The header and footer appear on every page of a WordPress site, which makes them two of the most valuable pieces of real estate you own. A good header gives visitors instant clarity about who you are and where to go next; a good footer wraps up the visit with contact details, legal links, social profiles and the trust signals a UK business needs (Companies House number, VAT registration, ICO registration). Get these two zones right and the whole site feels more professional. This guide covers header and footer editing in both block themes (Full Site Editor) and classic themes (Customiser), explains what to include in each, and flags the UK-specific compliance items that many WordPress guides skip.
Why the header and footer matter · Editing in block themes (Full Site Editor) · Editing in classic themes (Customiser) · What to include in your header · What to include in your footer · Adding a logo to the header · Footer widgets in classic themes · Creating a sticky header · UK-specific compliance items · Frequently asked questions
The header is the first impression. In under five seconds a visitor decides whether your site looks professional, whether they can see where to click, and whether this business is the right fit. A cluttered or confusing header sends them back to Google.
The footer is the last impression. Visitors scroll there to find contact details, legal pages, your address, social profiles. It is also where search engines find the trust signals (copyright, company number, privacy policy) that mark you as a real business.
Both appear on every page, which means every design decision you make compounds across the whole site. An hour spent getting them right saves hours of half-measures later.
Block themes such as Twenty Twenty-Five put header and footer editing inside the Full Site Editor.
Appearance > Editor. The editor shows the full site layout.
Click directly on the header bar at the top or the footer at the bottom of the preview. Alternatively, navigate to Patterns > Template Parts and open the Header or Footer template parts independently.
Use the + (block inserter) to add content. Common header blocks:
Common footer blocks:
Top-right Save. Changes apply across every page of the site because these are template parts.
The Full Site Editor supports multiple header and footer template parts. For example, a landing-page template can use a simplified header without navigation; the rest of the site uses the full header. Create additional template parts under Patterns and assign them to specific templates.
If your theme shows Appearance > Customize in the sidebar, you are on a classic theme.
Appearance > Customize. Depending on the theme, you will find options under panels such as:
Most classic themes manage the footer as a collection of widget areas. Appearance > Widgets. You will see widget areas labelled Footer 1, Footer 2, Footer 3 (some themes have four or more). Add widgets:
Block themes do not use the Customiser or Widgets screen. If you do not see those menu items, you are on a block theme.
A strong header:
A logo, navigation and one CTA button are enough for most UK business sites. Adding announcement bars, breadcrumbs, newsletter banners, social icons, language pickers and contact details all at once creates visual clutter that works against conversion.
UK business essentials:
Typical UK SME footer has 3–4 columns:
Below the columns, a full-width copyright row with legal links.
Classic themes typically divide the footer into 3–4 widget areas (Footer 1, Footer 2, Footer 3, Footer 4). Each area becomes one column on the front end.
A Recent Posts widget in the footer surfaces new content to visitors arriving on older pages. Good for content sites; less useful for brochure sites with infrequent updates.
A sticky header stays visible as visitors scroll. Keeps navigation always within reach but consumes vertical space, which matters on mobile.
Select the Header template part in the Full Site Editor. In the block settings, many block themes expose a "Position: sticky" toggle. If your theme does not, add custom CSS:
.wp-block-template-part[data-area="header"] { position: sticky; top: 0; z-index: 100; background: white; }Often a theme option under Customiser > Header. If not, add CSS to your child theme's style.css:
.site-header { position: sticky; top: 0; z-index: 100; }Sticky headers eat mobile screen space. Consider hiding the sticky on small screens:
@media (max-width: 768px) { .site-header { position: relative; } }Compliance items that belong in the footer for a UK business:
A synced pattern containing these items keeps them consistent across every page and easy to update.
Do block themes use the Customiser?
No. Block themes use the Full Site Editor instead. If you are on a block theme you will not see Appearance > Customize or Appearance > Widgets.
Can I have different headers on different pages?
Yes. In block themes, create multiple Header template parts and assign them to specific templates (e.g. a simplified Header template for landing pages). In classic themes, look for theme settings that toggle header elements per-page; otherwise this needs custom theme code.
How do I add a contact number to the header?
Block themes: add a Paragraph or Button block with your phone number inside the header template part. Classic themes: look for a "phone" option in the Customiser, or use a Text widget in the header widget area if the theme offers one.
Should my logo link to the homepage?
Yes, always. It is a widely-understood convention. Clicking the logo to return home is one of the first things visitors try.
How do I hide the site title when I have a logo?
Block themes: remove the Site Title block from the header template part. Classic themes: untick Display Site Title and Tagline in Customize > Site Identity.
Can I add a search bar to the header?
Yes. Block themes: insert a Search block inside the header. Classic themes: check Customiser for a "search in header" option, or use a plugin like Ivory Search.
Where do I put social media icons?
Typically in the footer for general use. Header if they are a primary CTA (for a YouTube creator whose main conversion is a subscribe click). Block themes: Social Icons block. Classic themes: widget area or plugin.
Do I legally have to show my Companies House number on the site?
Yes for UK limited companies under the Companies Act 2006 Section 82 — the company name, registered number, registered office and VAT number must appear somewhere accessible to visitors. Footer is the standard place.
Can I use different colours for header and footer?
Yes. Style each template part or widget area independently. Most themes make the footer darker than the main body; a darker footer also helps contain legal/compliance text visually.
How do I add a cookie notice banner?
Use a plugin like Complianz, CookieYes or Cookie Notice & Compliance rather than hard-coding into the header. These plugins handle the consent record-keeping that UK GDPR/PECR require.
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