A guide to red bricks.

Red is the dominant brick colour across most of the UK — but "red" covers a huge range of shades, from pale terracotta to deep crimson, with each region having its own historic clay and brick character. This guide covers the main regional varieties, what they cost in 2026, and how to choose for new builds and heritage matching.

Manchester reds, London reds, Bedfordshire reds, Bristol reds — each has subtle differences a trained eye reads as "local".

Regional Red Brick Characters

• Manchester / Lancashire reds — deeper, slightly orange-brown, from local Manchester clay.
• London reds — varied warmth, often mixed with yellows (London Stock blend).
• Bedfordshire reds — clear bright red, classic facing brick.
• Cheshire reds — slightly purple-red undertone.
• Welsh / Bristol reds — softer, more terracotta tones.
• Yorkshire reds — darker, deeper rust tones.

Typical Costs

When Regional Matching Matters

• Repairs to historic buildings.
• Extensions to period properties.
• Conservation areas.
• Listed properties.

UK Regulations

• Standard bricklaying rules.
• Conservation areas may specify local-matching bricks.
• Listed buildings need consent for brick choice.

Common Problems

• Wrong shade for region — sourcing brick from outside the region produces a brick that's the wrong colour for the area.
• Matching modern wirecut to handmade old — uniformity stands out next to variation.
• Colour shift after cleaning — pressure washing changes apparent colour of old bricks.
• Fading from cheap pigments — usually only an issue with concrete bricks.

Frequently Asked Questions