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Region · England

South West

Explore the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset alongside Bristol, Bath and the region's inland countryside.

Quick facts

Type of place
Region
Nation
England
Official identifier
gss:E12000009

Overview

South West England brings together the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, inland countryside, and cities including Bristol and Bath. It is an English region rather than a single local authority. Its places range from seaside communities to cultural venues, with Stonehenge providing a much older historical example.

This region helps you explore places in England. It does not have its own local council.

Population and demographics

Land area
23,835.86 km²

Figures for . ONS EW MYE25 workbook geography: Notes April 2024; landing edition 2023 boundaries.

Office for National Statistics · ons-mid-2025 · MYE5!D313 (binary spreadsheet decimal rounded to 6 dp). Released 29 July 2026.

Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0

Population
5,906,997 people

Figures for . ONS EW MYE25 workbook geography: Notes April 2024; landing edition 2023 boundaries.

Office for National Statistics · ons-mid-2025 · MYE2 - Persons!D313. Released 29 July 2026.

Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0

Population density: 247.8 people per km²

Calculated from the population and land area for 30 June 2025, using figures from the same release and covering the same boundaries.

Coasts, countryside and cities

The region's coastal settings sit alongside gardens, museums and urban cultural venues. Bristol and Bath are among its city destinations, while the coastlines of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset offer different places to explore. A regional view brings these urban, rural and coastal settings together without treating them as one town or council.

Stonehenge and prehistoric connections

In Wiltshire, the stone circle at Stonehenge dates from about 2500 BC, in the late Neolithic period. Some stones, known as bluestones, came from the Preseli Hills in south-west Wales; the exact method used to transport them remains unknown. Stonehenge and Avebury became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The Welsh origin of the bluestones shows connections across places that now belong to different UK nations, long before those national boundaries existed.

Sources

  1. Places to visit in South West England — VisitEngland. South West England includes the coastlines of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, alongside inland countryside and cities such as Bristol and Bath. (Opening regional overview). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. History and stories: Stonehenge — English Heritage. Stonehenge's stone circle dates from about 2500 BC, in the late Neolithic period. (Stone circle, bluestones and World Heritage). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Visit - South West — English Heritage. English Heritage includes Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, among its South West sites. (South West overview; Stonehenge, Wiltshire; regional highlights). Accessed 2026-09-28.

  4. ONS English regions December 2025

    Office for National Statistics · regions-2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0