How to Address a Letter to England

Co-authored by Tami Claytor

Last Updated: November 4, 2022 References Approved

If you have to send a letter to England, it’s necessary that you address it correctly so that it gets delivered to the right destination. When addressing it, you’ll want to include the recipient’s name, address, and postcode on the bottom left of the envelope. Then, you’ll need to put the proper postage on the envelope before sending the letter.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Addressing the Letter to England

1
Write the name and address on the bottom left of the envelope. When writing a letter to England, the recipient's information goes on the bottom left of the envelope rather than the center. Print in large, legible letters and numbers so that the courier doesn't have trouble reading it.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Print the full name of the person on the first line. Include an honorific for formal letters, such as Mr., Mrs., Ms, Miss, Master, Dr., or Esq. Leave enough room on the bottom of the envelope so you can include the rest of the recipient’s information, such as their address.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- For example, the first line would look something like: Dr. Martin Strange.
Advertisement
3
Print the company name if you’re sending a letter to a business. If you are sending your letter to a business rather than a residential address, include the business name on the next line. This will help the courier locate the letter’s intended destination.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- So far the letter should look something like:
  Dr. Martin Strange
  ABC Company
4
Write the recipient’s street address or post-office box under the name. The street name and house number should go under your name if you’re sending the letter to a residential address. If you're sending the letter to a P.O. box, write the P.O, box number in this space.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- A P.O. box will look something like “P.O. Box 888.”
- If the letter is going to a company, write the street address under the company name.
- So far the letter should look something like:
  Dr. Martin Strange
  ABC Company
  432 Chapel Street
5
Record the city or town name and postcode under the street address. Write the full name of the town or city, then make a space and write the postcode without punctuation after it. If you didn’t get the postcode when you asked for the address, you can search for it online at https://www.royalmail.com/find-a-postcode.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- The largest cities in England include London, Manchester, and Liverpool.
- The letter should look something like:
  Dr. Martin Strange
  ABC Company
  432 Chapel Street
  Manchester WIP 6HQ
6
Write “England” under the postcode. The last line of the address should include the country that you’re sending the letter to, or in this case, England. This will let the post office know which country to send the letter to.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- The full address should look something like:
  Dr. Martin Strange
  ABC Company
  432 Chapel Street
  Manchester WIP 6HQ
  England

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Writing the Return Address and Mailing the Letter

1
Transcribe your return address on the back of the envelope. Write your name, address, city, and zip code or postcode on the back of the letter. This will ensure that you'll get the letter back if the letter doesn't get to its intended destination.^{[7]
X
Research source}
2
Purchase a Forever Global Stamp if you live the United States. Forever Global Stamps are used to send international letters if you're in the United States. The stamp costs $1.40 and is accepted for all letters that weigh 1 ounce (28,000 mg) or less. You only need 1 Forever Global Stamp for each letter.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- If your envelope weighs more than 1 ounce (28 g), you should take the letter to the post office.
3
Take your letter to the post office if you’re unsure of postage. If you don’t live in the United States, take the letter to the post office. Your post office will weigh the letter and tell you how much it costs to send it to England.^{[9]
X
Research source}
4
Send the letter at the post office or drop it in a mail box. Depending on where you live, the letter will take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to arrive in England.^{[10]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

Where does the return address go on the envelope?

Community Answer

On the back of the envelope (the side where you seal it). This is to avoid confusion between the sending and receiving addresses and to make sorting quicker.
Question

Is London considered Great Britain?

Community Answer

London is a city in Great Britain.
Question

How do you find a code?

Community Answer

Look for "Royal Mail postcode finder" or "Zoopla" online. These sites will find the postcode based on the street name and the house number.