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List of ports in Great Britain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Seaports are special places on the coast or along rivers where ships can load and unload goods and passengers. They are like big gateways for trade, helping countries buy and sell things with other parts of the world. Great Britain has many important seaports that help bring in everything from food and clothes to cars and electronics. This article lists some of the main seaports in Great Britain.

Who Runs Great Britain's Seaports?

Many of the biggest seaports in the UK are owned and run by five main companies: Associated British Ports (ABP), Forth Ports, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), Peel Group, and PD Ports. Besides these, some large ports are run by independent groups called "trust ports," like those in Aberdeen, Belfast, Blyth, Dover, London, and Milford Haven.

All these port operators are part of the British Ports Association. This group helps ports work together and shares important information about trade.

What Are Freeports?

Some ports in the UK are becoming "Freeports." These are special areas where customs rules are different. When goods arrive at a Freeport, they don't have to pay taxes or duties right away. This only happens if the goods leave the Freeport and go into the rest of the country. This system helps businesses by making it easier and cheaper to import and export goods.

Busiest Cargo Ports in England

Here are some of the busiest ports in England, where lots of goods are moved by ship.

No. Name Started Image Town/City Owner
1 Port of Felixstowe 1875 Aerial view of the Port of Felixstowe.jpg Felixstowe Hutchison Port Holdings
2 Port of Southampton 1843 PXL 20220828 112723994 (1).jpg Southampton Associated British Ports
3 Port of Tilbury 1908 Carpathia Unloading at Tilbury docks - geograph.org.uk - 2091919.jpg London Forth Ports
4 Port of London 2013 London Gateway seen from a passing boat.jpg London DP World
5 Port of Immingham 1912 Immingham Bulk Terminals - geograph.org.uk - 408348.jpg Immingham Associated British Ports
6 Port of Liverpool 1971 Royal Seaforth Containerterminal.jpg Liverpool The Peel Group
7 Port of Tees 1992 Container Terminal, Teesport - geograph.org.uk - 1453170.jpg Middlesbrough PD Ports
8 Port of Tyne 1968 Port of Tyne crane, River Tyne, 17 September 2014.JPG Tyne and Wear Port of Tyne Authority
9 Port of Bristol 1978 Somerset north portbury dock.jpg Bristol The Bristol Port Company

Other Important Seaports

Here is a list of other important seaports around Great Britain, listed as you would find them if you traveled clockwise around the coast, starting from the Scottish border.

Ports in North-eastern England

Ports in Yorkshire and the Humber

Ports in The Wash and East Anglia

Ports in the Thames Estuary and Kent

Ports on the South Coast (including Isle of Wight)

Ports in the West Country

Ports in the Bristol Channel (England)

Ports in the Bristol Channel (Wales)

Ports in West and North Wales

Ports in Northwest England

Ports in Southwest Scotland

Ports in Northwest Scotland

Ports in Northeast Scotland

Ports in Southeast Scotland

See also

  • List of ports and harbours in Scotland
  • List of ports and harbours in Wales
  • List of ports and harbours in Northern Ireland
  • List of RNLI stations
  • List of free ports § United Kingdom
  • the Cinque Ports, and their Lord Warden
  • List of vice-admirals of the coast
  • List of Panamax ports § Great Britain
  • List of busiest ports in Europe
  • List of ferry operators § Europe
  • List of ports
  • List of ports and harbours of the Atlantic Ocean
  • Canal & River Trust
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