Groundsense

Every councilRanked

Distance to open countryside, km, every council ranked

How far it is from where people live to the edge of their town, 0 for those outside one. A park or field the town closes round counts as town. Figures for 2022, published for 361 councils in the UK. Lowest first: the order says where a council sits, not whether that is good.

Joint lowest: Na h-Eileanan Siar, Ceredigion, Powys and Shetland Islands, 0.1. The council in the middle: Surrey Heath, 0.5. Highest: City of London, 11.2.

Distance to open countryside, km, every council it is published for, lowest first
PlaceCouncilFigure
1 jointNa h-Eileanan SiarScotland0.1
1 jointCeredigionWales0.1
1 jointPowysWales0.1
1 jointShetland IslandsScotland0.1
5 jointGwyneddWales0.2
5 jointMid UlsterNorthern Ireland0.2
5 jointScottish BordersScotland0.2
5 jointWest DevonSouth West0.2
5 jointCotswoldSouth West0.2
5 jointDerbyshire DalesEast Midlands0.2
5 jointOrkney IslandsScotland0.2
5 jointSouth HamsSouth West0.2
5 jointMid DevonSouth West0.2
5 jointMid SuffolkEast of England0.2
5 jointNewry, Mourne and DownNorthern Ireland0.2
5 jointNorth WarwickshireWest Midlands0.2
5 jointBaberghEast of England0.2
5 jointDumfries and GallowayScotland0.2
5 jointForest of DeanSouth West0.2
5 jointIsle of AngleseyWales0.2
5 jointMonmouthshireWales0.2
5 jointRhondda Cynon TafWales0.2
5 jointSouth CambridgeshireEast of England0.2
5 jointSouth NorfolkEast of England0.2
5 jointUttlesfordEast of England0.2
5 jointArgyll and ButeScotland0.2
5 jointCauseway Coast and GlensNorthern Ireland0.2
5 jointNorth NorfolkEast of England0.2
5 jointWest LindseyEast Midlands0.2
5 jointFermanagh and OmaghNorthern Ireland0.2
5 jointRibble ValleyNorth West0.2
5 jointMalvern HillsWest Midlands0.2
5 jointRutlandEast Midlands0.2
5 jointStratford-on-AvonWest Midlands0.2
5 jointAberdeenshireScotland0.2
5 jointEast CambridgeshireEast of England0.2
5 jointNorth East DerbyshireEast Midlands0.2
5 jointNorth KestevenEast Midlands0.2
5 jointRossendaleNorth West0.2
5 jointTewkesburySouth West0.2
5 jointBlaenau GwentWales0.2
5 jointBolsoverEast Midlands0.2
5 jointBrecklandEast of England0.2
5 jointClackmannanshireScotland0.2
5 jointEast LindseyEast Midlands0.2
5 jointMaldonEast of England0.2
5 jointSouth StaffordshireWest Midlands0.2
5 jointStaffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands0.2
5 jointHarboroughEast Midlands0.2
5 jointHigh PeakEast Midlands0.2
5 jointHuntingdonshireEast of England0.2
5 jointPembrokeshireWales0.2
5 jointStirlingScotland0.2
5 jointVale of White HorseSouth East0.2
5 jointWychavonWest Midlands0.2
56 jointCornwallSouth West0.3
56 jointCounty DurhamNorth East0.3
56 jointHighlandScotland0.3
56 jointMorayScotland0.3
56 jointNewark and SherwoodEast Midlands0.3
56 jointSevenoaksSouth East0.3
56 jointSouth HollandEast Midlands0.3
56 jointWiltshireSouth West0.3
56 jointEast AyrshireScotland0.3
56 jointEast HampshireSouth East0.3
56 jointFlintshireWales0.3
56 jointHerefordshireWest Midlands0.3
56 jointKing's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England0.3
56 jointNorth DevonSouth West0.3
56 jointSouth OxfordshireSouth East0.3
56 jointWealdenSouth East0.3
56 jointWest OxfordshireSouth East0.3
56 jointAngusScotland0.3
56 jointEpping ForestEast of England0.3
56 jointNorth YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber0.3
56 jointPerth and KinrossScotland0.3
56 jointShropshireWest Midlands0.3
56 jointStroudSouth West0.3
56 jointTeignbridgeSouth West0.3
56 jointTorridgeSouth West0.3
56 jointBrentwoodEast of England0.3
56 jointMerthyr TydfilWales0.3
56 jointMidlothianScotland0.3
56 jointNorth West LeicestershireEast Midlands0.3
56 jointSomersetSouth West0.3
56 jointTonbridge and MallingSouth East0.3
56 jointAmber ValleyEast Midlands0.3
56 jointHorshamSouth East0.3
56 jointMeltonEast Midlands0.3
56 jointMole ValleySouth East0.3
56 jointSouth KestevenEast Midlands0.3
56 jointWinchesterSouth East0.3
56 jointArmagh City, Banbridge and CraigavonNorthern Ireland0.3
56 jointCarmarthenshireWales0.3
56 jointCumberlandNorth West0.3
56 jointDoverSouth East0.3
56 jointEast DevonSouth West0.3
56 jointEast LothianScotland0.3
56 jointSouth DerbyshireEast Midlands0.3
56 jointWest SuffolkEast of England0.3
56 jointBraintreeEast of England0.3
56 jointCentral BedfordshireEast of England0.3
56 jointLichfieldWest Midlands0.3
56 jointNorthumberlandNorth East0.3
56 jointStaffordWest Midlands0.3
56 jointTest ValleySouth East0.3
56 jointWest BerkshireSouth East0.3
56 jointWrexhamWales0.3
56 jointEast HertfordshireEast of England0.3
56 jointFenlandEast of England0.3
56 jointTandridgeSouth East0.3
56 jointWest LancashireNorth West0.3
56 jointWestmorland and FurnessNorth West0.3
56 jointBassetlawEast Midlands0.3
56 jointCaerphillyWales0.3
56 jointChichesterSouth East0.3
56 jointEast Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber0.3
56 jointBlabyEast Midlands0.3
56 jointHyndburnNorth West0.3
120 jointBarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber0.4
120 jointHartSouth East0.4
120 jointLewesSouth East0.4
120 jointNorth AyrshireScotland0.4
120 jointAshfordSouth East0.4
120 jointBromsgroveWest Midlands0.4
120 jointCherwellSouth East0.4
120 jointDoncasterYorkshire and the Humber0.4
120 jointNew ForestSouth East0.4
120 jointNorth HertfordshireEast of England0.4
120 jointTunbridge WellsSouth East0.4
120 jointWaverleySouth East0.4
120 jointBroadlandEast of England0.4
120 jointBuckinghamshireSouth East0.4
120 jointConwyWales0.4
120 jointDenbighshireWales0.4
120 jointGuildfordSouth East0.4
120 jointNeath Port TalbotWales0.4
120 jointBostonEast Midlands0.4
120 jointBridgendWales0.4
120 jointBroxbourneEast of England0.4
120 jointCalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber0.4
120 jointWest LothianScotland0.4
120 jointCharnwoodEast Midlands0.4
120 jointFifeScotland0.4
120 jointHinckley and BosworthEast Midlands0.4
120 jointMid SussexSouth East0.4
120 jointPendleNorth West0.4
120 jointRushcliffeEast Midlands0.4
120 jointChelmsfordEast of England0.4
120 jointLisburn and CastlereaghNorthern Ireland0.4
120 jointMid and East AntrimNorthern Ireland0.4
120 jointRugbyWest Midlands0.4
120 jointWyre ForestWest Midlands0.4
120 jointDorsetSouth West0.4
120 jointEast StaffordshireWest Midlands0.4
120 jointIsle of WightSouth East0.4
120 jointNorth LanarkshireScotland0.4
120 jointWelwyn HatfieldEast of England0.4
120 jointCheshire EastNorth West0.4
120 jointHertsmereEast of England0.4
120 jointRunnymedeSouth East0.4
120 jointWest DunbartonshireScotland0.4
120 jointCheshire West and ChesterNorth West0.4
120 jointSt AlbansEast of England0.4
120 jointTorfaenWales0.4
120 jointWindsor and MaidenheadSouth East0.4
120 jointAshfieldEast Midlands0.4
120 jointBurnleyNorth West0.4
120 jointEast DunbartonshireScotland0.4
120 jointFalkirkScotland0.4
120 jointLincolnEast Midlands0.4
120 jointRotherSouth East0.4
120 jointWakefieldYorkshire and the Humber0.4
174 jointDacorumEast of England0.5
174 jointLancasterNorth West0.5
174 jointReigate and BansteadSouth East0.5
174 jointRotherhamYorkshire and the Humber0.5
174 jointWarwickWest Midlands0.5
174 jointNorth NorthamptonshireEast Midlands0.5
174 jointSt. HelensNorth West0.5
174 jointSurrey HeathSouth East0.5
174 jointCannock ChaseWest Midlands0.5
174 jointErewashEast Midlands0.5
174 jointNorth LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber0.5
174 jointNuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands0.5
174 jointNorth SomersetSouth West0.5
174 jointBasingstoke and DeaneSouth East0.5
174 jointDerry City and StrabaneNorthern Ireland0.5
174 jointGreat YarmouthEast of England0.5
174 jointBath and North East SomersetSouth West0.5
174 jointMaidstoneSouth East0.5
174 jointBedfordEast of England0.5
174 jointChorleyNorth West0.5
174 jointColchesterEast of England0.5
174 jointInverclydeScotland0.5
174 jointArds and North DownNorthern Ireland0.5
174 jointCanterburySouth East0.5
174 jointRedditchWest Midlands0.5
174 jointWiganNorth West0.5
174 jointBuryNorth West0.5
174 jointSwaleSouth East0.5
174 jointWokinghamSouth East0.5
203 jointEastleighSouth East0.6
203 jointRedcar and ClevelandNorth East0.6
203 jointYorkYorkshire and the Humber0.6
203 jointEast RenfrewshireScotland0.6
203 jointWarringtonNorth West0.6
203 jointWokingSouth East0.6
203 jointEast SuffolkEast of England0.6
203 jointOxfordSouth East0.6
203 jointRochfordEast of England0.6
203 jointTendringEast of England0.6
203 jointWest NorthamptonshireEast Midlands0.6
203 jointBasildonEast of England0.6
203 jointTamworthWest Midlands0.6
203 jointSouth LanarkshireScotland0.6
203 jointFolkestone and HytheSouth East0.6
203 jointSwanseaWales0.6
203 jointArunSouth East0.6
203 jointPeterboroughEast of England0.6
203 jointSloughSouth East0.6
203 jointStockton-on-TeesNorth East0.6
203 jointNewportWales0.6
203 jointSouth AyrshireScotland0.6
203 jointVale of GlamorganWales0.6
203 jointChesterfieldEast Midlands0.6
203 jointMansfieldEast Midlands0.6
228 jointBracknell ForestSouth East0.7
228 jointAntrim and NewtownabbeyNorthern Ireland0.7
228 jointRenfrewshireScotland0.7
228 jointTelford and WrekinWest Midlands0.7
228 jointFarehamSouth East0.7
228 jointFyldeNorth West0.7
228 jointHarlowEast of England0.7
228 jointOadby and WigstonEast Midlands0.7
228 jointSouth GloucestershireSouth West0.7
228 jointWorcesterWest Midlands0.7
228 jointBroxtoweEast Midlands0.7
228 jointNewcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands0.7
228 jointThurrockEast of England0.7
228 jointCrawleySouth East0.7
228 jointDarlingtonNorth East0.7
228 jointHaltonNorth West0.7
244 jointExeterSouth West0.8
244 jointStevenageEast of England0.8
244 jointGloucesterSouth West0.8
244 jointBlackburn with DarwenNorth West0.8
244 jointNorth East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber0.8
244 jointSeftonNorth West0.8
244 jointSpelthorneSouth East0.8
244 jointSouth RibbleNorth West0.8
244 jointGedlingEast Midlands0.8
244 jointKnowsleyNorth West0.8
244 jointReadingSouth East0.8
244 jointSunderlandNorth East0.8
244 jointMedwaySouth East0.8
257 jointGraveshamSouth East0.9
257 jointKirkleesYorkshire and the Humber0.9
257 jointBoltonNorth West0.9
257 jointHaveringLondon0.9
257 jointSwindonSouth West0.9
257 jointBradfordYorkshire and the Humber0.9
257 jointRochdaleNorth West0.9
257 jointLutonEast of England0.9
257 jointDerbyEast Midlands0.9
257 jointPrestonNorth West0.9
267 jointCheltenhamSouth West1.0
267 jointCastle PointEast of England1.0
267 jointWatfordEast of England1.0
267 jointMilton KeynesSouth East1.0
267 jointThree RiversEast of England1.0
267 jointHavantSouth East1.0
267 jointGatesheadNorth East1.0
267 jointRushmoorSouth East1.0
267 jointAdurSouth East1.0
276 jointDartfordSouth East1.1
276 jointIpswichEast of England1.1
276 jointNorwichEast of England1.1
276 jointEastbourneSouth East1.1
276 jointHastingsSouth East1.1
276 jointHartlepoolNorth East1.1
276 jointTorbaySouth West1.1
283 jointStoke-on-TrentWest Midlands1.2
283 jointElmbridgeSouth East1.2
283 jointCambridgeEast of England1.2
283 jointSolihullWest Midlands1.2
283 jointEpsom and EwellSouth East1.2
283 jointBrighton and HoveSouth East1.2
283 jointSouth TynesideNorth East1.2
283 jointAberdeen CityScotland1.2
283 jointLeedsYorkshire and the Humber1.2
292 jointCardiffWales1.3
292 jointSheffieldYorkshire and the Humber1.3
292 jointLeicesterEast Midlands1.3
295 jointTraffordNorth West1.4
295 jointThanetSouth East1.4
295 jointBelfastNorthern Ireland1.4
295 jointPlymouthSouth West1.4
295 jointDundee CityScotland1.4
295 jointNorth TynesideNorth East1.4
295 jointBristolSouth West1.4
295 jointOldhamNorth West1.4
303 jointSouthamptonSouth East1.5
303 jointWalsallWest Midlands1.5
303 jointCoventryWest Midlands1.5
303 jointWorthingSouth East1.5
303 jointWyreNorth West1.5
303 jointKingston upon ThamesLondon1.5
303 jointMiddlesbroughNorth East1.5
303 jointWolverhamptonWest Midlands1.5
311 jointDudleyWest Midlands1.6
311 jointKingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber1.6
311 jointSouthend-on-SeaEast of England1.6
311 jointIsles of ScillySouth West1.6
315 jointEnfieldLondon1.7
315 jointBournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West1.7
317 jointStockportNorth West1.8
317 jointRedbridgeLondon1.8
317 jointSalfordNorth West1.8
317 jointWirralNorth West1.8
317 jointNottinghamEast Midlands1.8
322 jointCity of EdinburghScotland1.9
322 jointTamesideNorth West1.9
324 jointNewcastle upon TyneNorth East2.0
324 jointBlackpoolNorth West2.0
324 jointGlasgow CityScotland2.0
324 jointHillingdonLondon2.0
328BromleyLondon2.2
329BarnetLondon2.3
330Richmond upon ThamesLondon2.4
331BexleyLondon2.6
332PortsmouthSouth East2.8
333LiverpoolNorth West3.0
334 jointGosportSouth East3.1
334 jointMertonLondon3.1
336 jointWandsworthLondon3.2
336 jointCroydonLondon3.2
338 jointHarrowLondon3.3
338 jointWaltham ForestLondon3.3
340 jointBirminghamWest Midlands3.5
340 jointBarking and DagenhamLondon3.5
342HounslowLondon4.1
343SandwellWest Midlands4.2
344 jointManchesterNorth West4.3
344 jointHammersmith and FulhamLondon4.3
346SuttonLondon4.6
347HaringeyLondon4.8
348Kensington and ChelseaLondon5.8
349EalingLondon6.2
350NewhamLondon7.0
351 jointBrentLondon7.2
351 jointGreenwichLondon7.2
351 jointLambethLondon7.2
354LewishamLondon7.4
355HackneyLondon7.6
356WestminsterLondon8.0
357CamdenLondon8.6
358IslingtonLondon8.9
359SouthwarkLondon10.3
360Tower HamletsLondon10.6
361City of LondonLondon11.2

ONS, Built Up Areas (2022), Great Britain; NISRA, Settlement Development Limits 2015; ONS, Local Authority Districts (May 2026) Boundaries UK BGC, for where the land ends, read at every census area · 2022 · fetched 27 October 2026 · How this is measured

Weighing up two or three of these places?

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