Frequently Asked Questions - Postcodes

Can I find out what ward a postcode is in?
We have a Your Area section on this website which allows you to find out what council area and ward corresponds to a postcode, and download maps of those areas.

How can I find out all the postcodes that are in a ward?
The National Records of Scotland (formerly the General Register Office for Scotland) creates and maintains products which tabulate postcodes against other geographic areas, including wards. You can contact them to ask about obtaining these products at geographycustomerservices@gro-scotland.gsi.gov.uk, or through their website at http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/geography-enquiries.html. The Your Area section on this website allows you to find out the ward for a postcode, but not to create a list of all postcodes for a ward.

What does the Your area search do when a postcode crosses a local authority or ward boundary?
Where a postcode crosses a local authority boundary, the Your Area search will return two results, one for each local authority. Where a postcode crosses a ward boundary, the Your Area search will return the ward that contains the central point (mathematically, the centroid) of the area covered by the postcode.

Do local authorities or wards contain whole postcodes?
Not always. Postcodes are designed by Royal Mail for the delivery of mail. As a result, their boundaries are not generally suitable as ward boundaries, and are ill-defined in areas with sparse postal delivery points. Postcodes are not a factor which we take into account when making recommendations for boundaries.