Integration has risen higher up the political agenda in recent months with policy makers more alert to the high levels of segregation in parts of the country as well as inequality both between and within ethnic groups. This study attempts to find out which are the best and worst integrated places. It uses data from the 2011 census of England & Wales and focuses solely on places (towns, cities, London boroughs) with populations over 20,000 with ethnic minority populations (defined as all non-white British) of over 15 per cent.

Integration tends to be higher in the suburbs and satellites of major cities. It is lowest in places in the North West of England as well as in the East. A lack of integration is associated with places with large shares of Pakistani Muslims as well as recent arrivals from Eastern Europe and deprived households.