SafekipediaSouth East England
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England used for statistical purposes. It includes nine counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex. This region is the third-largest in England, covering about 19,072 square kilometres, and is the most populous, with over 9.6 million people as of 2024.
The area is very close to London, which has helped it become a prosperous economic center. It has the largest economy in the UK outside of London and is home to Gatwick Airport, the country’s second busiest. The region also features beautiful coastlines along the English Channel, offering ferry routes to Europe.
South East England is rich in history and landmarks. Important cities include Brighton and Hove, Canterbury, Chichester, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Winchester. Famous sites such as Windsor Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, the White Cliffs of Dover, and the New Forest National Park are all located here. The River Thames flows through the region, and it contains several areas of natural beauty like the South Downs and the Chiltern Hills. The University of Oxford, the oldest English-speaking university in the world, is also found in this region.
History
The Meonhill Vineyard near Old Winchester Hill in Hampshire is an example of where the Romano-British grew Roman grapes.
Much of the Battle of Britain was fought over this region, especially in Kent. RAF Bomber Command was based at High Wycombe. Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire was the main Allied center for codebreaking during World War II. The Colossus computer, considered the world’s first, began working there in 1944.
John Wallis of Kent introduced the symbol for infinity and standard notation for powers of numbers in 1656. Sir David N. Payne at the University of Southampton invented the erbium-doped fibre amplifier in the 1980s, which became essential for the internet. Henry Moseley at Oxford discovered Moseley’s law of X-ray spectra, helping to assign correct atomic numbers to elements. Carbon fibre was invented in 1963 at Farnborough.
Donald Watts Davies invented packet switching in the late 1960s, which helped form the ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet. Alec Reeves invented pulse-code modulation in 1937, the standard for digital audio recordings. Sir John Herschel from Kent invented the term “photography” in 1839 and discovered the first photographic fixer.
Geography
The highest point in South East England is Walbury Hill in Berkshire, standing at 297 meters tall. The region is also home to Britain's tallest native tree, a 144-foot beech located at Devil's Dyke in Newtimber Woods in West Sussex.
The area includes many cities and towns such as Aldershot, Ashford, Aylesbury, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Brighton and Hove, Canterbury, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, Farnborough, Gosport, Guildford, Hastings, High Wycombe, Margate, Maidstone, Medway, Milton Keynes, Newport, Oxford, Portsmouth, Ramsgate, Reading, Slough, Southampton, Winchester, Woking and Worthing.
Demographics
Further information: List of districts in South East England by population
The South East England region is the most populous part of England. In 2011, about 8.6 million people lived there. Big places include South Hampshire, Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton, and Reading. Many people living close to London are part of the Greater London Urban Area.
Most people in the South East are White British. According to the 2021 census, about 79% of people are from this group. Other groups include Other White, British Asian, Mixed Race, Black British, and other groups.
| Census | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 962,350 | |
| 1811 | 1,072,563 |  10.3 |
| 1821 | 1,239,883 | 13.5 |
| 1831 | 1,378,755 | 10.1 |
| 1841 | 1,561,792 | 11.7 |
| 1851 | 1,687,558 | 7.5 |
| 1861 | 1,957,208 | 13.8 |
| 1871 | 2,226,880 | 12.1 |
| 1881 | 2,496,534 | 10.8 |
| 1891 | 2,776,842 | 10.1 |
| 1901 | 3,093,606 | 10.2 |
| 1911 | 3,472,091 | 10.9 |
| 1921 | 3,718,228 | 6.6 |
| 1931 | 3,995,122 | 6.9 |
| 1941a | 4,443,002 | 10.1 |
| 1951 | 4,976,340 | 10.7 |
| 1961 | 5,738,844 | 13.3 |
| 1971 | 6,718,771 | 14.6 |
| 1981 | 7,025,593 | 4.4 |
| 1991 | 7,677,641 | 8.5 |
| 2001 | 8,000,550 | 4.0 |
| 2011 | 8,634,750 | 7.9 |
| 2021 | 9,278,063 | 7.4 |
| City/town | Ceremonial county | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| City/town (2019) | Conurbation (2011) | ||
| Brighton and Hove | East Sussex | 290,885 | 474,485 |
| Milton Keynes | Buckinghamshire | 269,457 | 229,941 |
| Southampton | Hampshire | 252,520 | 855,569 |
| Portsmouth | Hampshire | 214,905 | |
| Slough | Berkshire | 164,455 | 163,777 |
| Reading | Berkshire | 161,780 | 318,014 |
| Oxford | Oxfordshire | 152,457 | 171,380 |
| High Wycombe | Buckinghamshire | 125,257 | 133,204 |
| Basingstoke | Hampshire | 113,776 | 107,642 |
| Maidstone | Kent | 113,137 | 107,627 |
| Crawley | West Sussex | 112,409 | 180,508 |
| Worthing | West Sussex | 110,570 | |
| Gillingham | Kent | 104,157 | 243,931 |
| Eastbourne | East Sussex | 103,745 | 118,219 |
| Ethnic group | 1981 estimates | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | 6,691,186 | 97.2% | 7,271,256 | 96.9% | 7,608,989 | 95.10% | 7,827,820 | 90.65% | 8,009,380 | 86.2% |
| White: British | – | – | – | – | 7,304,678 | 91.3% | 7,358,998 | 85.22% | 7,315,058 | 78.8% |
| White: Irish | – | – | – | – | 82,405 | 1.02% | 73,571 | 0.9% | 78,219 | 0.8% |
| White: Irish Traveller/Gypsy | – | – | – | – | – | – | 14,542 | 0.2% | 16,748 | 0.2% |
| White: Roma | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 12,786 | 0.1% |
| White: Other | – | – | – | – | 221,906 | 2.77% | 380,709 | 4.4% | 586,569 | 6.3% |
| Asian or Asian British: Total | – | – | 149,198 | 2% | 219,704 | 2.74% | 452,042 | 5.23% | 650,545 | 7% |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | – | – | 64,888 | 0.9% | 89,219 | 1.1% | 152,132 | 1.76% | 241,537 | 2.6% |
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | – | – | 35,946 | 0.5% | 58,520 | 99,246 | 145,311 | 1.6% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | – | 8,546 | 0.1% | 15,358 | 27,951 | 39,881 | 0.4% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | – | – | 18,226 | 0.2% | 33,089 | 53,061 | 64,329 | 0.7% | ||
| Asian or Asian British: Asian Other | – | – | 21,592 | 0.3% | 23,518 | 119,652 | 1.38% | 159,487 | 1.7% | |
| Black or Black British: Total | – | – | 46,636 | 0.6% | 56,914 | 0.71% | 136,013 | 1.57% | 221,584 | 2.4% |
| Black or Black British: African | – | – | 9,588 | 0.1% | 24,582 | 87,345 | 150,540 | 1.6% | ||
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | – | – | 23,633 | 0.3% | 27,452 | 34,225 | 43,523 | 0.5% | ||
| Black or Black British: Other | – | – | 13,415 | 0.2% | 4,880 | 14,443 | 27,521 | 0.3% | ||
| Mixed: Total | – | – | – | – | 85,779 | 1.07% | 167,764 | 1.94% | 260,871 | 2.8% |
| Mixed: White and Caribbean | – | – | – | – | 23,742 | 0.3% | 45,980 | 62,087 | 0.7% | |
| Mixed: White and African | – | – | – | – | 9,493 | 0.1% | 22,825 | 38,633 | 0.4% | |
| Mixed: White and Asian | – | – | – | – | 29,977 | 0.4% | 58,764 | 88,106 | 0.9% | |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | – | – | 22,567 | 0.3% | 40,195 | 72,045 | 0.8% | |
| Other: Total | – | – | 32,964 | 0.4% | 29,259 | 0.36% | 51,111 | 0.59% | 135,683 | 1.4% |
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19,363 | 29,574 | 0.3% | |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | – | 32,964 | 0.4% | 29,259 | 0.36% | 31,748 | 0.36% | 106,109 | 1.1% |
| Ethnic minority: Total | 191,229 | 2.8% | 228,798 | 3.1% | 391,656 | 4.9% | 806,930 | 9.4% | 1,268,683 | 13.8% |
| Total | 6,882,415 | 100% | 7,500,054 | 100% | 8,000,645 | 100% | 8,634,750 | 100% | 9,278,063 | 100% |
| Religion | 2021 | 2011 | 2001 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Christianity | 4,313,319 | 46.5% | 5,160,128 | 59.8% | 5,823,025 | 72.8% |
| Islam | 309,067 | 3.3% | 201,651 | 2.3% | 108,725 | 1.4% |
| Hinduism | 154,748 | 1.7% | 92,499 | 1.1% | 44,575 | 0.6% |
| Sikhism | 74,348 | 0.8% | 54,941 | 0.6% | 37,735 | 0.5% |
| Buddhism | 54,433 | 0.6% | 43,946 | 0.5% | 22,005 | 0.3% |
| Judaism | 18,682 | 0.2% | 17,761 | 0.2% | 19,037 | 0.2% |
| Other religion | 54,098 | 0.6% | 39,672 | 0.5% | 28,668 | 0.4% |
| No religion | 3,733,094 | 40.2% | 2,388,286 | 27.7% | 1,319,979 | 16.5% |
| Religion not stated | 566,279 | 6.1% | 635,866 | 7.4% | 596,896 | 7.5% |
| Total population | 9,278,068 | 100% | 8,634,750 | 100% | 8,000,645 | 100% |
Governance and politics
South East England is an official region used for statistical and planning purposes, but it does not have a directly elected regional government. From 1998 to 2010, local councils sent representatives to the voluntary South East England Regional Assembly, which was later replaced by South East England Councils.
Traditionally, this region has voted mostly for the Conservative party. However, in the 2024 election, the votes were almost evenly split between the Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrats parties. Some areas, like Oxford and Brighton Pavilion, have voted for different parties in the past.
| Date of election | Electorate | Con | Lab | Lib Dem | Reform/UKIP | Green | Others | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July 2024 | 4,351,000 | 30.6% | 24.5% | 21.9% | 14.0% | 6.9% | 2.1% | 6.5% |
| 12 December 2019 | 4,652,810 | 54.0% | 22.1% | 18.2% | 0.2% | 3.9% | 1.5% | 31.9% |
| 8 June 2017 | 4,635,741 | 54.8% | 28.7% | 10.6% | 2.3% | 3.1% | 0.5% | 26.1% |
| 7 May 2015 | 4,394,400 | 50.8% | 18.3% | 9.4% | 14.7% | 5.2% | 1.5% | 32.5% |
| 6 May 2010 | 4,294,240 | 49.9% | 16.2% | 26.2% | 4.1% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 23.7% |
| 5 May 2005 | 3,901,598 | 45.0% | 24.4% | 25.4% | 3.1% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 19.6% |
| 7 June 2001 | 5,187,711 | 42.6% | 31.7% | 21.6% | 4.1% | 10.9% | ||
| 1 May 1997 | 4,341,608 | 41.9% | 29.1% | 23.3% | 5.7% | 12.8% | ||
| 9 April 1992 | 6,455,871 | 54.5% | 20.8% | 23.3% | 1.4% | 31.2% | ||
| 11 July 1987 | 6,087,487 | 55.6% | 16.8% | 27.2% | 0.5% | 28.4% | ||
| 9 June 1983 | 9,101,444 | 50.5% | 21.1%. | 27.1% | 1.0% | 23.4% | ||
Education
The South East England region has a mix of different school systems. Some areas, like Buckinghamshire, Medway, Kent, and Slough, use a selective education system with grammar schools and secondary modern schools. Other areas have comprehensive schools. Kent has the most grammar schools in the region with 33, followed by Buckinghamshire with 13.
The region is home to many well-known universities. The University of Oxford is perhaps the most famous, known for its academic achievements. Other universities in the region include the University of Brighton, University of Kent, University of Portsmouth, University of Southampton, and University of Surrey, among others. These universities attract students from across the UK and beyond.
Economy
The South East of England has a strong economy, being the second largest in the UK after London. In 2006, its economy was worth £177 billion. People in this area tend to earn more than the UK average.
Many technology companies have offices in places like Surrey and Berkshire. Big names such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Vodafone have their UK headquarters here. The area around Gatwick Airport is also a center for high-tech industries.
| South-East Region | GDP € | GDP per capita € (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | €45.2 bn | €51,500 (includes Borough of Reading) |
| Buckinghamshire | €18.6 bn | €36,100 (excludes City of Milton Keynes UA) |
| Oxfordshire | €25.3 bn | €38,000 |
| Milton Keynes | €12.8 bn | €50,300 |
| Brighton & Hove | €8.4 bn | €30,400 |
| East Sussex CC | €11.1 bn | €20,800 |
| Surrey | €46.6 bn | €40,500 |
| West Sussex | €24.6 bn | €32,000 |
| Portsmouth | €6.8 bn | €33,000 |
| Southampton | €7.4 bn | €30,700 |
| Hampshire CC | €44.6 bn | €33,400 (excludes Portsmouth and Southampton) |
| Isle of Wight | €2.8 bn | €20,300 |
| Medway | €5.6 bn | €20,900 |
| Kent CC | €38.6 bn | €25,900 |
| TOTAL | €300.5 bn | €34.200 |
Transport
The main road transport routes in South East England include the M1 through Buckinghamshire, the M40 through Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and the M4 through Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Other important roads are the M2 motorway/A2 and M20 through Kent, the M23 through Surrey and West Sussex, and the M3 through Surrey and Hampshire. All these roads connect to the M25, which runs near the region's border with Greater London.
The main airport is Gatwick Airport, with other airports at Kent International Airport, Shoreham Airport, and Southampton Airport. Heathrow Airport in Greater London also serves the area. Important train lines include the Great Western Main Line, the South Eastern Main Line, and High Speed 1 which connects to the Channel Tunnel. The region also has busy ports such as the Port of Dover with ferry services to France.
Economic activity by county
Berkshire
Berkshire is home to many notable companies, including Nvidia UK, known for smartphone components, and The Range, a furniture and homeware retailer. Other significant businesses include PepsiCo, Porsche Cars Great Britain, and Harley-Davidson UK. The Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston is a key site for nuclear safety.
Buckinghamshire
High Wycombe is famous for its furniture industry, with companies like Hyundai UK and Tetra Pak UK located there. Milton Keynes hosts many national companies, such as Santander UK operations and the Home Retail Group, which includes Argos and Homebase.
Hampshire
Aldershot is a major garrison town with the presence of the Army and Sandhurst. Farnborough is a hub for aerospace companies. Southampton is home to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest cruise ship operator.
Kent
Bluewater in Greenhithe is one of the largest shopping centers in the UK. The Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham is Britain's oldest brewer. Kent is also known for growing three-quarters of the UK's Bramley apples.
Oxfordshire
Oxford is a significant educational and technological hub, with the presence of Oxford University Press and the BMW plant that builds the Mini. The Joint European Torus project in Culham is developing fusion power technology.
Surrey
Guildford is a key business location with headquarters of companies like Allianz Insurance and Colgate-Palmolive. Woking is home to McLaren and McLaren Automotive. The area also hosts several technology and automotive companies.
Sussex
Horsham is home to the RSA Insurance Group and Campina UK. Crawley is a major business hub with companies like Virgin Atlantic and Nestlé UK. Brighton and Hove host various technology and service companies, including American Express UK.
Culture
The culture of South East England has been shaped by its scenic landscapes, its role as a home for people who work in London, and the many creative industries based there.
Many famous stories and characters come from this area. For example, the forest in East Sussex inspired the setting for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Alice in Wonderland’s inspiration lived in Oxford and later in Hampshire. Other well-known characters like Mr. Men, Rupert Bear, and Dan Dare also have connections to places in South East England. The region has also been important for music, with composers and writers living and working in places like West Sussex and Oxfordshire. Local foods such as Pimm’s, Banoffee pie, and the Granny Smith apple all originated here.
Images
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