User:Richardguk/SW postcode area

The SW (South Western and Battersea) postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of south west London, England. The area originates from the South Western (SW1-10) and Battersea (SW11-20) districts of the London postal district.

History
The postcode area originated in 1857 as the SW district. In 1868 it gained some of the area of the abolished S district, with the rest going to SE. It was divided into numbered districts in 1917.

Coverage
The approximate coverage of the postal districts:

South Western
The South Western district consists of the postcode districts SW1-10. The SW1 postcode district is of very high density development and has been relatively recently divided into smaller postcode districts. Where districts are used for purposes other than the sorting of mail, such as use as a geographic reference and on street signs, the SW1 subdivisions continue to be classed as one 'district'. SW99 is a non-geographic postcode used for large businesses in the SW9 district. The South Western district includes postcode districts on both sides of the Thames.

Battersea
The Battersea district consists of the postcode districts SW11-20. It is entirely south of the Thames.

Adjacent areas
Clockwise from the east, the adjacent postcode areas are: SE (London SE), CR (Croydon), SM (Sutton), KT (Kingston upon Thames), TW (Twickenham), W (London W).

Places of interest
SW1 contains several distinctive postcodes:


 * SW1A 0AA - House of Commons
 * SW1A 0PW - House of Lords, Palace of Westminster
 * SW1A 1AA - Buckingham Palace
 * SW1A 2AA - 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
 * SW1A 2AB - 11 Downing Street, Chancellor of the Exchequer
 * SW1A 2HQ - HM Treasury headquarters

SW6 contains two top flight Football grounds, Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge and Fulham FC's Craven Cottage.