List of cities in the United Kingdom facts for kids
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This article lists all the places in the United Kingdom that are officially called "cities". A place gets this special title, called city status, through a special document from the King or Queen. This document is called a letters patent or royal charter.
As of 2022, there are 76 official cities in the UK. This includes 55 in England, eight in Scotland, seven in Wales, and six in Northern Ireland. Many of these cities have a special leader called a Lord Mayor (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) or a Lord Provost (in Scotland).
Sometimes, the official city area is much bigger than just the main town. For example, the cities of Canterbury and Lancaster include smaller towns and countryside. Also, some smaller places like Ripon are cities, even if the larger area around them isn't. On the other hand, big towns like Luton or Northampton are not officially cities, even though they have many people.
The UK also has five cities in its British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. These include places like Gibraltar and Hamilton. More cities were added in 2022 as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II.
Contents
How Cities Got Their Status
The very first cities in Britain were strongholds built by the Romans. They were like capitals for the local tribes. Later, in the early Middle Ages, people remembered a list of "28 Cities" from Roman times.
For a long time, being called a "city" was not official. It usually meant the place had a cathedral (a very important church). This became common after King Henry VIII created new cities in the 1540s. He did this when he set up new church areas as part of the English Reformation.
No new cities were made for a long time after that, until the 19th century. After the Industrial Revolution, many towns grew very big. New cathedrals were built in places like Ripon (1836) and Manchester (1847). These towns then started calling themselves cities.
By the mid-1800s, the process became more formal. Towns had to ask the government to be recognized as cities. Belfast became a city in 1888, even though it didn't have a cathedral. This showed that size and importance were becoming more important than having a cathedral.
In 1907, rules were set for new cities. A place needed at least 300,000 people, good local government, and a "metropolitan character" (meaning it felt like a big city). But these rules were not always followed strictly.
In 1974, a new law changed how local governments worked. Most places that were cities kept their status. But some, like Rochester, lost their city title. In recent times, towns can even compete to become a city!
Cities in Scotland and Ireland had different rules. Scottish towns were often called "royal burghs" and had special rights. Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen were confirmed as cities long ago. Dundee became a city in 1889.
In Ireland, only Armagh was a city for a long time, but its status was removed in 1840. All other cities in Northern Ireland today have been officially recognized more recently.
City Status and Size
Being an official city in the UK doesn't mean a place is big. It's more about tradition and a special title. For example, St Davids in Wales is a city, but it's very small. On the other hand, some new cities given the title in 2022 can have populations from 50,000 to over 200,000 people.
Some very large towns, like Luton, Northampton, and Reading, are not officially cities. This is because they haven't been granted the special status.
What is a Conurbation?
Sometimes, people use the word "city" to mean a very large urban area where many towns have grown together. This is called a conurbation. For example, Manchester and Birmingham are often thought of as huge urban areas, even though their official city boundaries are smaller than the whole conurbation.
Many official cities in the UK also include large rural areas and smaller towns that are not connected to the main city. For example, the official "City of Milton Keynes" and "City of Colchester" include countryside and other villages.
List of Cities
| Image | De facto | De jure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Region, Country | Year granted or confirmed |
City | City council status | Population | |
 |
London | London, England | time immemorial | City of London | LGD (sui generis and ceremonial county) |
12,156 (2023) |
 |
Westminster | London, England | 1,540 | City of Westminster | LGD (London borough) |
213,119 (2023) |
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Birmingham | West Midlands, England | 1,889 | City of Birmingham | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
1,171,467 (2023) |
 |
Leeds | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | 1,893 | City of Leeds | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
829,417 (2023) |
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Glasgow (Scots: Glesga) (Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu) |
Scotland | 18th century (Burgh: 1492) |
Glasgow | LGD (Council area) |
620,700 (2022) |
 |
Manchester | North West, England | 1,853 | City of Manchester | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
585,057 (2023) |
 |
Sheffield | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | 1,893 | City of Sheffield | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
579,082 (2023) |
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Bradford | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | 1,897 | City of Bradford | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
556,880 (2023) |
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Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) |
Scotland | 18th century (Burgh: 1329) |
Edinburgh | LGD (Council area) |
512,700 (2022) |
 |
Liverpool | North West, England | 1,880 | City of Liverpool | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
504,932 (2023) |
 |
Bristol | South West, England | 1,542 | City of Bristol | LGD (Unitary and county) |
482,815 (2023) |
 |
Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) |
Wales | 1,905 | Cardiff | LGD (Principal area) |
381,759 (2023) |
 |
Leicester | East Midlands, England | 1,919 | City of Leicester | LGD (Unitary) |
379,963 (2023) |
 |
Coventry | West Midlands, England | 1,102
(time immemorial) |
City of Coventry | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
368,483 (2023) |
 |
Wakefield | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | 1,888 | City of Wakefield | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
362,355 (2023) |
 |
Belfast (Irish: Béal Feirste) (Ulster-Scots: Bilfawst) |
Northern Ireland | 1,888 | Belfast | LGD |
345,418 (2021) |
 |
Nottingham | East Midlands, England | 1,897 | City of Nottingham | LGD (Unitary) |
330,949 (2023) |
 |
Newcastle upon Tyne | North East, England | 1,882 | City of Newcastle upon Tyne | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
315,110 (2023) |
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Doncaster | Yorkshire and the Humber, England |
2,022 | City of Doncaster | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
314,252 (2023) |
 |
Milton Keynes | South East, England | 2,022 | City of Milton Keynes | LGD (Unitary) |
297,180 (2023) |
 |
Salford | North West, England | 1,926 | City of Salford | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
282,487 (2023) |
 |
Sunderland | North East, England | 1,992 | City of Sunderland | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
279,556 (2023) |
 |
Brighton and Hove | South East, England | 2,001 | Brighton and Hove | LGD (Unitary) |
278,455 (2023) |
 |
Wolverhampton | West Midlands, England | 2,001 | City of Wolverhampton | LGD (Metropolitan borough) |
271,173 (2023) |
 |
Kingston upon Hull | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | 1,897 | City of Kingston upon Hull | LGD (Unitary) |
271,095 (2023) |
 |
Plymouth | South West, England | 1,928 | City of Plymouth | LGD (Unitary) |
267,888 (2023) |
 |
Derby | East Midlands, England | 1,977 | City of Derby | LGD (Unitary) |
265,082 (2023) |
 |
Stoke-on-Trent | West Midlands, England | 1,925 | City of Stoke-on-Trent | LGD (Unitary) |
261,867 (2023) |
 |
Southampton | South East, England | 1,964 | City of Southampton | LGD (Unitary) |
257,160 (2023) |
 |
Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe) |
Wales | 1,969 | Swansea | LGD (Principal area) |
245,440 (2023) |
 |
Aberdeen (Scots: Aiberdeen) (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain) |
Scotland | 1891 (Burgh: 1179) |
Aberdeen | LGD (Council area) |
224,000 (2022) |
 |
Peterborough | East, England | 1,541 | City of Peterborough | LGD (Unitary) |
218,179 (2023) |
 |
Portsmouth | South East, England | 1,926 | City of Portsmouth | LGD (Unitary) |
209,171 (2023) |
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York | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | time immemorial | City of York, | LGD (Unitary) |
206,825 (2023) |
 |
Colchester | East, England | 2,022 | City of Colchester | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
196,808 (2023) |
 |
Chelmsford | East, England | 2,012 | City of Chelmsford | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
185,288 (2023) |
 |
Southend-on-Sea | East, England | 2,022 | City of Southend-on-Sea | LGD (Unitary) |
182,278 (2023) |
 |
Oxford | South East, England | 1,542 | City of Oxford | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
165,257 (2023) |
 |
Newport
(Welsh: Casnewydd) |
Wales | 2,002 | Newport | LGD (Principal area) |
163,547 (2023) |
 |
Canterbury | South East, England | time immemorial | City of Canterbury | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
160,351 (2023) |
 |
Preston | North West, England | 2,002 | City of Preston | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
155,634 (2023) |
 |
Dundee (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dèagh) |
Scotland | 1889 (Burgh: 1191) |
Dundee | LGD (Council area) |
148,100 (2022) |
 |
Cambridge | East, England | 1,951 | City of Cambridge | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
147,797 (2023) |
 |
St Albans | East, England | 1,877 | St Albans City and District | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
147,410 (2023) |
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Lancaster | North West, England | 1,937 | City of Lancaster | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
145,346 (2023) |
 |
Norwich | East, England | 1,094
(time immemorial) |
City of Norwich | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
144,251 (2023) |
 |
Chester | North West, England | 1,541 | (Cheshire West and Chester does not hold status) | Charter trustees |
138,873 (2021) |
 |
Exeter | South West, England | time immemorial | City of Exeter | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
137,462 (2023) |
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Wrexham (Welsh: Wrecsam) |
Wales | 2,022 | Wrexham County Borough | LGD (Principal area) |
137,341 (2023) |
 |
Gloucester | South West, England | 1,541 | City of Gloucester | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
133,998 (2023) |
 |
Winchester | South East, England | time immemorial | City of Winchester | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
132,341 (2023) |
.jpg) |
Durham | North East, England | time immemorial | (County Durham does not hold status) | Charter trustees |
126,486 (2021) |
 |
Carlisle | North West, England | 1,133 (time immemorial) | (Cumberland does not hold status) | Charter trustees | 110,024 (2021) |
 |
Worcester | West Midlands, England | time immemorial | City of Worcester | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
104,589 (2023) |
 |
Lincoln | East Midlands, England | 1,072 (time immemorial) | City of Lincoln | LGD (Non-metropolitan borough) |
102,392 (2023) |
 |
Bath | South West, England | 1,090 (time immemorial) | (Bath and North East Somerset does not hold status) | Charter trustees |
95,043 (2021) |
 |
Derry (Irish: Doire) (Ulster-Scots: Derrie) |
Northern Ireland | 1,604 | None | Represented on Derry City and Strabane District Council |
85,279 (2021) |
 |
Dunfermline | Scotland | 2,022 | None | None | 76,210 (2020) |
 |
Bangor (Irish: Beannchar) |
Northern Ireland | 2,022 | None | Represented on Ards and North Down Borough Council | 64,596 (2021) |
 |
Inverness (Scots: Inerness) (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis) |
Scotland | 2,001 | None | None |
63,730 (2020) |
 |
Hereford | West Midlands, England | time immemorial | Hereford parish | Civil parish |
53,113 (2021) |
 |
Lisburn (Irish: Lios na gCearrbhach) |
Northern Ireland | 2,002 | None | Represented on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
51,447 (2021) |
 |
Stirling (Scots: Stirlin) (Scottish Gaelic: Sruighlea) |
Scotland | 2,002 | None | None |
49,950 (2020) |
 |
Perth (Scots: Pairth) (Scottish Gaelic: Peairt) |
Scotland | 2,012 (Burgh: 12th century) |
None | None |
47,350 (2020) |
 |
Salisbury | South West, England | 1,227 | Salisbury parish | Civil parish |
41,552 (2021) |
 |
Lichfield | West Midlands, England | time immemorial | Lichfield parish | Civil parish |
32,580 (2021) |
 |
Chichester | South East, England | 1,075
(time immemorial) |
Chichester parish | Civil parish |
29,407 (2021) |
 |
Newry (Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá) (Ulster-Scots: Newrie) |
Northern Ireland | 2,002 | None | Represented on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council |
28,530 (2021) |
 |
Truro (Cornish: Truru) |
South West, England | 1,877 | Truro parish | Civil parish |
21,046 (2021) |
 |
Ely | East, England | 1,109
(time immemorial) |
Ely parish | Civil parish |
20,574 (2021) |
 |
Ripon | Yorkshire and the Humber, England | 1,865 | Ripon parish | Civil parish |
16,590 (2021) |
 |
Armagh (Irish: Ard Mhacha) (Ulster-Scots: Airmagh) |
Northern Ireland | 1,994 | None | Represented on Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
16,310 (2021) |
 |
Bangor | Wales | time immemorial | Bangor community | Community |
15,060 (2021) |
 |
Wells | South West, England | time immemorial | Wells parish | Civil parish |
11,145 (2021) |
 |
St Asaph (Welsh: Llanelwy) |
Wales | 2,012 | St Asaph community | Community |
3,485 (2021) |
 |
St Davids (Welsh: Tyddewi) |
Wales | 1,994 | St Davids and the Cathedral Close | Community |
1,751 (2021) |
Map of UK Cities
This map shows the 76 cities in the United Kingdom. It also includes Douglas, a city in the Isle of Man, which is a Crown Dependency.
Some cities have a special leader called a Lord Provost (in Scotland) or a Lord Mayor (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). There are 32 such cities. A few of these Lord Mayors or Lord Provosts have the special title The Right Honourable. These are in York, the City of London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, and Cardiff.
| Map | Key |
|---|---|
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|
Cities in Other UK Territories
The UK also has cities in its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. These places are not part of the United Kingdom itself. There are currently five cities in these territories.
| Image | City | Year granted or confirmed |
Territory/Dependency | Status | Population (Census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Gibraltar | 1842 | Gibraltar, southwestern Europe | British Overseas Territory | 32,194 (2012) |
 |
Hamilton | 1897 | Bermuda, North Atlantic Ocean |
British Overseas Territory | 854 (2016) |
 |
Jamestown | 1859 | St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean |
British Overseas Territory | 629 (2016) |
 |
Stanley | 2022 | Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean |
British Overseas Territory | 2,460 (2016) |
.jpg) |
Douglas (Manx: Doolish) |
2022 | Isle of Man, Irish Sea |
Crown Dependency | 27,938 (2011) |
See also
- City status in the United Kingdom
- Centre for Cities
- List of lord mayoralties and lord provostships in the United Kingdom
- List of towns in the United Kingdom
- List of urban areas in the United Kingdom
- City status in Ireland
- List of smallest cities in the United Kingdom
- Royal burgh
