Web Design in the North East

The largest towns and cities in the North East

By population, the largest built-up areas are Newcastle upon Tyne (286,472), Sunderland (168,323), Middlesbrough (148,232), Gateshead (115,278), Darlington (93,022), Hartlepool (88,001), Stockton-on-Tees (84,824), South Shields (73,326), Tynemouth (60,611) and Washington (51,318).

Rules for a business with a website in England

• A limited company has to be registered with Companies House before it starts trading; registering online costs £100. GOV.UK: register a limited company
• A limited company must include its name on all company documents, publicity and letters, and on business letters, order forms and websites it must also show its registered number, its registered office address and where it is registered. GOV.UK: company names on websites
• Organisations, including sole traders, that use personal information need to pay a data protection fee to the ICO, although many can rely on an exemption; the tier 1 fee is £52. ICO: data protection fee
• You cannot set non-essential cookies on your website before the visitor has consented to them, and that consent must be actively and clearly given. ICO: cookies
• You must not send marketing emails or texts to individuals without specific consent; there is a limited exception for your own previous customers, often called the soft opt-in. ICO: email marketing
• When you sell online, you must tell the customer they can cancel their order up to 14 days after it is delivered, and they do not need to give a reason. GOV.UK: online and distance selling
• Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, whose rules on this came into force on 6 April 2025, you must not commission fake reviews or pretend to be a consumer leaving one, and if you publish consumer reviews you have to take appropriate steps to make sure they are genuine. GOV.UK: unfair commercial practices

This is general information, not legal advice.

Web design in every town and city of the North East

Places are grouped by local authority. Choose yours for local numbers, nearby towns and the rules that apply.