How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Christchurch

Town in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West

We analysed 2,044 postcodes in and around Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 13% of them (263) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 3% have mapped rail noise. 84% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at BH7 6JU (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Christchurch

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55-59 dB60-64 dB65-69 dB70-74 dB75 dB+Unshaded = below the mapping threshold or not modelled (not necessarily quiet).

How many postcodes are affected?

Road noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night8% (169)5% (105)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night4% (72)2% (50)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night<1% (17)<1% (7)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (5)<1% (4)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped87%92%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night3% (55)3% (55)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night<1% (2)<1% (2)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped97%97%

Share of the 2,044 postcodes within ~5 km of the Christchurch centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Christchurch

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: BH7 6DJ · BH7 6JU · BH23 1AE · BH7 6AU · BH7 6DL · BH23 2AW

What this data does — and doesn't — cover

  • Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
  • Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
  • No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
  • 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.

More detail on the methodology page.

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Nearby areas

Frequently asked questions

How noisy is Christchurch?
We analysed 2,044 postcodes in and around Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 13% of them (263) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 3% have mapped rail noise. 84% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at BH7 6JU (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Christchurch?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Christchurch are BH7 6JU, BH7 6DJ, BH7 6AU, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.