This is a list of the most populous civil parishes in England.[1] It includes all civil parishes with populations over 30,000, representing less than 1% of all civil parishes but almost 3% of the population.
Lichfield, Hereford and Salisbury are in addition to being some of the most populous civil parishes in England, among the smallest cities.
The first civil parish councils were created in 1894, mostly in rural areas, replacing the duties of local church authorities.
Many large parishes have been created during the 21st century, due in part to new procedures making their creation easier, and also the ongoing creation of large unitary authorities, which has led to the desire to retain a more local tier of government.
In 2020, Northampton became the largest civil parish in England due to local government reorganisation in 2021 which saw it become part of the larger West Northamptonshire unitary authority.[2]
| Rank | Parish | District | Population | Status | Parish council created |
Council |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northampton | West Northamptonshire | 137,387[3] | Town | 2020 | Northampton Town Council |
| 2 | Sutton Coldfield | Birmingham | 95,107 | Town | 2016 | Sutton Coldfield Town Council |
| 3 | Weston-super-Mare | North Somerset | 80,162 | Town | 2000 | Weston-super-Mare Town Council |
| 4 | Shrewsbury | Shropshire | 76,782 | Town | 2009 | Shrewsbury Town Council |
| 5 | Aylesbury | Buckinghamshire | 57,285 | Town | 2001 | Aylesbury Town Council |
| 6 | Kettering | North Northamptonshire | 57,100 | Town | 2021 | Kettering Town Council |
| 7. | Lowestoft | East Suffolk | 56,932 | Town | 2017 | Lowestoft Town Council |
| 8 | Kidderminster | Wyre Forest | 55,530 | Town | 2015 | Kidderminster Town Council |
| 9 | Crewe | Cheshire East | 55,318 | Town | 2013 | Crewe Town Council |
| 10 | Keighley | Bradford | 55,133 | Town | 2002 | Keighley Town Council |
| 11 | Bracknell | Bracknell Forest | 54,265 | Town | 1955 | Bracknell Town Council |
| 12 | Weymouth | Dorset | 53,000 | Town | 2019 | Weymouth Town Council |
| 13 | Central Swindon South | Swindon | 52,515 | Parish | 2017 | South Swindon Parish Council |
| 14 | Macclesfield | Cheshire East | 52,044 | Town | 2015 | Macclesfield Town Council |
| 15 | Hereford | Herefordshire | 50,537 | City | 2000 | Hereford City Council |
| 16 | Royal Leamington Spa | Warwick | 49,563 | Town | 2002 | Royal Leamington Spa Town Council |
| 17 | Banbury | Cherwell | 45,052 | Town | 2000 | Banbury Town Council |
| 18 | Folkestone | Folkestone and Hythe | 42,058 | Town | 2004 | Folkestone Town Council |
| 19 | Salisbury | Wiltshire | 39,896 | City | 2009 | Salisbury City Council |
| 20 | Ramsgate | Thanet | 39,858 | Town | 2009 | Ramsgate Town Council |
| 21 | Farnham | Waverley | 39,167 | Town | 1984 | Farnham Town Council |
| 22 | Canvey Island | Castle Point | 38,941 | Town | 2007 | Canvey Island Town Council |
| 23 | Hatfield | Welwyn Hatfield | 38,600 | Town | 1894 | Hatfield Town Council |
| 24 | Bishop's Stortford | East Hertfordshire | 37,873 | Town | 1974 | Bishop's Stortford Town Council |
| 25 | Bury St Edmunds | West Suffolk | 37,854 | Town | 2003 | Bury St Edmunds Town Council |
| 26 | Elstree and Borehamwood | Hertsmere | 37,084 | Town | 1894 | Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council |
| 27 | Leighton–Linslade | Central Bedfordshire | 37,081 | Town | 1974 | Leighton-Linslade Town Council |
| 28 | Andover | Test Valley | 36,977 | Town | 2010 | Andover Town Council |
| 29 | Morecambe | Lancaster | 36,530 | Town | 2009 | Morecambe Town Council |
| 30 | Billingham | Stockton-on-Tees | 36,424 | Town | 2007 | Billigham Town Council |
| 31 | Blyth | Northumberland | 36,379 | Town | 2009 | Blyth Town Council |
| 32 | Bridlington | East Riding of Yorkshire | 36,324 | Town | 2000 | Bridlington Town Council |
| 33 | Bridgwater | Sedgemoor | 35,625 | Town | 2003 | Bridgwater Town Council |
| 34 | Chippenham | Wiltshire | 35,155 | Town | 1984 | Chippenham Town Council |
| 35 | Dunstable | Central Bedfordshire | 35,068 | Town | 1985 | Dunstable Town Council |
| 36 | Exmouth | East Devon | 34,441 | Town | 1995 | Exmouth Town Council |
| 37 | Earley | Wokingham | 33,755 | Town | 1974 | Earley Town Council |
| 38 | Central Swindon North | Swindon | 33,495 | Parish | 2017 | Central Swindon North Parish Council |
| 39 | Ecclesfield | Sheffield | 32,903 | Parish | 1894 | Ecclesfield Parish Council |
| 40 | Abingdon-on-Thames | Vale of White Horse | 32,183 | Town | 1974 | Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council |
| 41 | Rayleigh | Rochford | 31,982 | Town | 1996 | Rayleigh Town Council |
| 42 | Morley | Leeds | 31,832 | Town | 2000 | Morley Town Council |
| 43 | Stanley | County Durham | 31,673 | Town | 2007 | Stanley Town Council |
| 42 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire | 31,392 | Town | 1974 | Trowbridge Town Council |
| 45 | Loughton | Epping Forest | 31,218 | Town | 1996 | Loughton Town Council |
| 46 | Newbury | West Berkshire | 31,200 | Town | 1997 | Newbury Town Council |
| 47 | Lichfield | Lichfield | 31,068 | City | 1980 | Lichfield City Council |
| 48 | Winsford | Cheshire West and Chester | 31,038 | Town | 1974 | Winsford Town Council |
| 49 | Bicester | Cherwell | 30,474 | Town | 1974 | Bicester Town Council |