Map of the W postcode area
Use the interactive map to explore the area boundary and neighbouring postcode areas.
Overview
The W Postcode Area
The W postcode area covers a large and diverse part of west London, lying entirely within Greater London. It includes some of the capital’s established inner districts as well as extensive outer suburban areas stretching west towards Ealing and the Thames.
The eastern part of the area includes districts such as Mayfair, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Paddington, Maida Vale, Bayswater, Notting Hill and Kensington, characterised by dense urban development and historic streets. Further west, beyond the West London Line, lie areas including Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush, White City and Chiswick. White City takes its name from the Franco-British Exhibition of 1908, when many of the buildings were painted white. Nearby is Wormwood Scrubs Prison, one of London’s most recognisable Victorian prisons.
Towards the western edge of the postcode area are the towns of Acton, Ealing and Hanwell, where the character becomes more suburban. The River Brent forms part of the northern boundary, while the River Thames defines sections of the southern edge of the area. Despite its urban nature, W contains some of London’s most significant green spaces, notably Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, linked by the Serpentine, alongside waterways such as the Grand Union Canal.
The area is a major transport corridor, anchored by Paddington Station, one of London’s busiest rail terminals, providing services to the west of England and South Wales. Cultural and historic attractions within the W area include Kensington Palace, Chiswick House and Gardens, and the London Transport Museum Depot.
The W postcode area covers West London.
The postcode area borders the following neighbouring postcode areas: HA - Harrow, SW - London - SW, WC - London - WC, NW - London - NW, UB - Uxbridge and TW - Twickenham. It also borders The Tidal Thames.
The postcode area falls within the following counties: Greater London (100.00%).
Map of the W Postcode for West London
Quick facts
| Width east to west | 9.60 mi |
|---|---|
| Height north to south | 4.55 mi |
| Area | 22.50 mi² |
| Maximum width | 9.61 mi |
| Perimeter | 34.10 mi |
| Postcode districts | 26 |
| Postcode sectors | 141 |
| Post towns | 1 |
| Postcodes | 18,572 |
| Population | 533,706 |
The W postcode area has a population of 533,706 and covers 57,746 hectares. Roughly 0.82% of the population of Great Britain lives here.
How this area fits into London postcodes
The W area is part of London’s distinctive postcode system.
View London postcodesPost towns and postcode districts
Where is the W postcode area?
How built up is the postcode area?
This compares building footprint coverage against the total land area across each postcode district. The least urban district is W7 and the most urban is W1C.
| Postcode district | Total area (m²) | Footprint area (m²) | Built percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| W7 | 4,281,560 | 772,208 | 18.04% |
| W5 | 8,036,171 | 1,626,962 | 20.25% |
| W2 | 5,170,694 | 1,077,901 | 20.85% |
| W4 | 6,502,317 | 1,437,023 | 22.10% |
| W13 | 3,857,478 | 887,734 | 23.01% |
| W3 | 7,427,092 | 1,738,481 | 23.41% |
| W12 | 4,981,663 | 1,258,558 | 25.26% |
| W10 | 2,598,619 | 679,944 | 26.17% |
| W9 | 1,923,350 | 582,846 | 30.30% |
| W11 | 2,027,841 | 656,807 | 32.39% |
| W6 | 3,065,479 | 1,077,649 | 35.15% |
| W14 | 2,272,410 | 802,612 | 35.32% |
| W8 | 1,860,855 | 681,617 | 36.63% |
| W1K | 583,512 | 308,941 | 52.95% |
| W1H | 406,081 | 241,895 | 59.57% |
| W1U | 457,689 | 310,886 | 67.93% |
| W1J | 399,062 | 287,428 | 72.03% |
| W1W | 265,923 | 192,034 | 72.21% |
| W1G | 311,027 | 239,814 | 77.10% |
| W1T | 392,157 | 303,851 | 77.48% |
| W1F | 207,265 | 191,311 | 92.30% |
| W1S | 230,761 | 220,027 | 95.35% |
| W1D | 217,554 | 252,681 | 116.15% |
| W1B | 184,697 | 223,811 | 121.18% |
| W1C | 92,595 | 141,048 | 152.33% |
| Total | 57,753,852 | 16,194,069 | 28.04% |
Area measurements
| Hectares | 57,746 |
|---|---|
| Square miles | 222.96 |
| Square feet | 6,215,721,694.00 |
| Square kilometres | 577.46 |
Postal delivery offices
- Acton S Delivery Office
- Chiswick S Delivery Office
- Ealing S Delivery Office
- Hammersmith S Delivery Office
- Hanwell S Delivery Office
- Kensington S Delivery Office
- Maida Hill S Delivery Office
- North Kensington S Delivery Office
- Notting Hill S Delivery Office
- Paddington S Delivery Office
- Shepherds Bush S Delivery Office
- W Delivery Office
- West Ealing S Delivery Office
- West Kensington S Delivery Office
Tourist attractions within the area
We found 9 visitor attractions within the West London postcode area.
| Cliveden |
|---|
| Historic Properties |
| Historic House / House and Garden / Palace |
| View on Google Maps |
| Chiswick House |
| Historic Properties |
| Historic House / House and Garden / Palace |
| View on Google Maps |
| Kensington Palace |
| Historic Properties |
| Historic House / House and Garden / Palace |
| View on Google Maps |
| Serpentine Gallery |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View on Google Maps |
| Wallace Collection |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View on Google Maps |
| Apsley House |
| Historic Properties |
| Historic House / House and Garden / Palace |
| View on Google Maps |
| Wellington Museum |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View on Google Maps |
| St Charles' Borromeo Church |
| Places of Worship |
| Place of Worship (still in use) |
| View on Google Maps |
| Royal Academy of Arts |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View on Google Maps |
Towns and villages within the area
- Acton — Urban Area
- Alperton — Urban Area
- Bayswater — Urban Area
- Brentford — Urban Area
- China Town — Urban Area
- Chiswick — Urban Area
- Ealing — Urban Area
- Fitzrovia — Urban Area
- Fulham — Urban Area
- Green Park — Urban Area
- Greenford — Urban Area
- Hammersmith — Urban Area
- Hanwell — Urban Area
- Hyde Park — Urban Area
- Hyde Park Corner — Urban Area
- Kensal Green — Urban Area
- Kensal Town — Urban Area
- Kensington — Urban Area
- Kensington Gardens — Urban Area
- Kew — Urban Area
- Kilburn — Urban Area
- Leicester Square — Urban Area
- Little Venice — Urban Area
- Maida Hill — Urban Area
- Maida Vale — Urban Area
- Marylebone — Urban Area
- Mayfair — Urban Area
- Mortlake — Urban Area
- North Kensington — Urban Area
- Norwood Green — Urban Area
- Notting Hill — Urban Area
- Paddington — Urban Area
- Perivale — Urban Area
- Regents Park — Urban Area
- Shepherds Bush — Urban Area
- Soho — Urban Area
- Southall — Urban Area
- St Giles — Urban Area
- St James — Urban Area
- St Johns Wood — Urban Area
- West Ealing — Urban Area
- White City — Urban Area
- Willesden — Urban Area