List of cities in the United Kingdom

Submitted by editor on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 15:40

List of cities in the United Kingdom

This is a list of cities in the United Kingdom, as of 2010. The column headed Cathedral shows the applicable cathedrals that were the grounds for the granting of city status in the case of cities recognised prior to 1888, i.e. cathedrals of the Church of England (including cathedrals that are now part of the Church in Wales) or pre-Reformation cathedrals in the Church of Scotland. Certain cities also have Roman Catholic cathedrals, but these are not listed. As from 1888, the presence of a cathedral ceased to be a relevant factor in granting city status and all entries after this date are, therefore, marked not applicable. Cities which have acquired cathedrals since 1888 are Birmingham, Bradford, Derby, Leicester, Newport, Portsmouth and Sheffield, while Llandaff Cathedral was included within the boundaries of the city of Cardiff in 1922. In Ireland, possession of a diocesan cathedral has never (except in the anomalous case of Armagh) been sufficient to attain city status.

There are currently a total of 66 official cities in the United Kingdom (50 in England, 5 in Northern Ireland, 6 in Scotland and 5 in Wales)


Contents

England

City Year granted city status Cathedral (pre-1888) City council Image Population
Bath &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Bath Abbey Charter trustees Bath, Somerset Panorama - April 2011.jpg 83,992
Birmingham &10000000000001889000000 1889 not applicable Local government district Birmingham-Skyline-from-the-West.jpg 1,016,800
Bradford &10000000000001897000000 1897 not applicable Local government district Bradfordskyline.jpeg 293,717
Brighton & Hove &10000000000002000000000 2000 not applicable Local government district Brighton.UK.JPG 155,919
Bristol &10000000000001542000000 1542 Bristol Cathedral Local government district Colston Avenue, Bristol.jpg 421,300
Cambridge &10000000000001951000000 1951 not applicable Local government district KingsCollegeChapelWest.jpg 122,800
Canterbury &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Canterbury Cathedral Local government district Canterbury Cathedral - Portal Nave Cross-spire.jpeg 43,432
Carlisle &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Carlisle Cathedral Local government district Carlisle Cathedral from the Air.jpg 71,773
Chester &10000000000001541000000 1541 Chester Cathedral Charter trustees Northgate Street, Chester.JPG 77,040
Chichester &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Chichester Cathedral Civil parish Chichester - Bishop's Palace Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 1349835.jpg 23,731
Coventry &10000000000001345000000 1345 Coventry Cathedral Local government district Broadgate and Precincts - geograph.org.uk - 554599.jpg 309,800
Derby &10000000000001977000000 1977 not applicable Local government district St Peter's Street, Derby - geograph.org.uk - 721655.jpg 236,300
Durham &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Durham Cathedral Charter trustees Durham Cathedral from the train viaduct.jpg 29,091
Ely &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Ely Cathedral Civil parish Ely Cathedral From Air.jpg 15,102
Exeter &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Exeter Cathedral Local government district Sluice gate, Trew's Weir - geograph.org.uk - 708646.jpg 118,800
Gloucester &10000000000001541000000 1541 Gloucester Cathedral Local government district Gloucester and its cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 1454853.jpg 123,205
Hereford &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Hereford Cathedral Civil parish Hereford cathedral 002.JPG 55,700
Kingston upon Hull &10000000000001897000000 1897 not applicable Local government district Hull River Frontage from Paull - geograph.org.uk - 806218.jpg 258,700
Lancaster &10000000000001937000000 1937 not applicable Local government district City of Lancaster (2).jpg 45,952
Leeds &10000000000001893000000 1893 not applicable Local government district Leedsnight.jpg 770,800
Leicester &10000000000001919000000 1919 not applicable Local government district LeicesterAttenboroughPanorama.jpg 294,700
Lichfield &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Lichfield Cathedral Civil parish Lichfield Cityscape.jpg 30,583
Lincoln &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Lincoln Cathedral Local government district Cathedral and Castle Square - geograph.org.uk - 134108.jpg 88,400
Liverpool &10000000000001880000000 1880 Liverpool Cathedral (1880) Local government district Liverpool waterfront from Birkenhead 300809.JPG 434,900
City of London &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial St Paul's Cathedral Local government district City of London skyline from London City Hall - Oct 2008.jpg 11,500
Manchester &10000000000001853000000 1853 Manchester Cathedral (1847) Local government district Centralmanchester.jpg 498,800
Newcastle upon Tyne &10000000000001882000000 1882 Newcastle Cathedral (1882) Local government district Bridges opening up - geograph.org.uk - 178375.jpg 273,600
Norwich &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Norwich Cathedral Local government district Riverside Flats Norwich - geograph.org.uk - 73621.jpg 132,000
Nottingham &10000000000001897000000 1897 not applicable Local government district RiverTrentNottingham.jpg 292,400
Oxford &10000000000001542000000 1542 Christ Church Cathedral Local government district Oxford from Boars Hill.jpg 153,900
Peterborough &10000000000001541000000 1541 Peterborough Cathedral Local government district Peterborough Cathedral oblique view.jpg 164,000
Plymouth &10000000000001928000000 1928 not applicable Local government district Armada Way, Plymouth - geograph.org.uk - 83458.jpg 256,700
Portsmouth &10000000000001926000000 1926 not applicable Local government district Portsmouthskyline.jpg 200,000
Preston &10000000000002002000000 2002 not applicable Local government district Preston City Centre.jpg 114,300
Ripon &10000000000001836000000 1836 Ripon Cathedral (1836) Civil parish RiponMarket.jpg 15,922
Salford &10000000000001926000000 1926 not applicable Local government district SalfordSkyline.jpg 221,300
Salisbury

(formally known as New Sarum until 2009)

 &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Salisbury Cathedral Civil parish Salisbury town centre - geograph.org.uk - 31018.jpg 50,000
Sheffield &10000000000001893000000 1893 not applicable Local government district Sheffield skyline.png 534,500
Southampton &10000000000001964000000 1964 not applicable Local government district Southampton from Aurora 01.JPG 234,100
St Albans &10000000000001877000000 1877 St Albans Cathedral (1876) Local government district Cathedral.png 64,038
Stoke-on-Trent &10000000000001925000000 1925 not applicable Local government district Hanley City - geograph.org.uk - 155173.jpg 239,700
Sunderland &10000000000001992000000 1992 not applicable Local government district SunderlandBridges.jpg 177,739
Truro &10000000000001877000000 1877 Truro Cathedral (1877) Civil parish Truro Cathedral taken from Boscawen Park - geograph.org.uk - 344071.jpg 17,431
Wakefield &10000000000001888000000 1888 Wakefield Cathedral (1888) Local government district Wakefield-1.jpg 76,886
Wells &10000000000001205000000 1205 Wells Cathedral Civil parish Aerial view of Wells.jpg 10,406
Westminster &10000000000001540000000 1540 Westminster Abbey Local government district Hdr parliament.jpg 236,000
Winchester &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Winchester Cathedral Local government district Winchester 13.JPG 41,420
Wolverhampton &10000000000002000000000 2000 not applicable Local government district Claregate.jpg 236,400
Worcester &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Worcester Cathedral Local government district River Severn, Worcester - geograph.org.uk - 894221.jpg 94,100
York &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial York Minster Local government district York (Aerial view).jpg 195,400

Scotland

City Year granted
city status		 Cathedral
(pre-1888)		 City council Image Population
Aberdeen
(Scots: Aiberdeen)
(Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain)		 &10000000000001179000000 city status confirmed 1891
(royal burgh 1179)		 St Machar's Cathedral Local government district Aberdeen harbour - geograph.org.uk - 318364.jpg 217,120
Dundee
(Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dèagh)		 &10000000000001191000000 1889
(royal burgh 1191)		 not applicable Local government district Dundee from Tay.jpg 152,320
Edinburgh
(Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann)		 &10000000000001329000000 city status has never
been formally granted
(royal burgh 1329)		 St. Giles' Cathedral Local government district Edinburgh. View from Calton Hill.jpg 486,120
Glasgow
(Scots: Glesga)
(Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu)		 &10000000000001492000000 city status has never
been formally granted
(royal burgh 1492)		 St. Mungo's Cathedral Local government district Arriving in Central Glasgow by seaplane - geograph.org.uk - 957356.jpg 592,820
Inverness
(Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis)		 &10000000000002000000000 2000 not applicable none Inverness view 3.jpg 72,745
Stirling
(Scots: Stirlin)
(Scottish Gaelic: Sruighlea)		 &10000000000002002000000 2002 not applicable none Stirling 004.jpg 33,710

Wales

City Year granted
city status		 Cathedral
(pre-1888)		 City council Image Population
Bangor &10000000000001066000000 time immemorial Bangor Cathedral Community Bangor from Bangor-mountain.jpg 21,735
Cardiff
(Welsh: Caerdydd)		 &10000000000001905000000 1905 not applicable Local government district Cardiff City Hall 2007.jpg 341,054
Newport
(Welsh: Casnewydd)		 &10000000000002002000000 2002 not applicable Local government district A view across Newport from the Royal Gwent Hospital (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1315631.jpg 141,306
St David's
(Welsh: Tyddewi)		 &10000000000001994000000 1994 not applicable Community St.Davids, Wales, UK.jpg 1,797
Swansea
(Welsh: Abertawe)		 &10000000000001969000000 1969 not applicable Local government district Bae Abertawe, Twr Meridian1.JPG 228,100

Northern Ireland

City Year granted city status City council Image Population
Armagh
(Irish: Ard Mhacha)
(Ulster-Scots: Airmagh)		 &10000000000001994000000 1994 Local government district View from the Mall East, Armagh - geograph.org.uk - 677406.jpg 14,590
Belfast
(Irish: Béal Feirste)
(Ulster-Scots: Bilfawst)		 &10000000000001888000000 1888 Local government district Belfast from Black Mountain - geograph.org.uk - 1254125.jpg 267,500
Derry
(Irish: Doire / Doire Cholmchille)
(Ulster-Scots:
Derrie / Lunnonderrie)		 &10000000000001604000000 1604 Local government district Derry Waterfront - geograph.org.uk - 2166.jpg 85,016
Lisburn
(Irish: Lios na gCearrbhach)		 &10000000000002002000000 2002 Local government district Irish Linen Centre Lisburn Museum.jpg 71,465
Newry
(Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá)
(Ulster-Scots: Newrie)		 &10000000000002002000000 2002 none The Middle Bank, Newry - geograph.org.uk - 208812.jpg 27,433

See also

  • City status in the United Kingdom
  • List of lord mayoralties and lord provostships in the United Kingdom
  • Towns of the United Kingdom
  • List of largest United Kingdom settlements by population
  • List of urban areas in the United Kingdom

Notes

  • The status bearers of these cities changed on 1 April 2009 due to local government reforms. Salisbury became a civil parish, while charter trustees were formed for the former district council areas of Chester and Durham in the new unitary authorities of County Durham and Cheshire West and Chester respectively.
  • City Status confirmed by Letters Patent issued under the Great Seal dated 1 April 1974.
  • City Status confirmed by Letters Patent issued under the Great Seal dated 25 June 1974.
  • City Status confirmed by Letters Patent issued under the Great Seal dated 28 May 1974.
  • Bath Abbey and Westminster Abbey are no longer cathedrals.
  • Coventry has had three cathedrals: the first, St Mary's, from 1043 to 1539; the second, St Michael's, from 1918 to 1940, when it was destroyed by German bombardment; and its replacement, also St Michael's, built alongside the old cathedral, consecrated in 1962.
  • Note that the City of London covers only the "square mile", and is usually just referred to as "the City". The larger conurbation of Greater London has no city charter, and consists of the City of London, the City of Westminster and 31 other London boroughs. This can be compared to the City of Brussels, within Brussels.
  • City status was confirmed by Letters Patent dated 9 July 1974. The city status extends to the entire district, although the district council calls itself "St Albans District Council" or "St Albans City and District".
  • Letters Patent under the Great Seal conferring City Status were issued to the unitary authority of York on 1 April 1996, confirming the right of the Lord Mayor to be styled "Right Honourable", in continuation to those granted to the previous City Council abolished 31 March 1996.
  • Letters Patent under the Great Seal were issued on 29 March 1996 ordaining that the counties of Swansea and Cardiff should have the status of cities from 1 April 1996. The counties replaced the previous district councils which had enjoyed city status.
  • According to the Municipal Year Book, 1972 the royal burghs of Perth and Elgin officially enjoyed city status. The royal burghs of Brechin, Dunfermline and Kirkwall had also been officially described as "cities". As all burghs were abolished in 1975, these areas are now often called "former cities". Although Brechin does not have city status, the community council formed for the area uses the title "City of Brechin and District".
  • Armagh had previously enjoyed city status, with St Patrick's Cathedral the seat of the metropolitan primate of all Ireland. The city status was lost in 1840 when the city corporation was abolished. However, the successor urban district council and district council frequently used the title of city without official sanction prior to 1994.
  • City Status confirmed by Letters Patent issued under the Great Seal dated 18 March 1975.
  • City status granted by Letters Patent dated 7 June 1977.
  • City status granted to the "Town of Newport in the County Borough of Newport" and the "Town of Preston" by Letters Patent dated 15 May 2002.
  • Letters Patent dated 31 January 2001 ordained that "the Towns of Brighton and Hove shall have the status of a City".
  • Letters Patent dated 31 January 2001 ordained that "the Town of Wolverhampton shall have the status of a City".
  • Letters Patent dated 4 November 1980 ordained that the "Town of Lichfield shall have the status of a City". A town council had been constituted in 1980 leading to the dissolution of the Charter Trustees of the City of Lichfield.
  • City status granted by Letters Patent dated 23 March 1992.
  • City status was conferred on Hereford Town Council 11 October 2000. The status had previously been confirmed to the district council formed in 1974. When that council was abolished in 1996 charter trustees were formed for the City of Hereford. On the formation of a town council for Hereford in April 2000 the charter trustees were dissolved, and the city status temporarily lapsed.
  • St David's historically had city status because of the presence of St David's Cathedral. In 1849 it was noted that the city had no municipal corporation: There was however a recognised "city" in which a mayor had limited jurisdiction. A Royal Commission appointed in 1876 reported that the corporation had long been extinct, and the city was formally abolished in 1886 under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1883. Letters Patent dated 16 September 1994 ordained that the "Town of St. David's shall have the status of a City".
  • The title of City was used "by courtesy" after 1550 when Westminster ceased to be the see of a bishop. By Letters Patent dated 27 October 1900 city status was conferred on the newly created Metropolitan Borough of Westminster from 1 November. This status was continued on the creation of the City of Westminster as a London borough in 1965.
  • A letter from the Home Secretary to the Mayor of Leicester dated 14 June 1919, confirming that the city status would be bestowed, noted that this was a "restoration to your ancient town of its former status of a city".
  • Letters Patent dated 10 December 1969.
  • Letters Patent dated 21 April 1926.
  • Letters Patent dated 21 March 1951.
  • Letters Patent dated 14 May 1937.
  • Letters Patent dated 18 October 1928.
  • Letters Patent dated 5 June 1925.
  • Letters Patent dated 28 October 1905, which also granted the title of Lord Mayor.
  • Warrant issued 28 January 1889 that Letters Patent be issued under the Seal appointed by the treaty of union to be used in place of the Great Seal of Scotland, ordaining and declaring that the Burgh of Dundee shall be a City, and shall be called and styled "The City of Dundee"
  • Burghs of Old Aberdeen and Woodside and the district of Torry incorporated as the City and Royal Burgh of Aberdeen by the Aberdeen Corporation Act 1891 (1891 c.cxxiv)
  • The present council areas are designated "cities" by virtue of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which also reserves the post of Lord Provost for the convener of the four councils. The previous local government districts and district councils created by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 enjoyed the same privileges.
  • Letters Patent dated 14 January 1889
  • Letters Patent dated 29 March 1853
  • Letters Patent dated 1 April 2009 City status had been held prior to this date by the Charter Trustees of the City of New Sarum.
  • Letters Patent dated 28 August 1877.

  1. ^ City commemorates the 400th Anniversary of the City’s first charter, Derry City Council press release dated July 7, 2004, (accessed December 15, 2007)
  2. ^ "Local Government (Structural Changes) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provision) Order 2009". Tow. Office of Public Sector Information. 2009. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/ukdsi_9780111475096_en_5. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
  3. ^ "New Parish Council for the City of Salisbury". Towards One Council. Wiltshire County Council. http://www.onecouncilforwiltshire.co.uk/index/new-parish-council-city-of-salisbury.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
  4. ^ London Gazette: no. 46255. p. 4400. 4 April 1974. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  5. ^ London Gazette: no. 46303. pp. 6485–6486. 28 June 1974. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 46334. p. 7419. 31 May 1974. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  7. ^ London Gazette: no. 46352. p. 7920. 24 September 1974. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  8. ^ a b London Gazette: no. 54363. p. 4925. 4 April 1996. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  9. ^ London Gazette: no. 46522. p. 3729. 20 March 1975. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  10. ^ London Gazette: no. 47246. p. 7656. 14 June 1977. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  11. ^ London Gazette: no. 56573. p. 6160. 21 May 2002. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  12. ^ a b London Gazette: no. 56109. p. 1431. 2 May 2001. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  13. ^ London Gazette: no. 48364. p. 15451. 7 November 1980. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  14. ^ Lichfield City Council website
  15. ^ London Gazette: no. 52874. p. 5413. 26 March 1992. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  16. ^ Charters of Hereford City Council
  17. ^ Samuel Lewis (ed.), Dale - St. David's, from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), accessdate=2008-05-15
  18. ^ Municipal Corporations Act 1883 (c.19), S.3 and Sch II, part I
  19. ^ London Gazette: no. 53798. p. 13403. 23 September 1994. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  20. ^ London Gazette: no. 27242. p. 6613. 30 October 1900. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  21. ^ The Times: Leicester, a City: Sequel to the Recent Royal Visit, June 17, 1919
  22. ^ Civic history: The making of a City, (Leicester City Council), accessed 14 February 2008
  23. ^ Leicester: The Dignity of a City 655–1926, Leicester's city status, its loss and its regaining over thirteen centuries by Daniel Williams
  24. ^ London Gazette: no. 44986. p. 12450. 12 December 1969. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  25. ^ London Gazette: no. 33154. pp. 2776–2777. 23 April 1926. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  26. ^ London Gazette, issue no.39201, 13 April 1951
  27. ^ London Gazette, issue no.34400, 21 May 1937
  28. ^ London Gazette, issue no.33433, 26 October 1928
  29. ^ London Gazette, issue no.33063, 3 July 1925
  30. ^ London Gazette: no. 27849. p. 7249. 31 October 1905. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  31. ^ London Gazette, 29 January 1889
  32. ^ From the London Gazette, January 18, 1889, The Times, 19 January 1889
  33. ^ London Gazette Issue 21426, p.950, 1 April 1853
  34. ^ London Gazette: no. 59250. p. 20329. 24 November 2009.
  35. ^ "Civic History Its Charters and Silver". The Guildhall Salisbury. Salisbury City Council. 2009. http://www.salisburyguildhall.co.uk/index.php?page=503. Retrieved 25 November 2009. [dead link]
  36. ^ London Gazette: no. 24502. p. 5185. 11 September 1877. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
List of cities in Europe
Sovereign
states

Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom
States with limited
recognition

Abkhazia · Kosovo · Nagorno-Karabakh · Northern Cyprus · South Ossetia · Transnistria
Dependencies
and other territories

Åland · Faroe Islands · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Isle of Man · Svalbard
All text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. (See Terms of Use for details.)