Council tax by area: cheapest and most expensive councils, 2026/27
For an identical Band D home, the gap between the cheapest and dearest English council is over £1,500 a year. Below are the top ten of each, regional averages, and the seven councils granted permission to raise above the referendum cap this year.
10 cheapest English councils
| # | Council | Region | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westminster | London | £971 |
| 2 | Wandsworth | London | £980 |
| 3 | City of London | London | £1,128 |
| 4 | Hammersmith and Fulham | London | £1,304 |
| 5 | Tower Hamlets | London | £1,581 |
| 6 | Newham | London | £1,728 |
| 7 | Hillingdon | London | £1,798 |
| 8 | Bromley | London | £1,841 |
| 9 | Kensington and Chelsea | London | £1,855 |
| 10 | Camden | London | £1,873 |
Inner-London boroughs dominate. Strong business rates and historic political commitments keep household bills low.
10 most expensive English councils
| # | Council | Region | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rutland | East Midlands | £2,538 |
| 2 | Nottingham | East Midlands | £2,521 |
| 3 | Dorset | South West | £2,505 |
| 4 | Lewes | South East | £2,482 |
| 5 | North Northamptonshire | East Midlands | £2,477 |
| 6 | Bristol | South West | £2,470 |
| 7 | West Berkshire | South East | £2,464 |
| 8 | Hartlepool | North East | £2,459 |
| 9 | Wealden | South East | £2,453 |
| 10 | Gateshead | North East | £2,449 |
Unitary authorities and councils with high social-care demand tend to top the dearest list.
Regional averages, 2026/27
| Authority type | Average Band D |
|---|---|
| London boroughs | £1,684 |
| Metropolitan districts | £2,196 |
| Unitary authorities | £2,360 |
| Shire counties (incl. district) | £2,402 |
Approximate averages based on 2026/27 council tax statistics from MHCLG. London boroughs sit well below the national figure of £2,392.
Councils raising above the 4.99% cap in 2026/27
English councils can normally raise core council tax by up to 2.99 per cent, plus a 2.00 per cent adult social-care precept, without holding a local referendum. In 2026/27 the government granted seven councils permission to exceed that cap.
| Council | Approved increase |
|---|---|
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 6.74% |
| North Somerset | 8.99% |
| Shropshire | 8.99% |
| Trafford | 7.49% |
| Warrington | 7.49% |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 7.49% |
| Worcestershire | 8.99% |
Why London boroughs charge less
Inner-London boroughs benefit from three things at once: enormous business-rates income from offices and retail; a high concentration of high-value homes paying upper bands; and the structure of the Greater London Authority precept, which is comparatively modest. Westminster and Wandsworth in particular have made low council tax a long-standing political commitment.
Outside London, councils tend to rely more heavily on the household charge. Rural unitary authorities serve large areas with relatively few ratepayers and high social-care costs, which pushes Band D rates up.
Frequently asked questions
Why does council tax differ so much between areas?
Why is Westminster so cheap?
Are the most expensive councils always the worst run?
Which councils have raised council tax above the 4.99 per cent referendum cap in 2026/27?
Related: see what bands mean, all the 2026/27 changes, and how Scotland and Wales compare.