TW postcode area
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The TW postcode area, also known as the Twickenham postcode area,[2] is a group of twenty postcode districts in south-east England, within thirteen post towns. These cover parts of south-west London and north-west Surrey, plus a very small part of Berkshire.
Key Information
Mail for this area is sorted at the Jubilee Mail Centre, Hounslow,[n 1] and the area served includes most of the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Hounslow, the southernmost part of the London Borough of Hillingdon (including Heathrow Airport) and very small parts of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. In Surrey it covers virtually all of the borough of Spelthorne, the northern part of the borough of Runnymede and very small parts of the borough of Elmbridge, and in Berkshire it covers the village of Wraysbury in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Coverage
[edit]The coverage of the postcode districts, naming all localities[n 2] :
| Postcode district | Post town | Coverage | Local authority area(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TW1 | TWICKENHAM | Twickenham, St. Margarets, Strawberry Hill (east) | Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow |
| TW2 | TWICKENHAM | Twickenham (west)[n 3], Whitton, Strawberry Hill (west), Fulwell (north) | Richmond upon Thames |
| TW3 | HOUNSLOW | Hounslow, Lampton, Whitton (north) | Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames |
| TW4 | HOUNSLOW | Hounslow West, Hounslow Heath, Whitton (west), Cranford (south), Hanworth (part) | Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames |
| TW5 | HOUNSLOW | Heston, Cranford (north), Osterley (west) | Hounslow |
| TW6 | HOUNSLOW | Heathrow Airport | Hillingdon |
| TW7 | ISLEWORTH | Isleworth, Osterley (east and centre), Whitton (north-east) | Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames |
| TW8 | BRENTFORD | Brentford, Kew Bridge, Syon Park, Brentford Ait | Hounslow, Richmond upon Thames[n 4] |
| TW9 | RICHMOND | Richmond, Kew, North Sheen (north) | Richmond upon Thames |
| TW10 | RICHMOND | Ham, Petersham, Richmond Hill, North Sheen (south), Richmond Park | Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames[n 5] |
| TW11 | TEDDINGTON | Teddington, Fulwell (east), Bushy Park | Richmond upon Thames |
| TW12 | HAMPTON | Hampton, Hampton Hill, Fulwell (west) | Richmond upon Thames |
| TW13 | FELTHAM | Feltham (south of the railway line), Hanworth, Butts Farm | Hounslow |
| TW14 | FELTHAM | Feltham (north of the railway line), North Feltham, East Bedfont, Hatton | Hounslow, Hillingdon |
| TW15 | ASHFORD | Ashford | Spelthorne |
| TW16 | SUNBURY-ON-THAMES | Sunbury-on-Thames | Spelthorne, Elmbridge[n 6], Hounslow[n 7], Richmond upon Thames[n 8] |
| TW17 | SHEPPERTON | Shepperton, Upper Halliford, Charlton, Littleton | Spelthorne, Elmbridge[n 9] |
| TW18 | STAINES-UPON-THAMES[5] | Staines-upon-Thames, Egham Hythe, Laleham | Spelthorne, Runnymede, Windsor and Maidenhead |
| TW19 | STAINES-UPON-THAMES[5] | Stanwell, Stanwell Moor, Wraysbury, Sunnymeads, Hythe End | Spelthorne, Windsor and Maidenhead |
| TW20 | EGHAM | Egham, Englefield Green, Thorpe | Runnymede |
Map
[edit]
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Mail was previously sorted at Rugby Road, Twickenham.
- ^ In accordance with WP:UKTOWNS and WP:UKVILLAGES naming settlements with individual articles, excluding sub-neighbourhoods of estates contained in those towns.
- ^ Twickenham Green and Heathfield, neighbourhoods of Twickenham, are in TW2.
- ^ Brentford Ait, which is uninhabited, is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
- ^ A small part of Ham, in TW10, is in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
- ^ Large residential island Wheatley's Ait, in TW16, is mostly in Elmbridge.
- ^ A café in a layby on the A316 is in the London Borough of Hounslow.[3]
- ^ Ten riverside houses in TW16 are in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.[4]
- ^ Part of residential island Shepperton Lock Island, in TW17, is in Elmbridge.
References
[edit]- ^ "ONS Postcode Directory Version Notes" (ZIP). National Statistics Postcode Products. Office for National Statistics. May 2020. Table 2. Retrieved 19 June 2020. Coordinates from mean of unit postcode points, "Code-Point Open". OS OpenData. Ordnance Survey. February 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ Royal Mail, Address Management Guide, (2004)
- ^ "Food hygiene ratings - Hounslow - Browns Breakfast Bar TW16 5DA". Food Standards Agency. 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ Spelthorne Planning Map
- ^ a b Formerly "STAINES". "New sectors and localities to 20 July 2012" (PDF). Royal Mail Address Management Unit. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
TW postcode area
View on GrokipediaOverview
Definition and Purpose
The TW postcode area, also known as the Twickenham postcode area, comprises 20 postcode districts designated TW1 to TW20, which are grouped under 13 post towns within south-east England.[9][10] This postcode area serves a key role in the UK's alphanumeric postcode system, enabling Royal Mail to sort and route mail efficiently to specific geographic locations.[11] It forms part of the national system introduced in the 1970s to handle rising mail volumes through mechanized sorting processes.[12] Geographically, the TW area primarily encompasses south-west London, north-west Surrey, and a minor portion of Berkshire, with its approximate center at 51.447°N 0.393°W.[13] It is distinct from adjacent areas such as the SW postcode, which covers central-south London, and the KT postcode, focused on the Kingston upon Thames region.[10][14]Key Statistics
The TW postcode area encompasses 20 postcode districts and 82 postcode sectors, with 11,114 live postcodes and a total of 20,587 postcodes including terminated ones, as recorded in the Office for National Statistics Postcode Directory for February 2025.[15] Based on the 2021 Census data from the Office for National Statistics, the area is home to approximately 542,561 residents across an estimated 210,000 households, reflecting updates from earlier 2011 figures of around 490,000 residents and 193,500 households.[16][17] The postcode area covers roughly 187 square kilometers, exhibiting high population density in urban centers such as Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames, averaging about 3,000 residents per square kilometer.[18] Operational metrics highlight the area's significance in postal logistics, particularly due to its proximity to London Heathrow Airport in the TW6 district and the nearby Royal Mail's Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre; this facility processes substantial international mail volumes, reaching up to two million parcels on peak days like those during the holiday season.[19]Geography
Location and Boundaries
The TW postcode area is situated in south-east England, encompassing a central position primarily within the south-western quadrants of Greater London while extending into north-west Surrey and a small portion of Berkshire. This region forms part of the broader London postal area but spills over into adjacent counties, reflecting the integrated urban-suburban landscape around the capital.[1][18] The boundaries of the TW postcode area are defined by proximity to neighboring postcode regions, with its northern edge bordering areas near the London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Ealing, adjacent to UB and W postcode areas. To the east, it aligns along the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, interfacing with SW postcodes. The southern boundary extends into the Surrey districts of Runnymede and Spelthorne, touching GU areas, while the western limit approaches Slough in Berkshire, near the SL postcode area. These delineations are shaped by historical postal planning and local geography, creating a compact yet diverse territorial footprint.[20][3] Key transport corridors significantly influence the area's boundaries and connectivity. The River Thames forms a natural eastern and northern barrier, traversing through districts like Twickenham and Richmond, which historically guided postal divisions. Additionally, the M25 motorway marks much of the southern periphery, particularly around Staines and Egham, serving as a major orbital route that reinforces the area's transition from urban London to more rural Surrey landscapes.[18][1] The TW postcode area overlaps with several administrative jurisdictions, including the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow, and Hillingdon. It also extends into Surrey's districts of Spelthorne and Runnymede, as well as the parish of Wraysbury in Berkshire (within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead). This cross-jurisdictional coverage highlights the area's role as a bridge between metropolitan London and surrounding commuter counties.[1][20]Post Towns and Districts
The TW postcode area encompasses 13 post towns: Ashford, Brentford, Egham, Feltham, Hampton, Hounslow, Isleworth, Richmond, Shepperton, Staines-upon-Thames, Sunbury-on-Thames, Teddington, and Twickenham. These post towns organize the delivery of mail across 20 postcode districts, labeled TW1 through TW20, which are grouped based on local geography and administrative divisions in southwest London, Surrey, and adjacent areas. While most districts align with a single primary post town, some, such as TW14 in Feltham, cover multiple localities, and non-standard assignments occur, like TW6 primarily serving Heathrow Airport under the Hounslow post town. This structure facilitates efficient sorting and delivery by reflecting the area's urban and suburban layout along the River Thames and into the Thames Valley.[11][3] The districts' organization ties directly to the region's geography, with riverside locations prominent in several, such as TW7 in Isleworth, which follows the Thames corridor through residential and historic areas. Inland extensions include TW15 in Ashford, aligned with transport hubs near the M25, and TW20 encompassing Egham in the Surrey countryside. Overall, the setup balances dense London suburbs with semi-rural outskirts, ensuring post towns like Richmond and Twickenham serve central hubs while peripheral ones like Sunbury-on-Thames handle expanding residential zones.[11] The following table summarizes the districts, their primary post towns (with some sharing across listed towns where applicable), and key associated localities for clarity:| District | Primary Post Town(s) | Key Localities |
|---|---|---|
| TW1 | Twickenham | Twickenham central, St Margarets |
| TW2 | Twickenham | Whitton |
| TW3 | Hounslow | Hounslow central |
| TW4 | Hounslow | Hounslow west, Cranford |
| TW5 | Hounslow | Heston |
| TW6 | Hounslow | Heathrow Airport |
| TW7 | Isleworth | Isleworth, Osterley |
| TW8 | Brentford | Brentford |
| TW9 | Richmond | Kew, North Sheen |
| TW10 | Richmond | Richmond central |
| TW11 | Teddington | Teddington, Fulwell |
| TW12 | Hampton | Hampton, Hampton Hill |
| TW13 | Feltham | Feltham north |
| TW14 | Feltham | Feltham south, Bedfont |
| TW15 | Ashford | Ashford |
| TW16 | Sunbury-on-Thames | Sunbury |
| TW17 | Shepperton | Shepperton |
| TW18 | Staines-upon-Thames | Staines-upon-Thames, Laleham |
| TW19 | Staines-upon-Thames | Stanwell, Wraysbury |
| TW20 | Egham | Egham, Englefield Green, Thorpe |