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Exploring the UK's cities

An illustration of a city

A city is a busy settlement where people live and work. They are located all over the UK but what makes a city鈥 a city?

An illustration of a city

Watch: Find out more about cities in the UK

Discover the difference between cities and towns in the UK.

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What is a city?

A cityscape featuring tall buildings, blocks of flats and trees

A city is a type of settlement, which has been awarded the city status by the . Historically, a settlement had to have a cathedral to be made a city, which is why smaller settlements, such as Wells, Ely and Salisbury are still cities today. However this is no longer a requirement.

Generally, it is large and has a of over 100,000. There are usually, but not always:

  • houses
  • shopping centres and retail parks
  • places of worship
  • banks, post offices
  • entertainment venues such as theatres or cinemas
  • tall buildings used for offices
  • factories on the outskirts
  • transport links
A cityscape featuring tall buildings, blocks of flats and trees

In a city centre, businesses are very . There are usually banks, offices, large shops, and also restaurants, bars and hotels close together. As land is very expensive in the centre of cities, there are usually lots of tall buildings there. Some cities can have more than one centre. This can happen when two or more towns grow until they connect and form one city, such as Stoke-on-Trent.

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Did you know?

The UK's smallest city, St. Davids in Wales, has a population of only 1,600 people.

A map of Wales with the Welsh flag
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Cities of the UK

There are 76 cities in the UK and most of these are in England. There could be several reasons why:

  • With its great rivers and fertile lands, settlements were formed more easily in England than in mountainous Scotland and Wales.
  • England is the closest country to mainland Europe, only separated from France by the English Channel. This meant that it was much easier to establish trade links with the southeast coast than with remote parts of the United Kingdom.

The capital and largest city of the UK is London in England. A village that was expanded by the Romans and served as a trade centre and a place to cross the River Thames has grown into a centre of business and culture.

A map of the UK showing key cities.
Figure caption,
A map of the UK showing some key cities
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Activity

Tap and find: UK cities

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Comparing two cities

Case Study: Cardiff

Aerial photograph of Cardiff city centre

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales.

It is in the south part of Wales at the mouth of the River Severn. The River Taff runs through Cardiff.

Population

Cardiff has around 370,000 inhabitants.

Importance

Before the 19th century, Cardiff was just a small town, then coal mining in Wales turned Cardiff into an important port for trading coal.

Today, Cardiff is the centre of business in Wales, home to the Welsh parliament and a popular place for tourists. It has three universities and a stadium for the Welsh national rugby union and football teams.

Landmarks

  • Cardiff Castle
  • Cardiff Bay
  • Llandaff Cathedral
  • National Museum

Land use

The centre of Cardiff has shops and restaurants, and is next to a park with Cardiff Castle. People's homes surround the city centre. The industrial buildings on the waterfront have been redeveloped as offices and entertainment venues.

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Case study: Birmingham

Aerial of Birmingham city centre.

Birmingham is a city in the West Midlands in England. It is the second largest city in the UK.

There are no major rivers going through Birmingham. However, there is a large canal system, which was used as a waterway to transport coal and goods before railways and roads were developed.

Population

Birmingham's population is currently around 1,140,500 people.

Importance

Birmingham was an important market town until the 18th century because of its central location in the country. With the and the invention of the improved the city became the centre of and . Today many companies have their offices in Birmingham. It is home to five universities and two football clubs.

Landmarks

  • The Bullring shopping centre
  • Birmingham Town Hall
  • St Philip's Cathedral

Land use

Birmingham's city centre is an important travel hub with shops, large shopping centres and universities. On the outskirts, there are houses, parks and hospitals.

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Activity

Quiz: Exploring cities

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