Nominet is the official registry for all .UK domain names, including .co.uk, .uk, .org.uk and .me.uk. You don't buy a domain from Nominet directly: you buy it from a registrar, and Nominet's site The UK Domain lets you compare registrars. To see who holds an existing .UK domain or which registrar it's with, use the Nominet Lookup tool.
Nominet has run .UK since 1996. It says it manages over 10 million domains, sees more than 120,000 new .UK domains registered each month, and works through a network of over 2,000 registrars. If you have a problem with your domain, Nominet's own advice is to go to the registrar you bought it from first.
Which .UK ending should you pick?
| Ending | How Nominet describes it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| .co.uk | The original domain for British business online | UK businesses |
| .uk | The shorter second-level ending | Short, modern brand names |
| .org.uk | Ideal for charities, fundraising and social causes | Charities and community groups |
| .me.uk | The alternative address for individuals | Personal sites and portfolios |
Nominet's research leans on trust: it cites a 2021 Trust and Awareness survey, run by Yonder on its behalf, in which 91% of people associated .co.uk with safety. If you sell to UK customers, that familiarity is worth having.
How to register a .co.uk domain
- Search the name on The UK Domain, Nominet's consumer site, using one or more .UK endings.
- Pick your ending: .co.uk, .uk, .org.uk or .me.uk.
- Choose a registrar from the list. You can filter by what else you need, such as email, hosting, a website builder or phone support.
- Complete the purchase with the registrar, not with Nominet.
- Set up a Nominet Online Services account so you can manage your .UK domains in one place.
What a .co.uk domain costs
Nominet doesn't set one public retail price; each registrar sets its own. On The UK Domain comparison tool in October 2026, registrar offers ranged from introductory deals such as £1 for the first year to £14.99 a year, and one listing offered the first year free. Check the renewal price, not just the first year, because several offers are first-year only. These are registrar prices as listed on The UK Domain, in pounds, as of October 2026.
The Nominet Lookup tool
If you need information about a domain that's already registered, Nominet's Lookup tool is the place. Enter a complete domain name, such as example.co.uk, and it shows the details held for that domain, including the registrar. That's the fastest way to find out which company your domain is with if you've lost track, which you'll need before you can renew, transfer or change anything.
If you're worried about what's shown publicly, Nominet's domain support FAQ covers whether your personal information is visible online, and our guide to WHOIS privacy explains what that kind of protection does and doesn't hide.
The catch: Nominet's rules change on 9 February 2027
Nominet calls it .UK Standardisation. On 9 February 2027 its systems and .UK policies change, and it says .UK registrars will need to act to keep an uninterrupted service. New policies come in, including a .UK Reseller Policy, a .UK Proxy Policy and a new transfer policy between registrars. Existing ones are revised, including the .UK Registrant Terms and Conditions, and the Rules of Registration become the .UK Registration Policy.
For a small business, the practical step is simple: make sure your registrar account and your contact details are current before then, and read any email from your registrar about the changes rather than filing it.
Do you have to host with your registrar?
No, and this trips people up. Nominet's domain support covers it directly: you don't have to host your domain with the same company you registered it with, and you can switch the registrar your domain is registered with. If your registrar is no longer available, The UK Domain has guidance on that too. Keep the registration and the hosting decisions separate, and you're never stuck with a host just because it sold you the name.
Disputes over a .UK domain
If someone has registered a .UK domain that uses your brand, Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) handles disputes such as who owns a domain or whether it infringes an existing trade mark. Nominet describes it as a way to resolve .UK domain disputes without the legal fees of going to court. Domains for Wales, .cymru and .wales, have their own policies, which Nominet notes are slightly different from .UK ones.
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Getting help from Nominet
- Start with your registrar. Nominet recommends managing your .UK domain through the registrar you registered it with.
- Use Online Services for account access, two-factor authentication and updating your contact details.
- Domain support runs Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 18:00 UK time, closed on UK bank holidays, by live chat, email or phone.
Once your domain is registered, put it to work: here's why your domain name is a marketing tool, and how to connect a domain to Wix if that's your website builder.
My advice
Register the .co.uk and the matching .uk together if both are free, so nobody else can take the twin. Choose a registrar on renewal price and support, not the first-year deal, and set a renewal reminder of your own. Then open a Nominet Online Services account, because that's what saves you when the email address on the domain stops working.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nominet?
Nominet is the official registry for all .UK domain names, including .co.uk and .uk. It has run .UK since 1996 and works through a network of over 2,000 registrars.
Can I buy a .co.uk domain directly from Nominet?
No. You buy .UK domains from a registrar. Nominet's site The UK Domain lets you search for a name and choose a registrar to complete the purchase.
How do I find out who my domain is registered with?
Use the Nominet Lookup tool and enter the complete domain name, such as yourbusiness.co.uk, to see information about the existing domain, including its registrar.
What is changing at Nominet in February 2027?
Nominet's systems and .UK policies change on 9 February 2027 under .UK Standardisation, with new and revised policies, and registrars will need to act to keep an uninterrupted service.
How do I resolve a dispute over a .co.uk domain?
Nominet's Dispute Resolution Service handles .UK domain disputes, such as who owns a domain or whether it infringes an existing trade mark, without going to court.
