UK Address Format Guide
Complete guide to Royal Mail address formatting, Post Towns, and postcodes.
A standard UK address formatted for Royal Mail includes Building Name/Number and Street (Line 1), Locality (Line 2, optional), POST TOWN in capital letters, and the alphanumeric UK Postcode (e.g. SW1A 1AA). Counties are no longer required by Royal Mail.
✓ Key Rules at a Glance
- Line 1: House Number + Street Name OR Building Name (e.g., 10 Downing Street).
- Line 2: Locality / Suburb (optional, e.g., Mayfair).
- Town/City: Official Royal Mail Post Town (e.g., LONDON, MANCHESTER).
- County: Optional — Royal Mail sorting automation ignores county lines.
- Postcode: Outward + Inward code with a space (e.g., SW1A 2AA, M1 1AG).
Online Store Logistics
100 Fulfillment Way
Seattle, WA 98101
Destination Address
Oliver Brown
221B Baker Street
LONDON, NW1 6XE
UNITED KINGDOM
Royal Mail Standard UK Address Components
Royal Mail automated sorting equipment reads UK addresses from the bottom up. The essential elements are:
[Recipient Name][House Number and Street Name][POST TOWN] (in CAPITAL letters)[POSTCODE]
Post Town vs County: What Is Required?
Royal Mail officially turned off traditional county validation in 2010. Including a County (like Yorkshire or Surrey) is strictly optional. The official Post Town combined with the Postcode provides 100% accurate routing.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include the County in a UK address?
No! Royal Mail officially turned off county validation in 2010. Postcode and Post Town are all that's required.
Where do I put a named house without a street number?
Put the house name on Line 1 (e.g., 'Meadow View') and the street name on Line 2 (e.g., 'Church Lane').
Check Country-Specific Address Rules
Select a country to view official postal line layouts, required fields, and postcode formats:
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