As Christmas draws nearer, new research from Royal Mail reveals that over 23,000 of the nation’s homes sports a festive name. Detailed analysis of Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File also reveals that almost 9,000 UK streets bear a name relating to Christmas.
The Company’s Address Management Unit analysed over 31 million addresses to evaluate the impact that the season of goodwill has had on the naming of our nation’s streets and houses.
I’ll be home for Christmas
Topping the list for festive house names is ‘Ivy Cottage’. There are nearly 3,000 ‘Ivy Cottage’ addresses alone across the UK. ‘Holly Cottage’ follows with almost 2,000 house names and ‘Stable Cottage’ with c1,500.
In fact, over 23,000 of the nation’s named homes sports a festive-themed name. There are over 240 ‘Christmas Cottages’ across the UK, and some of the more unusual festive house names include ‘Santa Villa’ in Cleator Moor, Cumbria, ‘Mince Pie Hall’ in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire and ‘Jingle Cottage’ in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
York (378) and Norwich (368) house the highest number of festively-named homes across the UK.
Deck the roads
If Good King Wenceslas was to look out on the streets of the UK, he would see that ‘King Street’ tops the list of the most popular festive-linked street names.
Christmastime traditions – including roasting chestnuts, holly decorations and jingle bells – have also inspired many a moniker for a British address.
The UK’s most popular festive street and house names are as follows:
| Most Popular Festive Street Names | Most Popular Festive House Names |
| King Street (1,617) | Ivy Cottage (2,873) |
| Chestnut Avenue (381) | Holly Cottage (1,834) |
| Chestnut Close (271) | Stable Cottage (1,471) |
| Bell Lane (237) | Holly House (982) |
| Chestnut Grove (197) | Ivy House (760) |
| Holly Road (169) | Chestnut Cottage (709) |
| Chestnut Drive (167) | The Chestnuts (649) |
| Mary Street (160) | Holly Lodge (549) |
| Bell Street (156) | Chestnut House (473) |
| Holly Close (153) | Fir Tree Cottage (355) |
London is the UK’s ‘most festive’ city, boasting 681 festive street and house names, including ‘Rudolph Road’ and ‘Noel Lodge’. Norwich comes in at second with 540 addresses, such as ‘Winter House’ and ‘Frost Close’.
| The UK’s Most Festive Cities & Towns |
| London (681) |
| Norwich (540) |
| York (487) |
| Bristol (355) |
| Birmingham (291) |
| Ipswich (285) |
| Nottingham (272) |
| Stoke-on-Trent (271) |
| Reading (255) |
| Southampton (250) |
Some of the most festive street names include ‘Santa Claus Drive’ in Aviemore, Scotland, ‘Christmas Pie Avenue’ in Guildford, Surrey and ‘Gift Lane’ in London.
Steve Rooney, Head of Royal Mail’s Address Management Unit, said: “The magic of the festive season clearly extends beyond the month of December in the UK, as so many Christmas customs and traditions feature in the names of our streets and houses. Street and house names reflect the UK’s heritage and our primary interests.”
Royal Mail delivering at Christmas:
Parcel Collect:
Royal Mail’s Parcel Collect service is a convenient way to send parcels or returns this Christmas. With this service, postmen and postwomen collect parcels and returns from customers while they carry out their daily round. As well as offering even higher levels of convenience, the move enables online sellers and online shoppers to mail or return a pre-paid item by post from the comfort of their own home. Royal Mail’s Parcel Postboxes are another option for sending parcels or return items.
Shop Early and Post Early for Christmas:
Royal Mail is encouraging customers to order their online gifts and shopping well in advance, and to post their festive greetings early, to help its postmen and women deliver the bumper festive mailbag. Its latest recommended posting dates for mail to arrive in time for Christmas are:
- Saturday 18 December
- 2nd Class
- 2nd Class Signed For
- Royal Mail 48®
- Tuesday 21 December
- 1st Class
- 1st Class Signed For
- Royal Mail 24®
- Thursday 23 December
- Special Delivery Guaranteed®
Further information is available at www.royalmail.com/greetings