Shilbottle’s story
10 listed buildings, 1 of them Grade II*
Historic England lists them inside Shilbottle’s built-up area.
11% of its homes were built before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town.
Explore the history →
ShilbottleNorthumberland
The village has 1,787 residents and lies in Northumberland, North East.
7 places within 12 milesMap →
Photo: Graham Robson · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,787
Census 2021 · Northumberland council
Median home
£215K
77 sales in 3 years
Median age
46.2
20% are 65+ · Northumberland 25%
Degree level
27%
of residents 16+ · England 34%
Walk, cycle, bus
9%
of commuters · England 27%
Is Shilbottle a good place to live?
Safety is where it shines (A−) — 12.6 violent or sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, plus 8.1 home and vehicle crimes. The weak point is schools (C−): primary results beat just over two in five towns in England; secondary results beat 16% of towns in England. At a median £215,000, a home costs 4.6 times the yearly income of households in the Northumberland council area. It is hard to get around without a car: 9% of commuters get to work on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Figures: crime, police.uk, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026 · commuting, Census 2021 · prices, HM Land Registry, the last three years · incomes, ONS. Shilbottle has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Northumbria Police published 34 of the 36 months; rates are per year over the months published.
What makes Shilbottle stand out
The 3 things Shilbottle does most differently from other towns.
Walk, cycle or public transport
Getting around
9% leave the car
of commuters walk, cycle or take public transport (England’s towns 27%)
Listed buildings per 10,000 residents
History
1 Grade II*, including Church of St James; 2.3 times the typical UK town for its size
Historic England’s list, October 2026.
Rent against income, UK towns
Renting
£695 a month
ONS private rents, Northumberland council area.
How Shilbottle grades
Each subject compared with the 2,160 UK towns with an overall grade (schools within England), ordered by how far Shilbottle is from typical. American towns are graded separately.
Shilbottle has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Hazard risk0% of homes at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers or the seaAOpen →SafetyGraded on crime per residentA−Open →WalkabilityAmong the hardest places to get around without a carC−Open →Cost of livingAhead of most towns comparedA−Open →SchoolsPrimary results beat 42% of towns in England; secondary results beat 16% of towns in EnglandC−Open →Jobs & incomeMean household income £46,161; 2% of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefitsCOpen →HealthLife expectancy 80.3 for men, 83.5 for womenCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageC+Open →Outdoors49% live within 400 m of a park; 7% of land within 5 km is National Park or National LandscapeC−Open →Civic life3.9 local charities per 1,000 residents; 0% live within 1 km of a libraryBOpen →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All attractions →Alnwick Castle and 13 more in and around Shilbottle
Museums, castles, gardens and days out in and near Shilbottle. Best known first.
CastleAlnwick Castle4.6 km outside town, to the north
Castle · English HeritageWarkworth Castle4.6 km outside town, to the southeast
Heritage railwayAln Valley Railway3.1 km outside town, to the north
MuseumNorthumberland Fusiliers Museum4.7 km outside town, to the north
MuseumBailiffgate Museum4.7 km outside town, to the north
MuseumFerryman’s Hut Museum4.1 km outside town, to the eastPlaces: © OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata
Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (6)
- Alnwick Castle: Thomas Quine, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Warkworth Castle: Draco2008 from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aln Valley Railway: User.who.is.anonymous, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Northumberland Fusiliers Museum: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bailiffgate Museum: Russel Wills, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ferryman’s Hut Museum: Graham Robson, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Shilbottle.
Safety
Shilbottle has less crime per resident than 81% of UK towns
In the 12 months to August 2026, police logged 58 crimes and 17 reports of anti-social behaviour inside Shilbottle’s built-up area. Anti-social behaviour, shown but not graded, came to 6.7 reports per 1,000, below Northumberland’s towns (16.9) and England’s towns (7.8) alike. Violence and sexual offences accounted for two fifths of recorded crime.
12.6violent and sexual offences per 1,000 a yearA−Safety Grade
Compared with UK towns its sizeLess crime per resident than 65% of the 1,541 UK towns of 1,000 to 2,500 people: about the middle for its size. Context only, not part of the grade.
Reports by type · Sep 2025 to Aug 2026
Violence & sexual23
Damage & arson11
Other theft7
Public order5
Vehicle crime4
Other crime4
Burglary3
Drugs1
Anti-social17
Not gradedAnti-social behaviour, shoplifting and other theft are shown but left out of the Safety Grade, which counts violence and crimes against homes and vehicles per resident.
12.6
violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
8.1
burglary, vehicle crime and damage per 1,000 a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
6.7
anti-social behaviour reports per 1,000 (not graded)
58
crimes recorded in the 12 months to August 2026
data.police.uk street-level crime · points inside the ONS built-up-area boundary · OGL · The police category of violence and sexual offences includes harassment and stalking.
SchoolsC−
School results in Shilbottle are weaker than in 75% of towns in England
GCSE results at the one secondary school within 3 km: just over a third of pupils get a strong pass (grade 5+) in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 average is 41.3. The town has one school, shown below. 60% of pupils at the one primary school within 3 km met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (three-year average).
C−School Grade
| School | Level | Pupils | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shilbottle Primary SchoolLargest primary schoolPrimary | Primary | 71 | C+ |
Department for Education · GIAS, Key Stage 2 and GCSE resultsThe Schools page →
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
More commuters in Shilbottle drive than in Northumberland’s towns or England’s towns: 89%
The Census was taken on 21 March 2021, in lockdown, so 18% of workers were mainly at home; shares here are of those who travelled.
5% of commuters who live in Shilbottle also work there. The census counted 18% of workers working mainly from home. Short trips to work, under 5 km: 43%, above Northumberland’s towns (34%) and close to England’s towns (45%). The 2026 claimant rate among 16 to 64s was 2%.
9%walk, cycle or ride
How commuters got to work · March 2021
Driving89%
On foot5%
Bus4%
Bicycle1%
43%
of commuters travel under 5 km · England 45%
18%
worked mainly from home in March 2021
£46K
mean household income, before tax
2%
of 16 to 64s claim unemployment benefits (2026)
C−
Walkability: more walkable than 19% of UK towns
ONS Census 2021, method of travel and distance to work · ONS small-area income · DWP claimant count · OGL
HousingCost of living grade A−
Few households rent privately in Shilbottle: 13%, fewer than in Northumberland’s towns and England’s towns
23% live in social housing, above both Northumberland’s towns (19%) and England’s towns (18%). Behind the median of £215,000: 77 standard sales inside Shilbottle’s built-up area, September 2023 to August 2026. Private rents average £695 a month across the Northumberland council area.
£215Kmedian sale
Median sale price · Sep 2023 to Aug 2026
Shilbottle£215K
Typical UK town£277K
| By type | Median | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | £285,000 | 27 |
| Semi-detached | £190,000 | 25 |
| Terraced | £175,000 | 25 |
64%
of households own their home · England 61%
13%
rent privately · England 21%
£695
average private rent a month, Northumberland council area
£2,567
council tax, Band D, 2026–27
HM Land Registry Price Paid · ONS private rents · MHCLG / Welsh Government council tax · ONS Census 2021 tenure · OGL
Health
Shilbottle is 21.1 miles from the nearest A&E
Seeing a GP means leaving Shilbottle: the nearest practice is 2.7 miles away. At the census, nearly four fifths of people in Shilbottle called their health good or very good, higher than Northumberland’s towns (78%) yet lower than England’s towns (82%). 6% of residents report bad or very bad health.
79%good or very good healthCHealth Grade
General health, self-reported
Good or very good 79%Fair 15%Bad or very bad 6%
| Census 2021 | Shilbottle | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good or very good health | 79% | 78% | 82% |
| Bad or very bad health | 6% | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Disabled (Equality Act) | 18% | 22% | 17% |
80.3
life expectancy at birth, men (2019–23)
83.5
life expectancy at birth, women
ONS Census 2021, general health and disability · OHID Fingertips, life expectancy 2019–23 · OGL · These shares come straight from the census, without allowing for age, and young towns benefit; the Health Grade instead weighs age-adjusted measures, including life expectancy and early deaths.
History
Shilbottle has 10 listed buildings
The heritage lists give each building’s grade but not its age, so we don’t say which is oldest.
11% of its homes were built before 1919, below both Northumberland’s towns (21%) and England’s towns (16%). Grade II* covers 1 of them. For its size, Shilbottle has 56 listed buildings per 10,000 residents.
10listed buildingsC+History Grade
Listed buildings by grade · Historic England
Grade I0
Grade II*1
Grade II9
Among them · Grade II*
- Church of St James Grade II*
0
scheduled monuments
0
registered parks and gardens
11%
of homes built before 1919 · typical UK town 15%
56
listed buildings per 10,000 residents · typical UK town 24
Historic England list, October 2026 · Valuation Office Agency, homes by build period · OGL
Who lives here
Fewer people in Shilbottle hold a degree than in Northumberland’s towns or England’s towns: 27%
A fifth of residents are 65 or over, between Northumberland’s towns (25%) and England’s towns (18%). At 46.2, the median resident of Shilbottle sits in the middle of the age range. The under-15s are 17% of the population here.
46.2median age
ShilbottleNorthumberlandEngland
Ages · share of residents
20%
Qualifications · residents 16 and older
No qualifications18%
Apprenticeship6%
A levels or similar21%
Degree level27%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
About an even split. Across England, 51% of residents are women.
| Shilbottle | Northumberland | England | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 17% | 15% | 18% |
| 15–24 | 11% | 9.4% | 12% |
| 25–44 | 21% | 22% | 27% |
| 45–64 | 32% | 28% | 25% |
| 65+ | 20% | 25% | 18% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 19% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3% | 7.1% | 5.3% |
| A levels or similar | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Degree level | 27% | 29% | 34% |
ONS Census 2021 · Northumberland and England: all residents of their built-up areas · OGL
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Shilbottle
14pages on Shilbottle
The big questions
SafetyA−12.6 violent and sexual offences per 1,000 residents a year, averaged Sep 2023 to Aug 2026Cost of livingA−Median home £215K · rent £695 a monthHousing21 sold in 12 months · busiest street Tyelaw MeadowsSchoolsC−1 state schoolHealthCLife expectancy 80.3 (men), 83.5 (women)Work & commuteC41% of working residents work in the townFlood & hazardsA0% of homes at high or medium flood risk
Out and about
Shilbottle’s neighbours
The nearest built-up areas, from ONS’s 2022 boundaries. See them on the map →
AlnwickWarkworthAmbleFeltonLonghoughtonSouth BroomhillLongframlingtonShilbottle
How the neighbours grade
| Town | People | Miles | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shilbottle | 1,787 | — | — | A− | A− | C |
| Alnwick | 8,432 | 2.6 | C+ | B | D | C |
| Warkworth | 1,412 | 3.5 | — | C | B+ | C+ |
| Amble | 5,852 | 4.9 | C− | B+ | C− | C |
| Felton | 1,270 | 4.9 | — | C+ | A+ | B− |
| Longhoughton | 1,173 | 5 | — | B | A+ | A− |
| South Broomhill | 1,520 | 5.6 | — | B | C− | D |
| Longframlington | 1,357 | 6.5 | — | C | A+ | A− |
Warkworth, Felton, Longhoughton, South Broomhill and Longframlington have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. People: Census 2021. Miles: centre to centre.
Questions about Shilbottle
How many listed buildings are there in Shilbottle?
That is 2.3 times the typical UK town for its size.
Is Shilbottle safe?
Against all UK towns, it grades A−.
Are schools in Shilbottle good?
GCSE results trail 84% of towns in England, and primary results trail 58% (Department for Education, Attainment 8 and Key Stage 2). One state school is inside the town; places are handled by Northumberland council.
Is Shilbottle expensive to live in?
Homes cost less than in most UK towns: the median sale over three years was £215,000, against £277,000 in the typical UK town. By type: terraced houses £175,000, semi-detached houses £190,000 and detached houses £285,000.
About Shilbottle
Village in Northumberland, England
Shilbottle is a built-up area of 1,787 people, in the Northumberland council area. TownRatings uses ONS’s 2022 built-up areas as towns: the physical town, as people mean the word, rather than a council district, so its figures cover the town itself.
Built from ONS geography and Census 2021
- Population
- 1,787 (Census 2021)
- Council
- Northumberland
- County
- Northumberland
- Region
- North East
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km²)
- ONS code
- E63000019
Sources: ONS Census 2021, output areas summed to the ONS 2022 built-up area · HM Land Registry Price Paid (standard sales, September 2023 to August 2026) · ONS Price Index of Private Rents (August 2026, by council) · MHCLG and Welsh Government council tax, Band D 2026–27 (with parish precepts in England) · data.police.uk street-level crime, 36 months to August 2026, points inside the built-up-area boundary · ONS small-area life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, 2019 to 2023 (England and Wales), OHID Fingertips small-area indicators (England) and Census 2021 health, adjusted for age · ONS small-area income estimates (financial year ending 2023) · DWP claimant count via Nomis (January to August 2026) · Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.