This is a list of official cities in the United Kingdom as of 2013.[1] It lists those places that have been granted city status by letters patent or royal charter. There are currently a total of 69 such cities in the United Kingdom: 51 in England, 7 in Scotland, 6 in Wales, and 5 in Northern Ireland.[1] Of these, 23 in England, 2 in Wales, and 1 in Northern Ireland possess Lord Mayors and 4 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 neighbourhood 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 extends over a number of towns and rural areas outside the main settlement proper.[2]

History

Main: City status in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The initial cities (Latin: civitas) of Britain were the fortified settlements organized 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[4] and listed by "Nennius".[5]

The title of city was initially informal and, into the 20th century, royal charters were considered to recognize city status rather than to grant it.[7] 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.[8] 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 during the Jubilee honours of 1897 in part because it would draw more attention to the other traditional "cities" still not formally chartered as such.[2]

Beginning from the mid-19th century, however, the process began to become 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 recognized 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"[2]—but these criteria were not made public and following Leicester's successful elevation in 1919 began a series of exceptions. The 1972 Local Government Act effectively eliminated all authorities holding city status outside of London on April 1, 1974; most of their replacements were confirmed in their predecessor's status—even in cases such as the City of Carlisle's where much of the new area is undeveloped countryside—but the Borough of Medway was not permitted to continue Rochester's title. Elevations to city status are now won through competitions and pretenders to the status are 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 organized 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.[9] Edinburgh and Glasgow were confirmed as cities "by ancient usage" in the 18th century,[10] as was Aberdeen, although this was later reconfirmed during the act enlarging the burgh in 1891. Dundee was granted a letter patent in 1889 and Elgin and Perth were recognized as cities by the Home Office in 1972, before the privilege was removed by the Scottish Local Government Act of 1973.[11]

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 recognized as such.

List of Cities

City[1] Year granted
or confirmed 		Cathedral
(pre-1888) 		City council Nation/Region Image Population
Aberdeen32
(Scots: Aiberdeen)
(Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain) 		189131
(Burgh: 1179) 		Cathedral Church of St Machar Local government district Scotland 189,12038
Armagh11
(Irish: Ard Mhacha)
(Ulster-Scots: Airmagh) 		1994 not applicable Local government district Northern Ireland 59,340 (2011)[12]
Bangor1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of St Deiniol Community Wales 16,358 (2011)[13]
Bath1 time immemorial Abbey Church of
SS Peter & Paul4 		Charter trustees South West, England 88,859 (2011)[14]
97,311 (urban area, 2010)[15]
Belfast
(Irish: Béal Feirste)
(Ulster-Scots: Bilfawst) 		1888 not applicable Local government district Northern Ireland 280,962 (2011)[12]
Birmingham2 188933 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		West Midlands, England 1,092,330 (2013)[16]
Bradford1 1897 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		Yorkshire and the Humber, England 522,452 (2011)[17]
Brighton & Hove15 2000 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		South East, England 273,369 (2011)[17]
Bristol1 1542 Cathedral Church of
the Holy & Undivided Trinity 		Local government district
(Unitary and county) 		South West, England 428,234 (2011)[17]
Cambridge3 195125 not applicable Local government district East, England 123,867 (2011)[17]
Canterbury3 time immemorial Cathedral & Metropolitical Church of
Christ 		Local government district
(Non-metropolitan borough) 		South East, England 151,145 (2011)[17]
Cardiff9
(Welsh: Caerdydd) 		190529 not applicable Local government district Wales 346,090 (2011)[17]
Carlisle1 1133 Cathedral Church of
the Holy & Undivided Trinity 		Local government district North West, England 107,524 (2011)[17]
Chelmsford37 2012 not applicable Local government district
(Non-metropolitan borough) 		East, England 168,310 (2011)[17]
Chester3 1541 Cathedral Church of
Christ & the Blessed Virgin Mary 		Charter trustees‡ North West, England 91,733 (urban area, 2010)[15]
Chichester1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
the Holy Trinity 		Civil parish South East, England 26,795 (2011)[18]
Coventry1 time immemorial St Michael's Cathedral5 Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		West Midlands, England 316,915 (2011)[17]
Derby13 1977 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		East Midlands, England 248,752 (2011)[17]
Derry / Londonderry39
(Irish: Doire / Doire Cholmchille)
(Ulster-Scots: Derrie / Lunnonderrie) 		1604[19] not applicable Local government district Northern Ireland 107,877 (2011)[12]
Dundee32
(Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Dèagh) 		188930
(Burgh: 1191) 		not applicable Local government district Scotland 153,99038
Durham1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
Christ & St. Mary the Virgin 		Charter trustees‡ North East, England 94,375 (2011)[20]
Edinburgh32
(Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) 		18th century[10]
(Burgh: 1329) 		High Kirk of Edinburgh
(St Giles's) 		Local government district Scotland 468,72038
Ely1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
the Holy & Undivided Trinity 		Civil parish East, England 20,256 (2011)[21]
Exeter1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
St Peter 		Local government district South West, England 117,773 (2011)[17]
Glasgow32
(Scots: Glesga)
(Scottish Gaelic: Glaschu) 		18th century[10]
(Burgh: 1492) 		High Kirk of Glasgow
(St Mungo's) 		Local government district Scotland 589,90038
Gloucester1 1541 Cathedral Church of
St Peter & the Holy and Indivisible Trinity 		Local government district South West, England 121,688 (2011)[17]
Hereford119 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
SS Mary the Virgin & Ethelbert the King 		Civil parish West Midlands, England 58,896 (2011)[22]
Inverness
(Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis) 		2000 not applicable none Scotland 57,960[23]
Kingston upon Hull12 1897 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		Yorkshire and the Humber, England 256,406 (2011)[17]
Lancaster1 193726 not applicable Local government district North West, England 138,375 (2011)[17]
Leeds1 1893 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		Yorkshire and the Humber, England 751,485 (2011)[17]
Leicester1 191922 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		East Midlands, England 329,839 (2011)[17]
Lichfield17 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
SS Mary & Chad 		Civil parish West Midlands, England 32,219 (2011)[24]
Lincoln3 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
St Mary 		Local government district
(Non-metropolitan borough) 		East Midlands, England 93,541 (2011)[17]
Lisburn
(Irish: Lios na gCearrbhach) 		2002 not applicable Local government district Northern Ireland 120,165 (2011)[12]
Liverpool2 1880 Cathedral Church of
Christ 		Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		North West, England 466,415 (2011)[17]
City of London6 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
St Paul 		Local government district London 7,375 (2011)[17]
Manchester1 185334 Cathedral & Collegiate Church of
St Mary, St Denys, & St George 		Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		North West, England 503,127 (2011)[17]
Newcastle upon Tyne1 1882 Cathedral Church of
St Nicholas 		Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		North East, England 280,177 (2011)[17]
Newport14
(Casnewydd) 		2002 not applicable Local government district Wales 145,736 (2011)[17]
Newry
(Irish: Iúr Cinn Trá)
(Ulster-Scots: Newrie) 		2002 not applicable none Northern Ireland 29,946 (2008, settlement population)[25]
Norwich1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
the Holy & Undivided Trinity 		Local government district East, England 132,512 (2011)[17]
Nottingham1 1897 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		East Midlands, England 305,680 (2011)[17]
Oxford1 1542 Cathedral Church of
Christ 		Local government district South East, England 151,906 (2011)[17]
Perth
(Scots: Pairth)
(Scottish Gaelic: Peairt) 		2012[26]
(Burgh: 12th century)[28] 		not applicable none Scotland File:PerthScotland.jpg 45,77038
Peterborough2 1541 Cathedral Church of
St Peter, St Paul, & St Andrew 		Local government district
(Unitary) 		East, England 183,631 (2011)[17]
Plymouth1 192827 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		South West, England 256,384 (2011)[17]
Portsmouth1 192624 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		South East, England 205,056 (2011)[17]
Preston14 2002 not applicable Local government district North West, England 140,202 (2011)[17]
Ripon1 1836 Cathedral Church of
SS Peter & Wilfred 		Civil parish Yorkshire and the Humber, England 16,702 (2011)[29]
St Albans7 187736 Cathedral & Abbey Church of
St Alban 		Local government district
(Non-metropolitan borough) 		East, England 140,644 (2011)[17]
St Asaph37
(Llanelwy) 		2012 not applicable Community Wales 3,355 (2011)[30]
St David's20
(Tyddewi) 		1994 not applicable Community Wales 1,841 (2011)[31]
Salford1 192624 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		North West, England 233,933 (2011)[17]
Salisbury35 1227 Cathedral Church of
St Mary 		Civil parish‡ South West, England 40,302 (2011)[32]
Sheffield3 1893 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		Yorkshire and the Humber, England 552,698 (2011)[17]
Southampton1 1964 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		South East, England 236,882 (2011)[17]
Stirling
(Scots: Stirlin)
(Scottish Gaelic: Sruighlea) 		2002 not applicable none Scotland 34,79038
Stoke-on-Trent3 192528 not applicable Local government district
(Unitary) 		West Midlands, England 249,008 (2011)[17]
Sunderland18 1992 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		North East, England 275,506 (2011)[17]
Swansea9
(Abertawe) 		196923 not applicable Local government district Wales 239,023 (2011)[17]
Truro1 1877 Cathedral Church of
St Mary 		Civil parish South West, England 18,766 (2011)[33]
Wakefield3 1888 Cathedral Church of
All Saints 		Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		Yorkshire and the Humber, England 325,837 (2011)[17]
Wells1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
St Andrew 		Civil parish South West, England 10,536 (2011)[34]
City of Westminster21 1540 Collegiate Church of
St Peter
(Westminster Abbey4) 		Local government district
(London borough) 		London 219,396 (2011)[17]
Winchester1 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
the Holy Trinity 		Local government district
(Non-metropolitan borough) 		South East, England 116,595 (2011)[17]
Wolverhampton16 2000 not applicable Local government district
(Metropolitan borough) 		West Midlands, England 249,470 (2011)[17]
Worcester3 time immemorial Cathedral Church of
Christ & St Mary 		Local government district West Midlands, England 98,768 (2011)[17]
York18 time immemorial Cathedral & Metropolitical Church of
St Peter 		Local government district
(Unitary) 		Yorkshire and the Humber, England 198,051 (2011)[17]

See also: list of royal burghs of Scotland

Map of the cities

List of cities in the United Kingdom is located in the United Kingdom
Bath
Birmingham
Bradford
Brighton & Hove
Bristol
Cambridge
Canterbury
Carlisle
Chelmsford
Chester
Chichester
Coventry
Derby
Durham
Ely
Exeter
Gloucester
Hereford
Kingston upon Hull
Lancaster
Leeds
Leicester
Lichfield
Lincoln
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Newcastle
Norwich
Nottingham
Oxford
Peterborough
Plymouth
Portsmouth
Preston
Ripon
Salford
Salisbury
Sheffield
Southampton
St Albans
Stoke
Sunderland
Truro
Wakefield
Wells
Westminister
Winchester
Wolverhampton
Worcester
York
Aberdeen
Dundee
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Inverness
Perth
Stirling
Bangor
Cardiff
Newport
St Asaph
Swansea
Armagh
Belfast
Lisburn
Newry
Derry
St Davids
Location of cities in the United Kingdom

British Overseas Territories

There are a number of cities in the British Overseas Territories, such as the City of James Town on Saint Helena.[35] These are however not part of the United Kingdom.

See also

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 Cheshire West and Chester and County Durham respectively.[36][37]

References

  1. ^ a b c Department for Media, Culture, & Sport. "Civic Honours Competition: UK Cities". The National Archives of the United Kingdom (London), 18 Jan 2011. Accessed 21 Dec 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Beckett (2005).
  3. ^ "JTK". "Civitas" in Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, Vol. I, p. 451. ABC-CLIO (Sta. Barbara), 2006.
  4. ^ De Excidio Britanniae, §3. Template:La icon Cited in the "Civitas" entry of Celtic Culture.[3]
  5. ^ Nennius (attrib.). Theodor Mommsen (ed.). Historia Brittonum, VI. Composed after AD 830. Template:La icon Hosted at Latin Wikisource.
  6. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed. 1911.
  7. ^ The 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, for instance, listed St Asaph and Southwell as cities on the basis of their cathedrals despite their lack of charters or, in Southwell's case, local government.[6]
  8. ^ Beckett (2005), p. 22.
  9. ^ Kingdoms of England and Scotland. "Act of Union", §XXI. 16 January 1707.
  10. ^ a b c d Beckett, J.V. City Status in the British Isles, 1830-2002, pp. 16 ff. Ashgate Publishing, 2005.
  11. ^ Clark, M. Lynda & al. "Committee on Privileges Second Report", Appendix 3, ss58. Parliament of the United Kingdom (London), 1999.
  12. ^ a b c d "Usual Resident Population: KS101NI (administrative geographies)". Census 2011. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  13. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Bangor C
  14. ^ "Bath". BANES 2011 Census Ward Profiles. Retrieved 13 March 2015. (Combined populations of the 16 wards that make-up the city.)
  15. ^ a b "Mid 2010 Urban Area Estimates England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  16. ^ "UK Population Estimates". (ONS). Retrieved 28 June 2014
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "2011 Census: KS101EW Usual resident population, local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  18. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Chichester CP
  19. ^ City commemorates the 400th Anniversary of the City’s first charter, Derry City Council press release dated 7 July 2004, (accessed 15 December 2007)
  20. ^ City status extends to the area of the former District of Durham [http://www .durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?ServiceId=8168 "Charter trust and Mayor for Durham City"]. Durham County Council. Retrieved 2 February 2013. ((cite web)): Check |url= value (help); line feed character in |url= at position 11 (help) "2011 Census Statistical Profile". Durham County Council. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  21. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Ely (Cambs) CP
  22. ^ "2011 Census: Usual resident population estimates by broad age group for Wards & Market Towns in Herefordshire". Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  23. ^ From NRS 2010 mid-year estimates, population of Inverness including Culloden - "Highland Profile". Highland Council. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  24. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Lichfield CP
  25. ^ NISRA
  26. ^ Letters Patent dated 21 May 2012 "News: The National Records of Scotland seals Perth's city status". National Archives of Scotland. 6 July 2012. "'We really feel part of history being made' — Letters Patent makes Perth's city status official". The Courier. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  27. ^ A A M Duncan (24 March 1973). "Perth. The First Century of the Burgh" (PDF). Transactions of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science.
  28. ^ Created a royal burgh at some point under King David I (1124–53) although the earliest surviving charters date to 1209 or 1210; the status was abolished in 1975.[10][27]
  29. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Ripon CP
  30. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - St. Asaph C
  31. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - St. David's and the Cathedral Close C
  32. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Salisbury CP
  33. ^ Office for National Statistics 2011 census - Truro CP
  34. ^ "Wells CP - Usual Resident Population, 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  35. ^ The Government of the United Kingdom. "The St Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009". The National Archives of the United Kingdom (London), 2009.
  36. ^ "Local Government (Structural Changes) (Miscellaneous Amendments and Other Provision) Order 2009". Tow. Office of Public Sector Information. 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  37. ^ "New Parish Council for the City of Salisbury". Towards One Council. Wiltshire County Council. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  38. ^ "No. 46255". The London Gazette. 4 April 1974.
  39. ^ "No. 46303". The London Gazette. 28 June 1974.
  40. ^ "No. 46334". The London Gazette. 31 May 1974.
  41. ^ "No. 46352". The London Gazette. 24 September 1974.
  42. ^ a b "No. 54363". The London Gazette. 4 April 1996.
  43. ^ "No. 46522". The London Gazette. 20 March 1975.
  44. ^ "No. 47246". The London Gazette. 14 June 1977.
  45. ^ "No. 56573". The London Gazette. 21 May 2002.
  46. ^ a b "No. 56109". The London Gazette. 2 May 2001.
  47. ^ "No. 48364". The London Gazette. 7 November 1980.
  48. ^ Lichfield City Council website
  49. ^ "No. 52874". The London Gazette. 26 March 1992.
  50. ^ Charters of Hereford City Council
  51. ^ Samuel Lewis (ed.), Dale - St. David's, from A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), accessdate=2008-05-15
  52. ^ Municipal Corporations Act 1883 (c.19), S.3 and Sch II, part I
  53. ^ "No. 53798". The London Gazette. 23 September 1994.
  54. ^ "No. 27242". The London Gazette. 30 October 1900.
  55. ^ The Times: Leicester, a City: Sequel to the Recent Royal Visit, 17 June 1919
  56. ^ Civic history: The making of a City, (Leicester City Council), accessed 14 February 2008
  57. ^ Leicester: The Dignity of a City 655–1926, Leicester's city status, its loss and its regaining over thirteen centuries by Daniel Williams
  58. ^ "No. 44986". The London Gazette. 12 December 1969.
  59. ^ "No. 33154". The London Gazette. 23 April 1926.
  60. ^ London Gazette, issue no.39201, 13 April 1951
  61. ^ London Gazette, issue no.34400, 21 May 1937
  62. ^ London Gazette, issue no.33433, 26 October 1928
  63. ^ London Gazette, issue no.33063, 3 July 1925
  64. ^ "No. 27849". The London Gazette. 31 October 1905.
  65. ^ London Gazette, 29 January 1889
  66. ^ From the London Gazette, January 18, 1889, The Times, 19 January 1889
  67. ^ London Gazette Issue 21426, p.950, 1 April 1853
  68. ^ "No. 59250". The London Gazette. 24 November 2009.
  69. ^ "No. 24502". The London Gazette. 11 September 1877. to ordain and declare that the Borough of Saint Albans, in the county of Hertford, shall be a City, and shall be called and styled 'The City of Saint Albans, in the county of Hertford.'
  70. ^ "No. 60167". The London Gazette. 11 June 2012.
  71. ^ "Mid-2010 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". General Register Office for Scotland. General Register Office for Scotland. 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.[dead link]
  72. ^ Application by Derry City Council for judicial review [2007] NIQB 5 Ref WEAF5707
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