Groundsense

Every councilRanked

Distance to the nearest public library, km, every council ranked

Measured in a straight line from where people live and averaged, to the nearest static library open at the last count, run by the council or the community. Mobile libraries are not counted. Figures for October 2026, published for 307 councils in England and Northern Ireland. Lowest first: the order says where a council sits, not whether that is good.

Lowest: City of London, 0.3. The council in the middle: Reigate and Banstead, 1.4. Highest: Isles of Scilly, 50.4.

Distance to the nearest public library, km, every council it is published for, lowest first
PlaceCouncilFigure
1City of LondonLondon0.3
2 jointIslingtonLondon0.5
2 jointWestminsterLondon0.5
2 jointCamdenLondon0.5
5 jointKensington and ChelseaLondon0.6
5 jointHackneyLondon0.6
5 jointSouthwarkLondon0.6
8 jointTower HamletsLondon0.7
8 jointWandsworthLondon0.7
8 jointHammersmith and FulhamLondon0.7
8 jointWaltham ForestLondon0.7
8 jointHaringeyLondon0.7
8 jointNewhamLondon0.7
8 jointBristolSouth West0.7
8 jointRichmond upon ThamesLondon0.7
8 jointEnfieldLondon0.7
8 jointLambethLondon0.7
18 jointLewishamLondon0.8
18 jointEalingLondon0.8
18 jointGreenwichLondon0.8
18 jointHounslowLondon0.8
18 jointPortsmouthSouth East0.8
18 jointSandwellWest Midlands0.8
18 jointBlabyEast Midlands0.8
18 jointLeicesterEast Midlands0.8
18 jointNottinghamEast Midlands0.8
18 jointKingston upon ThamesLondon0.8
18 jointMertonLondon0.8
18 jointMiddlesbroughNorth East0.8
18 jointRedbridgeLondon0.8
18 jointWolverhamptonWest Midlands0.8
18 jointBexleyLondon0.8
18 jointBrentLondon0.8
18 jointRochdaleNorth West0.8
18 jointSouthamptonSouth East0.8
36 jointCoventryWest Midlands0.9
36 jointGraveshamSouth East0.9
36 jointIpswichEast of England0.9
36 jointDartfordSouth East0.9
36 jointDerbyEast Midlands0.9
36 jointHillingdonLondon0.9
36 jointSalfordNorth West0.9
36 jointGatesheadNorth East0.9
36 jointGedlingEast Midlands0.9
36 jointManchesterNorth West0.9
36 jointNewcastle upon TyneNorth East0.9
36 jointBarnetLondon0.9
36 jointSuttonLondon0.9
36 jointAdurSouth East0.9
36 jointBlackpoolNorth West0.9
36 jointBracknell ForestSouth East0.9
36 jointNorwichEast of England0.9
36 jointBarking and DagenhamLondon0.9
36 jointBelfastNorthern Ireland0.9
36 jointCambridgeEast of England0.9
36 jointHarlowEast of England0.9
36 jointLutonEast of England0.9
36 jointPendleNorth West0.9
36 jointTraffordNorth West0.9
36 jointBournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West0.9
36 jointGloucesterSouth West0.9
36 jointOadby and WigstonEast Midlands0.9
36 jointReadingSouth East0.9
36 jointStockportNorth West0.9
36 jointAshfieldEast Midlands0.9
36 jointCheltenhamSouth West0.9
36 jointEpsom and EwellSouth East0.9
36 jointLiverpoolNorth West0.9
36 jointThanetSouth East0.9
70 jointBrighton and HoveSouth East1.0
70 jointHartlepoolNorth East1.0
70 jointNorth TynesideNorth East1.0
70 jointHarrowLondon1.0
70 jointHaveringLondon1.0
70 jointKingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber1.0
70 jointOxfordSouth East1.0
70 jointSouthend-on-SeaEast of England1.0
70 jointWorthingSouth East1.0
70 jointGosportSouth East1.0
70 jointYorkYorkshire and the Humber1.0
70 jointBroxtoweEast Midlands1.0
70 jointLincolnEast Midlands1.0
70 jointWirralNorth West1.0
70 jointThurrockEast of England1.0
70 jointBirminghamWest Midlands1.0
70 jointPlymouthSouth West1.0
70 jointSpelthorneSouth East1.0
70 jointDudleyWest Midlands1.0
70 jointSheffieldYorkshire and the Humber1.0
70 jointSloughSouth East1.0
70 jointTamesideNorth West1.0
70 jointWarringtonNorth West1.0
70 jointWindsor and MaidenheadSouth East1.0
94 jointCastle PointEast of England1.1
94 jointHyndburnNorth West1.1
94 jointOldhamNorth West1.1
94 jointBromleyLondon1.1
94 jointBurnleyNorth West1.1
94 jointRunnymedeSouth East1.1
94 jointCannock ChaseWest Midlands1.1
94 jointCroydonLondon1.1
94 jointDoncasterYorkshire and the Humber1.1
94 jointSwindonSouth West1.1
94 jointBasildonEast of England1.1
94 jointLeedsYorkshire and the Humber1.1
94 jointEastbourneSouth East1.1
94 jointElmbridgeSouth East1.1
94 jointEastleighSouth East1.1
94 jointSolihullWest Midlands1.1
94 jointSouth TynesideNorth East1.1
94 jointTamworthWest Midlands1.1
94 jointThree RiversEast of England1.1
94 jointWokingSouth East1.1
94 jointWokinghamSouth East1.1
115 jointMansfieldEast Midlands1.2
115 jointMedwaySouth East1.2
115 jointWatfordEast of England1.2
115 jointHastingsSouth East1.2
115 jointRedcar and ClevelandNorth East1.2
115 jointBarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber1.2
115 jointBradfordYorkshire and the Humber1.2
115 jointWelwyn HatfieldEast of England1.2
115 jointPrestonNorth West1.2
115 jointBath and North East SomersetSouth West1.2
115 jointKnowsleyNorth West1.2
115 jointSouth RibbleNorth West1.2
115 jointCharnwoodEast Midlands1.2
115 jointRochfordEast of England1.2
115 jointRotherhamYorkshire and the Humber1.2
115 jointStockton-on-TeesNorth East1.2
115 jointKirkleesYorkshire and the Humber1.2
115 jointWiganNorth West1.2
115 jointWalsallWest Midlands1.2
134 jointSouth GloucestershireSouth West1.3
134 jointPeterboroughEast of England1.3
134 jointBolsoverEast Midlands1.3
134 jointTonbridge and MallingSouth East1.3
134 jointHertsmereEast of England1.3
134 jointBlackburn with DarwenNorth West1.3
134 jointCalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber1.3
134 jointTunbridge WellsSouth East1.3
134 jointHavantSouth East1.3
134 jointNorth East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber1.3
134 jointTelford and WrekinWest Midlands1.3
134 jointBroxbourneEast of England1.3
134 jointChesterfieldEast Midlands1.3
134 jointNuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands1.3
134 jointRossendaleNorth West1.3
134 jointStoke-on-TrentWest Midlands1.3
150 jointBoltonNorth West1.4
150 jointFyldeNorth West1.4
150 jointTorbaySouth West1.4
150 jointChelmsfordEast of England1.4
150 jointReigate and BansteadSouth East1.4
150 jointWorcesterWest Midlands1.4
150 jointHinckley and BosworthEast Midlands1.4
150 jointFarehamSouth East1.4
150 jointSt AlbansEast of England1.4
150 jointNorth SomersetSouth West1.4
150 jointWakefieldYorkshire and the Humber1.4
150 jointNewark and SherwoodEast Midlands1.4
150 jointWarwickWest Midlands1.4
150 jointChorleyNorth West1.4
150 jointExeterSouth West1.4
165 jointBromsgroveWest Midlands1.5
165 jointIsle of WightSouth East1.5
165 jointSevenoaksSouth East1.5
165 jointBuryNorth West1.5
165 jointEpping ForestEast of England1.5
165 jointMaidstoneSouth East1.5
165 jointSouth StaffordshireWest Midlands1.5
165 jointSt. HelensNorth West1.5
165 jointHaltonNorth West1.5
165 jointCheshire West and ChesterNorth West1.5
165 jointDacorumEast of England1.5
165 jointRushmoorSouth East1.5
165 jointRushcliffeEast Midlands1.5
178 jointErewashEast Midlands1.6
178 jointNewcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands1.6
178 jointHigh PeakEast Midlands1.6
178 jointLewesSouth East1.6
178 jointSurrey HeathSouth East1.6
178 jointBraintreeEast of England1.6
178 jointCrawleySouth East1.6
178 jointCounty DurhamNorth East1.6
178 jointWyreNorth West1.6
187 jointSouth OxfordshireSouth East1.7
187 jointArunSouth East1.7
187 jointLancasterNorth West1.7
187 jointFolkestone and HytheSouth East1.7
187 jointAmber ValleyEast Midlands1.7
187 jointMilton KeynesSouth East1.7
187 jointTewkesburySouth West1.7
187 jointWyre ForestWest Midlands1.7
187 jointAntrim and NewtownabbeyNorthern Ireland1.7
187 jointCanterburySouth East1.7
187 jointNorth West LeicestershireEast Midlands1.7
187 jointSeftonNorth West1.7
187 jointSwaleSouth East1.7
200 jointTendringEast of England1.8
200 jointCentral BedfordshireEast of England1.8
200 jointColchesterEast of England1.8
200 jointNorth East DerbyshireEast Midlands1.8
200 jointTeignbridgeSouth West1.8
200 jointBuckinghamshireSouth East1.8
200 jointNorth HertfordshireEast of England1.8
200 jointStroudSouth West1.8
200 jointStevenageEast of England1.8
200 jointRedditchWest Midlands1.8
200 jointWest OxfordshireSouth East1.8
200 jointBassetlawEast Midlands1.8
200 jointBrentwoodEast of England1.8
200 jointNorth LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber1.8
200 jointStaffordWest Midlands1.8
200 jointCheshire EastNorth West1.8
200 jointTandridgeSouth East1.8
217 jointSunderlandNorth East1.9
217 jointWest NorthamptonshireEast Midlands1.9
217 jointNorth WarwickshireWest Midlands1.9
217 jointSouth CambridgeshireEast of England1.9
221 jointMid SussexSouth East2.0
221 jointNorth NorthamptonshireEast Midlands2.0
221 jointBasingstoke and DeaneSouth East2.0
221 jointBroadlandEast of England2.0
221 jointWest BerkshireSouth East2.0
221 jointWest LancashireNorth West2.0
221 jointDarlingtonNorth East2.0
228 jointDoverSouth East2.1
228 jointHorshamSouth East2.1
228 jointCherwellSouth East2.1
228 jointEast HertfordshireEast of England2.1
228 jointHartSouth East2.1
228 jointMole ValleySouth East2.1
228 jointHuntingdonshireEast of England2.1
228 jointEast SuffolkEast of England2.1
228 jointFenlandEast of England2.1
228 jointBedfordEast of England2.1
228 jointDorsetSouth West2.1
228 jointEast CambridgeshireEast of England2.1
228 jointEast DevonSouth West2.1
228 jointRibble ValleyNorth West2.1
228 jointCumberlandNorth West2.1
243 jointWestmorland and FurnessNorth West2.2
243 jointLichfieldWest Midlands2.2
243 jointNorthumberlandNorth East2.2
243 jointWiltshireSouth West2.2
243 jointSouth DerbyshireEast Midlands2.2
243 jointEast Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber2.2
243 jointWest SuffolkEast of England2.2
250 jointSouth HollandEast Midlands2.3
250 jointHarboroughEast Midlands2.3
250 jointNew ForestSouth East2.3
250 jointWealdenSouth East2.3
250 jointGuildfordSouth East2.3
250 jointRugbyWest Midlands2.3
250 jointNorth KestevenEast Midlands2.3
250 jointWaverleySouth East2.3
250 jointSomersetSouth West2.3
250 jointStaffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands2.3
250 jointMaldonEast of England2.3
250 jointAshfordSouth East2.3
262 jointGreat YarmouthEast of England2.4
262 jointBostonEast Midlands2.4
262 jointLisburn and CastlereaghNorthern Ireland2.4
265 jointSouth NorfolkEast of England2.5
265 jointStratford-on-AvonWest Midlands2.5
265 jointChichesterSouth East2.5
265 jointMid and East AntrimNorthern Ireland2.5
265 jointVale of White HorseSouth East2.5
265 jointBaberghEast of England2.5
271 jointWinchesterSouth East2.6
271 jointNorth DevonSouth West2.6
273 jointEast StaffordshireWest Midlands2.7
273 jointNorth YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber2.7
273 jointDerry City and StrabaneNorthern Ireland2.7
276 jointArds and North DownNorthern Ireland2.8
276 jointArmagh City, Banbridge and CraigavonNorthern Ireland2.8
276 jointCornwallSouth West2.8
276 jointShropshireWest Midlands2.8
276 jointForest of DeanSouth West2.8
276 jointWest LindseyEast Midlands2.8
276 jointWychavonWest Midlands2.8
276 jointRutlandEast Midlands2.8
284 jointCotswoldSouth West2.9
284 jointNorth NorfolkEast of England2.9
284 jointTest ValleySouth East2.9
284 jointMalvern HillsWest Midlands2.9
284 jointSouth HamsSouth West2.9
284 jointSouth KestevenEast Midlands2.9
290 jointUttlesfordEast of England3.0
290 jointEast HampshireSouth East3.0
292Mid DevonSouth West3.2
293 jointMid SuffolkEast of England3.3
293 jointEast LindseyEast Midlands3.3
293 jointRotherSouth East3.3
293 jointMeltonEast Midlands3.3
293 jointDerbyshire DalesEast Midlands3.3
298 jointBrecklandEast of England3.4
298 jointNewry, Mourne and DownNorthern Ireland3.4
298 jointHerefordshireWest Midlands3.4
301Causeway Coast and GlensNorthern Ireland3.6
302TorridgeSouth West3.8
303West DevonSouth West4.6
304King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England4.7
305Mid UlsterNorthern Ireland4.8
306Fermanagh and OmaghNorthern Ireland6.4
307Isles of ScillySouth West50.4

Not in this list

  • Scotland. Scotland's list of libraries, on the Spatial Hub, is not read yet.
  • Wales. Wales has no national list of where its public libraries are.

Arts Council England, English Public Libraries Location Dataset 2024; Libraries NI, Library locations in Northern Ireland (OpenDataNI), read at every census area · October 2026 · fetched 27 October 2026 · How this is measured

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