Editing Postcodes in the United Kingdom (section)

=== Postcode area names ===
Postcode areas are usually, but not always, named after a major town or city – such as B for Birmingham. Some are named after a smaller town (e.g. Southall postcode area is UB after Uxbridge) or a combination of towns (e.g. SM appears to be named after '''S'''utton and '''M'''orden). A small number are regional – such as HS for the Outer '''H'''ebride'''s''', FY for '''Fy'''lde (the region around Blackpool) and ME for the '''Me'''dway conurbation, with Rochester as its main post town.  In the case of London (a Post Town), there is not a single "London" postcode area (such as "LO"); rather there are eight (N, E, EC, SE, SW, W, WC and NW) reflecting the preceding system for coding London based on compass points. In the case of Northern Ireland, the entire province has a single postcode area BT (named for '''B'''elfas'''t'''). The mnemonic features various combinations - most commonly, first two letters (CH for '''CH'''ester); first and last letters (BH for '''B'''ournemout'''H'''); first and key syllable letters (IV for '''I'''n'''V'''erness).  Postcodes generally do not align with historical county or local authority boundaries, and can also cross national boundaries (e.g. the CH and TD postcode areas).