For local government purposes, England (excluding London) was divided into 39 non-metropolitan counties and six metropolitan counties, all with county councils.
Most non-metropolitan counties retain the well known names, such as Cornwall, Cheshire, Hampshire, Kent and Norfolk.
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county in the North West of England, which takes its name from the city of Lancaster.
In Wales there was not a distinction between metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties, and in 1996 counties were replaced by principal areas.
