |
| Shropshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Slough | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Solihull | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Somerset | Unitary authority | – | – |
| South Ayrshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| South Cambridgeshire | District council | Cambridgeshire | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough |
| South Derbyshire | District council | Derbyshire | East Midlands |
| South Gloucestershire | Unitary authority | – | West of England |
| South Hams | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| South Holland | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| South Kesteven | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| South Lanarkshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| South Norfolk | District council | Norfolk | – |
| South Oxfordshire | District council | Oxfordshire | – |
| South Ribble | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| South Staffordshire | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| South Tyneside | Metropolitan borough | – | North East |
| Southampton | Unitary authority | – | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Southend-on-Sea | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Southwark | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Spelthorne | District council | Surrey | – |
| St Albans | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| St. Helens | Metropolitan borough | – | Liverpool City Region |
| Stafford | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| Stevenage | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| Stirling | Scottish council | – | – |
| Stockport | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Stockton-on-Tees | Unitary authority | – | Tees Valley |
| Stoke-on-Trent | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Stratford-on-Avon | District council | Warwickshire | – |
| Stroud | District council | Gloucestershire | – |
| Sunderland | Metropolitan borough | – | North East |
| Surrey Heath | District council | Surrey | – |
| Sutton | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Swale | District council | Kent | – |
| Swansea | Welsh council | – | – |
| Swindon | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Tameside | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Tamworth | District council | Staffordshire | – |
| Tandridge | District council | Surrey | – |
| Teignbridge | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| Telford and Wrekin | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Tendring | District council | Essex | – |
| Test Valley | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Tewkesbury | District council | Gloucestershire | – |
| Thanet | District council | Kent | – |
| Three Rivers | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| Thurrock | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Tonbridge and Malling | District council | Kent | – |
| Torbay | Unitary authority | – | Devon and Torbay |
| Torfaen | Welsh council | – | – |
| Torridge | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| Tower Hamlets | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Trafford | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Tunbridge Wells | District council | Kent | – |
| Uttlesford | District council | Essex | – |
| Vale of Glamorgan | Welsh council | – | – |
| Vale of White Horse | District council | Oxfordshire | – |
| Wakefield | Metropolitan borough | – | West Yorkshire |
| Walsall | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Waltham Forest | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Wandsworth | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Warrington | Unitary authority | – | Cheshire and Warrington |
| Warwick | District council | Warwickshire | – |
| Watford | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| Waverley | District council | Surrey | – |
| Wealden | District council | East Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Welwyn Hatfield | District council | Hertfordshire | – |
| West Berkshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| West Devon | District council | Devon | Devon and Torbay |
| West Dunbartonshire | Scottish council | – | – |
| West Lancashire | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| West Lindsey | District council | Lincolnshire | Greater Lincolnshire |
| West Lothian | Scottish council | – | – |
| West Northamptonshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| West Oxfordshire | District council | Oxfordshire | – |
| West Suffolk | District council | Suffolk | – |
| Westminster | London borough | – | Greater London Authority |
| Westmorland and Furness | Unitary authority | – | Cumbria |
| Wigan | Metropolitan borough | – | Greater Manchester |
| Wiltshire | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Winchester | District council | Hampshire | Hampshire and the Solent |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Wirral | Metropolitan borough | – | Liverpool City Region |
| Woking | District council | Surrey | – |
| Wokingham | Unitary authority | – | – |
| Wolverhampton | Metropolitan borough | – | West Midlands |
| Worcester | District council | Worcestershire | – |
| Worthing | District council | West Sussex | Sussex and Brighton |
| Wrexham | Welsh council | – | – |
| Wychavon | District council | Worcestershire | – |
| Wyre | District council | Lancashire | Lancashire |
| Wyre Forest | District council | Worcestershire | – |
| York | Unitary authority | – | York and North Yorkshire |
Source: Office for National Statistics, May 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0. Strategic authorities set up in 2026 are taken from their establishing orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a unitary authority and a district council?
A unitary authority runs every local service in its area on its own. A district council is the lower tier of a two-tier area: it handles local services such as bin collection, housing and planning applications, while a county council covering the same area runs schools, social care, roads and waste disposal.
Is a borough council a unitary authority?
Not necessarily. 'Borough' and 'city' are titles granted by royal charter and don't change what a council does. Guildford Borough Council is a district council, while Bracknell Forest Borough Council is a unitary authority. Check the council's type, not its name.
Who collects my bins and who disposes of the waste?
In two-tier areas the district council collects waste and recycling, and the county council disposes of it. In unitary, metropolitan and London areas one council usually does both, although some metropolitan areas and parts of London use a joint waste disposal authority.
What is a combined authority?
A combined authority (or combined county authority) is a group of neighbouring councils that work together on things like transport, skills and economic growth, often led by an elected mayor. They are now known collectively as strategic authorities. The councils inside them still exist and run their own services. Our finder shows 19 outside London, plus the Greater London Authority.
Do parish and town councils run tenders?
Occasionally, for small contracts such as grounds maintenance or play equipment. There are about 9,000 parish and town councils in England, but they have small budgets and limited powers, so most public contracts come from principal councils.
How do I find which council covers a postcode?
Type the postcode into the council finder on this page. It shows the district or unitary council for that address and, in two-tier areas, the county council as well.
Where do councils publish their tenders?
Since 24 February 2025, councils in England publish notices for new procurements on Find a Tender, both above and below the procurement thresholds. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have some rules of their own: Scottish councils, for example, advertise lower-value contracts on Public Contracts Scotland. Many councils also run their own e-tendering portal.