List of cities in the United Kingdom facts for kids
This is a list of cities in the United Kingdom that are officially designated such as of 26 January 2022[update]. It lists those places that have been granted city status by letters patent or royal charter. There are currently a total of 70 such cities in the United Kingdom: 52 in England, seven in Scotland, six in Wales, and five in Northern Ireland. Of these, 23 in England, two in Wales, and two in Northern Ireland have Lord Mayors; four in Scotland have Lord Provosts. In some cases, the area holding city status does not coincide with the built up area or conurbation of which it forms part. In Greater London, for example, the City of London and that of Westminster each hold city status separately but no other local authority has been granted city status, nor has Greater London as a whole. In other cases, such as the Cities of Canterbury and Lancaster, the status applies to a local government district which extends over a number of towns and rural areas outside the main settlement proper. In England, the status sometimes applies to civil parishes, such as the City of Ripon; though the status may not apply to the local government district which share their name. For example, the civil parishes of Lichfield and Chichester each hold city status, but the Lichfield District and the Chichester District, in which they are situated, respectively, do not.
The list does not include places like Luton, Northampton and Reading which, despite having populations of over 200,000, have not been awarded city status and thus formally remain as towns.
In addition to the cities on the main list, six new cities in the UK were announced in May 2022 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II, which once confirmed will take the total number within the UK to 76, comprising 55 in England, eight in Scotland, seven in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.
In the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, there are currently two cities. The number will double as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as Jamestown in St Helena and Hamilton in Bermuda will be joined by Stanley in the Falkland Islands and Douglas in the Isle of Man.
Contents
History
The initial cities (Latin: civitas) of Britain were the fortified settlements organised by the Romans as the capitals of the Celtic tribes under Roman rule. The British clerics of the early Middle Ages later preserved a traditional list of the "28 Cities" (Old Welsh: cair) which was mentioned by Gildas and listed by Nennius.
The title of city was initially informal and, into the 20th century, royal charters were considered to recognise city status rather than to grant it. The usual criterion in early modern Britain was the presence of a cathedral, particularly after King Henry VIII granted letters patent establishing six new cities when he established a series of new dioceses in the 1540s as part of the English Reformation. No new cities were created between the 16th and 19th centuries, but following the Industrial Revolution and the accompanying population boom and growth in urbanisation, new sees were established at Ripon (1836) and Manchester (1847); their councils began to style them cities immediately. Inverness in Scotland was even refused a charter at the time of the Jubilee honours of 1897, in part because it would have drawn more attention to the other traditional "cities" still not formally chartered as such.
Beginning in the mid-19th century, however, the process became more formal. A visit by Queen Victoria in 1851 prompted Manchester to petition Parliament for recognition of its status. Ripon followed in the 1860s, and a series of hitherto informal "cities" were formally recognised in the 1880s and 1890s. On the basis of its size, importance, and regular government, Belfast was elevated in spite of its lack of a cathedral in 1888; other large municipalities followed, while smaller applicants began to be rejected. King Edward VII and the Home Office established three criteria for future applicants in 1907—a minimum population of 300,000, a good record of local government, and a "local metropolitan character" – but these criteria were not made public, and following Leicester's successful elevation in 1919 a series of exceptions were made. The 1972 Local Government Act effectively eliminated all authorities holding city status outside Greater London on 1 April 1974; most of their replacements were confirmed in their predecessor's status—even in cases such as the City of Carlisle, where much of the local authority area is undeveloped countryside—but the Borough of Medway was not permitted to continue Rochester's title. In recent times there have been competitions for new grants of city status. Towns or councils that claim city status or add "city" to their name have been known to be rebuked by the Advertising Standards Authority.
The cities of Scotland and Ireland were treated separately. Scottish towns irregularly applied the description to themselves, but were formally organised as royal burghs; the special rights of these were preserved by Article XXI of the Treaty of Union which established the single state of Great Britain in 1707. Edinburgh and Glasgow were confirmed as cities "by ancient usage" in the 18th century, as was Aberdeen, and this was later reconfirmed in the Act enlarging the burgh in 1891. Dundee was granted letters patent in 1889 and Elgin and Perth were recognised as cities by the Home Office in 1972, before the privilege was removed by the Scottish Local Government Act of 1973.
In Ireland, only the seat of the primate at Armagh was accorded city status by ancient usage, and this status was abolished by the Irish Municipal Corporations Act of 1840. All other cities have been those explicitly recognised as such.
List of cities
The column entitled 'Cathedral (pre-1889 England & Wales only)' in the table lists the cathedral that gave the city, all these cathedrals are Church of England, as only Anglican dioceses created before 1889 in England and Wales had an effect on city status, if a city's entry in the column says not applicable, it means that the city did not need to have a cathedral to be given city status, not that the city does not have a cathedral.
| City | Year granted or confirmed |
Cathedral (pre-1889 England & Wales only) |
City council | Nation/region | Image | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen (Scots: Aiberdeen) (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain) |
1891(Burgh: 1179) | not applicable | Local government district (Council area) |
Scotland |  |
222,793 |
| Armagh (Irish: Ard Mhacha) (Ulster-Scots: Airmagh) |
1,994 | not applicable | None. Represented on Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
Northern Ireland |  |
14,777 (2011) |
| Bangor, Wales | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of St Deiniol | Community |
Wales |  |
18,808 (2011) |
| Bath | 1,090 | Abbey Church of SS Peter & Paul | Charter trustees |
South West, England |  |
88,859 (2011) 97,311 (urban area, 2010) |
| Belfast (Irish: Béal Feirste) (Ulster-Scots: Bilfawst) |
1,888 | not applicable | Local government district |
Northern Ireland | .JPG) |
333,871 (2011) |
| Birmingham | 1,889 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
West Midlands, England |  |
1,092,330 (2013) |
| Bradford | 1,897 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England |  |
522,452 (2011) |
| Brighton & Hove | 2,001 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
South East, England |  |
273,369 (2011) |
| Bristol | 1,542 | Cathedral Church of the Holy & Undivided Trinity | Local government district (Unitary and county) |
South West, England | ,_Bristol_Cathedral_--_2013_--_1570.jpg) |
428,234 (2011) |
| Cambridge | 1,951 | not applicable | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
East, England |  |
123,867 (2011) |
| Canterbury | time immemorial | Cathedral & Metropolitical Church of Christ | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
South East, England |  |
151,145 (2011) |
| Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) |
1,905 | not applicable | Local government district (Principal area) |
Wales |  |
346,090 (2011) |
| Carlisle | 1,133 | Cathedral Church of the Holy & Undivided Trinity | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
North West, England |  |
107,524 (2011) |
| Chelmsford | 2,012 | not applicable | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
East, England |  |
168,310 (2011) |
| Chester | 1,541 | Cathedral Church of Christ & the Blessed Virgin Mary | Charter trustees |
North West, England |  |
91,733 (urban area, 2010) |
| Chichester | 1,075 | Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity | Civil parish |
South East, England |  |
26,795 (2011) |
| Coventry | 1,102 | St Michael's Cathedral | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
West Midlands, England |  |
316,915 (2011) |
| Derby | 1,977 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
East Midlands, England |  |
248,752 (2011) |
| Derry (Irish: Doire) (Ulster-Scots: Derrie) |
1,604 | not applicable | None. Represented on Derry City and Strabane District Council |
Northern Ireland |  |
107,877 (2011) |
| Dundee (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dèagh) |
1889 (Burgh: 1191) |
not applicable | Local government district (Council area) |
Scotland |  |
147,268 |
| Durham | 995 | Cathedral Church of Christ, St Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert | Charter trustees |
North East, England |  |
94,375 (2011) |
| Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) |
18th century (Burgh: 1329) |
not applicable | Local government district (Council area) |
Scotland |  |
476,626 |
| Ely | 1,109 | Cathedral Church of the Holy & Undivided Trinity | Civil parish |
East, England |  |
20,256 (2011) |
| Exeter | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of St Peter | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
South West, England |  |
127,709 (2020) |
| Glasgow (Scots: Glesga) (Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu) |
18th century (Burgh: 1492) |
not applicable | Local government district (Council area) |
Scotland |  |
593,245 |
| Gloucester | 1,541 | Cathedral Church of St Peter & the Holy and Indivisible Trinity | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
South West, England |  |
121,688 (2011) |
| Hereford | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of SS Mary the Virgin & Ethelbert the King | Civil parish |
West Midlands, England |  |
58,896 (2011) |
| Inverness (Scots: Inerness)(Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis) |
2,001 | not applicable | None |
Scotland |  |
79,415 |
| Kingston upon Hull | 1,897 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England |  |
256,406 (2011) |
| Lancaster | 1,937 | not applicable | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
North West, England | .jpg) |
138,375 (2011) |
| Leeds | 1,893 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England |  |
751,485 (2011) |
| Leicester | 1,919 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
East Midlands, England |  |
329,839 (2011) |
| Lichfield | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of SS Mary & Chad | Civil parish |
West Midlands, England |  |
32,219 (2011) |
| Lincoln | 1,072 | Cathedral Church of St Mary | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
East Midlands, England |  |
93,541 (2011) |
| Lisburn (Irish: Lios na gCearrbhach) |
2,002 | not applicable | None. Represented on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council |
Northern Ireland |  |
45,370 (2011) |
| Liverpool | 1,880 | Cathedral Church of Christ | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
North West, England |  |
466,415 (2011) |
| City of London | time immemorial | St Paul's Cathedral | Local government district (sui generis and ceremonial county) |
London, England |  |
7,375 (2011) |
| Manchester | 1,853 | Manchester Cathedral | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
North West, England |  |
503,127 (2011) |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 1,882 | Cathedral Church of St Nicholas | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
North East, England |  |
280,177 (2011) |
| Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) |
2,002 | not applicable | Local government district (Principal area) |
Wales |  |
145,736 (2011) |
| Newry (Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá) (Ulster-Scots: Newrie) |
2,002 | not applicable | None. Represented on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council |
Northern Ireland |  |
29,946 (2008, settlement population) |
| Norwich | 1,094 | Cathedral Church of the Holy & Undivided Trinity | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
East, England |  |
132,512 (2011) |
| Nottingham | 1,897 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
East Midlands, England | _(39549369155).jpg) |
305,680 (2011) |
| Oxford | 1,542 | Cathedral Church of Christ | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
South East, England |  |
151,906 (2011) |
| Perth (Scots: Pairth) (Scottish Gaelic: Peairt) |
2,012 (Burgh: 12th century) |
not applicable | None |
Scotland |  |
45,770 |
| Peterborough | 1,541 | Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul, & St Andrew | Local government district (Unitary) |
East, England |  |
183,631 (2011) |
| Plymouth | 1,928 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
South West, England |  |
256,384 (2011) |
| Portsmouth | 1,926 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
South East, England |  |
205,056 (2011) |
| Preston | 2,002 | not applicable | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
North West, England |  |
140,202 (2011) |
| Ripon | 1,865 | Cathedral Church of SS Peter & Wilfrid (diocese created in 1836) | Civil parish |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England |  |
16,702 (2011) |
| Salford | 1,926 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
North West, England |  |
233,933 (2011) |
| Salisbury | 1,227 | Cathedral Church of St Mary | Civil parish |
South West, England |  |
40,302 (2011) |
| Sheffield | 1,893 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England |  |
552,698 (2011) |
| Southampton | 1,964 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
South East, England |  |
236,882 (2011) |
| Southend-on-Sea | 2,022 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
East, England |  |
173,658 (2011) |
| St Albans | 1,877 | Cathedral & Abbey Church of St Alban | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
East, England |  |
140,644 (2011) |
| St Asaph (Welsh: Llanelwy) |
2,012 | not applicable | Community |
Wales |  |
3,355 (2011) |
| St Davids (Welsh: Tyddewi) |
1,994 | St Davids | Community |
Wales |  |
1,841 (2011) |
| Stirling (Scots: Stirlin) (Scottish Gaelic: Sruighlea) |
2,002 | not applicable | None |
Scotland |  |
34,790 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 1,925 | not applicable | Local government district (Unitary) |
West Midlands, England |  |
249,008 (2011) |
| Sunderland | 1,992 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
North East, England |  |
275,506 (2011) |
| Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe) |
1,969 | not applicable | Local government district (Principal area) |
Wales |  |
239,023 (2011) |
| Truro (Cornish: Truru) |
1,877 | Cathedral Church of St Mary | Civil parish |
South West, England |  |
18,766 (2011) |
| Wakefield | 1,888 | Cathedral Church of All Saints | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England |  |
325,837 (2011) |
| Wells | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of St Andrew | Civil parish |
South West, England |  |
10,536 (2011) |
| Westminster | 1,540 | Westminster Abbey (Although this was only a cathedral for 10 years until 1550, the city did not lose its status) | Local government district (London borough) |
London, England |  |
219,396 (2011) |
| Winchester | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) } |
South East, England |  |
116,595 (2011) |
| Wolverhampton | 2,001 | not applicable | Local government district (Metropolitan borough) |
West Midlands, England |  |
249,470 (2011) |
| Worcester | time immemorial | Cathedral Church of Christ & St Mary | Local government district (Non-metropolitan borough) |
West Midlands, England |  |
98,768 (2011) |
| York, | time immemorial | Cathedral & Metropolitical Church of St Peter | Local government district (Unitary) |
Yorkshire and the Humber, England | .jpg) |
198,051 (2011) |
Future UK cities
The following UK towns are due to be granted city status as part of Queen Elizabeth II's 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
| City | Year granted or confirmed |
Cathedral (pre-1889 England & Wales only) |
Current council | Nation/region | Image | Population (as of the 2011 census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, Northern Ireland | 2022 | not applicable | Part of Ards and North Down Borough Council | Northern Ireland |  |
61,011 |
| Colchester | 2022 | not applicable | Colchester Borough Council | East, England |  |
194,706 |
| Doncaster | 2022 | not applicable | Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council | Yorkshire and the Humber, England |
 |
110,000 |
| Dunfermline | 2022 | not applicable | Part of Dunfermline Council | Scotland |  |
49,706 |
| Milton Keynes | 2022 | not applicable | Milton Keynes Council | South East, England |  |
248,800 |
| Wrexham | 2022 | not applicable | Wrexham County Borough Council | Wales | .jpg) |
61,603 |
Map of the cities
Below is a map of the 70 cities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the 6 future cities listed in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Honours (in black). Also shown is the one future city in a UK Crown Dependency, Douglas in the Isle of Man. (For cities in UK Overseas Territories, see below.)
The 31 cities with a Lord Provost (in Scotland) or a Lord Mayor (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) are labelled in ALL CAPS. They will be joined by Southampton as part of the Platinum Jubilee Honours. See List of lord mayoralties and lord provostships in the United Kingdom.
The six cities where the Lord Mayor or Lord Provost has the right to the style The Right Honourable are indicated in BOLD ITALICS: York, the City of London, Edinburgh, Glasgow (since 1912), Belfast (since 1923), and Cardiff (since 1956).
British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are mainly self-governing territories that do not form part of the United Kingdom. There are presently two capitals with city status in British Overseas Territories, with two further capitals due to receive city status in 2022 as part of the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, listed below:
| City
(current/future) |
Year granted or confirmed |
Cathedral (pre-1889 England and Wales) |
Flag | Territory/Dependency | Status | Image | Population (Census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | 1897 | not applicable | Bermuda, North Atlantic Ocean |
British Overseas Territory |  |
854 (2016) | |
| Jamestown | 1859 | not applicable
(although status was granted on establishment of St Paul's) |
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean |
British Overseas Territory |  |
629 (2016) | |
| Stanley | 2022 | not applicable | TBD | Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean |
British Overseas Territory |  |
2,460 (2016) |
| Douglas | 2022
(to be confirmed) |
not applicable | TBD | Isle of Man, Irish Sea |
Crown Dependency | .jpg) |
27,938 (2011) |
