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England has 48 counties when you count its ceremonial counties. These are the county areas used for lieutenancy purposes and are also commonly used as a simple geographic reference.
The answer can seem confusing because England has different types of counties. You may also see historic counties, administrative counties, metropolitan counties, and unitary authorities mentioned in different sources.
I would use 48 ceremonial counties as the direct answer to the question, how many counties are in England. But it is worth looking at what that number means and why you may see other figures.
Quick Answer: How Many Counties Are in England?
There are 48 ceremonial counties in England.
They include well-known counties such as Kent, Devon, Cornwall, Lancashire, Norfolk, Yorkshire and Essex, as well as areas such as Greater London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
The term ceremonial county refers to an area used for the appointment of a Lord Lieutenant. These counties are different from the local government areas used to provide council services.
What Are the 48 Counties in England?
Here is the full list of England’s 48 ceremonial counties in alphabetical order:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- City of London
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
- West Sussex
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
These are the 48 areas used for lieutenancy purposes in England. Some of them contain several local authority areas, while others closely match a single local authority.
Why Are There Different Numbers of Counties in England?
This is where the answer gets confusing.
The word county can describe different types of geographic areas. A ceremonial county, historic county and local government county do not always have the same boundaries.
So, if you search for the number of counties in England, you may find different numbers depending on what the page is counting.
I find it easiest to separate them into three broad groups:
| County type | What it means |
| Ceremonial counties | Geographic areas used for lieutenancy purposes |
| Historic counties | Traditional counties with long historical and cultural links |
| Administrative areas | Areas used for local government and public services |
The 48 ceremonial counties are the clearest answer for a general question about how many counties England has.
What Is a Ceremonial County?
A ceremonial county is an area of England used for lieutenancy purposes.
Each area has a Lord Lieutenant who represents the monarch in that county. The boundaries used for these areas are separate from the day-to-day local government system.
This is why a ceremonial county can contain several local councils.
For example, the ceremonial county of Cumbria still exists even though its former local government structure changed. The current council areas of Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness now cover the area that was previously served by Cumbria County Council.
The ceremonial county and the local government structure are therefore two different things.
What Are Historic Counties of England?
Historic counties are the traditional counties that developed over many centuries.
Examples include Yorkshire, Kent, Devon, Cornwall and Lancashire. These names remain widely used even where modern administrative boundaries have changed.
Historic counties can have strong links with local identity, history, culture, sport and geography.
This is also why an old map of England may look different from a modern county map.
The historic county system developed long before the current local government structure. As a result, historic county boundaries do not always match today’s administrative areas.
What Is the Difference Between Ceremonial and Historic Counties?
The easiest way to see the difference is to look at how each type is used.
| Ceremonial counties | Historic counties |
| Used for lieutenancy purposes | Based on traditional county boundaries |
| There are 48 in England | Often discussed as 39 historic counties |
| Have a current geographic role | Mainly have historical and cultural importance |
| Can include several local authority areas | May have boundaries different from modern counties |
| Used in many current geographic references | Often used for heritage, identity and history |
So, 48 and 39 are not competing answers to exactly the same question.
They refer to different county systems.
Are Counties Still Used in England?
Yes. Counties remain widely used in England, but their role depends on the type of county.
Ceremonial counties continue to provide a geographic framework for lieutenancy areas. They are also useful for maps, statistics, regional references and many public or private organisations.
At the same time, local government has changed a lot.
Some parts of England use a two-tier system with county and district councils. Other areas use unitary authorities, where one council provides most local government services.
This means the county name you see on a map does not always tell you which council is responsible for a service.
What Are Administrative Counties?
Administrative counties are linked to local government rather than simply geographic reference.
England has a mixture of local government structures. Some areas have county councils and district councils, while others have unitary authorities or metropolitan districts.
This is one reason I would avoid giving one simple number for current administrative counties and presenting it as the answer to how many counties are in England.
The local government structure has changed several times.
For example, Northamptonshire changed to a two-unitary-authority structure in 2021. Cumbria’s former two-tier structure was replaced by Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness in 2023.
These changes affect local government without changing the basic answer of 48 ceremonial counties.
Is London a County?
Yes, but London needs a little explanation.
Greater London is one of England’s 48 ceremonial counties. The City of London is also treated separately as a county for some purposes, which can make county lists look confusing.
Greater London contains the 32 London boroughs and the City of London.
The City of London is a very small area compared with Greater London, but it has a distinct legal and administrative history.
So, when looking at a list of ceremonial counties, you will see both Greater London and City of London.
Is Yorkshire One County?
Yorkshire is a historic county and a familiar geographic name, but modern ceremonial counties divide the area into several counties.
These include:
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- North Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
This is a good example of why historic counties and ceremonial counties should not be treated as the same system.
If someone says Yorkshire, they may be talking about the historic county or the wider cultural area. If they are using the current ceremonial county system, Yorkshire is represented by several separate counties.
What Happened to Cumbria?
Cumbria is a useful example of how county boundaries and local government can differ.
Cumbria remains one of England’s ceremonial counties. However, the former Cumbria County Council structure was replaced in April 2023 by two unitary authorities:
- Cumberland
- Westmorland and Furness
The change affected local government, but Cumbria remains a ceremonial county.
This distinction matters because an older article may show Cumbria as a local government county, while a newer source may talk about Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.
Both references can make sense when you know which geographic system they are using.
Which Is the Largest County in England?
The answer depends on which type of county you mean.
Among the current ceremonial counties, North Yorkshire is the largest by area.
This is another reason it helps to state the county type before comparing counties. A historic county, ceremonial county and local government area can have different boundaries.
Which Is the Smallest County in England?
Again, the answer depends on the definition being used.
If you are comparing ceremonial counties by area, some are much smaller than others. The City of London is particularly small, but it has a special status and should not be compared with large rural counties without explaining the difference.
For a useful county comparison, always state whether you are talking about ceremonial, historic or administrative counties.
Why Do Some Sources Give Different Numbers?
Different numbers usually appear because the source is counting a different type of county.
For example, one page may discuss the 48 ceremonial counties, while another may focus on historic counties or current local government areas.
There have also been many local government changes over the years. Councils have been merged, split or replaced by unitary authorities.
That can make older information look different from newer information.
The safest approach is to ask:
What type of county is this source counting?
Once you know that, the different numbers become much easier to explain.
Are Ceremonial Counties the Same as Local Government Areas?
No.
A ceremonial county can contain several local authorities.
For example, Bedfordshire as a ceremonial county includes Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. Berkshire includes several unitary authorities, including Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.
This means a ceremonial county can remain in place even when the local councils inside it change.
How Many Counties Are in England Compared With the Rest of the UK?
England has 48 ceremonial counties.
The other parts of the UK use different systems.
Scotland has council areas, Wales has principal areas, and Northern Ireland has districts. Their systems should not be added together as though all four parts of the UK use the same county structure.
If you are researching the number of counties in the whole UK, it is better to look at each country’s system separately.
England County Map
A county map is useful because the names alone do not show how the 48 ceremonial counties fit together.
A good England county map should show all 48 ceremonial counties with clear labels. It should also make major areas such as Greater London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands and the Yorkshire counties easy to identify.
For readers who are learning English geography, a map can also make the difference between ceremonial counties and historic counties easier to see.
Final Take
So, how many counties are in England?
The simple answer is 48 ceremonial counties.
The reason you may see different numbers is that England has several county systems. Historic counties, ceremonial counties and local government areas serve different purposes and do not always share the same boundaries.
If I were giving a quick answer, I would say England has 48 ceremonial counties. If the reader needs more detail, the next thing I would explain is the difference between ceremonial, historic and administrative counties.
That small distinction removes most of the confusion around the number of counties in England.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many counties are there in England?
There are 48 ceremonial counties in England. This is the standard answer when referring to the current ceremonial or geographic counties.
What are the 48 counties in England?
The 48 ceremonial counties are Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, City of London, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, County Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and Wear, Warwickshire, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.
How many historic counties are there in England?
England is commonly described as having 39 historic counties. These are different from the 48 current ceremonial counties.
What is the difference between a county and a ceremonial county?
A county can refer to several types of geographic area. A ceremonial county is a current area used for lieutenancy purposes, while historic counties refer to traditional county areas.
Is London one of the counties of England?
Greater London is one of England’s 48 ceremonial counties. The City of London is also treated separately as a county for certain purposes.
Is Yorkshire still a county?
Yorkshire remains a historic county and geographic area, but the current ceremonial system includes East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
Is Cumbria still a county?
Cumbria remains a ceremonial county. Its former local government structure was replaced in 2023 by Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.
What is the largest county in England?
North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial county by area. The answer can change if you use a different definition of county.
Why are there 48 counties in England?
The 48 figure refers to the ceremonial counties used for lieutenancy purposes. It is separate from the historic county system and England’s current local government structure.