The United Kingdom has no single model of local government. England mixes two-tier counties with single-tier unitary, metropolitan and London councils; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have single-tier councils only.
A unitary authority runs every local service in its area — schools, social care, roads, planning, bins and libraries — from a single council. Most were created in the reorganisations of 1995–98, 2009, 2019–2023, often from a county and its districts.
Largest: North Yorkshire (623.5K), Somerset (576.9K), Cornwall (575.4K)
District councils are the lower tier of two-tier England: they collect council tax, handle planning applications, housing and waste collection, while the county council above them runs schools, social care and highways.
Largest: East Suffolk (247.1K), Colchester (194.4K), Basildon (188.8K)
The 36 metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire have been single-tier since the metropolitan county councils were abolished in 1986.
Largest: Birmingham (1.2M), Leeds (822.5K), Manchester (569K)
The 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation provide most local services in Greater London; the Greater London Authority and the Mayor cover transport, policing strategy and planning across the capital.
Largest: London Borough of Croydon (392.2K), London Borough of Barnet (389.1K), London Borough of Ealing (369.9K)
County councils form the upper tier in the two-tier parts of England: education, adult and children’s social care, highways, libraries and waste disposal, shared with the district councils below them.
Since 1996 Wales has had 22 single-tier principal councils — counties and county boroughs — responsible for all local services.
Largest: Cardiff (364.2K), Swansea (246.5K), Rhondda Cynon Taf (240.1K)
Scotland’s 32 council areas date from 1996. Each council is a single-tier authority covering education, social work, roads, housing and planning.
Largest: Glasgow City (633.1K), City of Edinburgh (524.9K), Fife (373.6K)
Northern Ireland’s 11 district councils were created in 2015. They handle planning, waste, leisure and local development; education, roads and housing are run regionally.
Largest: Belfast (341.9K), Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (222.5K), Newry, Mourne and Down (183.1K)