Essex tops the table in July’s Premium Bonds draw, with holders in the region securing the greatest total prize amount, more than any other area in the UK.
In total, 115 high-value winning bonds from Essex were drawn, accounting for £1.845 million in tax-free prizes.
The county edged ahead of other high-performing areas such as Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (116 wins, £1.505 million) and Surrey (95 wins, £1.535 million).
The results come from an analysis of the full July draw breakdown by the team at BoyleSports, highlighting regional trends in the distribution of close to 3,000 high-value prize-winning bonds.
They are part of the monthly Premium Bonds draw, which takes place on the first working day of every month. Run by National Savings & Investments (NS&I), over one million winners nationwide are randomly selected each month, including two £1 million jackpots.
Premium Bonds are a popular savings product that don’t pay interest – instead, every eligible £1 bond is entered into a prize draw. Prizes range from £25 to £1 million, with high-value wins in excess of £1,000, £5,000, £25,000, £50,000 and £100,000 also provided.
Essex not only saw the most prize money overall for this month, but also came close to the summit in the number of high-value wins – those worth more than £1,000.
While each bond has the same 22,000 to 1 chance of being selected, ThisIsMoney.co.uk’s depiction of bond data can occasionally show regional clusters of successful outcomes.
Areas with higher bond ownership – often more densely populated – may naturally see more frequent wins.
Top 10 Areas by Prize Amount – July 2025 Premium Bonds Draw
| Area | Times Won | Total Prize Amount |
| Essex | 115 | £1,845,000 |
| Nottingham | 35 | £1,685,000 |
| Surrey | 95 | £1,535,000 |
| Hampshire & Isle of Wight | 116 | £1,505,000 |
| Norwich | 33 | £1,445,000 |
| Kent | 102 | £1,385,000 |
| Inner London | 82 | £1,195,000 |
| Outer London | 96 | £1,085,000 |
| Hertfordshire | 86 | £1,070,000 |
| Lancashire | 63 | £960,000 |
Two of the standout winners in July’s draw included a £5,000 prize for a bond worth just £1 from Ealing, held since March 1966, and a £50,000 win for a £25 bond from North Yorkshire, purchased in May 1975 – both part of modest total holdings of £54 and £100 respectively. Meanwhile, the two £1 million jackpots went to bond holders from Norwich and Nottingham.
Winners are chosen by ERNIE (Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment), a random number generator that has been selecting winning numbers since the bonds were first introduced in 1956. All winnings are tax-free, and bondholders can cash in their savings at any time.
Premium Bonds don’t offer interest in the traditional sense, but they do have an annual prize fund rate – essentially a guide to the average return across all bondholders.
This rate, set to drop from 3.8% to 3.6% next month from August’s draw, gives an indication of typical outcomes, though it’s important to remember that individual returns can vary widely, and many bondholders may not win anything at all.
| Prize Value | Number of Prizes – June 2025 | Estimated Number of Prizes – August 2025 |
| £1,000,000 | 2 | 2 |
| £100,000 | 79 | 75 |
| £50,000 | 159 | 151 |
| £25,000 | 317 | 302 |
| £10,000 | 792 | 754 |
| £5,000 | 1,585 | 1,507 |
| £1,000 | 16,649 | 15,869 |
| £500 | 49,947 | 47,607 |
| £100 | 1,853,552 | 1,687,680 |
| £50 | 1,853,552 | 1,687,680 |
| £25 | 2,197,831 | 2,569,568 |
| Total | 5,974,465 | 6,011,195 |
With the next draw due on 1 August, bondholders will be watching closely to see which regions rise to the top, and whether the shifting prize fund rate will bring any noticeable changes to future results. Similarly to a lotto bet, regardless of geography, every bond remains in the running – making each month a fresh opportunity.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
