M Postcode Area for the Manchester Region
A wide range of spatial data has been analysed to present this overview. If you would like anything added, please contact us.
This section of the site is all about the M Postcode area, also known as the Manchester Postal Area. Explore links to the next level to learn more about specific postcode districts such as M1.
Map of the M Postcode for Manchester
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Map of the M Manchester Postcode Area
Explore the postcode area by using our interactive map.
Quick Facts about the M Postcode
| Width from East to West | 18.03 mi |
| Height from North to South | 16.07 mi |
| Area of M | 148.63 mi² |
| Maximum Width | 18.85 mi |
| Perimeter of Postcode Area | 93.43 mi |
| Number of Postcode Districts | 46 |
| Number of Postcode Sectors | 214 |
| Number of Post Towns | 3 |
| Number of Postcodes | 31,921 |
The M postcode area represents a group of 43 postal districts in the Manchester area of the United Kingdom. The area code stands for the letters m in Manchester. The area has a population of 1,167,402 and covers an area of 384,967 hectares. Fun fact: 1.80% of the population of Great Britain lives in this area.
The postcode area falls within the following counties: Greater Manchester (100.00%), Cheshire (0.00%).
Post Towns and Postcode Districts
Where is the M Postcode Area?
The Manchester M Postcode is in North West of England.. The postal area borders the following neighbouring postal areas: WN - Wigan, SK - Stockport, OL - Oldham, WA - Warrington and BL - Bolton, and is located inland.
How built up is the Postcode Area?
I've calculated the total area covered by building footprints within the postcode area.
By analyzing this against the total area, I've determined the percentage of the area that's developed, this will give you an idea of how urban or rural the postcode region is.
The higher the percentage the more urban the area is. For example the least urban district is M31 and the most urban is M2.
| Postcode District | Total Area (m²) | Footprint Area (m²) | Built Percentage % |
|---|---|---|---|
| M31 | 10,864,210 | 494,575 | 4.55% |
| M29 | 20,145,722 | 1,093,911 | 5.43% |
| M44 | 15,140,112 | 944,447 | 6.24% |
| M26 | 18,660,720 | 1,474,374 | 7.90% |
| M28 | 24,872,503 | 2,068,187 | 8.32% |
| M30 | 15,838,212 | 1,436,622 | 9.07% |
| M45 | 9,898,877 | 931,986 | 9.42% |
| M46 | 9,287,984 | 911,342 | 9.81% |
| M25 | 11,418,371 | 1,124,446 | 9.85% |
| M24 | 23,800,652 | 2,406,518 | 10.11% |
| M21 | 7,647,091 | 887,164 | 11.60% |
| M9 | 9,933,933 | 1,183,099 | 11.91% |
| M34 | 15,627,283 | 1,899,302 | 12.15% |
| M35 | 6,763,257 | 825,464 | 12.21% |
| M41 | 16,226,607 | 2,037,908 | 12.56% |
| M27 | 13,799,908 | 1,784,438 | 12.93% |
| M38 | 4,035,111 | 533,225 | 13.21% |
| M22 | 11,937,422 | 1,638,463 | 13.73% |
| M40 | 11,615,624 | 1,609,494 | 13.86% |
| M23 | 8,560,286 | 1,252,092 | 14.63% |
| M33 | 15,044,246 | 2,224,539 | 14.79% |
| M20 | 9,889,601 | 1,506,937 | 15.24% |
| M32 | 8,524,694 | 1,301,550 | 15.27% |
| M43 | 5,249,069 | 821,748 | 15.66% |
| M7 | 5,888,209 | 922,995 | 15.68% |
| M18 | 4,711,852 | 749,321 | 15.90% |
| M6 | 7,806,363 | 1,254,834 | 16.07% |
| M11 | 6,253,237 | 1,064,193 | 17.02% |
| M90 | 2,352,170 | 405,256 | 17.23% |
| M19 | 5,525,361 | 1,007,806 | 18.24% |
| M5 | 3,885,707 | 734,371 | 18.90% |
| M12 | 4,528,705 | 855,768 | 18.90% |
| M50 | 2,595,780 | 495,507 | 19.09% |
| M16 | 5,821,038 | 1,164,009 | 20.00% |
| M8 | 6,134,018 | 1,288,858 | 21.01% |
| M14 | 6,032,961 | 1,327,095 | 22.00% |
| M15 | 2,932,137 | 660,036 | 22.51% |
| M17 | 6,462,098 | 1,746,665 | 27.03% |
| M13 | 2,924,603 | 851,145 | 29.10% |
| M4 | 1,878,422 | 566,150 | 30.14% |
| M3 | 2,526,853 | 794,880 | 31.46% |
| M1 | 1,584,393 | 699,816 | 44.17% |
| M2 | 336,580 | 308,955 | 91.79% |
| Total | 384,961,982 (m²) | 49,289,491 (m²) | 12.8% |
A map showing the boundary of M in relation to other areas
There are 29 towns within the Manchester postcode area.
Manchester Area Code Overview
The Manchester postcode area comprises post towns of Manchester, Salford, and Sale, and the M for Manchester includes 48 postcode districts and 303 postcode sectors. The area serves Greater Manchester, and an interesting tidbit is the fictional town of Weatherfield from the iconic Coronation Street soap opera; it's located in Manchester M10.
Historical Evolution: Manchester Postcode Area in 1968
Purpose:
In 1968, Manchester adopted the Postcode system to modernize and hasten mail sorting. This revolutionary shift aimed at automating mail sorting, allowing machines to process 20,000 letters hourly.
Method:
An 18-member team dedicated two years to mapping every street in Manchester, as well as parts of Lancashire and Cheshire. This extensive effort resulted in a directory spanning 500,000 homes with 26,000 unique codes.
Public Awareness:
The initiative's success hinged on at least 80% of letters featuring the postcode. To achieve this, an extensive campaign sent leaflets to over half a million homes.
Coding Strategy:
Streets received codes based on their significance, and prominent businesses also earned unique codes.
Sorting Technology:
Letters with the postcode got marked with phosphorescent dots for machine readability. The "ALF" (Automatic Letter Facing machine) was also introduced to facilitate the process.
Envelope Standards:
Starting in autumn 1969, the Post Office set specific size criteria for envelopes to avail the lowest postage rates, with larger ones incurring higher charges.
Public Response:
While the majority appreciated the innovation, some resisted, particularly the two-tier mail pricing system set to begin in September.
Long-term Aspirations:
The ambition was to automate 80% of UK mail using the Postcode system within nine years.
Manchester's Trajectory:
As part of the second batch of cities, Manchester hoped to achieve full system integration by 1971, keeping up with the requirements of a modernizing society.
| Unit | Area² |
|---|---|
| Hectares | 384,967² |
| Miles | 1,486² |
| Feet | 41,437,462,913² |
| Kilometres | 3,850² |
Postal Delivery Offices Serving the Postcode Area
- Atherton Delivery Office
- Chorlton Delivery Office
- Denton Delivery Office
- Droylsden Delivery Office
- East Manchester Delivery Office
- Eccles Delivery Office
- Failsworth Delivery Office
- Irlam Delivery Office
- Levenshulme Delivery Office
- Manchester Delivery Office
- Manchester North Delivery Office
- Manchester South Delivery Office
- Middleton (m) Delivery Office
- North East (m) Delivery Office
- North West (m) Delivery Office
- Openshaw Delivery Office
- Prestwich Delivery Office
- Radcliffe Delivery Office
- Sale Delivery Office
- Salford Delivery Office
- South East (m) Delivery Office
- South West (m) Delivery Office
- Stretford Delivery Office
- Tyldesley Delivery Office
- Urmston Delivery Office
- Wythenshawe Delivery Office
Tourist Attractions within the Area
We found 13 visitor attractions within the Manchester postcode area
| Imperial War Museum North |
|---|
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View Imperial War Museum North on Google Maps |
| Manchester United Museum & Tour Centre |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View Manchester United Museum & Tour Centre on Google Maps |
| Working Class Movement Library |
| Historic Properties |
| Other Historic Property |
| View Working Class Movement Library on Google Maps |
| Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) on Google Maps |
| People's History Museum |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View People's History Museum on Google Maps |
| Heaton Park Tramway |
| Railways |
| Steam / Heritage Railway |
| View Heaton Park Tramway on Google Maps |
| Chetham's Library |
| Other |
| View Chetham's Library on Google Maps |
| National Football Museum |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View National Football Museum on Google Maps |
| Manchester Craft and Design Centre |
| Workplace |
| Industrial / Craft Workplace |
| View Manchester Craft and Design Centre on Google Maps |
| Manchester Museum |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View Manchester Museum on Google Maps |
| Museum of Transport Greater Manchester |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View Museum of Transport Greater Manchester on Google Maps |
| Greater Manchester Police Museum & Archives |
| Museums & Art Galleries |
| Museum and / or Art Gallery |
| View Greater Manchester Police Museum & Archives on Google Maps |
| Oak House |
| Historic Properties |
| Historic House / House and Garden / Palace |
| View Oak House on Google Maps |
Councils within the M Area
Towns and Villages within the Area
- Irlam - town
- Kearsley - town
- Leigh - town
- Little Hulton - Urban Area
- Little Lever - town
- Manchester - city
- Middleton - town
- New Manchester - village
- Old Trafford - Urban Area
- Oldham - town
- Outwood - village
- Partington - town
- Pendlebury - Urban Area
- Prestwich - Urban Area
- Radcliffe - town
- Reddish - Urban Area
- Rhodes - village
- Sale - town
- Salford - city
- Simister - village
- Slattocks - village
- Stockport - town
- Stretford - town
- Swinton - town
- Trafford Park - Urban Area
- Trub - village
- Tyldesley - town
- Urmston - town
- Walkden - town
- Wardley - village
- Whitefield - town
- Woodhouses - village
- Worsley - town
- Wythenshawe - Urban Area