England has 457,153 registered care home beds, or 81.6 beds for every 1,000 people aged 75 and over, using CQC data at 1 October 2026 and the latest ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Only 61.7 beds per 1,000 are in homes rated Good or Outstanding. By council the supply ranges more than 4-fold, from 28.4 beds per 1,000 in Haringey to 140.9 in Middlesbrough.
In short
- 457,153 registered beds in 14,327 care homes for 5,605,761 people aged 75+ in England: 81.6 beds per 1,000.
- 345,987 beds (75.7%) are in homes rated Good or Outstanding: 61.7 per 1,000 people aged 75+.
- London has the fewest beds per older person (64.1 per 1,000) and the North East the most (92.3).
- 13 of the 15 councils with the lowest bed supply are London boroughs.
- Nursing home beds (homes registered to provide nursing care) number 223,270, or 39.8 per 1,000 people aged 75+.
How we measured access
We combined two official sources:
- Beds: the “Care homes beds” field in the CQC care directory with filters, showing the register at 1 October 2026. This is the number of beds each care home is registered for, not the number staffed, occupied or vacant. We counted active, non-dormant care homes (service type “Care home service with nursing” or “without nursing”) in England, counting each dual-registered home once. Average size: 31.9 beds per home.
- Good or Outstanding beds: beds in homes whose latest overall CQC rating (or “Care Homes” service rating, where CQC gives one) is Good or Outstanding.
- Population: ONS mid-year population estimates for mid-2025 (published 2026, the latest available) for people aged 75 and over, by county and unitary council, from Nomis. England total aged 75+: 5,605,761.
- Nursing home beds: all beds in homes registered for “Care home service with nursing”. Some of these homes also take residents who do not need nursing care.
- Exclusions from the rankings: City of London (608 people aged 75+, 0 beds) and Isles of Scilly (352 people aged 75+, 26 beds) have populations too small for a meaningful rate. They are included in regional and England totals. One care home (3 beds) has no council recorded in the CQC file, so it is counted in the England total only.
Beds include homes for younger adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs or physical disabilities, not just older people. People aged 75+ are used as the yardstick because they make up most care home residents. Care homes also take people from outside their council, so a low rate means local supply is tight, not that nobody from that area gets a place.
Contains CQC data © Care Quality Commission. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. CQC is not responsible for this analysis or its interpretation.
Councils with the fewest care home beds per older person
The 15 councils with the lowest number of registered care home beds per 1,000 residents aged 75 and over. The last column shows beds in Good or Outstanding homes.
| Rank (lowest first) | Council | Region | Registered beds | Population 75+ | Beds per 1,000 aged 75+ | Good/Outstanding beds per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haringey | London | 375 | 13,200 | 28.4 | 24.8 |
| 2 | Westminster | London | 375 | 12,537 | 29.9 | 24.3 |
| 3 | Hackney | London | 271 | 9,053 | 29.9 | 27.8 |
| 4 | Camden | London | 428 | 12,731 | 33.6 | 28.9 |
| 5 | Kensington and Chelsea | London | 373 | 11,006 | 33.9 | 33.5 |
| 6 | Southwark | London | 521 | 11,936 | 43.6 | 25.6 |
| 7 | Hammersmith and Fulham | London | 456 | 9,548 | 47.8 | 32.5 |
| 8 | Tower Hamlets | London | 387 | 7,723 | 50.1 | 40.4 |
| 9 | Richmond upon Thames | London | 893 | 17,336 | 51.5 | 50.2 |
| 10 | Bromley | London | 1,656 | 31,965 | 51.8 | 46.1 |
| 11 | Hounslow | London | 875 | 16,794 | 52.1 | 38.4 |
| 12 | Brent | London | 1,038 | 19,345 | 53.7 | 45.1 |
| 13 | Newham | London | 592 | 10,870 | 54.5 | 49.8 |
| 14 | Thurrock | East of England | 676 | 11,914 | 56.7 | 48.9 |
| 15 | West Berkshire | South East | 992 | 17,132 | 57.9 | 42.6 |
Councils with the most care home beds per older person
The 15 councils with the highest number of beds per 1,000 residents aged 75 and over. Some of these areas take many residents placed from neighbouring councils.
| Rank (highest first) | Council | Region | Registered beds | Population 75+ | Beds per 1,000 aged 75+ | Good/Outstanding beds per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesbrough | North East | 1,688 | 11,982 | 140.9 | 132.3 |
| 2 | Leicester | East Midlands | 2,827 | 20,644 | 136.9 | 104.0 |
| 3 | Newcastle upon Tyne | North East | 2,628 | 22,755 | 115.5 | 99.5 |
| 4 | Stoke-on-Trent | West Midlands | 2,568 | 22,501 | 114.1 | 73.5 |
| 5 | Kingston upon Hull, City of | Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,152 | 19,427 | 110.8 | 64.4 |
| 6 | Blackpool | North West | 1,627 | 14,795 | 110.0 | 81.8 |
| 7 | Croydon | London | 2,992 | 27,270 | 109.7 | 95.2 |
| 8 | Nottingham | East Midlands | 1,942 | 18,323 | 106.0 | 82.9 |
| 9 | Sefton | North West | 3,551 | 34,708 | 102.3 | 70.0 |
| 10 | Brighton and Hove | South East | 2,033 | 20,004 | 101.6 | 91.7 |
| 11 | Blackburn with Darwen | North West | 1,083 | 10,657 | 101.6 | 75.9 |
| 12 | Hartlepool | North East | 947 | 9,367 | 101.1 | 93.1 |
| 13 | North East Lincolnshire | Yorkshire and The Humber | 1,750 | 17,332 | 101.0 | 82.0 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton | West Midlands | 2,218 | 21,973 | 100.9 | 62.7 |
| 15 | Sandwell | West Midlands | 2,428 | 24,285 | 100.0 | 60.4 |
Where Good or Outstanding beds are scarcest
Raw bed numbers are only half the picture. These 10 councils have the fewest beds in Good or Outstanding homes per 1,000 people aged 75+. The England figure is 61.7.
| Rank (lowest first) | Council | Region | Good/Outstanding beds | Population 75+ | Good/Outstanding beds per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slough | South East | 162 | 6,909 | 23.4 |
| 2 | Westminster | London | 305 | 12,537 | 24.3 |
| 3 | Haringey | London | 328 | 13,200 | 24.8 |
| 4 | Southwark | London | 306 | 11,936 | 25.6 |
| 5 | Hackney | London | 252 | 9,053 | 27.8 |
| 6 | Camden | London | 368 | 12,731 | 28.9 |
| 7 | Hammersmith and Fulham | London | 310 | 9,548 | 32.5 |
| 8 | Kensington and Chelsea | London | 369 | 11,006 | 33.5 |
| 9 | Dudley | West Midlands | 1,285 | 34,892 | 36.8 |
| 10 | Hounslow | London | 645 | 16,794 | 38.4 |
Care home beds by region
| Region | Care homes | Registered beds | Population 75+ | Beds per 1,000 aged 75+ | Good/Outstanding beds per 1,000 | Nursing home beds per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1,215 | 33,803 | 527,715 | 64.1 | 55.2 | 39.2 |
| South West | 1,810 | 53,366 | 708,981 | 75.3 | 64.4 | 35.8 |
| East of England | 1,578 | 52,705 | 689,911 | 76.4 | 54.3 | 31.9 |
| South East | 2,665 | 85,215 | 1,010,283 | 84.3 | 62.9 | 45.8 |
| West Midlands | 1,640 | 50,961 | 599,278 | 85.0 | 59.3 | 44.5 |
| East Midlands | 1,415 | 44,185 | 512,166 | 86.3 | 63.5 | 36.2 |
| North West | 1,854 | 62,998 | 726,848 | 86.7 | 61.3 | 43.6 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 1,431 | 48,043 | 550,178 | 87.3 | 63.3 | 34.0 |
| North East | 718 | 25,874 | 280,401 | 92.3 | 81.1 | 47.4 |
| England | 14,327 | 457,153 | 5,605,761 | 81.6 | 61.7 | 39.8 |
The median ranked council has 80.4 beds per 1,000 people aged 75+.
What this means for families
In areas with few beds per older person, good homes fill quickly and waiting lists are common. Families there often need to start looking earlier and search wider.
- Start before a crisis. If a hospital discharge is likely, ask about care home options early. Our guide to care after hospital discharge explains how the process works.
- Widen the search area. A home just over a council boundary may have rooms. If the council is paying, you can still ask for a home of your choice under the Care Act 2014 choice of accommodation rules, though a top-up fee may apply if it costs more than the council’s rate.
- Check vacancies directly. Registered beds are not free beds. Use our care home vacancies page to see homes reporting availability.
- Know which type of home you need. Nursing beds are scarcer than residential beds in many areas. Our guide to residential or nursing homes explains the difference.
- Weigh quality as well as distance. Our care home ratings league table shows the share of Good or Outstanding homes in each council.
- Consider staying at home for longer. Where beds are tight, more home care or live-in care may bridge the gap. Compare options in live-in care vs a care home and see our home care agencies by area report.
Supply also affects price. Areas with few beds and many self-funders often have higher fees. Check care home fees by county and estimate costs with the care cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many care home beds are there in England?
There were 457,153 registered care home beds in 14,327 active care homes in England at 1 October 2026, according to CQC register data. That is 81.6 beds per 1,000 people aged 75 and over, using ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Registered beds are a maximum capacity, not the number of rooms free.
Which council has the fewest care home beds per older person?
Haringey had the fewest, with 28.4 registered care home beds per 1,000 residents aged 75+ (375 beds). Westminster (29.9) and Hackney (29.9) followed. 13 of the 15 lowest councils are London boroughs, where many residents move to homes outside the borough.
Which area has the most care home beds?
Relative to its older population, Middlesbrough had the most, with 140.9 beds per 1,000 people aged 75+, followed by Leicester (136.9). By region, the North East had the highest rate at 92.3 and London the lowest at 64.1. Some high-supply areas take residents placed from neighbouring councils.
Does a high number of beds mean it is easy to find a care home?
Not always. Registered beds show capacity, not vacancies, and homes may not staff every bed. Some areas with many beds also take residents placed by other councils. Quality matters too: compare beds in Good or Outstanding homes, and check vacancies and fees directly with homes.
What proportion of care home beds are in Good or Outstanding homes?
75.7% of registered beds in England (345,987 of 457,153) were in care homes rated Good or Outstanding at 1 October 2026. The rest are in homes rated Requires improvement or Inadequate, or not yet rated. That is 61.7 Good or Outstanding beds per 1,000 people aged 75+.
Can I choose a care home in a different council area?
Yes. Self-funders can choose any home. If the council is funding care, the Care Act 2014 choice of accommodation rules let you ask for a home in another area, provided it meets assessed needs and is available. A top-up may be needed if it costs more than the council would normally pay.
Sources
- CQC: Using CQC data (care directory with filters, 1 October 2026)
- ONS: Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Nomis: Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age
- Care and support statutory guidance (choice of accommodation, Annex A)
- Open Government Licence v3.0
Data correct as of the CQC 1 October 2026 release. Download the table: a CSV of the full council-level table is available on request through our contact page, as we cannot host downloadable files yet.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures checked October 2026.
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Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 29 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.