diff --git a/docs/iris/example_code/General/custom_file_loading.py b/docs/iris/example_code/General/custom_file_loading.py
index 6b4c077102..8220a2f56e 100644
--- a/docs/iris/example_code/General/custom_file_loading.py
+++ b/docs/iris/example_code/General/custom_file_loading.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def load_NAME_III(filename):
 
     # loading a file gives a generator of lines which can be progressed using the next() method.
     # This will come in handy as we wish to progress through the file line by line.
-    file_handle = file(filename)
+    file_handle = open(filename)
 
     # define a dictionary which can hold the header metadata about this file
     headers = {}
diff --git a/docs/iris/example_code/Meteorology/COP_maps.py b/docs/iris/example_code/Meteorology/COP_maps.py
index f681fe4c7e..40fc4aba2b 100644
--- a/docs/iris/example_code/Meteorology/COP_maps.py
+++ b/docs/iris/example_code/Meteorology/COP_maps.py
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@
 
 
 """
+from six.moves import zip
+
 import os.path
-import itertools
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -65,7 +66,8 @@ def main():
 
 
     # Iterate over each latitude longitude slice for both e1 and a1b scenarios simultaneously
-    for e1_slice, a1b_slice in itertools.izip(e1.slices(['latitude', 'longitude']), a1b.slices(['latitude', 'longitude'])):
+    for e1_slice, a1b_slice in zip(e1.slices(['latitude', 'longitude']),
+                                   a1b.slices(['latitude', 'longitude'])):
 
         time_coord = a1b_slice.coord('time')
 
diff --git a/docs/iris/src/sphinxext/generate_package_rst.py b/docs/iris/src/sphinxext/generate_package_rst.py
index bc6309cf5c..64363fb898 100644
--- a/docs/iris/src/sphinxext/generate_package_rst.py
+++ b/docs/iris/src/sphinxext/generate_package_rst.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter
 
 import os
 import sys
diff --git a/docs/iris/src/userguide/regridding_plots/regridded_to_global_area_weighted.py b/docs/iris/src/userguide/regridding_plots/regridded_to_global_area_weighted.py
index 2e6b6a8356..944cf8022e 100644
--- a/docs/iris/src/userguide/regridding_plots/regridded_to_global_area_weighted.py
+++ b/docs/iris/src/userguide/regridding_plots/regridded_to_global_area_weighted.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 import iris
 import iris.analysis
diff --git a/lib/iris/__init__.py b/lib/iris/__init__.py
index 22cebbeb89..b9f3c0452c 100644
--- a/lib/iris/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/__init__.py
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ def load_cubes(uris, constraints=None, callback=None):
     collection = _load_collection(uris, constraints, callback).merged()
 
     # Make sure we have exactly one merged cube per constraint
-    bad_pairs = filter(lambda pair: len(pair) != 1, collection.pairs)
+    bad_pairs = [pair for pair in collection.pairs if len(pair) != 1]
     if bad_pairs:
         fmt = '   {} -> {} cubes'
         bits = [fmt.format(pair.constraint, len(pair)) for pair in bad_pairs]
diff --git a/lib/iris/_concatenate.py b/lib/iris/_concatenate.py
index 62c4016e34..fb0a8137b8 100644
--- a/lib/iris/_concatenate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/_concatenate.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 from collections import defaultdict, namedtuple
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/_constraints.py b/lib/iris/_constraints.py
index 46765276f4..3d9c1f6881 100644
--- a/lib/iris/_constraints.py
+++ b/lib/iris/_constraints.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 import collections
 import operator
diff --git a/lib/iris/_merge.py b/lib/iris/_merge.py
index b39dcb3e9f..fd3931bb61 100644
--- a/lib/iris/_merge.py
+++ b/lib/iris/_merge.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import map, range, zip
 
 from collections import namedtuple, OrderedDict
 from copy import deepcopy
@@ -1171,7 +1172,7 @@ def merge(self, unique=True):
             self._report_duplicate(nd_indexes, group_by_nd_index)
 
         # Generate group-depth merged cubes from the source-cubes.
-        for level in xrange(group_depth):
+        for level in range(group_depth):
             # Stack up all the data from all of the relevant source
             # cubes in a single biggus ArrayStack.
             # If it turns out that all the source cubes already had
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/__init__.py b/lib/iris/analysis/__init__.py
index 55ec7baad9..8cc4ac759d 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/__init__.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, range, zip
 
 import collections
 
@@ -92,8 +93,8 @@ def _first_coord_w_cube(self):
         as (cube, coord).
 
         """
-        return filter(lambda cube_coord: cube_coord[1] is not None,
-                      zip(self.cubes, self.coords))[0]
+        return next(filter(lambda cube_coord: cube_coord[1] is not None,
+                           zip(self.cubes, self.coords)))
 
     def __repr__(self):
         # No exact repr, so a helpful string is given instead
@@ -1074,7 +1075,7 @@ def interp_order(length):
                 column_peaks.append(column[0])
                 continue
 
-            tck = scipy.interpolate.splrep(range(column.size), column, k=k)
+            tck = scipy.interpolate.splrep(np.arange(column.size), column, k=k)
             npoints = column.size * 100
             points = np.linspace(0, column.size - 1, npoints)
             spline = scipy.interpolate.splev(points, tck)
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/_interpolation.py b/lib/iris/analysis/_interpolation.py
index eeab4fd5ba..ac8270b946 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/_interpolation.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/_interpolation.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """A collection of helpers for interpolation."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 from itertools import product
@@ -500,7 +501,7 @@ def _points(self, sample_points, data, data_dims=None):
             instance of the interpolated data.
 
         """
-        dims = range(self._src_cube.ndim)
+        dims = list(range(self._src_cube.ndim))
         data_dims = data_dims or dims
 
         if len(data_dims) != data.ndim:
@@ -514,7 +515,7 @@ def _points(self, sample_points, data, data_dims=None):
             raise NotImplementedError(msg)
 
         # Broadcast the data into the shape of the original cube.
-        if data_dims != range(self._src_cube.ndim):
+        if data_dims != list(range(self._src_cube.ndim)):
             strides = list(data.strides)
             for dim in range(self._src_cube.ndim):
                 if dim not in data_dims:
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/_scipy_interpolate.py b/lib/iris/analysis/_scipy_interpolate.py
index 5bd663a7aa..560a30cfee 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/_scipy_interpolate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/_scipy_interpolate.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ def _ndim_coords_from_arrays(points, ndim=None):
         points = points[0]
     if isinstance(points, tuple):
         p = np.broadcast_arrays(*points)
-        for j in xrange(1, len(p)):
+        for j in range(1, len(p)):
             if p[j].shape != p[0].shape:
                 raise ValueError(
                     "coordinate arrays do not have the same shape")
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/calculus.py b/lib/iris/analysis/calculus.py
index 96a12895c4..99931f5479 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/calculus.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/calculus.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, zip
 
 import re
 import warnings
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/cartography.py b/lib/iris/analysis/cartography.py
index a7447907ba..09409fc8ba 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/cartography.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/cartography.py
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 import copy
-import itertools
 import warnings
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ def rotate_pole(lons, lats, pole_lon, pole_lat):
 
 
 def _get_lat_lon_coords(cube):
-    lat_coords = filter(lambda coord: "latitude" in coord.name(),
-                        cube.coords())
-    lon_coords = filter(lambda coord: "longitude" in coord.name(),
-                        cube.coords())
+    lat_coords = [coord for coord in cube.coords()
+                  if "latitude" in coord.name()]
+    lon_coords = [coord for coord in cube.coords()
+                  if "longitude" in coord.name()]
     if len(lat_coords) > 1 or len(lon_coords) > 1:
         raise ValueError(
             "Calling _get_lat_lon_coords() with multiple lat or lon coords"
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ def area_weights(cube, normalize=False):
     # Now we create an array of weights for each cell. This process will
     # handle adding the required extra dimensions and also take care of
     # the order of dimensions.
-    broadcast_dims = filter(lambda x: x is not None, (lat_dim, lon_dim))
+    broadcast_dims = [x for x in (lat_dim, lon_dim) if x is not None]
     wshape = []
     for idim, dim in zip((0, 1), (lat_dim, lon_dim)):
         if dim is not None:
@@ -421,8 +421,8 @@ def cosine_latitude_weights(cube):
 
     """
     # Find all latitude coordinates, we want one and only one.
-    lat_coords = filter(lambda coord: "latitude" in coord.name(),
-                        cube.coords())
+    lat_coords = [coord for coord in cube.coords()
+                  if "latitude" in coord.name()]
     if len(lat_coords) > 1:
         raise ValueError("Multiple latitude coords are currently disallowed.")
     try:
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ def cosine_latitude_weights(cube):
 
     # Create weights for each grid point. This operation handles adding extra
     # dimensions and also the order of the dimensions.
-    broadcast_dims = filter(lambda x: x is not None, lat_dims)
+    broadcast_dims = [x for x in lat_dims if x is not None]
     wshape = []
     for idim, dim in enumerate(lat_dims):
         if dim is not None:
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ def project(cube, target_proj, nx=None, ny=None):
 
     # Step through cube data, regrid onto desired projection and insert results
     # in new_data array
-    for index, ll_slice in itertools.izip(index_it, slice_it):
+    for index, ll_slice in zip(index_it, slice_it):
         # Regrid source data onto target grid
         index = list(index)
         index[xdim] = slice(None, None)
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/geometry.py b/lib/iris/analysis/geometry.py
index 90306a8d69..277d4309f4 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/geometry.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/geometry.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 import warnings
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/interpolate.py b/lib/iris/analysis/interpolate.py
index 3246e179f8..dc2d458fe1 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/interpolate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/interpolate.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import map, range, zip
 
 import collections
 import warnings
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ def _cartesian_sample_points(sample_points, sample_point_coord_names):
 
     # Find lat and lon coord indices
     i_lat = i_lon = None
-    i_non_latlon = range(len(sample_point_coord_names))
+    i_non_latlon = list(range(len(sample_point_coord_names)))
     for i, name in enumerate(sample_point_coord_names):
         if "latitude" in name:
             i_lat = i
@@ -730,7 +731,7 @@ def __call__(self, requested_x):
 
                 r = self._interpolator(requested_x[ok])
                 # Reshape the properly formed array to put the interpolator.axis last i.e. dims 0, 1, 2 -> 0, 2, 1 if axis = 1
-                axes = range(r.ndim)
+                axes = list(range(r.ndim))
                 del axes[self._interpolator.axis]
                 axes.append(self._interpolator.axis)
 
@@ -748,7 +749,7 @@ def __call__(self, requested_x):
                 grad = (self.y[..., -1:] - self.y[..., -2:-1]) / (self.x[-1] - self.x[-2])
                 result[interpolator_result_index] = self.y[..., -1:] + (requested_x[gt] - self.x[-1]) * grad
 
-            axes = range(len(interpolator_result_index))
+            axes = list(range(len(interpolator_result_index)))
             axes.insert(self._interpolator.axis, axes.pop(axes[-1]))
             result = result.transpose(axes)
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/maths.py b/lib/iris/analysis/maths.py
index f5bee3f647..972298ff4d 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/maths.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/maths.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter
 
 import warnings
 import math
diff --git a/lib/iris/analysis/trajectory.py b/lib/iris/analysis/trajectory.py
index 53bab652e1..7bb9e88e8a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/analysis/trajectory.py
+++ b/lib/iris/analysis/trajectory.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 import math
 
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@ def __init__(self, waypoints, sample_count=10):
         self.sample_count = sample_count
 
         # create line segments from the waypoints
-        segments = [_Segment(self.waypoints[i], self.waypoints[i+1]) for i in range(len(self.waypoints) - 1)]
+        segments = [_Segment(self.waypoints[i], self.waypoints[i+1])
+                    for i in range(len(self.waypoints) - 1)]
 
         # calculate our total length
         self.length = sum([seg.length for seg in segments])
diff --git a/lib/iris/aux_factory.py b/lib/iris/aux_factory.py
index 5afc7acede..a9364ca0df 100644
--- a/lib/iris/aux_factory.py
+++ b/lib/iris/aux_factory.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import map, range, zip
 
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod, abstractproperty
 import warnings
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ def _nd_points(coord, dims, ndim):
         sorted_pairs = sorted(enumerate(dims), key=lambda pair: pair[1])
         transpose_order = [pair[0] for pair in sorted_pairs]
         points = coord._points
-        if dims and transpose_order != range(len(dims)):
+        if dims and transpose_order != list(range(len(dims))):
             points = points.transpose(transpose_order)
 
         # Expand dimensionality to be consistent with the Cube.
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ def _remap(self, dependency_dims, derived_dims):
                 # no transpose is needed.
                 if derived_dims:
                     keys = tuple(slice(None) if dim in derived_dims else 0 for
-                                 dim in xrange(ndim))
+                                 dim in range(ndim))
                     nd_points = nd_points[keys]
             else:
                 # If no coord, treat value as zero.
diff --git a/lib/iris/coord_categorisation.py b/lib/iris/coord_categorisation.py
index 1ee08706b0..4592327aa6 100644
--- a/lib/iris/coord_categorisation.py
+++ b/lib/iris/coord_categorisation.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 import calendar
 import collections
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ def _months_in_season(season):
         # Can't match the season, raise an error.
         raise ValueError('unrecognised season: {!s}'.format(season))
     m1 = m0 + len(season)
-    return map(lambda month: (month % 12) + 1, range(m0, m1))
+    return [(month % 12) + 1 for month in range(m0, m1)]
 
 
 def _validate_seasons(seasons):
@@ -233,13 +234,13 @@ def _validate_seasons(seasons):
     for season in seasons:
         c.update(_months_in_season(season))
     # Make a list of months that are not present...
-    not_present = [calendar.month_abbr[month] for month in xrange(1, 13)
+    not_present = [calendar.month_abbr[month] for month in range(1, 13)
                    if month not in c]
     if not_present:
         raise ValueError('some months do not appear in any season: '
                          '{!s}'.format(', '.join(not_present)))
     # Make a list of months that appear multiple times...
-    multi_present = [calendar.month_abbr[month] for month in xrange(1, 13)
+    multi_present = [calendar.month_abbr[month] for month in range(1, 13)
                      if c[month] > 1]
     if multi_present:
         raise ValueError('some months appear in more than one season: '
@@ -258,8 +259,9 @@ def _month_year_adjusts(seasons):
     month_year_adjusts = [None, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
     for season in seasons:
         months = _months_in_season(season)
-        for month in filter(lambda m: m > months[-1], months):
-            month_year_adjusts[month] = 1
+        for month in months:
+            if month > months[-1]:
+                month_year_adjusts[month] = 1
     return month_year_adjusts
 
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/coords.py b/lib/iris/coords.py
index ac3c87a1ad..a40b9ff7f7 100644
--- a/lib/iris/coords.py
+++ b/lib/iris/coords.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, map, range
 
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractproperty
 import collections
@@ -800,7 +801,7 @@ def is_monotonic(self):
                 return False
 
         if self.bounds is not None:
-            for b_index in xrange(self.nbounds):
+            for b_index in range(self.nbounds):
                 if not iris.util.monotonic(self.bounds[..., b_index],
                                            strict=True):
                     return False
@@ -1449,7 +1450,7 @@ def bounds(self, bounds):
             if n_points > 1:
 
                 directions = set()
-                for b_index in xrange(n_bounds):
+                for b_index in range(n_bounds):
                     monotonic, direction = iris.util.monotonic(
                         bounds[:, b_index], strict=True, return_direction=True)
                     if not monotonic:
@@ -1680,9 +1681,9 @@ def xml_element(self, doc):
         cellMethod_xml_element = doc.createElement('cellMethod')
         cellMethod_xml_element.setAttribute('method', self.method)
 
-        for coord_name, interval, comment in map(None, self.coord_names,
-                                                 self.intervals,
-                                                 self.comments):
+        for coord_name, interval, comment in izip_longest(self.coord_names,
+                                                          self.intervals,
+                                                          self.comments):
             coord_xml_element = doc.createElement('coord')
             if coord_name is not None:
                 coord_xml_element.setAttribute('name', coord_name)
@@ -1701,7 +1702,7 @@ def __init__(self, coord):
         self._coord = coord
         if coord.ndim != 1:
             raise iris.exceptions.CoordinateMultiDimError(coord)
-        self._indices = iter(xrange(coord.shape[0]))
+        self._indices = iter(range(coord.shape[0]))
 
     def next(self):
         # NB. When self._indices runs out it will raise StopIteration for us.
diff --git a/lib/iris/cube.py b/lib/iris/cube.py
index c50d3d3bf1..cfe809e114 100644
--- a/lib/iris/cube.py
+++ b/lib/iris/cube.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, map, range, zip
 
 from xml.dom.minidom import Document
 import collections
@@ -743,8 +744,8 @@ def metadata(self, value):
             try:
                 value = CubeMetadata(*value)
             except TypeError:
-                attr_check = lambda name: not hasattr(value, name)
-                missing_attrs = filter(attr_check, CubeMetadata._fields)
+                missing_attrs = [field for field in CubeMetadata._fields
+                                 if not hasattr(value, field)]
                 if missing_attrs:
                     raise TypeError('Invalid/incomplete metadata')
         for name in CubeMetadata._fields:
@@ -1619,11 +1620,11 @@ def summary(self, shorten=False, name_padding=35):
 
         """
         # Create a set to contain the axis names for each data dimension.
-        dim_names = [set() for dim in xrange(len(self.shape))]
+        dim_names = [set() for dim in range(len(self.shape))]
 
         # Add the dim_coord names that participate in the associated data
         # dimensions.
-        for dim in xrange(len(self.shape)):
+        for dim in range(len(self.shape)):
             dim_coords = self.coords(contains_dimension=dim, dim_coords=True)
             if dim_coords:
                 dim_names[dim].add(dim_coords[0].name())
@@ -1736,7 +1737,7 @@ def vector_summary(vector_coords, cube_header, max_line_offset):
                     # - WITH dimension markers.
                     for index, coord in enumerate(vector_coords):
                         dims = self.coord_dims(coord)
-                        for dim in xrange(len(self.shape)):
+                        for dim in range(len(self.shape)):
                             width = alignment[dim] - len(vector_summary[index])
                             char = 'x' if dim in dims else '-'
                             line = '{pad:{width}}{char}'.format(pad=' ',
@@ -2475,14 +2476,14 @@ def transpose(self, new_order=None):
         def remap_dim_coord(coord_and_dim):
             coord, dim = coord_and_dim
             return coord, dim_mapping[dim]
-        self._dim_coords_and_dims = map(remap_dim_coord,
-                                        self._dim_coords_and_dims)
+        self._dim_coords_and_dims = list(map(remap_dim_coord,
+                                             self._dim_coords_and_dims))
 
         def remap_aux_coord(coord_and_dims):
             coord, dims = coord_and_dims
             return coord, tuple(dim_mapping[dim] for dim in dims)
-        self._aux_coords_and_dims = map(remap_aux_coord,
-                                        self._aux_coords_and_dims)
+        self._aux_coords_and_dims = list(map(remap_aux_coord,
+                                             self._aux_coords_and_dims))
 
     def xml(self, checksum=False, order=True, byteorder=True):
         """
@@ -2865,8 +2866,8 @@ def collapsed(self, coords, aggregator, **kwargs):
         if (isinstance(aggregator, iris.analysis.WeightedAggregator) and
                 not aggregator.uses_weighting(**kwargs)):
             msg = "Collapsing spatial coordinate {!r} without weighting"
-            lat_match = filter(lambda coord: 'latitude' in coord.name(),
-                               coords)
+            lat_match = [coord for coord in coords
+                         if 'latitude' in coord.name()]
             if lat_match:
                 for coord in lat_match:
                     warnings.warn(msg.format(coord.name()))
@@ -3077,8 +3078,9 @@ def aggregated_by(self, coords, aggregator, **kwargs):
 
         # Determine the other coordinates that share the same group-by
         # coordinate dimension.
-        shared_coords = filter(lambda coord_: coord_ not in groupby_coords,
-                               self.coords(dimensions=dimension_to_groupby))
+        shared_coords = list(filter(
+            lambda coord_: coord_ not in groupby_coords,
+            self.coords(dimensions=dimension_to_groupby)))
 
         # Create the aggregation group-by instance.
         groupby = iris.analysis._Groupby(groupby_coords, shared_coords)
@@ -3548,7 +3550,7 @@ def next(self):
         cube = self._cube[tuple(index_list)]
 
         if self._ordered:
-            if any(self._mod_requested_dims != range(len(cube.shape))):
+            if any(self._mod_requested_dims != list(range(len(cube.shape)))):
                 cube.transpose(self._mod_requested_dims)
 
         return cube
diff --git a/lib/iris/experimental/animate.py b/lib/iris/experimental/animate.py
index 8992d05008..42344288a0 100644
--- a/lib/iris/experimental/animate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/experimental/animate.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 import warnings
 
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ def update_animation_iris(i, cubes, vmin, vmax, coords):
     vmax = kwargs.pop('vmax', max([cc.data.max() for cc in cubes]))
 
     update = update_animation_iris
-    frames = xrange(len(cubes))
+    frames = range(len(cubes))
 
     return animation.FuncAnimation(fig, update,
                                    frames=frames,
diff --git a/lib/iris/experimental/fieldsfile.py b/lib/iris/experimental/fieldsfile.py
index 663e3668d2..8b282f8ae5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/experimental/fieldsfile.py
+++ b/lib/iris/experimental/fieldsfile.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, range, zip
 
 from iris.coords import DimCoord
 from iris.cube import CubeList
diff --git a/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py b/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py
index ef949ffcd1..5db46cf1a2 100644
--- a/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py
+++ b/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 import copy
diff --git a/lib/iris/experimental/regrid_conservative.py b/lib/iris/experimental/regrid_conservative.py
index 7407cd3a16..4aac938433 100644
--- a/lib/iris/experimental/regrid_conservative.py
+++ b/lib/iris/experimental/regrid_conservative.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import ESMF via iris.proxy, just so we can build the docs with no ESMF.
 import iris.proxy
@@ -219,8 +220,8 @@ def _valid_units(coord):
     fullcube_data = np.ma.zeros(dst_shape)
 
     # Iterate 2d slices over all possible indices of the 'other' dimensions
-    all_other_dims = filter(lambda i_dim: i_dim not in src_dims_xy,
-                            xrange(source_cube.ndim))
+    all_other_dims = [i_dim for i_dim in range(source_cube.ndim)
+                      if i_dim not in src_dims_xy]
     all_combinations_of_other_inds = np.ndindex(*dst_shape[all_other_dims])
     for other_indices in all_combinations_of_other_inds:
         # Construct a tuple of slices to address the 2d xy field
diff --git a/lib/iris/experimental/um.py b/lib/iris/experimental/um.py
index 199a53b08c..55573dff10 100644
--- a/lib/iris/experimental/um.py
+++ b/lib/iris/experimental/um.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 import os
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/_pyke_rules/fc_rules_cf.krb b/lib/iris/fileformats/_pyke_rules/fc_rules_cf.krb
index 662d52ac84..0b6d1c4701 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/_pyke_rules/fc_rules_cf.krb
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/_pyke_rules/fc_rules_cf.krb
@@ -1188,7 +1188,8 @@ fc_extras
 
         # Determine the name of the dimension/s shared between the CF-netCDF data variable
         # and the coordinate being built.
-        common_dims = filter(lambda dim: dim in cf_var.dimensions, cf_coord_var.dimensions)
+        common_dims = [dim for dim in cf_coord_var.dimensions
+                       if dim in cf_var.dimensions]
         data_dims = None
         if common_dims:
             # Calculate the offset of each common dimension.
@@ -1281,7 +1282,8 @@ fc_extras
 
         # Determine the name of the dimension/s shared between the CF-netCDF data variable
         # and the coordinate being built.
-        common_dims = filter(lambda dim: dim in cf_var.dimensions, cf_coord_var.dimensions)
+        common_dims = [dim for dim in cf_coord_var.dimensions
+                       if dim in cf_var.dimensions]
         data_dims = None    
         if common_dims:
             # Calculate the offset of each common dimension.
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/_structured_array_identification.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/_structured_array_identification.py
index 197b97d322..f3302097fe 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/_structured_array_identification.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/_structured_array_identification.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
     >>> import numpy as np
     >>> orig_x, orig_y = np.arange(2), np.arange(3)
-    >>> x, y = np.meshgrid(range(2), range(3))
+    >>> x, y = np.meshgrid(orig_x, orig_y)
 
     >>> # Remove the dimensional structure from the arrays.
     >>> x, y = x.flatten(), y.flatten()
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 from collections import namedtuple
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/ff.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/ff.py
index 589e7c4470..525870339a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/ff.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/ff.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 import os
 import warnings
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/name_loaders.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/name_loaders.py
index 1ba0332d0e..ff29e36df0 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/name_loaders.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/name_loaders.py
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@
 """NAME file format loading functions."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 import collections
 import datetime
-from itertools import izip
 import re
 import warnings
 
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ def load_NAMEIII_trajectory(filename):
 
     # Every column up to Z becomes a coordinate.
     coords = []
-    for name, values in izip(headings[:z_column+1], columns[:z_column+1]):
+    for name, values in zip(headings[:z_column+1], columns[:z_column+1]):
         values = np.array(values)
         if np.all(np.array(values) == values[0]):
             values = [values[0]]
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ def load_NAMEIII_trajectory(filename):
         coords.append(coord)
 
     # Every numerical column after the Z becomes a cube.
-    for name, values in izip(headings[z_column+1:], columns[z_column+1:]):
+    for name, values in zip(headings[z_column+1:], columns[z_column+1:]):
         try:
             float(values[0])
         except ValueError:
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/netcdf.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/netcdf.py
index 9d431a7f35..65fa52e0e5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/netcdf.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/netcdf.py
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, range
 
 import collections
-import itertools
 import os
 import os.path
 import string
@@ -405,12 +405,12 @@ def _load_cube(engine, cf, cf_var, filename):
     attribute_predicate = lambda item: item[0] not in _CF_ATTRS
 
     for coord, cf_var_name in coordinates:
-        tmpvar = itertools.ifilter(attribute_predicate,
-                                   cf.cf_group[cf_var_name].cf_attrs_unused())
+        tmpvar = filter(attribute_predicate,
+                        cf.cf_group[cf_var_name].cf_attrs_unused())
         for attr_name, attr_value in tmpvar:
             _set_attributes(coord.attributes, attr_name, attr_value)
 
-    tmpvar = itertools.ifilter(attribute_predicate, cf_var.cf_attrs_unused())
+    tmpvar = filter(attribute_predicate, cf_var.cf_attrs_unused())
     # Attach untouched attributes of the associated CF-netCDF data variable to
     # the cube.
     for attr_name, attr_value in tmpvar:
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ def _get_dim_names(self, cube):
 
         """
         dimension_names = []
-        for dim in xrange(cube.ndim):
+        for dim in range(cube.ndim):
             coords = cube.coords(dimensions=dim, dim_coords=True)
             if coords:
                 coord = coords[0]
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py
index c1968ea19b..6eff0d7629 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/pp.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 import abc
 import collections
@@ -658,7 +659,7 @@ class _FlagMetaclass(type):
     NUM_BITS = 18
 
     def __new__(cls, classname, bases, class_dict):
-        for i in xrange(cls.NUM_BITS):
+        for i in range(cls.NUM_BITS):
             value = 2 ** i
             name = 'flag{}'.format(value)
             class_dict[name] = property(_make_flag_getter(value),
@@ -794,7 +795,7 @@ def __str__(self):
     def flags(self):
         warnings.warn('The `flags` attribute is deprecated - please use '
                       'integer bitwise operators instead.')
-        return tuple(2 ** i for i in xrange(self.NUM_BITS)
+        return tuple(2 ** i for i in range(self.NUM_BITS)
                      if self._value & 2 ** i)
 
 
@@ -1132,7 +1133,7 @@ def __repr__(self):
         # With the attributes sorted the order will remain stable if extra attributes are added.
         public_attribute_names = list(attribute_priority_lookup.keys()) + list(EXTRA_DATA.values())
         self_attrs = [(name, getattr(self, name, None)) for name in public_attribute_names]
-        self_attrs = filter(lambda pair: pair[1] is not None, self_attrs)
+        self_attrs = [pair for pair in self_attrs if pair[1] is not None]
 
         # Output any masked data as separate `data` and `mask`
         # components, to avoid the standard MaskedArray output
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/pp_rules.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/pp_rules.py
index aa7c17e01b..970133413a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/pp_rules.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/pp_rules.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Historically this was auto-generated from
 # SciTools/iris-code-generators:tools/gen_rules.py
diff --git a/lib/iris/fileformats/rules.py b/lib/iris/fileformats/rules.py
index a7c4b5a1af..4e37d78609 100644
--- a/lib/iris/fileformats/rules.py
+++ b/lib/iris/fileformats/rules.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter
 
 import abc
 import collections
@@ -704,7 +705,7 @@ def _ensure_aligned(regrid_cache, src_cube, target_cube):
         # ensure each target coord is either a scalar or maps to a
         # single, distinct dimension.
         target_dims = [target_cube.coord_dims(coord) for coord in target_coords]
-        target_dims = filter(None, target_dims)
+        target_dims = list(filter(None, target_dims))
         unique_dims = set()
         for dims in target_dims:
             unique_dims.update(dims)
diff --git a/lib/iris/io/__init__.py b/lib/iris/io/__init__.py
index 291e4e1086..caa666a754 100644
--- a/lib/iris/io/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/io/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import map
 
 import glob
 import os.path
diff --git a/lib/iris/iterate.py b/lib/iris/iterate.py
index 762d246bc5..ffc0a2bebc 100644
--- a/lib/iris/iterate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/iterate.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 import collections
 import itertools
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ def izip(*cubes, **kwargs):
     # For each input cube, generate the union of all describing dimensions for
     # the resulting subcube.
     requested_dims_by_cube = []
-    for coords, cube in itertools.izip(coords_by_cube, cubes):
+    for coords, cube in zip(coords_by_cube, cubes):
         requested_dims = set()
         for coord in coords:
             requested_dims.update(cube.coord_dims(coord))
@@ -115,10 +116,10 @@ def izip(*cubes, **kwargs):
     # dimensioned coordinates that will be iterated over (i.e exclude slice
     # coords).
     dimensioned_iter_coords_by_cube = []
-    for requested_dims, cube in itertools.izip(requested_dims_by_cube, cubes):
+    for requested_dims, cube in zip(requested_dims_by_cube, cubes):
         dimensioned_iter_coords = set()
         # Loop over dimensioned coords in each cube.
-        for dim in xrange(len(cube.shape)):
+        for dim in range(len(cube.shape)):
             if dim not in requested_dims:
                 dimensioned_iter_coords.update(
                     cube.coords(contains_dimension=dim))
@@ -195,8 +196,7 @@ def __init__(self, cubes, requested_dims_by_cube, ordered, coords_by_cube):
         master_dimensioned_coord_list = []
         master_dims_index = []
         self._offsets_by_cube = []
-        for requested_dims, cube in itertools.izip(requested_dims_by_cube,
-                                                   cubes):
+        for requested_dims, cube in zip(requested_dims_by_cube, cubes):
             # Create a list of the shape of each cube, and set the dimensions
             # which have been requested to length 1.
             dims_index = list(cube.shape)
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ def __init__(self, cubes, requested_dims_by_cube, ordered, coords_by_cube):
                 dims_index[dim] = 1
             offsets = []
             # Loop over dimensions in each cube.
-            for i in xrange(len(cube.shape)):
+            for i in range(len(cube.shape)):
                 # Obtain the coordinates for this dimension.
                 cube_coords = cube.coords(dimensions=i)
                 found = False
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def next(self):
         master_index_tuple = next(self._ndindex)
 
         subcubes = []
-        for offsets, requested_dims, coords, cube in itertools.izip(
+        for offsets, requested_dims, coords, cube in zip(
                 self._offsets_by_cube, self._requested_dims_by_cube,
                 self._coords_by_cube, self._cubes):
             # Extract the index_list for each cube from the master index using
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def next(self):
                 transpose_order = []
                 for coord in coords:
                     transpose_order += sorted(subcube.coord_dims(coord))
-                if transpose_order != range(subcube.ndim):
+                if transpose_order != list(range(subcube.ndim)):
                     subcube.transpose(transpose_order)
             subcubes.append(subcube)
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/palette.py b/lib/iris/palette.py
index d6358bd156..dafddea6f6 100644
--- a/lib/iris/palette.py
+++ b/lib/iris/palette.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter
 
 from functools import wraps
 import os
diff --git a/lib/iris/plot.py b/lib/iris/plot.py
index c1d58db482..b655fdc826 100644
--- a/lib/iris/plot.py
+++ b/lib/iris/plot.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import map, zip
 
 import collections
 import datetime
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ def _get_plot_defn_custom_coords_picked(cube, coords, mode, ndims=2):
     def as_coord(coord):
         coord = cube.coord(coord)
         return coord
-    coords = map(as_coord, coords)
+    coords = list(map(as_coord, coords))
 
     # Check that we were given the right number of coordinates
     if len(coords) != ndims:
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ def as_coord(coord):
 
     # Check which dimensions are spanned by each coordinate.
     get_span = lambda coord: set(cube.coord_dims(coord))
-    spans = map(get_span, coords)
+    spans = list(map(get_span, coords))
     for span, coord in zip(spans, coords):
         if not span:
             msg = 'The coordinate {!r} doesn\'t span a data dimension.'
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ def _get_plot_defn(cube, mode, ndims=2):
 
     # When appropriate, restrict to 1D with bounds.
     if mode == iris.coords.BOUND_MODE:
-        coords = map(_valid_bound_coord, coords)
+        coords = list(map(_valid_bound_coord, coords))
 
     def guess_axis(coord):
         axis = None
@@ -141,9 +142,8 @@ def guess_axis(coord):
     for dim, coord in enumerate(coords):
         if coord is None:
             aux_coords = cube.coords(dimensions=dim)
-            aux_coords = filter(lambda coord:
-                                isinstance(coord, iris.coords.DimCoord),
-                                aux_coords)
+            aux_coords = [coord for coord in aux_coords
+                          if isinstance(coord, iris.coords.DimCoord)]
             if aux_coords:
                 key_func = lambda coord: coord._as_defn()
                 aux_coords.sort(key=key_func)
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def guess_axis(coord):
         # along the Z axis. This results in a preference for using the
         # derived altitude over model_level_number or level_height.
         # Limit to Z axis to avoid preferring latitude over grid_latitude etc.
-        axes = map(guess_axis, coords)
+        axes = list(map(guess_axis, coords))
         axis = 'Z'
         if axis in axes:
             for coord in cube.coords(dim_coords=False):
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/__init__.py b/lib/iris/tests/__init__.py
index e6b34024f2..ee97ec79bc 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/__init__.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import map
 
 import collections
 import contextlib
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ def assertCDL(self, netcdf_filename, reference_filename=None, flags='-h'):
         elif isinstance(flags, basestring):
             flags = flags.split()
         else:
-            flags = map(str, flags)
+            flags = list(map(str, flags))
 
         with open(cdl_filename, 'w') as cdl_file:
             subprocess.check_call(['ncdump'] + flags + [netcdf_filename],
@@ -379,9 +380,11 @@ def assertCubeDataAlmostEqual(self, cube, reference_filename, *args, **kwargs):
             if isinstance(cube.data, ma.MaskedArray):
                 # Avoid recording any non-initialised array data.
                 data = cube.data.filled()
-                np.savez(file(reference_path, 'wb'), data=data, mask=cube.data.mask)
+                with open(reference_path, 'wb') as reference_file:
+                    np.savez(reference_file, data=data, mask=cube.data.mask)
             else:
-                np.save(file(reference_path, 'wb'), cube.data)
+                with open(reference_path, 'wb') as reference_file:
+                    np.save(weference_file, cube.data)
 
     def assertFilesEqual(self, test_filename, reference_filename):
         reference_path = get_result_path(reference_filename)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/analysis/test_interpolate.py b/lib/iris/tests/analysis/test_interpolate.py
index 2113e629d7..dd33a5dff4 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/analysis/test_interpolate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/analysis/test_interpolate.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def _create_cube(self, longitudes):
     def test_symmetric(self):
         # Check we can interpolate from a Cube defined over [-180, 180).
         cube = self._create_cube([-180, -90, 0, 90])
-        samples = [('longitude', range(-360, 720, 45))]
+        samples = [('longitude', np.arange(-360, 720, 45))]
         result = interpolate.linear(cube, samples, extrapolation_mode='nan')
         normalise_order(result)
         self.assertCMLApproxData(result, ('analysis', 'interpolation',
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def test_symmetric(self):
     def test_positive(self):
         # Check we can interpolate from a Cube defined over [0, 360).
         cube = self._create_cube([0, 90, 180, 270])
-        samples = [('longitude', range(-360, 720, 45))]
+        samples = [('longitude', np.arange(-360, 720, 45))]
         result = interpolate.linear(cube, samples, extrapolation_mode='nan')
         normalise_order(result)
         self.assertCMLApproxData(result, ('analysis', 'interpolation',
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_area_weighted_rectilinear_src_and_grid.py b/lib/iris/tests/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_area_weighted_rectilinear_src_and_grid.py
index 68b0453f32..7e88812686 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_area_weighted_rectilinear_src_and_grid.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_area_weighted_rectilinear_src_and_grid.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/experimental/test_animate.py b/lib/iris/tests/experimental/test_animate.py
index a6cda843cf..6df5b2d8cf 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/experimental/test_animate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/experimental/test_animate.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,13 +20,12 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
 
-import itertools
-
 import numpy as np
 
 import iris
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ def test_cube_animation(self):
 
         ani = [ani]
         # Extract frame data
-        for data in itertools.izip(*[a.new_saved_frame_seq() for a in ani]):
+        for data in zip(*[a.new_saved_frame_seq() for a in ani]):
             # Draw each frame
             for anim, d in zip(ani, data):
                 anim._draw_next_frame(d, blit=False)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/integration/concatenate/test_concatenate.py b/lib/iris/tests/integration/concatenate/test_concatenate.py
index 7d9336a888..b158216126 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/integration/concatenate/test_concatenate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/integration/concatenate/test_concatenate.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/integration/test_FieldsFileVariant.py b/lib/iris/tests/integration/test_FieldsFileVariant.py
index e649c3de92..39d21e5d19 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/integration/test_FieldsFileVariant.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/integration/test_FieldsFileVariant.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Integration tests for loading UM FieldsFile variants."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -497,7 +498,7 @@ def test_create(self):
             ints[20] = 0  # LBPACK
             ints[21] = 2  # LBREL
             ints[38] = 1  # LBUSER(1)
-            reals = range(19)
+            reals = list(range(19))
             src_data = np.arange(20, dtype='f4').reshape((4, 5))
             ffv.fields = [Field2(ints, reals, src_data)]
             ffv.close()
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/results/cdm/str_repr/simple.__str__.txt b/lib/iris/tests/results/cdm/str_repr/simple.__str__.txt
index 442f0928ab..b174d346d2 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/results/cdm/str_repr/simple.__str__.txt
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/results/cdm/str_repr/simple.__str__.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-thingness                                                                                (foo: 11)
+thingness                                                                                 (foo: 11)
      Dimension coordinates:
-          foo                                                                                x
+          foo                                                                                 x
      Auxiliary coordinates:
-          This is a really, really, really long long_name that requires to be clipped...     x
-          This is a short long_name                                                          x
\ No newline at end of file
+          This is a really, really, really, really long long_name that must be clipped...     x
+          This is a short long_name                                                           x
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/stock.py b/lib/iris/tests/stock.py
index 6418c1e7f5..0c22dd6a80 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/stock.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/stock.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 import os.path
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_aggregate_by.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_aggregate_by.py
index 67c2022f15..17e2f153ec 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_aggregate_by.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_aggregate_by.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def setUp(self):
                                                    long_name='height',
                                                    units='m')
 
-        model_level = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(z_points.size),
+        model_level = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(z_points.size),
                                            standard_name='model_level_number')
 
         self.cube_single.add_aux_coord(self.coord_z_single, 0)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def setUp(self):
                                                    long_name='level',
                                                    units='1')
 
-        model_level = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(z1_points.size),
+        model_level = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(z1_points.size),
                                            standard_name='model_level_number')
 
         self.cube_multi.add_aux_coord(self.coord_z1_multi, 0)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_analysis.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_analysis.py
index b7ea785f91..38fbd3ffcf 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_analysis.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_analysis.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,12 +17,11 @@
 
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
 
-import itertools
-
 import cartopy.crs as ccrs
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.ma as ma
@@ -1065,7 +1064,7 @@ def test_cartopy_projection(self):
         # Set up figure
         fig = plt.figure(figsize=(10, 10))
         gs = matplotlib.gridspec.GridSpec(nrows=3, ncols=3, hspace=1.5, wspace=0.5)
-        for subplot_spec, (name, target_proj) in itertools.izip(gs, projections.iteritems()):
+        for subplot_spec, (name, target_proj) in zip(gs, projections.iteritems()):
             # Set up axes and title
             ax = plt.subplot(subplot_spec, frameon=False, projection=target_proj)
             ax.set_title(name)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_basic_maths.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_basic_maths.py
index 408288d151..7fd3f100e4 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_basic_maths.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_basic_maths.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -122,8 +122,10 @@ def test_minus_coord(self):
 
         xdim = a.ndim-1
         ydim = a.ndim-2
-        c_x = iris.coords.DimCoord(points=range(a.shape[xdim]), long_name='x_coord', units=self.cube.units)
-        c_y = iris.coords.AuxCoord(points=range(a.shape[ydim]), long_name='y_coord', units=self.cube.units)
+        c_x = iris.coords.DimCoord(points=np.arange(a.shape[xdim]),
+                                   long_name='x_coord', units=self.cube.units)
+        c_y = iris.coords.AuxCoord(points=np.arange(a.shape[ydim]),
+                                   long_name='y_coord', units=self.cube.units)
 
         self.assertCML(a, ('analysis', 'maths_original.cml'))
 
@@ -152,8 +154,10 @@ def test_addition_coord(self):
 
         xdim = a.ndim-1
         ydim = a.ndim-2
-        c_x = iris.coords.DimCoord(points=range(a.shape[xdim]), long_name='x_coord', units=self.cube.units)
-        c_y = iris.coords.AuxCoord(points=range(a.shape[ydim]), long_name='y_coord', units=self.cube.units)
+        c_x = iris.coords.DimCoord(points=np.arange(a.shape[xdim]),
+                                   long_name='x_coord', units=self.cube.units)
+        c_y = iris.coords.AuxCoord(points=np.arange(a.shape[ydim]),
+                                   long_name='y_coord', units=self.cube.units)
 
         self.assertCML(a, ('analysis', 'maths_original.cml'))
 
@@ -187,8 +191,12 @@ def test_addition_fail(self):
 
         xdim = a.ndim-1
         ydim = a.ndim-2
-        c_axis_length_fail = iris.coords.DimCoord(points=range(a.shape[ydim]), long_name='x_coord', units=self.cube.units)
-        c_unit_fail = iris.coords.AuxCoord(points=range(a.shape[xdim]), long_name='x_coord', units='volts')
+        c_axis_length_fail = iris.coords.DimCoord(
+            points=np.arange(a.shape[ydim]),
+            long_name='x_coord',
+            units=self.cube.units)
+        c_unit_fail = iris.coords.AuxCoord(points=np.arange(a.shape[xdim]),
+                                           long_name='x_coord', units='volts')
 
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, iris.analysis.maths.add, a, c_axis_length_fail)
         self.assertRaises(iris.exceptions.NotYetImplementedError, iris.analysis.maths.add, a, c_unit_fail)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_cdm.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_cdm.py
index 44aee5ae69..f4434d54de 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_cdm.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_cdm.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -338,9 +338,13 @@ def test_cube_summary_cell_methods(self):
     def test_cube_summary_alignment(self):
         # Test the cube summary dimension alignment and coord name clipping
         cube = iris.tests.stock.simple_1d()
-        aux = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(11), long_name='This is a really, really, really long long_name that requires to be clipped because it is too long')
+        aux = iris.coords.AuxCoord(
+            np.arange(11),
+            long_name='This is a really, really, really, really long '
+                      'long_name that must be clipped because it is too long')
         cube.add_aux_coord(aux, 0)
-        aux = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(11), long_name='This is a short long_name')
+        aux = iris.coords.AuxCoord(np.arange(11),
+                                   long_name='This is a short long_name')
         cube.add_aux_coord(aux, 0)
         self.assertString(str(cube), ('cdm', 'str_repr', 'simple.__str__.txt'))
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_constraints.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_constraints.py
index 340f6e2875..94a817c2d4 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_constraints.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_constraints.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_coord_api.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_coord_api.py
index c5432db811..8f5f89e8b6 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_coord_api.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_coord_api.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
@@ -275,32 +276,41 @@ def test_AuxCoord_str(self):
 
 class TestAuxCoordCreation(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_basic(self):
-        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin')
+        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin')
         result = "AuxCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]), standard_name='air_temperature', units=Unit('kelvin'))"
         self.assertEqual(result, str(a))
 
-        b = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(10), attributes={'monty': 'python'})
+        b = iris.coords.AuxCoord(list(range(10)),
+                                 attributes={'monty': 'python'})
         result = "AuxCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]), standard_name=None, units=Unit('1'), attributes={'monty': 'python'})"
         self.assertEqual(result, str(b))
         
     def test_excluded_attributes(self):
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-            iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin', attributes={'standard_name': 'whoopsy'})
+            iris.coords.AuxCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin',
+                                 attributes={'standard_name': 'whoopsy'})
         
-        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin')
+        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin')
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             a.attributes['standard_name'] = 'whoopsy'
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             a.attributes.update({'standard_name': 'whoopsy'})
 
     def test_coord_system(self):
-        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin', coord_system=iris.coord_systems.GeogCS(6000))
+        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin',
+                                 coord_system=iris.coord_systems.GeogCS(6000))
         result = "AuxCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]), standard_name='air_temperature', units=Unit('kelvin'), "\
                  "coord_system=GeogCS(6000.0))"
         self.assertEqual(result, str(a))
         
     def test_bounded(self):
-        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin', bounds=np.arange(0, 20).reshape(10, 2))
+        a = iris.coords.AuxCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin',
+                                 bounds=np.arange(0, 20).reshape(10, 2))
         result = ("AuxCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9])"
                   ", bounds=array([[ 0,  1],\n       [ 2,  3],\n       [ 4,  5],\n       [ 6,  7],\n       [ 8,  9],\n       "\
                   "[10, 11],\n       [12, 13],\n       [14, 15],\n       [16, 17],\n       [18, 19]])"
@@ -324,32 +334,41 @@ def test_AuxCoord_fromcoord(self):
   
 class TestDimCoordCreation(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_basic(self):
-        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin')
+        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin')
         result = "DimCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]), standard_name='air_temperature', units=Unit('kelvin'))"
         self.assertEqual(result, str(a))
 
-        b = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), attributes={'monty': 'python'})
+        b = iris.coords.DimCoord(list(range(10)),
+                                 attributes={'monty': 'python'})
         result = "DimCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]), standard_name=None, units=Unit('1'), attributes={'monty': 'python'})"
         self.assertEqual(result, str(b))
         
     def test_excluded_attributes(self):
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-            iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin', attributes={'standard_name': 'whoopsy'})
+            iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin',
+                                 attributes={'standard_name': 'whoopsy'})
         
-        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin')
+        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin')
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             a.attributes['standard_name'] = 'whoopsy'
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             a.attributes.update({'standard_name': 'whoopsy'})
 
     def test_coord_system(self):
-        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin', coord_system=iris.coord_systems.GeogCS(6000))
+        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin',
+                                 coord_system=iris.coord_systems.GeogCS(6000))
         result = "DimCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]), standard_name='air_temperature', units=Unit('kelvin'), "\
                  "coord_system=GeogCS(6000.0))"
         self.assertEqual(result, str(a))
         
     def test_bounded(self):
-        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), 'air_temperature', units='kelvin', bounds=np.arange(0, 20).reshape(10, 2))
+        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(10), 'air_temperature',
+                                 units='kelvin',
+                                 bounds=np.arange(0, 20).reshape(10, 2))
         result = ("DimCoord(array([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9])"
                   ", bounds=array([[ 0,  1],\n       [ 2,  3],\n       [ 4,  5],\n       [ 6,  7],\n       [ 8,  9],\n       "\
                   "[10, 11],\n       [12, 13],\n       [14, 15],\n       [16, 17],\n       [18, 19]])"
@@ -388,7 +407,7 @@ def test_DimCoord_equality(self):
         self.assertNotEqual(b, d)
         
     def test_Dim_to_Aux(self):
-        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(10), standard_name='air_temperature', long_name='custom air temp',
+        a = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(10), standard_name='air_temperature', long_name='custom air temp',
                                  units='kelvin', attributes={'monty': 'python'}, 
                                  bounds=np.arange(20).reshape(10, 2), circular=True)
         b = iris.coords.AuxCoord.from_coord(a)
@@ -545,7 +564,7 @@ def create_1d_coord(self, bounds=None, points=None, units='meter'):
         return coord
         
     def test_explicit(self):
-        orig_coord = self.create_1d_coord(points=range(10), 
+        orig_coord = self.create_1d_coord(points=list(range(10)), 
                                           bounds=[(b, b+1) for b in range(10)])
         coord_expected = self.create_1d_coord(points=5, bounds=[(0, 10)])
 
@@ -611,7 +630,7 @@ def test_get_set_points_and_bounds(self):
         
         # set bounds from non-numpy pairs
         coord._points = None # reset the undelying shape of the coordinate
-        coord.points = range(3)
+        coord.points = list(range(3))
         coord.bounds = [[123, 456], [234, 567], [345, 678]]
         self.assertEqual(coord.shape, (3, ))
         self.assertEqual(coord.bounds.shape, (3, 2))
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_cube_to_pp.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_cube_to_pp.py
index f67fd27e58..74af8d03d8 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_cube_to_pp.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_cube_to_pp.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_ff.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_ff.py
index e9c5aca57f..8f0f8bb728 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_ff.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_ff.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_iterate.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_iterate.py
index d25b3915bd..ade8cc8be5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_iterate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_iterate.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ def test_izip_same_cube_no_coords(self):
         self.assertEqual(count, nslices)
 
     def test_izip_subcube_of_same(self):
-        for _ in xrange(3):
+        for _ in range(3):
             super_cube = self.cube_a
             # Random int to pick coord value to calc subcube
             k = random.randint(0, super_cube.shape[0]-1)
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ def test_izip_same_dims(self):
         self.assertEqual(count, nslices)
         # Two coords
         nslices = self.cube_a.shape[0]
-        i_iterator = iter(xrange(self.cube_a.shape[0]))
+        i_iterator = iter(range(self.cube_a.shape[0]))
         count = 0
         for slice_a, slice_b in iris.iterate.izip(self.cube_a, self.cube_b,
                                                       coords=self.coord_names):
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_mapping.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_mapping.py
index cb5092f129..35f19ef4f6 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_mapping.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_mapping.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 """
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ class TestLowLevel(tests.GraphicsTest):
     def setUp(self):
         self.cube = iris.tests.stock.global_pp()
         self.few = 4
-        self.few_levels = range(280, 300, 5)
+        self.few_levels = list(range(280, 300, 5))
         self.many_levels = np.linspace(
             self.cube.data.min(), self.cube.data.max(), 40)
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_merge.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_merge.py
index d2ea102a1a..02cea278bf 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_merge.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_merge.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_peak.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_peak.py
index 53d18ce8d1..627bf241c9 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_peak.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_peak.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def test_peak_coord_length_1(self):
 
     def test_peak_coord_length_2(self):
         # Coordinate contains 2 points.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 2, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 2, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([1, 2]),
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def test_peak_coord_length_2(self):
 
     def test_peak_coord_length_3(self):
         # Coordinate contains 3 points.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 3, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 3, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([1, 2, 1]),
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def test_peak_coord_length_3(self):
 
     def test_peak_1d(self):
         # Collapse a 1d cube.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 11, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 11, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1]),
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_peak_1d(self):
 
     def test_peak_duplicate_coords(self):
         # Collapse cube along 2 coordinates (both the same).
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 4, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 4, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([1, 2, 3, 1]),
@@ -101,10 +101,10 @@ def test_peak_duplicate_coords(self):
 
     def test_peak_2d(self):
         # Collapse a 2d cube.
-        longitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 4, 1),
+        longitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 4, 1),
                                          standard_name='longitude',
                                          units='degrees')
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 3, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 3, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([[1, 2, 3, 1], [4, 5, 7, 4],
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def test_peak_2d(self):
 
     def test_peak_without_peak_value(self):
         # No peak in column (values equal).
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 4, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 4, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([1, 1, 1, 1]),
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ def test_peak_without_peak_value(self):
 
     def test_peak_with_nan(self):
         # Single nan in column.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 5, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 5, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([1, 4, 2, 3, 1], dtype=np.float32),
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def test_peak_with_nan(self):
 
     def test_peak_with_mask(self):
         # Single value in column masked.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 5, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 5, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(ma.array([1, 4, 2, 3, 2], dtype=np.float32),
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def test_peak_with_mask(self):
 
     def test_peak_with_nan_and_mask(self):
         # Single nan in column with single value masked.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 5, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 5, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(ma.array([1, 4, 2, 3, 1], dtype=np.float32),
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ def test_peak_with_nan_and_mask(self):
 
     def test_peak_against_max(self):
         # Cube with data that infers a peak value greater than the column max.
-        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(0, 7, 1),
+        latitude = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0, 7, 1),
                                         standard_name='latitude',
                                         units='degrees')
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.array([0, 1, 3, 7, 7, 4, 2],
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_pickling.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_pickling.py
index 0890689aa4..d31cca1292 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_pickling.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_pickling.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@
 class TestPickle(tests.IrisTest):
     def pickle_then_unpickle(self, obj):
         """Returns a generator of ("cpickle protocol number", object) tuples."""
-        for protocol in xrange(1 + cPickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL):
+        for protocol in range(1 + cPickle.HIGHEST_PROTOCOL):
             bio = io.BytesIO()
             cPickle.dump(obj, bio, protocol)
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_plot.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_plot.py
index 4e8d2e5c43..bf554d27c4 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_plot.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_plot.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -856,8 +857,10 @@ def test_yx_order(self):
 @tests.skip_plot
 class TestSymbols(tests.GraphicsTest):
     def test_cloud_cover(self):
-        iplt.symbols(range(10), [0] * 10, [iris.symbols.CLOUD_COVER[i]
-                                           for i in range(10)], 0.375)
+        iplt.symbols(list(range(10)),
+                     [0] * 10,
+                     [iris.symbols.CLOUD_COVER[i] for i in range(10)],
+                     0.375)
         iplt.plt.axis('off')
         self.check_graphic()
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_module.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_module.py
index 3e25b00790..3e25cb839d 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_module.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_module.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_to_cube.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_to_cube.py
index 617ed77c03..824da11721 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_to_cube.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_pp_to_cube.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_rules.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_rules.py
index f08d7b8932..0d4ad343bb 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_rules.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_rules.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_trajectory.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_trajectory.py
index b5523baca2..217b4b1af1 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_trajectory.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_trajectory.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2010 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with Iris.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before importing anything else
 import iris.tests as tests
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ def test_tri_polar(self):
         cube.coord('depth').bounds = cube.coord('depth').bounds.astype(np.float32)
 
         # define a latitude trajectory (put coords in a different order to the cube, just to be awkward)
-        latitudes = range(-90, 90, 2)
+        latitudes = list(range(-90, 90, 2))
         longitudes = [-90]*len(latitudes)
         sample_points = [('longitude', longitudes), ('latitude', latitudes)]
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/test_util.py b/lib/iris/tests/test_util.py
index 7f3dcce344..c9d81da9bc 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/test_util.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/area_weighted/test_AreaWeightedRegridder.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/area_weighted/test_AreaWeightedRegridder.py
index 43811963c1..542af58a45 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/area_weighted/test_AreaWeightedRegridder.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/area_weighted/test_AreaWeightedRegridder.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ def test_invalid_low_mdtol(self):
     def test_mismatched_src_coord_systems(self):
         src = Cube(np.zeros((3, 4)))
         cs = GeogCS(6543210)
-        lat = DimCoord(range(3), 'latitude', coord_system=cs)
-        lon = DimCoord(range(4), 'longitude')
+        lat = DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'latitude', coord_system=cs)
+        lon = DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'longitude')
         src.add_dim_coord(lat, 0)
         src.add_dim_coord(lon, 1)
         target = mock.Mock()
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/cartography/test_project.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/cartography/test_project.py
index ce6d6fc40c..3be2a9ba11 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/cartography/test_project.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/cartography/test_project.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ def setUp(self):
         cs = iris.coord_systems.GeogCS(654321)
         self.cube = iris.cube.Cube(np.zeros(25).reshape(5, 5))
         self.cube.add_dim_coord(
-            DimCoord(range(5), standard_name="latitude", units='degrees',
+            DimCoord(np.arange(5), standard_name="latitude", units='degrees',
                      coord_system=cs), 0)
         self.cube.add_dim_coord(
-            DimCoord(range(5), standard_name="longitude", units='degrees',
+            DimCoord(np.arange(5), standard_name="longitude", units='degrees',
                      coord_system=cs), 1)
 
         self.tcs = iris.coord_systems.GeogCS(600000)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolate/test_linear.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolate/test_linear.py
index 57dd2f2350..3c227673c5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolate/test_linear.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolate/test_linear.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ def test_mask_retention(self):
 class TestNDCoords(tests.IrisTest):
     def setUp(self):
         cube = stock.simple_3d_w_multidim_coords()
-        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(range(3), 'longitude'), 1)
-        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(range(4), 'latitude'), 2)
+        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'longitude'), 1)
+        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'latitude'), 2)
         cube.data = cube.data.astype(np.float32)
         self.cube = cube
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolation/test_RectilinearInterpolator.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolation/test_RectilinearInterpolator.py
index a862a49f67..3230ea3c4a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolation/test_RectilinearInterpolator.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/interpolation/test_RectilinearInterpolator.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@
 class ThreeDimCube(tests.IrisTest):
     def setUp(self):
         cube = stock.simple_3d_w_multidim_coords()
-        cube.add_aux_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(range(2), 'height'), 0)
-        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(range(3), 'latitude'), 1)
-        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(range(4), 'longitude'), 2)
+        cube.add_aux_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(2), 'height'), 0)
+        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'latitude'), 1)
+        cube.add_dim_coord(iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'longitude'), 2)
         self.data = np.arange(24).reshape(2, 3, 4).astype(np.float32)
         cube.data = self.data
         self.cube = cube
@@ -502,7 +502,8 @@ def interpolator(self, method=LINEAR):
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(data)
         time_coord = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(0.0, 48.0, 12.0), 'time',
                                           units='hours since epoch')
-        height_coord = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(3), 'altitude', units='m')
+        height_coord = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'altitude',
+                                            units='m')
         cube.add_dim_coord(time_coord, 0)
         cube.add_dim_coord(height_coord, 1)
         return RectilinearInterpolator(cube, ['time'], method, EXTRAPOLATE)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/maths/__init__.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/maths/__init__.py
index 7031832f0a..8d92f51278 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/maths/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/maths/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the :mod:`iris.analysis.maths` module."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractproperty
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/regrid/test_RectilinearRegridder.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/regrid/test_RectilinearRegridder.py
index 396d9a4c3b..1eb4b2041f 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/regrid/test_RectilinearRegridder.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/regrid/test_RectilinearRegridder.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for :class:`iris.analysis._regrid.RectilinearRegridder`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -617,9 +618,9 @@ def uk_cube():
     data = np.arange(12, dtype=np.float32).reshape(3, 4)
     uk = Cube(data)
     cs = OSGB()
-    y_coord = DimCoord(range(3), 'projection_y_coordinate', units='m',
+    y_coord = DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'projection_y_coordinate', units='m',
                        coord_system=cs)
-    x_coord = DimCoord(range(4), 'projection_x_coordinate', units='m',
+    x_coord = DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'projection_x_coordinate', units='m',
                        coord_system=cs)
     uk.add_dim_coord(y_coord, 0)
     uk.add_dim_coord(x_coord, 1)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PERCENTILE.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PERCENTILE.py
index 9260ba80e4..8bce1d1987 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PERCENTILE.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PERCENTILE.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the :data:`iris.analysis.PERCENTILE` aggregator."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ def test_2d_multi(self):
         percent = np.array([10, 50, 90, 100])
         actual = PERCENTILE.aggregate(data, axis=0, percent=percent)
         self.assertTupleEqual(actual.shape, (shape[-1], percent.size))
-        expected = np.array(range(shape[-1]) * percent.size)
+        expected = np.tile(np.arange(shape[-1]), percent.size)
         expected = expected.reshape(percent.size, shape[-1]).T + 1
         expected = expected + (percent / 10 - 1)
         self.assertArrayAlmostEqual(actual, expected)
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ def test_masked_2d_multi(self):
         percent = np.array([10, 50, 70, 80])
         actual = PERCENTILE.aggregate(data, axis=0, percent=percent)
         self.assertTupleEqual(actual.shape, (shape[-1], percent.size))
-        expected = np.array(range(shape[-1]) * percent.size)
+        expected = np.tile(np.arange(shape[-1]), percent.size)
         expected = expected.reshape(percent.size, shape[-1]).T
         expected = expected + (percent / 10 * 2)
         self.assertArrayAlmostEqual(actual, expected)
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ def test_mandatory_kwarg_no_shape(self):
     def test_mandatory_kwarg_shape(self):
         kwargs = dict(percent=(10, 20))
         self.assertTupleEqual(PERCENTILE.aggregate_shape(**kwargs), (2,))
-        kwargs = dict(percent=range(13))
+        kwargs = dict(percent=list(range(13)))
         self.assertTupleEqual(PERCENTILE.aggregate_shape(**kwargs), (13,))
 
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PercentileAggregator.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PercentileAggregator.py
index 86fa1c7709..7e1d510258 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PercentileAggregator.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/analysis/test_PercentileAggregator.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -57,8 +58,8 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.cube_simple = Cube(data)
         self.cube_simple.add_dim_coord(self.coord_simple, 0)
 
-        self.coord_multi_0 = DimCoord(range(shape[0]), 'time')
-        self.coord_multi_1 = DimCoord(range(shape[1]), 'height')
+        self.coord_multi_0 = DimCoord(np.arange(shape[0]), 'time')
+        self.coord_multi_1 = DimCoord(np.arange(shape[1]), 'height')
         self.cube_multi = Cube(data.reshape(shape))
         self.cube_multi.add_dim_coord(self.coord_multi_0, 0)
         self.cube_multi.add_dim_coord(self.coord_multi_1, 1)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/concatenate/test_concatenate.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/concatenate/test_concatenate.py
index 8d8a8ae0cc..76e2bd64d3 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/concatenate/test_concatenate.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/concatenate/test_concatenate.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Test function :func:`iris._concatenate.concatenate.py`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ def _make_cube(self, points, bounds=None):
         data = np.arange(len(points) * nx).reshape(len(points), nx)
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(data, standard_name='air_temperature', units='K')
         lat = iris.coords.DimCoord(points, 'latitude', bounds=bounds)
-        lon = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(nx), 'longitude')
+        lon = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(nx), 'longitude')
         cube.add_dim_coord(lat, 0)
         cube.add_dim_coord(lon, 1)
         return cube
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ def build_lazy_cube(self, points, bounds=None, nx=4):
         data = biggus.NumpyArrayAdapter(data)
         cube = iris.cube.Cube(data, standard_name='air_temperature', units='K')
         lat = iris.coords.DimCoord(points, 'latitude', bounds=bounds)
-        lon = iris.coords.DimCoord(range(nx), 'longitude')
+        lon = iris.coords.DimCoord(np.arange(nx), 'longitude')
         cube.add_dim_coord(lat, 0)
         cube.add_dim_coord(lon, 1)
         return cube
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/coord_categorisation/test_add_categorised_coord.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/coord_categorisation/test_add_categorised_coord.py
index f3c22bd9ff..98916ad1d5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/coord_categorisation/test_add_categorised_coord.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/coord_categorisation/test_add_categorised_coord.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Test function :func:`iris.coord_categorisation.add_categorised_coord`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -91,15 +92,16 @@ def test_string_vectorised(self):
 class Test_add_day_of_year(tests.IrisTest):
     def setUp(self):
         self.expected = {
-            'standard': np.array(range(360, 367) + range(1, 4)),
-            'gregorian': np.array(range(360, 367) + range(1, 4)),
-            'proleptic_gregorian': np.array(range(360, 367) + range(1, 4)),
-            'noleap': np.array(range(359, 366) + range(1, 4)),
-            'julian': np.array(range(360, 367) + range(1, 4)),
-            'all_leap': np.array(range(360, 367) + range(1, 4)),
-            '365_day': np.array(range(359, 366) + range(1, 4)),
-            '366_day': np.array(range(360, 367) + range(1, 4)),
-            '360_day': np.array(range(355, 361) + range(1, 5))}
+            'standard': np.array(list(range(360, 367)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            'gregorian': np.array(list(range(360, 367)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            'proleptic_gregorian': np.array(list(range(360, 367)) +
+                                            list(range(1, 4))),
+            'noleap': np.array(list(range(359, 366)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            'julian': np.array(list(range(360, 367)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            'all_leap': np.array(list(range(360, 367)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            '365_day': np.array(list(range(359, 366)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            '366_day': np.array(list(range(360, 367)) + list(range(1, 4))),
+            '360_day': np.array(list(range(355, 361)) + list(range(1, 5)))}
 
     def make_cube(self, calendar):
         n_times = 10
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/coords/test_Coord.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/coords/test_Coord.py
index 9a97a082b3..103f02846a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/coords/test_Coord.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/coords/test_Coord.py
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def test_different_array_attrs_incompatible(self):
 
 class Test_DimCoord_copy(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_writable_points(self):
-        coord1 = DimCoord(range(5),
+        coord1 = DimCoord(np.arange(5),
                           bounds=[[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 3], [3, 4], [4, 5]])
         coord2 = coord1.copy()
         msg = 'destination is read-only'
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_Cube.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_Cube.py
index a44684f8d3..09cf161b71 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_Cube.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_Cube.py
@@ -17,13 +17,12 @@
 """Unit tests for the `iris.cube.Cube` class."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
 import iris.tests as tests
 
-import itertools
-
 import biggus
 import mock
 import numpy as np
@@ -237,7 +236,7 @@ def test_lat_lon_weighted_aggregator(self):
         with mock.patch('warnings.warn') as warn:
             self.cube.collapsed(coords, aggregator)
 
-        coords = filter(lambda coord: 'latitude' in coord, coords)
+        coords = [coord for coord in coords if 'latitude' in coord]
         self._assert_warn_collapse_without_weight(coords, warn)
 
     def test_lat_lon_weighted_aggregator_with_weights(self):
@@ -261,7 +260,7 @@ def test_lat_lon_weighted_aggregator_alt(self):
         with mock.patch('warnings.warn') as warn:
             self.cube.collapsed(coords, aggregator)
 
-        coords = filter(lambda coord: 'latitude' in coord, coords)
+        coords = [coord for coord in coords if 'latitude' in coord]
         self._assert_warn_collapse_without_weight(coords, warn)
 
     def test_no_lat_weighted_aggregator_mixed(self):
@@ -416,7 +415,7 @@ class Test_slices_over(tests.IrisTest):
     def setUp(self):
         self.cube = stock.realistic_4d()
         # Define expected iterators for 1D and 2D test cases.
-        self.exp_iter_1d = xrange(
+        self.exp_iter_1d = range(
             len(self.cube.coord('model_level_number').points))
         self.exp_iter_2d = np.ndindex(6, 70, 1, 1)
         # Define maximum number of interations for particularly long
@@ -425,7 +424,7 @@ def setUp(self):
 
     def test_1d_slice_coord_given(self):
         res = self.cube.slices_over(self.cube.coord('model_level_number'))
-        for i, res_cube in itertools.izip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
+        for i, res_cube in zip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
             expected = self.cube[:, i]
             self.assertEqual(res_cube, expected)
 
@@ -435,7 +434,7 @@ def test_1d_slice_nonexistent_coord_given(self):
 
     def test_1d_slice_coord_name_given(self):
         res = self.cube.slices_over('model_level_number')
-        for i, res_cube in itertools.izip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
+        for i, res_cube in zip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
             expected = self.cube[:, i]
             self.assertEqual(res_cube, expected)
 
@@ -445,7 +444,7 @@ def test_1d_slice_nonexistent_coord_name_given(self):
 
     def test_1d_slice_dimension_given(self):
         res = self.cube.slices_over(1)
-        for i, res_cube in itertools.izip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
+        for i, res_cube in zip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
             expected = self.cube[:, i]
             self.assertEqual(res_cube, expected)
 
@@ -526,13 +525,13 @@ def test_multidim_slice_coord_given(self):
 
     def test_duplicate_coordinate_given(self):
         res = self.cube.slices_over([1, 1])
-        for i, res_cube in itertools.izip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
+        for i, res_cube in zip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
             expected = self.cube[:, i]
             self.assertEqual(res_cube, expected)
 
     def test_non_orthogonal_coordinates_given(self):
         res = self.cube.slices_over(['model_level_number', 'sigma'])
-        for i, res_cube in itertools.izip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
+        for i, res_cube in zip(self.exp_iter_1d, res):
             expected = self.cube[:, i]
             self.assertEqual(res_cube, expected)
 
@@ -647,7 +646,7 @@ def test_real_data(self):
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(170, 190))
         self.assertFalse(result.has_lazy_data())
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(170, 191))
+                              np.arange(170, 191))
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, 0], 170)
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, -1], 190)
 
@@ -657,7 +656,7 @@ def test_real_data_wrapped(self):
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(170, 190))
         self.assertFalse(result.has_lazy_data())
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(170, 191))
+                              np.arange(170, 191))
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, 0], 350)
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, -1], 10)
 
@@ -666,7 +665,7 @@ def test_lazy_data(self):
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(170, 190))
         self.assertTrue(result.has_lazy_data())
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(170, 191))
+                              np.arange(170, 191))
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, 0], 170)
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, -1], 190)
 
@@ -675,7 +674,7 @@ def test_lazy_data_wrapped(self):
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(170, 190))
         self.assertTrue(result.has_lazy_data())
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(170, 191))
+                              np.arange(170, 191))
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, 0], 350)
         self.assertEqual(result.data[0, 0, -1], 10)
 
@@ -685,7 +684,7 @@ def test_ignore_bounds(self):
         cube = create_cube(0, 30, bounds=True)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(9.5, 12.5), ignore_bounds=True)
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(10, 13))
+                              np.arange(10, 13))
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').bounds[0],
                               [9.5, 10.5])
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').bounds[-1],
@@ -698,54 +697,58 @@ class Test_intersection__RegionalSrcModulus(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_request_subset(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(45, 50))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points, range(45, 51))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(5, 11))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
+                              np.arange(45, 51))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(5, 11))
 
     def test_request_left(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(35, 45))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points, range(40, 46))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(0, 6))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
+                              np.arange(40, 46))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(0, 6))
 
     def test_request_right(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(55, 65))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points, range(55, 60))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(15, 20))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
+                              np.arange(55, 60))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(15, 20))
 
     def test_request_superset(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(35, 65))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points, range(40, 60))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(0, 20))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
+                              np.arange(40, 60))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(0, 20))
 
     def test_request_subset_modulus(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(45 + 360, 50 + 360))
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(45 + 360, 51 + 360))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(5, 11))
+                              np.arange(45 + 360, 51 + 360))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(5, 11))
 
     def test_request_left_modulus(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(35 + 360, 45 + 360))
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(40 + 360, 46 + 360))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(0, 6))
+                              np.arange(40 + 360, 46 + 360))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(0, 6))
 
     def test_request_right_modulus(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(55 + 360, 65 + 360))
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(55 + 360, 60 + 360))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(15, 20))
+                              np.arange(55 + 360, 60 + 360))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(15, 20))
 
     def test_request_superset_modulus(self):
         cube = create_cube(40, 60)
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(35 + 360, 65 + 360))
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
-                              range(40 + 360, 60 + 360))
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], range(0, 20))
+                              np.arange(40 + 360, 60 + 360))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data[0, 0], np.arange(0, 20))
 
     def test_tolerance_f4(self):
         cube = create_cube(0, 5)
@@ -1091,7 +1094,7 @@ def test_superset(self):
         result = cube.intersection(longitude=(0, 15))
         self.assertArrayEqual(result.coord('longitude').points,
                               [5, 10, 8, 5, 3])
-        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data, range(5))
+        self.assertArrayEqual(result.data, np.arange(5))
 
 
 # Test the API of the cube interpolation method.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_CubeList.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_CubeList.py
index c5d67f75cd..4aa4754ce5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_CubeList.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/cube/test_CubeList.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the `iris.cube.CubeList` class."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/equalise_cubes/test_equalise_attributes.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/equalise_cubes/test_equalise_attributes.py
index 90285fcd30..1e14ac3d7a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/equalise_cubes/test_equalise_attributes.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/equalise_cubes/test_equalise_attributes.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/raster/test_export_geotiff.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/raster/test_export_geotiff.py
index 75b6b46b7b..e5e1526892 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/raster/test_export_geotiff.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/raster/test_export_geotiff.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ class TestDtypeAndValues(tests.IrisTest):
     def _cube(self, dtype):
         data = np.arange(12).reshape(3, 4).astype(dtype) + 20
         cube = Cube(data, 'air_pressure_anomaly')
-        coord = DimCoord(range(3), 'latitude', units='degrees')
+        coord = DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'latitude', units='degrees')
         coord.guess_bounds()
         cube.add_dim_coord(coord, 0)
-        coord = DimCoord(range(4), 'longitude', units='degrees')
+        coord = DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'longitude', units='degrees')
         coord.guess_bounds()
         cube.add_dim_coord(coord, 1)
         return cube
@@ -107,11 +107,11 @@ class TestProjection(tests.IrisTest):
     def _cube(self, ellipsoid=None):
         data = np.arange(12).reshape(3, 4).astype('u1')
         cube = Cube(data, 'air_pressure_anomaly')
-        coord = DimCoord(range(3), 'latitude', units='degrees',
+        coord = DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'latitude', units='degrees',
                          coord_system=ellipsoid)
         coord.guess_bounds()
         cube.add_dim_coord(coord, 0)
-        coord = DimCoord(range(4), 'longitude', units='degrees',
+        coord = DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'longitude', units='degrees',
                          coord_system=ellipsoid)
         coord.guess_bounds()
         cube.add_dim_coord(coord, 1)
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_weighted_curvilinear_to_rectilinear.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_weighted_curvilinear_to_rectilinear.py
index 97b34f70fd..e99401bad8 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_weighted_curvilinear_to_rectilinear.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/regrid/test_regrid_weighted_curvilinear_to_rectilinear.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_Field.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_Field.py
index e3cb4522f3..092d278f14 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_Field.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_Field.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -33,75 +34,75 @@
 
 class Test_int_headers(tests.IrisTest):
     def test(self):
-        field = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        self.assertArrayEqual(field.int_headers, range(45))
+        field = Field(np.arange(45), list(range(19)), None)
+        self.assertArrayEqual(field.int_headers, np.arange(45))
 
 
 class Test_real_headers(tests.IrisTest):
     def test(self):
-        field = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        self.assertArrayEqual(field.real_headers, range(19))
+        field = Field(list(range(45)), np.arange(19), None)
+        self.assertArrayEqual(field.real_headers, np.arange(19))
 
 
 class Test___eq__(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_equal(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45), np.arange(19), None)
         self.assertTrue(field1.__eq__(field2))
 
     def test_not_equal_ints(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45, 90), range(19), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45, 90), np.arange(19), None)
         self.assertFalse(field1.__eq__(field2))
 
     def test_not_equal_reals(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45), range(19, 38), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45), np.arange(19, 38), None)
         self.assertFalse(field1.__eq__(field2))
 
     def test_not_equal_data(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45), range(19), np.zeros(3))
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45), np.arange(19), np.zeros(3))
         self.assertFalse(field1.__eq__(field2))
 
     def test_invalid(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
         self.assertIs(field1.__eq__('foo'), NotImplemented)
 
 
 class Test___ne__(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_equal(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45), np.arange(19), None)
         self.assertFalse(field1.__ne__(field2))
 
     def test_not_equal_ints(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45, 90), range(19), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45, 90), np.arange(19), None)
         self.assertTrue(field1.__ne__(field2))
 
     def test_not_equal_reals(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45), range(19, 38), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45), np.arange(19, 38), None)
         self.assertTrue(field1.__ne__(field2))
 
     def test_not_equal_data(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
-        field2 = Field(range(45), range(19), np.zeros(3))
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
+        field2 = Field(np.arange(45), np.arange(19), np.zeros(3))
         self.assertTrue(field1.__ne__(field2))
 
     def test_invalid(self):
-        field1 = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
+        field1 = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
         self.assertIs(field1.__ne__('foo'), NotImplemented)
 
 
 class Test_num_values(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_64(self):
-        field = Field(range(45), range(19), None)
+        field = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), None)
         self.assertEqual(field.num_values(), 64)
 
     def test_128(self):
-        field = Field(range(45), range(83), None)
+        field = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(83)), None)
         self.assertEqual(field.num_values(), 128)
 
 
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ def _check_formats(self,
         if absent_provider:
             # Replace the provider with a simple array.
             provider = np.zeros(2)
-        field = Field(range(45), range(19), provider)
+        field = Field(list(range(45)), list(range(19)), provider)
         return field._can_copy_deferred_data(new_lbpack, new_bacc)
 
     def test_okay_simple(self):
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_FixedLengthHeader.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_FixedLengthHeader.py
index dda7b6ede2..dc78b17f42 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_FixedLengthHeader.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/experimental/um/test_FixedLengthHeader.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -74,39 +75,39 @@ def test_explicit_32_bit(self):
 class Test___init__(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_invalid_length(self):
         with self.assertRaisesRegexp(ValueError, 'Incorrect number of words'):
-            FixedLengthHeader(range(15))
+            FixedLengthHeader(list(range(15)))
 
 
 class Test___eq__(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_equal(self):
-        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
-        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
+        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(list(range(256)))
+        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(np.arange(256))
         self.assertTrue(ffv1.__eq__(ffv2))
 
     def test_not_equal(self):
-        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
-        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256, 512))
+        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(list(range(256)))
+        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(np.arange(256, 512))
         self.assertFalse(ffv1.__eq__(ffv2))
 
     def test_invalid(self):
-        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
-        self.assertIs(ffv1.__eq__(range(256)), NotImplemented)
+        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(list(range(256)))
+        self.assertIs(ffv1.__eq__(np.arange(256)), NotImplemented)
 
 
 class Test___ne__(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_equal(self):
-        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
-        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
+        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(list(range(256)))
+        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(np.arange(256))
         self.assertFalse(ffv1.__ne__(ffv2))
 
     def test_not_equal(self):
-        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
-        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256, 512))
+        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(list(range(256)))
+        ffv2 = FixedLengthHeader(np.arange(256, 512))
         self.assertTrue(ffv1.__ne__(ffv2))
 
     def test_invalid(self):
-        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(range(256))
-        self.assertIs(ffv1.__ne__(range(256)), NotImplemented)
+        ffv1 = FixedLengthHeader(list(range(256)))
+        self.assertIs(ffv1.__ne__(np.arange(256)), NotImplemented)
 
 
 def make_header():
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/cf/test_CFReader.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/cf/test_CFReader.py
index 9ac96a1786..a6d42f5d3e 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/cf/test_CFReader.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/cf/test_CFReader.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/ff/test_FF2PP.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/ff/test_FF2PP.py
index a4724110f4..d0be4e0e01 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/ff/test_FF2PP.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/ff/test_FF2PP.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the :class:`iris.fileformat.ff.FF2PP` class."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -366,7 +367,8 @@ def _check_expected_levels(self, results, n_levels):
             self.assertEqual(results[0].lblev, self.original_lblev)
         else:
             self.assertEqual(len(results), n_levels)
-            self.assertEqual([fld.lblev for fld in results], range(n_levels))
+            self.assertEqual([fld.lblev for fld in results],
+                             list(range(n_levels)))
 
     def test__is_lbc(self):
         ff2pp = FF2PP('dummy_filename')
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_grid_definition_template_90.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_grid_definition_template_90.py
index 48256ad04f..c72a1b9a2d 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_grid_definition_template_90.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_grid_definition_template_90.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_product_definition_template_31.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_product_definition_template_31.py
index e1653846ec..195372c4ea 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_product_definition_template_31.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/load_convert/test_product_definition_template_31.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/message/test__RawGribMessage.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/message/test__RawGribMessage.py
index 08a07879fb..de451031ae 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/message/test__RawGribMessage.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/grib/message/test__RawGribMessage.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/name_loaders/test_generate_cubes.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/name_loaders/test_generate_cubes.py
index 209640cb07..5a66f2b932 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/name_loaders/test_generate_cubes.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/name_loaders/test_generate_cubes.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test_Saver.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test_Saver.py
index 0419c317a7..c6e83b0db5 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test_Saver.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test_Saver.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the `iris.fileformats.netcdf.Saver` class."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -40,10 +41,10 @@ def _transverse_mercator_cube(self, ellipsoid=None):
         cube = Cube(data, 'air_pressure_anomaly')
         trans_merc = TransverseMercator(49.0, -2.0, -400000.0, 100000.0,
                                         0.9996012717, ellipsoid)
-        coord = DimCoord(range(3), 'projection_y_coordinate', units='m',
+        coord = DimCoord(np.arange(3), 'projection_y_coordinate', units='m',
                          coord_system=trans_merc)
         cube.add_dim_coord(coord, 0)
-        coord = DimCoord(range(4), 'projection_x_coordinate', units='m',
+        coord = DimCoord(np.arange(4), 'projection_x_coordinate', units='m',
                          coord_system=trans_merc)
         cube.add_dim_coord(coord, 1)
         return cube
@@ -209,8 +210,8 @@ def construct_cf_grid_mapping_variable(self, cube):
     def variable_attributes(self, mocked_variable):
         """Get the attributes dictionary from a mocked NetCDF variable."""
         # Get the attributes defined on the mock object.
-        attributes = filter(lambda name: not name.startswith('_'),
-                            sorted(mocked_variable.__dict__.keys()))
+        attributes = [name for name in sorted(mocked_variable.__dict__.keys())
+                      if not name.startswith('_')]
         attributes.remove('method_calls')
         return {key: getattr(mocked_variable, key) for key in attributes}
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_aux_factory.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_aux_factory.py
index 37b1e709ec..d4196b915c 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_aux_factory.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_aux_factory.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def test_formula_terms_ap(self):
         self.assertEqual(factory.surface_air_pressure, mock.sentinel.ps)
 
     def test_formula_terms_a_p0(self):
-        coord_a = DimCoord(range(5), units='Pa')
+        coord_a = DimCoord(np.arange(5), units='Pa')
         coord_p0 = DimCoord(10, units='1')
         coord_expected = DimCoord(np.arange(5) * 10, units='Pa',
                                   long_name='vertical pressure', var_name='ap')
@@ -89,14 +89,14 @@ def test_formula_terms_a_p0(self):
         self.assertEqual(factory.surface_air_pressure, mock.sentinel.ps)
 
     def test_formula_terms_p0_non_scalar(self):
-        coord_p0 = DimCoord(range(5))
+        coord_p0 = DimCoord(np.arange(5))
         self.provides['coordinates'].append((coord_p0, 'p0'))
         self.requires['formula_terms'] = dict(p0='p0')
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             _load_aux_factory(self.engine, self.cube)
 
     def test_formula_terms_p0_bounded(self):
-        coord_a = DimCoord(range(5))
+        coord_a = DimCoord(np.arange(5))
         coord_p0 = DimCoord(1, bounds=[0, 2], var_name='p0')
         self.provides['coordinates'].extend([(coord_a, 'a'), (coord_p0, 'p0')])
         self.requires['formula_terms'] = dict(a='a', b='b', ps='ps', p0='p0')
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_cube.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_cube.py
index 3a50e907aa..37f5fbfb43 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_cube.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/netcdf/test__load_cube.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the `iris.fileformats.netcdf._load_cube` function."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp/test__LBProc.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp/test__LBProc.py
index 2f6fdbb1b0..769dc92b66 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp/test__LBProc.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp/test__LBProc.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for :class:`iris.fileformats.pp._LBProc`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ def test_false(self):
         self.assertFalse(flag)
 
     def test_many(self):
-        for i in xrange(100):
+        for i in range(100):
             lbproc = _LBProc(i)
             with mock.patch('warnings.warn') as warn:
                 flag = lbproc.flag1
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ def test_false(self):
         self.assertFalse(flag)
 
     def test_many(self):
-        for i in xrange(100):
+        for i in range(100):
             lbproc = _LBProc(i)
             with mock.patch('warnings.warn') as warn:
                 flag = lbproc.flag2
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ def test_false(self):
         self.assertFalse(flag)
 
     def test_many(self):
-        for i in xrange(100):
+        for i in range(100):
             lbproc = _LBProc(i)
             with mock.patch('warnings.warn') as warn:
                 flag = lbproc.flag4
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ def test_false(self):
         self.assertFalse(flag)
 
     def test_many(self):
-        for i in xrange(0, 260000, 1000):
+        for i in range(0, 260000, 1000):
             lbproc = _LBProc(i)
             with mock.patch('warnings.warn') as warn:
                 flag = lbproc.flag131072
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__convert_vertical_coords.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__convert_vertical_coords.py
index f621d06813..2233e6680c 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__convert_vertical_coords.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__convert_vertical_coords.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ def test_implied_height_10m(self):
                            expect_normal=False, expect_fixed_height=10.0)
 
     def test_implied_height_10m__vector(self):
-        data = range(10)
+        data = list(range(10))
         dim = 4
         for blev in [data, np.asarray(data)]:
             for dim_i in [dim, (dim,)]:
@@ -312,7 +313,7 @@ def test_normal(self):
         self._check_potm(_lbcode(0))
 
     def test_normal__vector(self):
-        blev = range(10)
+        blev = list(range(10))
         self._check_potm(_lbcode(0), blev=blev, dim=0)
 
     def test_cross_section(self):
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@ def test_normal(self):
         self._check()
 
     def test_normal__vector(self):
-        lblev = range(3)
+        lblev = list(range(3))
         bhlev = [10, 20, 30]
         bhrlev = [5, 15, 25]
         brsvd2 = [15, 25, 35]
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__dim_or_aux.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__dim_or_aux.py
index 373542692e..1cefa795bc 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__dim_or_aux.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__dim_or_aux.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for :func:`iris.fileformats.pp_rules._dim_or_aux`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@
 
 class Test(tests.IrisTest):
     def setUp(self):
-        self.mono = range(5)
+        self.mono = list(range(5))
         self.non_mono = [0, 1, 3, 2, 4]
         self.std_name = 'depth'
         self.units = 'm'
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__model_level_number.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__model_level_number.py
index 8d8ee8535c..30fc8899b1 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__model_level_number.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__model_level_number.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for :func:`iris.fileformats.pp_rules._model_level_number`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ def test(self):
 
 class Test_lblev(tests.IrisTest):
     def test(self):
-        for val in xrange(9999):
+        for val in range(9999):
             self.assertEqual(_model_level_number(val), val)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__reshape_vector_args.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__reshape_vector_args.py
index 041d14b7a5..6ecd0da910 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__reshape_vector_args.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test__reshape_vector_args.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test_convert.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test_convert.py
index 4a8a68fc5b..9a7b1b0b84 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test_convert.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/pp_rules/test_convert.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for :func:`iris.fileformats.pp_rules.convert`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ def is_t_coord(coord_and_dims):
             coord, dims = coord_and_dims
             return coord.standard_name == 'time'
 
-        coords_and_dims = filter(is_t_coord, aux_coords_and_dims)
+        coords_and_dims = list(filter(is_t_coord, aux_coords_and_dims))
         self.assertEqual(len(coords_and_dims), 1)
         coord, dims = coords_and_dims[0]
         self.assertEqual(guess_coord_axis(coord), 'T')
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_ArrayStructure.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_ArrayStructure.py
index c48628c509..b9c534e304 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_ArrayStructure.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_ArrayStructure.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ def test_1d_ones(self):
 
     def test_1d_range(self):
         a = np.arange(6)
-        self.assertEqual(self.struct_from_arr(a), ArrayStructure(1, range(6)))
+        self.assertEqual(self.struct_from_arr(a),
+                         ArrayStructure(1, list(range(6))))
 
     def test_3d_ones(self):
         a = np.ones([10, 2, 1])
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_GroupStructure.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_GroupStructure.py
index 24511be0c0..f5aed5c643 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_GroupStructure.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/structured_array_identification/test_GroupStructure.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ def test_alternate_potentials(self):
     def test_shared_first_dimension(self):
         # One 2d potential as well as one 3d, using the same first dimension.
         array_structures = regular_array_structures((4, 2, 3))
-        array_structures['bc combined'] = ArrayStructure(4, range(6))
+        array_structures['bc combined'] = ArrayStructure(4, np.arange(6))
         self.assert_potentials(24, array_structures, [['a', 'bc combined'],
                                                       ['a', 'b', 'c']])
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ def test_non_viable_element(self):
         # One 2d potential as well as one 3d, using the same first dimension.
         array_structures = regular_array_structures((4, 2, 3))
         array_structures.pop('c')
-        array_structures['strange_length'] = ArrayStructure(4, range(5))
+        array_structures['strange_length'] = ArrayStructure(4, np.arange(5))
         self.assert_potentials(24, array_structures, [])
 
     def test_completely_unstructured_element(self):
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ def test_structured_array_not_applicable(self):
         # gets used. Check that 'd' which would make a good 1D array, doesn't
         # get used in a specific shape.
         elements = regular_array_structures((2, 2, 3))
-        elements['d'] = ArrayStructure(3, range(4))
+        elements['d'] = ArrayStructure(3, np.arange(4))
         grp = GroupStructure(12, elements, array_order='f')
 
         d = np.array([0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3]).reshape((3, 4),
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/um/fast_load_structured_fields/test_group_structured_fields.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/um/fast_load_structured_fields/test_group_structured_fields.py
index 3d7d13e939..535cdc96fb 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/um/fast_load_structured_fields/test_group_structured_fields.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/fileformats/um/fast_load_structured_fields/test_group_structured_fields.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2014 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range, zip
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised
 # before importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/plot/__init__.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/plot/__init__.py
index f8d1160cc4..b5749aca12 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/plot/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/plot/__init__.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the :mod:`iris.plot` module."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/time/test_PartialDateTime.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/time/test_PartialDateTime.py
index a9a66853b9..3c6431ee81 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/time/test_PartialDateTime.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/time/test_PartialDateTime.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Unit tests for the `iris.time.PartialDateTime` class."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ def test_keyword_args(self):
 
 class Test___repr__(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_full(self):
-        pd = PartialDateTime(*range(7))
+        pd = PartialDateTime(*list(range(7)))
         result = repr(pd)
         self.assertEqual(result, 'PartialDateTime(year=0, month=1, day=2,'
                                  ' hour=3, minute=4, second=5,'
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ class Test_timetuple(tests.IrisTest):
     def test_exists(self):
         # Check that the PartialDateTime class implements a timetuple (needed
         # because of http://bugs.python.org/issue8005).
-        pd = PartialDateTime(*range(7))
+        pd = PartialDateTime(*list(range(7)))
         self.assertTrue(hasattr(pd, 'timetuple'))
 
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_broadcast_to_shape.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_broadcast_to_shape.py
index 39b9dfc10a..b303a3d54b 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_broadcast_to_shape.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_broadcast_to_shape.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Test function :func:`iris.util.broadcast_to_shape`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 # import iris tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else
@@ -41,8 +42,8 @@ def test_added_dimensions(self):
         # the existing dimensions
         a = np.random.random([2, 3])
         b = broadcast_to_shape(a, (5, 2, 4, 3), (1, 3))
-        for i in xrange(5):
-            for j in xrange(4):
+        for i in range(5):
+            for j in range(4):
                 self.assertArrayEqual(b[i, :, j, :], a)
 
     def test_added_dimensions_transpose(self):
@@ -50,8 +51,8 @@ def test_added_dimensions_transpose(self):
         # transposed
         a = np.random.random([2, 3])
         b = broadcast_to_shape(a, (5, 3, 4, 2), (3, 1))
-        for i in xrange(5):
-            for j in xrange(4):
+        for i in range(5):
+            for j in range(4):
                 self.assertArrayEqual(b[i, :, j, :].T, a)
 
     def test_masked(self):
@@ -59,8 +60,8 @@ def test_masked(self):
         a = np.random.random([2, 3])
         m = ma.array(a, mask=[[0, 1, 0], [0, 1, 1]])
         b = broadcast_to_shape(m, (5, 3, 4, 2), (3, 1))
-        for i in xrange(5):
-            for j in xrange(4):
+        for i in range(5):
+            for j in range(4):
                 self.assertMaskedArrayEqual(b[i, :, j, :].T, m)
 
     def test_masked_degenerate(self):
@@ -68,8 +69,8 @@ def test_masked_degenerate(self):
         a = np.random.random([2, 3])
         m = ma.array(a)
         b = broadcast_to_shape(m, (5, 3, 4, 2), (3, 1))
-        for i in xrange(5):
-            for j in xrange(4):
+        for i in range(5):
+            for j in range(4):
                 self.assertMaskedArrayEqual(b[i, :, j, :].T, m)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_new_axis.py b/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_new_axis.py
index 09048d6b01..6634ed6a8f 100644
--- a/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_new_axis.py
+++ b/lib/iris/tests/unit/util/test_new_axis.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2014, Met Office
+# (C) British Crown Copyright 2013 - 2015, Met Office
 #
 # This file is part of Iris.
 #
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 """Test function :func:`iris.util.new_axis`."""
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import zip
 
 # Import iris.tests first so that some things can be initialised before
 # importing anything else.
diff --git a/lib/iris/unit.py b/lib/iris/unit.py
index ba91f9225f..4d492f53a1 100644
--- a/lib/iris/unit.py
+++ b/lib/iris/unit.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 import copy
diff --git a/lib/iris/util.py b/lib/iris/util.py
index a47b62c17d..5115df4d2a 100644
--- a/lib/iris/util.py
+++ b/lib/iris/util.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import filter, range, zip
 
 import abc
 import collections
@@ -602,7 +603,7 @@ def column_slices_generator(full_slice, ndims):
 
     # stg1: Take a copy of the full_slice specification, turning all tuples
     # into a full slice
-    if tuple_indices != range(len(full_slice)):
+    if tuple_indices != list(range(len(full_slice))):
         first_slice = list(full_slice)
         for tuple_index in tuple_indices:
             first_slice[tuple_index] = slice(None, None)
diff --git a/tools/translator/__init__.py b/tools/translator/__init__.py
index 6b4c8880e3..7b80a7917a 100644
--- a/tools/translator/__init__.py
+++ b/tools/translator/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
+from six.moves import range
 
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod, abstractproperty
 from collections import deque, namedtuple