The London Gazette is the oldest surviving newspaper; it was first published on November 7, 1665. The Gazette is the official newspaper of the United Kingdom, wherein certain statutory notices are required to be published.
The London Gazette is published each day, except for Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays. Notices for the following, among others, are published:
- Granting of Royal Assent to bills of the Parliament of the United Kingdom or of the Scottish Parliament
- The issuance of writs of election when a vacancy occurs in the House of Commons
- Appointments to certain public offices
- Insolvency or bankruptcy
- Granting of awards of honours and military medals
- Changes of names or of coats of arms
The equivalent of the London Gazette is the Edinburgh Gazette in Scotland and the Belfast Gazette in Northern Ireland.