Honestly, if you ask a local for a list of cities in Great Britain, you’re going to get a very confused look. Most people here use "town" and "city" like they’re interchangeable. They aren't. Not even close. You can have a massive place like Reading with over 300,000 people that is technically a town, while a tiny spot like St Davids—with fewer than 2,000 residents—is officially a city.
It’s weird. It’s British. And it’s mostly about a piece of paper signed by the Monarch.
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The Official Count: Who Actually Makes the Cut?
As of early 2026, there are 76 official cities in the United Kingdom. But wait, we’re talking about Great Britain (the big island), so we have to leave out the six cities in Northern Ireland like Belfast and Derry. That leaves us with 70 cities spread across England, Scotland, and Wales.
England has the lion's share with 55. Scotland has eight, and Wales has seven.
The list isn't static. It grows. Every few years, usually for a Royal Jubilee or a major anniversary, the government holds a "civic honours competition." Towns bid for the title like they’re hosting the Olympics. Why? Because city status brings a weird kind of prestige that supposedly boosts tourism and investment.
In 2022, for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we saw places like Milton Keynes, Colchester, Doncaster, and Wrexham finally get their "Letters Patent." Before that, Colchester was just the "oldest recorded town" in Britain. Now, it’s officially a city.
The Heavy Hitters
You already know the big names. London is the obvious titan. But even London is confusing. The "City of London" is actually just a tiny one-square-mile patch in the middle. The big sprawling mess we call London is mostly Greater London, which contains the City of London and the City of Westminster.
Then you’ve got the regional powerhouses:
- Birmingham: The second city. It’s massive, diverse, and has more canals than Venice (a fact every Brummie will tell you within five minutes of meeting).
- Glasgow: Scotland’s biggest hub. It’s grittier than Edinburgh but has a music and arts scene that’s arguably better.
- Manchester: The capital of the North in all but name. It’s the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and, more importantly to some, Oasis.
List of Cities in Great Britain by Nation
Trying to list them all in one go is a headache, so let’s break it down by where they actually sit on the map.
England’s Urban Landscape
England’s cities range from ancient Roman settlements to post-war concrete experiments.
Bath is basically a living museum of Georgian architecture. Bristol is where you go for street art (Banksy's home turf) and a very specific "indie" vibe. If you head north, you hit the "Steel City" of Sheffield, which is surprisingly green—it’s got more trees per person than any other city in Europe.
Then there are the "Cathedral Cities." For centuries, if you had a cathedral, you were a city. Simple. That rule was scrapped in the late 1800s, but it explains why tiny places like Wells or Ely are on the list while massive suburban sprawl towns are not.
The Scottish Eight
Scotland doesn't hand out city status easily. You have the "Big Two"—Edinburgh and Glasgow. Edinburgh is the postcard: the castle, the Royal Mile, the Fringe Festival. Glasgow is the heartbeat: the economy, the clubs, the "Gallus" attitude.
Beyond them, you have:
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- Aberdeen: The Granite City. It looks silver when it rains (which is often) and has been the center of the North Sea oil industry for decades.
- Dundee: The city of Discovery. It’s undergone a massive face-lift lately, anchored by the V&A museum.
- Inverness: The capital of the Highlands.
- Perth: Re-granted city status in 2012.
- Stirling: Famous for the castle and being the gateway to the mountains.
- Dunfermline: The newest Scottish addition (2022).
Wales: The Magnificent Seven
Wales is unique because it has some of the smallest cities in the world. St Davids is the famous one. It’s basically a village with a massive, beautiful cathedral.
Cardiff is the capital and feels like a modern, breezy European city, especially around the Bay. Swansea is all about the coastline—the Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula are right on its doorstep. Wrexham is the latest to join the club, largely thanks to a certain Hollywood-fueled football revival that’s put it on the global map.
Why Does This List Keep Changing?
The "list of cities in Great Britain" isn't just a geography test; it’s a political tool. Governments use city status to signal that an area is "on the up."
Look at Milton Keynes. For decades, it was the butt of jokes about roundabouts and concrete cows. By granting it city status in 2022, the government acknowledged its role as one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the country. It’s a tech and logistics powerhouse now.
Similarly, Southend-on-Sea was granted city status as a tribute to the late MP Sir David Amess, who had campaigned for it for years. It shows that the title is as much about sentiment and identity as it is about population counts.
The "Town" Trap: Huge Places That Aren't Cities
This is what trips up most visitors. You might visit Reading, Northampton, or Middlesbrough and think, "Man, this is a big city."
Technically, you're wrong.
Reading has a higher GVA (Gross Value Added) than many official cities. It has a major university, a massive shopping center, and a global tech presence. But because it hasn't been awarded a Royal Charter, it remains a "town."
The locals don't usually care, but it drives geographers crazy.
Actionable Steps for Exploring British Cities
If you're planning a trip or researching the list of cities in Great Britain, don't just stick to London. The real character of the island is in the regional variations.
- Check the "City of Culture" calendar: Every few years, a different city gets the title. For 2025, it’s Bradford. This usually means a massive influx of funding, art installations, and festivals.
- Use the Rail Network: Most British cities were built around (or adapted to) the train. You can get from London to Birmingham in 90 minutes or London to Edinburgh in about four and a half hours.
- Look for the "Lord Mayor": Not every city has one. Only 24 cities in England have a Lord Mayor (a purely ceremonial, high-prestige role). If you see someone in a giant gold chain and robes, you’re definitely in an official city.
- Download the official list: If you’re a completionist, the UK Government publishes the "List of Ministerial responsibilities" and "Civic Honours" documents which contain the most up-to-date legal list of cities.
The map of Great Britain is shifting. With the "Northern Growth Strategy" gaining steam in 2026, we’re seeing more investment into places like Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle. These cities are no longer just "post-industrial"—they are becoming tech hubs that rival the South.
Whether a place is a "city" or a "town" might just be a legal technicality, but for the people living there, it’s a badge of honor that says they’ve arrived on the national stage.