MK postcode area
The MK postcode area, also known as the Milton Keynes postcode area, is a group of postcode districts in south-central England administered by Royal Mail for the purpose of sorting and delivering mail within the United Kingdom.[1] It encompasses the modern city of Milton Keynes and adjacent rural and suburban localities, primarily in northern Buckinghamshire with extensions into northern Bedfordshire.[2] The area includes 27 postcode districts, ranging from MK1 to MK19, MK40 to MK46, and MK77, and is divided among five post towns: Bedford, Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, and Olney.[3][4] These districts contain approximately 15,500 live postcodes (as of 2024), serving a diverse mix of urban, commercial, and agricultural addresses in a region known for its planned grid-road layout and rapid post-war development as a new town.[3] The MK area was established during the national rollout of the postcode system between 1966 and 1974, coinciding with Milton Keynes' designation as a new town in 1967 to accommodate London's overspill population.[5][6]Overview
Definition and Scope
The MK postcode area, officially designated by Royal Mail as the Milton Keynes postcode area, serves as a primary geographic unit within the United Kingdom's postal addressing system, encompassing a group of postcode districts that mainly cover northern Buckinghamshire and portions of Bedfordshire.[7] This designation facilitates efficient mail sorting and delivery by grouping addresses under the shared "MK" prefix, which is derived from the central urban hub of Milton Keynes.[8] The territorial scope of the MK postcode area spans approximately 1,460 square kilometers, incorporating the expansive urban development of Milton Keynes alongside surrounding rural landscapes that extend into small portions of adjacent counties, including Northamptonshire (about 1% of the area), Oxfordshire (roughly 0.1%), and Cambridgeshire (around 0.02%).[9][8] Buckinghamshire constitutes the majority of this coverage at approximately 60%, with Bedfordshire accounting for about 39%.[8] As one of the roughly 120 postcode areas managed by Royal Mail across the UK, the MK area forms the uppermost level in the national postcode hierarchy, which further subdivides into districts, sectors, and units to pinpoint specific delivery locations.[10]Key Characteristics
The MK postcode area features an internal structure consisting of 5 post towns, 26 geographic postcode districts, 115 postcode sectors, and 23,619 total postcodes, of which 16,075 are live as of February 2025 per the Office for National Statistics Postcode Directory (derived from Royal Mail's Postcode Address File). This hierarchical organization facilitates precise mail routing, with districts and sectors enabling automated sorting at regional and local levels within the national system. The area is fully integrated into Royal Mail's Address Management System, primarily through the PAF, which serves as the authoritative database for all UK addresses and supports efficient delivery operations across geographic and non-geographic codes. A notable non-geographic element is the MK77 district, designated for PO boxes and large-volume mail users in Milton Keynes, allowing separation of such mail from standard geographic deliveries to optimize processing at dedicated facilities. Unique to the MK area is its postcode layout, which was developed to accommodate the planned new town designation of Milton Keynes in 1967, promoting streamlined mail sorting and distribution amid the region's intentional urban expansion and population growth.[11]Geographic Coverage
Post Towns
The MK postcode area encompasses five primary post towns: Milton Keynes, Bedford, Buckingham, Newport Pagnell, and Olney. These post towns function as key administrative units for mail sorting and delivery within the Royal Mail system, collectively serving 26 postcode districts across northern Buckinghamshire and northern Bedfordshire.[2] Milton Keynes acts as the central urban hub and primary delivery depot for the postcode area, managing the bulk of inbound and outbound mail processing for the region. It covers the core urban expanse of the new town, including its grid-based layout and expansive suburbs in Buckinghamshire.[12][2] Bedford handles mail for portions of northern Bedfordshire, serving as a cross-county delivery point due to its districts being included in the MK postcode area since the system's introduction in the 1970s, to support the development of Milton Keynes as a new town. Its coverage includes the central town and adjacent locales, facilitated by a dedicated delivery office.[2][13] Buckingham serves rural north Buckinghamshire, encompassing market towns and surrounding villages as a secondary sorting point for less urbanized mail routes.[2] Newport Pagnell functions as a northern satellite town post office, covering local communities north of the main Milton Keynes urban area.[2] Olney addresses eastern rural areas, providing delivery services for villages and countryside in the vicinity.[2]Postcode Districts
The MK postcode area comprises 26 geographic postcode districts, distributed across five post towns: Bedford, Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, and Olney. These districts facilitate mail sorting and delivery within the region, encompassing urban centers, suburbs, and rural locales primarily in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. The numbering system generally follows a sequential pattern that aligns with the planned development of Milton Keynes as a new town, starting with lower numbers for core urban areas and progressing outward to expansions and surrounding communities.[3][14] The following table lists the postcode districts, their primary post towns, and key coverage areas, highlighting representative locations rather than exhaustive enumerations:| District | Post Town | Coverage Areas |
|---|---|---|
| MK1 | Milton Keynes | Bletchley East, including Church Green, Old Bletchley, and parts of West Bletchley; serves central Bletchley commercial zones.[15][16] |
| MK2 | Milton Keynes | Fenny Stratford, Brickfields, and central Bletchley; covers residential and retail areas near Bletchley station.[17] |
| MK3 | Milton Keynes | West Bletchley, including Far Bletchley and Shenley Brook End; focuses on suburban housing estates.[18] |
| MK4 | Milton Keynes | Furzton, Kingsmead, and Loughton; includes planned grid-road suburbs and green spaces.[19] |
| MK5 | Milton Keynes | Shenley Church End, Loughton, and Knowlhill; encompasses business parks and residential developments.[20] |
| MK6 | Milton Keynes | Leadenhall, Netherfield, and Eaglestone; serves eastern Milton Keynes urban extensions.[21] |
| MK7 | Milton Keynes | Woughton on the Green, Woughton Park, and Simpson; covers southern rural-urban fringes.[22] |
| MK8 | Milton Keynes | Oxley Park, Middleton, and Hazeley; includes modern housing and parks in western expansions.[23] |
| MK9 | Milton Keynes | Central Milton Keynes, including the city center, theatre district, and business core.[24] |
| MK10 | Milton Keynes | Broughton, Broughton Gate, and Monkston; targets eastern expansions and new housing.[25] |
| MK11 | Milton Keynes | Stony Stratford, Fullers Slade, and Greenleys; spans northern suburban and market town areas.[26] |
| MK12 | Milton Keynes | Heelands, Bradwell, and Stacey Bushes; covers northern industrial and residential zones.[27] |
| MK13 | Milton Keynes | Blue Bridge, Church End, and Great Linford; includes waterwayside communities.[28] |
| MK14 | Milton Keynes | Great Linford, Downhead Park, and Neath Hill; serves northeastern suburbs.[29] |
| MK15 | Milton Keynes | Willen, Willen Lake, and Oakridge Park; focuses on lakeside and parkland areas.[30] |
| MK16 | Newport Pagnell | Newport Pagnell town center, Tickford End, and Lathbury; covers the historic market town and surrounds.[3] |
| MK17 | Milton Keynes | Bow Brickhill, Woburn Sands, and Aspley Guise; includes southern rural villages.[31] |
| MK18 | Buckingham | Buckingham town, Adstock, and Akeley; encompasses the market town and nearby countryside.[32][33] |
| MK19 | Milton Keynes | Deanshanger, Passenham, and Cosgrove; covers villages west of Milton Keynes near the Grand Union Canal.[34][35] |
| MK40 | Bedford | Bedford town center, including Harpur, De Parys, and Queens Park; central commercial and residential hub.[36][37] |
| MK41 | Bedford | Brickhill, Goldington, and Newnham; northern Bedford suburbs and approaches.[36][38] |
| MK42 | Bedford | Elstow, Kempston, and Wixams; southern town extensions and railway areas.[36][39] |
| MK43 | Bedford | Bromham, Cardington, and Oakley; rural villages east of Bedford.[36][40] |
| MK44 | Bedford | Blunham, Great Barford, and Roxton; northern rural environs along the River Ouse.[36][41] |
| MK45 | Bedford | Clophill, Maulden, and Silsoe; western villages and countryside.[36][42] |
| MK46 | Olney | Olney town, Clifton Reynes, and Lavendon; rural east with market town focus.[3][43] |