Robert Burns has inspired the naming of over 920 street and house names across the United Kingdom, according to research from Royal Mail. Although 46% of Burns-related streets are in Scotland, his legacy is felt strongly across the UK. Glasgow contains the most Burns-related addresses in the UK with 72 addresses inspired by Scotland’s Bard.
London (31), Ayr (26), Mauchline (18) and Greenock (16) complete the top five. Some of the more unusual Robert Burns-related addresses include ‘Auld Lang Signs’ graphic designers in Irvine, ‘Haggis House’ in Newbury, ‘Old Whisky Road’ in Dundee and ‘Tam O’Shanter Drive’ in Stirling. The research was conducted ahead of Burns Night, and the Royal Mail revealed that the legacy of Robert Burns extends to the naming of 724 streets across the United Kingdom and 202 houses, with hundreds of the nation’s towns and cities containing at least one address inspired by the iconic poet and his works.
The Company analysed over 31 million addresses in its Address Management Unit to reveal the extent of the impact Scotland’s Bard has had on the names of houses and streets across the UK. Although 46% of Burns-related streets are in Scotland, the spirit of ‘Rabbie’ is very much felt across the rest of the UK – with the word ‘Burns’ featuring in over 450 street names across the UK from Bognor Regis to Barry to Burnley.
The UK’s most popular Burns-related street and house names are as follows:
| Most Popular Street Names | Most Popular House Names |
| Burns Road (108) | Red Rose Cottage (22) |
| Burns Avenue (62) | Burns House (16) |
| Burns Close (54) | Burns Cottage (14) |
| Burns Street (43) | Baird House (13) |
| Burns Drive (25) | Burns Court (12) |
| Burns Way (24) | Burns Farm (8) |
| Burns Crescent (22) | Red Rose House (5) |
| Mossgiel Road (14) | Baird Court (4) |
| Paton Street (14) | Burns Cottages (4) |
| Jean Armour Drive (13) | The Burns (4) |
The legacy of Robert Burns
The various homes that Robert Burns lived in throughout his life are a primary source of inspiration with 28 street names including the word ‘Lochlea’, 47 street names including the word ‘Mossgiel’ and 11 with ‘Mount Oliphant’. The women in his life have also proven to be muses for the nation’s addresses, including ‘Jean Armour Gardens’ in Kirkcaldy, ‘Clarinda Crescent’ in Mauchline and ‘Mary Campbell Court’ in Barnet.
Some other fascinating facts unearthed by the research include:
Several addresses are influenced by some of the poet’s most iconic verses, including ‘Auld Lang Signs’ graphic designers in Irvine, ‘Red Rose Gardens’ in Manchester and ‘Tam O’Shanter Drive’ in Stirling.
There are various street and house names around the country shaped by the more culinary aspects of Burns Night; including ‘Haggis House’ in Newbury, ‘Neeps Croft’ in Nottingham and Dundee’s ‘Old Whisky Road’.
‘Burns Road’ addresses exist all over London, including four in North West London and five in South West London. There is also a ‘Robert Burns Mews’ in Herne Hill.
Steve Rooney, Head of Royal Mail Address Management Unit, commented: “The work and life of Robert Burns forms an important part of Scottish history and the annual celebration of Burns Night represents the long-lasting impact Scotland’s Bard has had on the nation. Royal Mail delivers to over 31 million addresses across the UK, which puts us in the unique position of having direct access to all the amazing street and house names across the nations. Our latest research shows that the legacy of Robert Burns can be felt across the entire UK.”
The top 10 ‘Robert Burns hotspots of the UK’ are as follows:
Glasgow (72 addresses)
London (31)
Ayr (26)
Mauchline (18)
Greenock (16)
Clydebank (15)
Edinburgh (15)
Stirling (12)
Kilmarnock (11)
Manchester (10)
Main photo: Burns Cottage, Alloway. Photo: VisitScotland.