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What are settlements?

Aerial photograph of houses in a settlement.

Settlements are places where people live and sometimes work.

They can be small or large depending on how many people live there and how many facilities there are.

Facilities are places where certain things happen.

For example, schools for education, parks for playing or shops for selling things.

Aerial photograph of houses in a settlement.
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Watch: Settlements

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Types of settlements

Blaise Hamlet is a hamlet in England.
Image caption,
Blaise Hamlet in England.
  • A hamlet is a very small settlement with just a group of houses.
Blaise Hamlet is a hamlet in England.
Image caption,
Blaise Hamlet in England.
Pendolyn is a village in Wales.
Image caption,
Pendolyn is a village in Wales.
  • A village is also small but may have houses, a primary school, a few shops, a Post Office and a village hall.
Portstewart is a coastal town in Northern Ireland.
Image caption,
Portstewart is a coastal town in Northern Ireland.
  • A town is larger than a village, with lots of houses, primary and secondary schools, as well as sometimes having a railway station and shopping centre.
Portstewart is a coastal town in Northern Ireland.
Image caption,
Portstewart is a coastal town in Northern Ireland.
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland.
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Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland.
  • A city is the largest type of settlement, containing lots of buildings and lots of people. They usually have hospitals, sports facilities, universities, shops, offices, many houses and often a cathedral.
  • In the UK however, some cities may be small. This is because some settlements have a cathedral and this makes them a city. For example, St Davids in Wales and Wells in England.
Felixstowe Port.
Image caption,
Felixstowe Port.

Some settlements also have a special use, or function. For example:

  • ports - by a river or sea for ships to transport goods
  • market towns - where local farmers sell goods
  • resorts - where people go on holiday
Felixstowe Port.
Image caption,
Felixstowe Port.
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Watch: Exploring cities

Birmingham is the UK鈥檚 second largest city after London, the UK鈥檚 capital. It is in an area of England called the Midlands.

Cities are known for trade and economic activity. Cities usually have tall high-rise buildings for people to work in and lots of people who live in flats in cities.

Learn more about cities in this video from 成人快手 Teach.

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Activity: Quiz 鈥 Settlements

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