The area covers parts of the London Boroughs of Hackney, Islington, Camden, Barnet, Haringey and Enfield.

The official post town for all N postcodes is LONDON; district names do not form an essential part of postal addresses.

[4][5] The N area also includes two non-geographic postcode districts: N1P for PO boxes in N1 or N1C; and N81 for ballot mailings to Electoral Reform Services in N8.

The postcode area is roughly bounded by the River Lea to the east and the Inner Ring Road to the south.

In the west, the boundary cuts through Hampstead Heath and follows the North Circular Road and Dollis Brook for short distances.