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RG postcode area
RG postcode area
RG postcode area
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Template:Attached KML/RG postcode area
KML is from Wikidata

The RG postcode area, also known as the Reading postcode area,[2] is a group of thirty postcode districts in England, within twelve post towns. These cover west and central Berkshire (including Reading, Bracknell, Crowthorne, Hungerford, Newbury, Thatcham and Wokingham) and north Hampshire (including Basingstoke, Hook, Tadley and Whitchurch), plus a small part of south-east Oxfordshire (including Henley-on-Thames) and very small parts of Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire.

Key Information

Mail for the area is sorted at the Thames Valley Mail Centre in Swindon, having been sorted at the Reading Mail Centre until its closure in 2010.

The original RG3 district for west Reading was recoded to RG30 and RG31 in January 1995, due to the rise in population in that area.[3] In the same year, the original RG11 district for Wokingham and Crowthorne was recoded to RG40, RG41 and RG45, while the northern part of the RG12 district for Bracknell was recoded to RG42. Hungerford and Thatcham was also separated from the Newbury-dependent RG15 and RG16 postcodes, subsequently being recoded into RG17 and RG18-19, respectively, thus reducing the extent of the Newbury postal town to RG14 and RG20. RG26-29 ceased to be dependent on the Basingstoke postal town as the areas the postcodes represent were assigned new postal towns.[4]

Coverage

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The approximate coverage of the postcode districts:

Postcode district Post town Coverage Local authority area(s)
RG1 READING Katesgrove, Newtown, Reading (central) Reading
RG2 READING Madejski Stadium, Whitley, Shinfield, Arborfield Garrison, Arborfield, Green Park Village Reading, Wokingham
RG4 READING Caversham, Sonning, Sonning Common, Kidmore End, Sonning Eye, Dunsden Green, Mapledurham, Chazey Heath, Tokers Green, Chalkhouse Green, Cane End Reading, South Oxfordshire, Wokingham
RG5 READING Woodley Wokingham
RG6 READING Earley Wokingham, Reading
RG7 READING Aldermaston, Beenham, Bradfield, Burghfield Common, Riseley, Silchester, Mortimer, Swallowfield, Theale, Woolhampton West Berkshire, Basingstoke and Deane, Wokingham
RG8 READING Goring, Streatley, Pangbourne, Whitchurch-on-Thames South Oxfordshire, West Berkshire
RG9 HENLEY-ON-THAMES Henley-on-Thames, Hambleden, Rotherfield Peppard, Turville, Turville Heath, Skirmett, Rockwell End, Mill End, Fawley, Fingest, Frieth, Greenlands, Nettlebed, Shiplake South Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire
RG10 READING Charvil, Hurst, Ruscombe, Twyford, Wargrave, Waltham St Lawrence Wokingham, Windsor and Maidenhead
RG12 BRACKNELL Bracknell (south and town centre), Easthampstead, Bullbrook Bracknell Forest
RG14 NEWBURY Newbury (whole town area) West Berkshire
RG17 HUNGERFORD Chilton Foliat, Eastbury, Eddington, Kintbury, Hungerford, Inkpen, Lambourn, North Wessex Downs AONB area West Berkshire, Wiltshire, Vale of White Horse
RG18 THATCHAM Hampstead Norreys, Hermitage, Thatcham (north), Yattendon West Berkshire
RG19 THATCHAM Ashford Hill with Headley, Bishop's Green, Greenham, Thatcham (south) West Berkshire, Basingstoke and Deane
RG20 NEWBURY Ashmansworth, Chieveley, Compton, Ecchinswell, Leckhampstead, Highclere, Kingsclere, Sydmonton West Berkshire, Basingstoke and Deane
RG21 BASINGSTOKE Town Centre, Eastrop, Black Dam, Oakridge, South View Basingstoke and Deane
RG22 BASINGSTOKE South Ham, Brighton Hill, Kempshott, Buckskin, Beggarwood Basingstoke and Deane
RG23 BASINGSTOKE Winklebury, Rooksdown, Oakley Basingstoke and Deane
RG24 BASINGSTOKE Popley, Chineham, Sherborne St John Basingstoke and Deane
RG25 BASINGSTOKE Cliddesden, Dummer, Overton, North Waltham Basingstoke and Deane
RG26 TADLEY Baughurst, Bramley, Brimpton Common, Hannington, Pamber End, Pamber Heath, Tadley Basingstoke and Deane, West Berkshire
RG27 HOOK Hook, Sherfield-on-Loddon, Stratfield Turgis, Turgis Green Basingstoke and Deane, Hart
RG28 WHITCHURCH Laverstoke, Litchfield, Hurstbourne Priors, Whitchurch (Hants) Basingstoke and Deane, Test Valley
RG29 HOOK Long Sutton, Odiham, North Warnborough, South Warnborough Hart
RG30 READING Tilehurst (east), Prospect Park, Burghfield village, West Reading, Southcote Reading, West Berkshire
RG31 READING Calcot, Tilehurst (west) Reading, West Berkshire
RG40 WOKINGHAM Wokingham (east and town centre), Finchampstead, Barkham (south), Wick Hill Wokingham, Bracknell Forest
RG41 WOKINGHAM Wokingham (west), Winnersh, Woosehill, Barkham (north), Sindlesham, Emmbrook, Eastheath Wokingham
RG42 BRACKNELL Bracknell (north), Binfield, Warfield, Newell Green, Popeswood, Priestwood, Winkfield Row, Jealott's Hill Bracknell Forest
RG45 CROWTHORNE Crowthorne, Ravenswood Bracknell Forest, Wokingham

Map

[edit]
KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/RG postcode area
KML is from Wikidata
RG postcode area map, showing postcode districts, post towns and neighbouring postcode areas.GL postcode areaGU postcode areaHP postcode areaOX postcode areaOX postcode areaOX postcode areaSL postcode areaSN postcode areaSO postcode areaSP postcode area
RG postcode area map, showing postcode districts in red and post towns in grey text, with links to nearby GU, HP, OX, SL, SN, SO and SP postcode areas.

See also

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References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

RG postcode area

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The RG postcode area, also known as the Reading postcode area, is a postal region in the comprising 30 postcode districts that serve as subdivisions of 12 post towns in south-east . This area primarily encompasses the town of Reading and adjacent locales across the ceremonial counties of (approximately 70% of the area), (22%), and (7%), with minor extensions into and , and a population of approximately 779,000 as of 2021. The 30 postcode districts (RG1–RG10, RG12, and RG14–RG45, excluding unused numbers) are grouped under the post towns of , , , , , , Newbury, Reading, , , Whitchurch, and , facilitating mail distribution across urban centres like Reading—a key hub in the —and rural villages such as Goring and . Established as part of the UK's alphanumeric postcode system introduced by the (now ) in the late 1950s and fully implemented by 1974, the RG area supports efficient addressing for approximately 23,000 live postcodes as of 2023, reflecting its blend of commercial, residential, and agricultural zones.

Overview

Introduction

The RG postcode area, also known as the Reading postcode area, is a postal region in comprising 30 postcode districts that serve as subdivisions of 12 post towns. This area forms part of the broader alphanumeric postcode system used for mail sorting and delivery across the . Reading serves as the primary hub and namesake for the RG area, centering postal operations and reflecting its historical and administrative significance in the region. Operated under the Royal Mail service, the RG postcode area facilitates efficient mail distribution and is bordered by adjacent areas including GU (Guildford), HP (Hemel Hempstead), and OX (Oxford). It covers approximately 1,945 square kilometers, encompassing a mix of urban and rural locales primarily in Berkshire and neighboring counties.

Geographic Extent

The RG postcode area primarily encompasses west and central , accounting for approximately 70% of its territorial coverage, along with north (about 22%), south-east (roughly 7%), and minor portions of (0.6%) and (0.1%). This distribution reflects the area's alignment with boundaries while extending across regional lines to facilitate postal delivery efficiency. The total area spans roughly 751 square miles, with dimensions reaching up to 41 miles east-west and 34 miles north-south, forming a compact yet diverse geographic footprint in south-east England. Key boundary points define its extent: the northern edge aligns closely with the border, incorporating rural fringes near the River Thames; the southern reach extends into northern , bordering areas around ; the eastern limits curve around , incorporating suburban expansions; and the western extent reaches along the Kennet Valley, nearing the edge. These boundaries create a perimeter of approximately 182 miles, enclosing a mix of landscapes from the North Wessex Downs to lowland valleys. The area includes major urban centers such as Reading, serving as the administrative and economic hub with significant built-up density, and , a key in with strong transport links. In contrast, rural expanses predominate around Newbury, where agricultural and low-density settlements characterize much of the terrain, including parts of the . This blend supports both urban postal volumes and dispersed rural delivery needs. The RG area interfaces with adjacent postcode regions, notably bordering to the north along Oxfordshire's southern periphery, SO to the south in Hampshire's northern districts, and others including GU to the east, SN to the west, and SP southwest, ensuring seamless transitions in the national postal network.

Postcode Districts

Districts and Post Towns

The RG postcode area encompasses 30 postcode districts distributed across 12 s, as designated by to facilitate efficient mail routing and delivery. In the United Kingdom's postcode system, each district is assigned to a specific , which serves as the primary delivery hub and must be included in postal addresses; this assignment is based on operational needs rather than strict geographic proximity, per guidelines. The districts are non-sequential, with notable gaps such as RG3, RG11, RG13, RG15, and RG16, stemming from the system's developmental history. Below is a comprehensive grouping of the districts by post town:
Post TownPostcode Districts
BasingstokeRG21, RG22, RG23, RG24, RG25
BracknellRG12, RG42
CrowthorneRG45
Henley-on-ThamesRG9
HookRG27, RG29
HungerfordRG17
NewburyRG14, RG20
ReadingRG1, RG2, RG4, RG5, RG6, RG7, RG8, RG10, RG30, RG31
TadleyRG26
ThatchamRG18, RG19
WhitchurchRG28
WokinghamRG40, RG41

District Characteristics

The RG postcode area features a diverse mix of urban, suburban, and rural districts, reflecting the varied landscapes across , north , and parts of . Urban districts such as RG1–RG2 and RG4–RG10 primarily cover central Reading, where high population densities support commercial hubs, residential neighborhoods, and transport infrastructure in a predominantly urban environment classified by for National Statistics as Urban (2021 Rural Urban Classification). Similarly, RG12 and RG42 encompass urban areas in , including the town center and surrounding developed zones, also designated as Urban (2021). In north , RG21–RG24 serve Basingstoke's suburbs, featuring residential estates and integrated into the town's environment classified as Intermediate urban (2021). In contrast, rural and suburban districts include RG17 and RG20, which extend to the outskirts of and Newbury in , an area classified as Intermediate rural (2021), incorporating open countryside, farmland, and sparse settlements. RG26–RG29 cover villages like , , and Whitchurch, characterized by low-density , agricultural , and commuter access to nearby towns. Further east, RG40–RG41 and RG45 form the commuter belts around and , blending suburban developments with green spaces in a predominantly urban that includes smaller rural hamlets. Notable features distinguish certain districts: RG9–RG10 highlight Henley-on-Thames, a historic riverside location along the River Thames, known for its boating heritage and scenic floodplains. RG14 centers on Newbury, a traditional with weekly markets and commercial focus amid surrounding countryside. RG18–RG19 edge Thatcham, where agricultural fields and nature reserves border suburban growth, supporting farming and wildlife habitats. Districts vary in size, with compact urban zones like RG30 focused on Reading's industrial and logistics sites, while expansive rural areas like RG20 span the broader environs of Newbury, including villages and farmland.

History

Establishment

The United Kingdom's postcode system was developed in response to surging mail volumes after , driven by population growth and increased correspondence, which overwhelmed manual sorting processes at the . To enable mechanized sorting, trials of an alphanumeric coding scheme began in in 1959, using a six-character format to direct mail more efficiently through early letter-sorting machines. The national rollout started in 1966 with as the first full implementation, progressing area by area over eight years until completion in 1974, when even was recoded to the standardized format. As part of this alphabetic postcode framework, where the initial letters denoted major head post offices, the RG area was established in the early during the modernization of the postal network, centered on Reading in as the primary . The designation "RG" derives directly from Reading, reflecting its role as the key sorting hub for the region. Initial districts were set up to cover the core urban area of Reading with RG1 through RG10, facilitating precise local delivery within the town's expanding boundaries. Subsequent early expansions incorporated nearby towns in the to address post-war demographic shifts and suburban development, including Newbury as RG14 and starting with RG21, thereby streamlining mail distribution across a growing population corridor. This foundational structure aimed to boost sorting efficiency in an area experiencing rapid , reducing delivery times amid the region's economic and residential boom following the war.

Recoding and Changes

In 1995, the Royal Mail undertook significant recoding within the RG postcode area to accommodate and urban expansion in key regions. The original RG3 district covering west Reading was split into RG30 and RG31 to better manage the increasing volume of mail in that expanding . Similarly, the former RG11 district, which served and , was reassigned and subdivided into RG40, , and RG45 to reflect refined local boundaries and improve sorting efficiency. In the same year, the northern part of the existing RG12 district for was recoded to the new district. Additionally, and were separated from the Newbury post town's RG15 and RG16 districts, recoded to RG17 and RG19 respectively; the villages of Ramsdell, Pamber End, , and southern Bramley (previously RG26–RG28 under ) were recoded to the new post town. The district for and surrounding villages was also introduced to facilitate more precise mail delivery in that rural-urban fringe. Boundary adjustments continued to evolve in response to suburban development, with further refinements to support local growth. A notable operational change occurred in 2009, when bulk for the RG area shifted from the Reading Mail Centre to the new [Thames Valley](/page/Thames Valley) Mail Centre in , as part of Royal Mail's modernization efforts to consolidate processing at larger facilities. This relocation impacted local processing times and logistics but aimed to enhance overall efficiency across the region.

Administration

Postal Operations

The postal operations for the RG postcode area are managed through a combination of regional sorting facilities and local delivery infrastructure operated by . Inbound and outbound mail sorting for the area has been handled at the Mail Centre in since the closure of the Reading Mail Centre in 2009, with full transfer of operations completed by 2010 to streamline national processing efficiency. Local delivery is coordinated primarily through the Reading Delivery Office, which serves core districts including RG1 through RG10 and surrounding areas in and around Reading. Secondary delivery offices support outer districts, such as the Delivery Office for RG21–RG24, the Newbury Delivery Office for RG14 and RG20, and the Delivery Office for RG12 and RG42. These offices handle final sorting, outbound collections, and inbound distributions to ensure timely local delivery across the area's diverse urban and rural locales. The postcode structure in the RG area follows the national format, where each district (e.g., RG1 for central Reading) is subdivided into sectors denoted by an additional numeric digit, such as RG1 1 for the central Reading sector, facilitating precise routing and delivery planning. This sector-level division enables efficient mechanized sorting at both regional and local levels. Integration with Royal Mail's national systems supports bulk mail handling and address accuracy specific to the RG area. Bulk mailings utilize presorting services like Mailsort, which allow customers to sort items by postcode prior to handover, qualifying for discounted rates based on volume and sortation level. Address management relies on the (PAF), Royal Mail's authoritative database containing over 32 million addresses and 1.8 million postcodes, ensuring verification and updates for RG-area mailings to maintain delivery reliability.

Statistics and Coverage Data

The RG postcode area comprises 30 postcode districts and 143 postcode sectors, encompassing 23,295 live postcodes and a total of 46,554 postcodes when including terminated ones. These figures reflect the area's extensive postal infrastructure, supporting delivery to residential, commercial, and non-geographic addresses across its geographic spread in southern England. The population served by the RG postcode area is estimated at approximately 800,000 residents based on 2011 Census data aggregated across the covered local authority districts, such as Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire, and Basingstoke and Deane. More recent estimates indicate growth to around 907,000 residents as of 2024, driven by urban expansion and commuter trends in the region. Coverage density varies significantly, with urban districts like those in Reading (e.g., RG1 and RG2) and (e.g., RG21 and RG22) featuring over 700 postcode units per district due to high residential and business concentrations. In contrast, rural districts such as RG17 ( and surrounding areas) and RG28 () have fewer than 400 units per district, reflecting sparser settlement patterns. The overall stands at about 537 residents per square kilometer as of 2024. Updates from the 2021 Census highlight population shifts, including a 15% increase in (encompassing commuter district RG40) from 154,380 to 177,500 residents between 2011 and 2021, attributed in part to post-Brexit migration patterns and remote work trends following COVID-19. This growth exceeds the national average of 6.3% for over the same period.

References

  1. https://www.ukpostcode.co.uk/RG-area.htm
  2. https://www.streetlist.co.uk/rg/
  3. https://www.geostats.co.uk/postcode/rg
  4. https://www.gbmaps.com/4-digit-postcode-maps/rg-reading-postcode-map.html
  5. https://ideal-postcodes.co.uk/guides/postcode-areas
  6. https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode
  7. https://docs.ideal-postcodes.co.uk/docs/data/paf
  8. https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/geographicalproducts/ruralurbanclassifications/2021ruralurbanclassification
  9. https://www.westberks.gov.uk/article/40866/Your-district-in-facts-and-figures
  10. https://www.postalmuseum.org/blog/why-do-we-have-postcodes/
  11. https://www.postalmuseum.org/collections/postcodes/
  12. https://www.centralmailing.co.uk/blog/royal-mail-is-celebrating-40-years-since-the-introduction-of-post-codes/
  13. https://landofmaps.com/rg-postcode-area-map/
  14. https://www.poweredbypaf.com/the-history-of-uk-postcodes/
  15. https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/last-post-400-royal-mail-4252631
  16. https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/community/viewtopic.php?t=33883
  17. https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4188344.royal-mail-gets-set-move-sorting-swindon/
  18. https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/2322288.mail-move-is-all-sorted/
  19. https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you/delivery-office/reading-delivery-office-rg2-0bs
  20. https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you/delivery-office/basingstoke-delivery-office-rg24-9aa
  21. https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you/delivery-office/newbury-delivery-office-rg14-5bs
  22. https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you/delivery-office/bracknell-delivery-office-rg12-1gj
  23. https://www.royalmailtechnical.com/rmt_docs/User_Guides_2024/Sorting_15032024.pdf
  24. https://www.poweredbypaf.com/
  25. https://www.plumplot.co.uk/Reading-population.html
  26. https://www.plumplot.co.uk/Reading-population-changes.html
  27. https://osm.mathmos.net/addresses/pc-stats/RG/
  28. https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censuspopulationchange/E06000041/
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