What Is a Locality? What Is a Thoroughfare? Some Common UK Address Questions Answered
Updated 18 Jan 2021
UK addresses can be a bit complex. We’ve compiled a number of frequently asked questions about UK addresses that can be helpful in understanding Royal Mail PAF data.
A locality is a geographical area which includes a dependent locality, a double dependent locality, post town or county.
A dependent locality is an address element that distinguishes a premise when an address thoroughfare appears more than once in the same post town. PAF holds details of approximately 30,000 localities within the UK.
For example, the dependent locality of the sector TN23 8 is Chilmington Green.
For more precise data, you may find a double dependent locality. This is usually a business park or estate. For example, the dependent locality for the sector BH24 2 is Matchams and the double dependent locality is Silver Mist Park.
A thoroughfare is a main road or passageway.
A dependent thoroughfare distinguishes a premise when a thoroughfare appears more than once in a post town. When a thoroughfare is present there is always street level data available for the address.
Post towns were created by Royal Mail to correctly route mail to the correct sorting office for any given address. Post towns are mandatory to identify an address.
Post towns may not necessarily map to the nearest geographical town.
There are 1661 Post Towns in the UK.
For more address terms, please take a look at our glossary.