This list of built-up areas for England was compiled by the Office for National Statistics after the 2021 UK Census.[1] Built-up area boundaries are defined and named by the ONS.
Population range | BUA classed as[1] | Approximate settlement type |
---|---|---|
200,000+ | major | cities |
75,000-199,999 | large | large towns or smaller cities |
20,000-74,999 | medium | medium towns |
5,000-19,999 | small | larger village or small town |
0-4,999 | minor | hamlet or village |
The ONS classified all built-up areas with a population of at least 200,000 as major. Most are cities[1] with some exceptional towns; Luton, Northampton and Reading) The West Midlands county has three cities over 200,000; Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.
# | Built-up area | 2021 Population | County | Related places | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ONS[2] | Citypopulation[3] | ||||
1 | London | — | 8,776,535 | Greater London City of London | |
2 | Birmingham | 1,121,375 | 1,121,408 | West Midlands | |
3 | Leeds | 536,280 | 536,321 | West Yorkshire | |
4 | Liverpool | 506,565 | 506,552 | Merseyside | |
5 | Sheffield | 500,535 | 500,552 | South Yorkshire | |
6 | Manchester | 470,405 | 470,411 | Greater Manchester | |
7 | Bristol | 425,215 | 425,232 | Bristol | |
8 | Leicester | 406,580 | 406,588 | Leicestershire | |
9 | Coventry | 344,285 | 344,322 | West Midlands | |
10 | Bradford | 333,950 | 333,931 | West Yorkshire |
|
11 | Nottingham | 299,790 | 299,797 | Nottinghamshire | |
12 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 286,445 | 286,468 | Tyne and Wear | |
13 | Brighton and Hove | 277,105 | 277,106 | East Sussex | |
14 | Derby | 275,575 | 275,599 | Derbyshire | |
15 | Kingston upon Hull | 270,810 | 270,806 | East Riding of Yorkshire |
|
16 | Plymouth | 266,955 | 266,983 | Devon | |
17 | Milton Keynes [a] | 197,340 | 197,354 | Buckinghamshire | |
18 | Stoke-on-Trent | 260,560 | 260,602 | Staffordshire | |
19 | Southampton | 249,620 | 249,604 | Hampshire | |
20 | Northampton | 243,520 | 243,511 | Northamptonshire |
|
21 | Wolverhampton | 234,025 | 234,015 | West Midlands | |
22 | Luton | 233,525 | 233,498 | Bedfordshire |
|
23 | Portsmouth | 223,305 | 223,312 | Hampshire | |
24 | Reading | 203,795 | 203,808 | Berkshire | |
25 | Norwich | 200,770 | 200,752 | Norfolk |
The ONS classified all built-up areas between 199,999 and 75,000 as large-sized, most include large towns or smaller cities.[1]
The ONS classified all built-up areas between 75,000 and 20,000 as medium-sized, most are moderate towns with some exceptional cities or villages.[1]
Hereford, Canterbury, Lancaster and Durham have city status, all others are towns and Rochester formerly had city status.
"Citypopulation.de" does not record areas with a population lower than Thundersley and South Benfleet.
Winchester, Lichfield and Chichester have city status between 30,000 and 49,700.
Truro officially has city status.