UK Passport – town of birth if born in London?

[EdPops]

Hi —

I'm applying for my DS2's first passport and unsure what to put as the 'Town of Birth' on the passport application form, London or the specific borough he was born in.

His birth certificate doesn't specifically state a 'town of birth', but instead a 'place of birth', that being UCLH, Camden. I've read elsewhere that you should use the town/place that's on the birth certificate (so in this case, Camden).

However, DS1's birth certificate has 'place of birth' as being Whittington Hospital, Islington, whilst on his passport under 'place of birth' it says London?! Hence the confusion.

Either!

From the guidance notes to home office staff -

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/994692/PlaceeandcountryyofbirthhV8.pdf#page4

"For example, if the birth certificate shows both a city borough and the city (such as Lambeth, London) you can record either one as the place of birth on the passport."

Pretty sure both of my kids passports say Chelsea, not London.

I'm sure I read on here that in the olden days London used to go on the passport but I more modern times in your example it would be Camden. If you're sending in the birth cert anyway just bung Lomdon on the form and let them sort it out?

Ive always said london - both were born at queen charlottes, chiswick.

My daughters says Chelsea. Born at Chelsea and Westminster

Put what it says on the birth certificate.

Our sons were born in the same London hospital but have somehow ended up with different places of birth on their passports - Brent and Harrow.

My kids (and mine! Born 1980s) have the borough rather than 'London'.

What's confusing is that DS1's passport says 'London' whilst London isn't mentioned on his birth certificate, just Islington the borough.

Wouldn't it be better to have both DS's passports consistent rather than DS1's saying 'London' and DS2's saying 'Camden'??

I tried to do this by putting the same place of birth for son 2 but the passport office just copied what was on the birth certificate. So it looks like they were born in different places even though it was the same hospital.

Well presumably you put London down when you applied for his passport.

Siblings don't have to be born in the same place either so they won't care if they say different things but are essentially both London

Strictly speaking Chelsea, or any other borough of London, is not a town. I’ve always put London for everything, unless there’s a dropdown that forces you to choose a borough of London, e.g:

County: London
City: London
Town: London

Looks a bit weird sometimes, but never had a form (incl. passport application) rejected!

My currently valid one just says London.

Makes us laugh as my husbands is such a specific tiny rural village and mine is so vague.

Kids say the town the hospital they were born in is.

Mine says the area of Greater London where the hospital was rather than where my parents lived

My original passport as a baby said Kensington. I have always put London for both me and my kids. I just think it’s easier.
Occasionally I’ve been asked questions about my passport by foreign border controls and it’s easier to answer with a well known city/be consistent.

I didnt put London. My passport has the London Borough I was born in, but my sister has London. I think they just accept whatever you put in there to be honest

I think i might go with London for consistency.

Another question, would you put Mr or Master for a 4 week old? I can't remember what we put for DS1's passport application and a title doesn't appear on the passport itself anyway.

My kids were both born in UCLH too and have Camden on their passport

I just put the London borough as that matched the birth certificates

@PeterPomegranate we had the exact same thing at this hospital- even better it’s twins who were apparently born in different boroughs 😂

I thought it was the place listed after the hospital. DD will have Tooting on hers 🤣 Whereas i have a random tiny village in the middle of the countryside, but where there was a maternity hospital where i was born.

Mine says London.

Mine says the are of the Register office I was registered under, not even the Borough or borough town but I think that’s cos they had register offices attached to the hospital.

not explaining very well, like Tooting for those born in St Georges

I was born in Golders Green but mine says London.

My dd's passport says London, presumably what I put on the form. Her birth certificate says Camden.

I have this confusion. DC1 was born at Queen Charlotte’s in Acton and the birth certificate and passport give place of birth as “London”. DC2 and DC3 both born at UCH - one birth certificate says London, the other says Camden, as if DC3 was born in Camden Market or the Hawley Arms.

MadeinChorley I like the idea of giving birth in the Hawley Arms 😁