Handel Street is in Swindon and in Thamesdown district. SN2 1BQ is located in the Gorse Hill and Pinehurst electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of North Swindon. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Handel Street, Swindon, SN2 1BQ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: SN2 1BG, SN2 1AA, SN2 8AA, SN2 1BH, SN2 1BE, SN2 8AB, SN2 1BL, SN2 1BN, SN2 1BJ.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding SN2 1BQ has a slightly higher male population, with 50.2% of residents being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 53.8% | 49.8% | -4.0% | 51.0% | -1.2% |
| Male | 46.2% | 50.2% | 4.0% | 49.0% | 1.2% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate vicinity of SN2 1BQ there is a very large concentration of residents that are married - 54.8% of the resident population. In contrast, the average marriage rate across the census is about 44%.
Areas with a high percentage of married residents are typically suburban neighborhoods, towns with good schools and family-friendly amenities, and regions with affordable, spacious housing options. Additionally, such areas can be popular among retirees.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 33.5% | 35.8% | 2.3% | 37.9% | -2.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 52% | 54.8% | 2.8% | 44.2% | 10.6% |
| Separated | 4.5% | 1.1% | -3.4% | 2.2% | -1.1% |
| Divorced | 5.9% | 5.7% | -0.2% | 9.1% | -3.4% |
| Widowed | 4.1% | 2.5% | -1.6% | 6.1% | -3.6% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 52.1% | 41% | -11.1% | 48.4% | -7.4% |
| Good health | 32% | 43.8% | 11.8% | 33.6% | 10.2% |
| Fair health | 13.5% | 11.9% | -1.6% | 12.7% | -0.8% |
| Bad health | 2.3% | 2.4% | 0.1% | 4.0% | -1.6% |
| Very bad health | 0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
This area stands out for its low percentage of residents with higher education degree. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 21.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 16.7% | 17.5% | 0.8% | 18.2% | -0.7% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 21.3% | 21.1% | -0.2% | 9.6% | 11.5% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 20.4% | 12.9% | -7.5% | 13.4% | -0.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 2.7% | 6.4% | 3.7% | 5.3% | 1.1% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 10% | 12.1% | 2.1% | 16.9% | -4.8% |
| Degree or Similar | 12.2% | 21.4% | 9.2% | 33.8% | -12.4% |
| Other | 16.7% | 8.6% | -8.1% | 2.8% | 5.8% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 47.6% of the residents identify as white, which is lower than the UK average of 81.4%, there are significant representations of other ethnic groups.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 1% | 0% | -1.0% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Indian | 11.2% | 40% | 28.8% | 3.1% | 36.9% |
| Pakistani | 4.3% | 2.7% | -1.6% | 2.7% | 0.0% |
| Other Asian | 6.6% | 0.6% | -6.0% | 1.6% | -1.0% |
| Black African | 2.6% | 3% | 0.4% | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.7% | 0% | -0.7% | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.3% | 0.3% | -1.0% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| White | 71.9% | 47.6% | -24.3% | 81.4% | -33.8% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Other | 0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
In this area, just 44.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom, meaning that the majority of residents originate from outside the UK.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 67.7% | 44.1% | -23.6% | 83.2% | -39.1% |
| European Union | 7.6% | 11.2% | 3.6% | 6.1% | 5.1% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.8% | -0.2% |
| Africa | 2.6% | 2.7% | 0.1% | 2.7% | 0.0% |
| Middle East and Asia | 15.8% | 35% | 19.2% | 5.6% | 29.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 5.6% | 6.3% | 0.7% | 1.3% | 5.0% |
| British Overseas | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
In this area majority of residents originate from outside the UK. Only 44.1% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. 17% of residents have lived in the UK for 10 years or more.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 67.3% | 44.4% | -22.9% | 83.2% | -38.8% |
| 10+ Years | 5.9% | 17% | 11.1% | 9.8% | 7.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 7.6% | 21.6% | 14.0% | 2.9% | 18.7% |
| 2-5 Years | 12.2% | 10.3% | -1.9% | 2.2% | 8.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 6.9% | 6.7% | -0.2% | 1.9% | 4.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 36.9% | 76.7% | -39.8% |
| Italy | 4.3% | 0.6% | 3.7% |
| Portugal | 24.3% | 0.5% | 23.8% |
| Spain | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Poland | 2.2% | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| Romania | 0.3% | 0.9% | -0.6% |
| Other EU countries | 3.7% | 1.5% | 2.2% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Southern Asia | 12.3% | 1.2% | 11.1% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Central and South America | 2.2% | 0.2% | 2.0% |
| No passport held | 11.4% | 13.5% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 17.7% | 37.2% | -19.5% |
| Christian | 74.9% | 46.2% | 28.7% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Muslim | 1.8% | 6.5% | -4.7% |
| Sikh | 3.1% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| Not answered | 2.1% | 6.0% | -3.9% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Handel Street was 128.7 per 1,000 residents, which is 43.6% higher than the Gorse Hill and Pinehurst average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Handel Street has the 26th highest crime rate of 92 local areas in Gorse Hill and Pinehurst and the 136th highest crime rate of 728 local areas in Swindon .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 58.5 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -51.5%.

Households in this area have a slightly lower level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 66% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Handel Street, Swindon, Swindon Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £203,000 | 2024-08-23 | £209,114 |
| 1 Handel Street, Swindon, Swindon Terraced, an established residential building | £185,000 | 2023-11-10 | £189,128 |
| 11 Handel Street, Swindon, Swindon Terraced, an established residential building | £202,000 | 2022-07-28 | £207,560 |
| 3 Handel Street, Swindon, Swindon Terraced, an established residential building | £191,000 | 2022-06-01 | £200,759 |
| 9 Handel Street, Swindon, Swindon Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £162,000 | 2019-04-29 | £203,941 |
The percentage of student residents living in SN2 1BQ area is much higher than the country's average. Usually places with high percentage of students are near Universities and near entertainment places.
| Full-Time Employee | 126 |
| Part-Time Employee | 35 |
| Retired | 26 |
| Self-Employed | 20 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 18 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 14 |
| Other | 12 |
| Looking after home or family | 11 |
| Unemployed | 11 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 31 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 27 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 20 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 17 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 12 |
| Human health and social work activities | 12 |
| Transport and storage | 11 |
| Education | 7 |
| Other | 6 |
| Construction | 6 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 5 |
| Information and communication | 3 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 1 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorse Hill Primary School Avening Street , Gorse Hill SN2 8BZ | 2out of 4 | 476 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ferndale Primary School & Nursery Wiltshire Avenue , SN2 1NX | 3out of 4 | 1,045 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Drove Primary School Drove Road , SN1 3AH | 4out of 4 | 1,253 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School Bessemer Road East , SN2 1PE | 3out of 4 | 1,276 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Queens Drive , SN3 1AR | 2out of 4 | 1,302 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph's Catholic College Ocotal Way , SN3 3LR | 3out of 4 | 1,353 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| UTC Swindon Bristol Street , SN1 5ET | 1out of 4 | 1,548 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Lawn Manor Academy Salcombe Grove , SN3 1ER | 2out of 4 | 2,228 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Nova Hreod Academy Akers Way , Moredon SN2 2NQ | 3out of 4 | 2,419 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Commonweal School The Mall , Old Town SN1 4JE | 3out of 4 | 2,677 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New College Swindon New College Drive , SN3 1AH | - not rated | 2,224 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swindon Academy Beech Avenue , SN2 1JR | 3out of 4 | 1,437 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOTAS Swindon Ferndale Road , Ferndale SN2 1HL | 3out of 4 | 833 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Crowdys Hill School Jefferies Avenue , SN2 7HJ | 3out of 4 | 1,305 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Horizons College Segal Centre , Stratton Road SN1 2PN | - not rated | 1,605 yd | Special post 16 institution | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Luke's Academy Cricklade Road , SN2 7AS | 1out of 4 | 2,556 yd | Academy special sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Nyland School Nyland Road , Nythe SN3 3RD | 3out of 4 | 2,944 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeeBuzz Swindon | 47 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 72 yd | |
| Casa De Carne | 37 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 72 yd | |
| Oana's Cakes | 18 - 22 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 86 yd | |
| It's Platinum Not Grey Ltd | 62 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 136 yd | |
| Shalom Kitchen | 74 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 162 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Century Club | 5-8 Bright Street, Gorse Hill | 167 yd | |
| Swindon North End Bowls Club | Pavillion St Marks Recreation Ground, Whitehouse Road | 277 yd | |
| The Swiss Chalet | Chapel Street, Gorse Hill | 356 yd | |
| The Tap And Barrel (Pub - Wet Sales) | The Tap And Barrel, 115 Manchester Road | 524 yd | |
| The Great Western Hotel | 73 Station Road, Swindon | 655 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillip's Traditional Fish & Chips | 39 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 72 yd | |
| Caprinos Pizza | 34 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 78 yd | |
| Tennessee Chicken | 30 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 78 yd | |
| Sliders Food & Takeaway | 24, 24 - 26 Cricklade Road | 81 yd | |
| The Tee Spot | 82 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 188 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland Foods Ltd | 55-67 Cricklade Road, Swindon | 72 yd | |
| Lidl UK GmbH | 57 Bright Street, Gorse Hill | 296 yd | |
| B&M Retail Ltd | Unit 1, Ocotal Way | 360 yd | |
| Tesco Extra | Ocotal Way, Swindon | 571 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Gorse Hill Primary School GORSE HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL GORSE HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL AVENING STREET | artificial grass pitch | 420 yd |
| Swindon Tennis Club Whitehouse Road | tennis courts | 503 yd |
| The County Ground COUNTY ROAD | grass pitches | 558 yd |
| Swindon Town Fc (The County Ground) COUNTY GROUND COUNTY GROUND COUNTY ROAD | grass pitches | 647 yd |
| Swindon Athletic Track County Road | athletics tracks, grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 720 yd |
| Swindon Gas Sports And Social Club SPORTS GROUND SPORTS GROUND GIPSY LANE | grass pitches | 754 yd |
| Southbrook Recreation Pinehurst Road | grass pitches | 875 yd |
| Ferndale Youth And Community Centre SOUTHBROOK STREET | grass pitches | 935 yd |
| Oasis Leisure Centre (Swindon) NORTH STAR AVENUE | artificial grass pitch, cycling, health and fitness suite, indoor bowls, squash courts, swimming pool | 1,046 yd |
| Kiss Gyms (Swindon) Paramount Building Paramount Building Princes Street | health and fitness suite | 1,084 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Median download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 93.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 200 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 13 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.