Royal mail postal codes
Royal Mail postal codes, also known as postcodes, are a system of codes used to identify specific geographic areas in the United Kingdom. Here's a breakdown of the Royal Mail postal code system:
Format:
Royal Mail postal codes consist of two parts:
- Outward code (also known as the "inward code"): This is the first part of the postcode, which identifies the area. It is usually 1-2 letters followed by 1-2 numbers.
- Inward code (also known as the "outward code"): This is the second part of the postcode, which identifies a specific street or group of streets. It is usually 1-2 letters followed by 1-2 numbers.
Examples:
- London: SW1A 1AA (outward code: SW, inward code: 1AA)
- Manchester: M1 1AE (outward code: M, inward code: 1AE)
- Birmingham: B1 1BB (outward code: B, inward code: 1BB)
Types of postcodes:
- Single-code postcodes: These are the most common type, consisting of a single code (e.g., SW1A 1AA).
- Dual-code postcodes: These have two codes separated by a space (e.g., SW1A 1AA 1BB).
- Multiple-code postcodes: These have multiple codes separated by spaces (e.g., SW1A 1AA 1BB 1CC).
Postal code areas:
Royal Mail postcodes are divided into 124 postcode areas, each identified by a unique outward code. These areas are further divided into smaller sub-areas, identified by the inward code.
Postal code changes:
Royal Mail occasionally updates postcodes to reflect changes in the UK's geographic boundaries or to improve the accuracy of their system. These changes can affect the outward or inward code, or both.
Online tools:
You can use online tools, such as the Royal Mail postcode finder or online mapping services like Google Maps, to look up postcodes and their corresponding locations.