Largest Cities in England – By population and size

Want to know which is the biggest city in England? Here’s an updated list of the largest cities in England by population and size in 2019.

England is a country that is part of the UK with a total population of 55.98 million, making up the majority of the United Kingdom’s population. 

London

London is the largest city in England, both in terms of size and population. It’s also the largest city in UK with a total population of 8,907,918 residents. 

London is one of the most famous cities in the world and a major financial center nationwide as well as internationally.

It was founded by the Romans as Londinium as early as 47 AD. Since then it has grown exponentially, especially during the Industrial revolution. Greater London covers an area of 606 sq mi (1,569 km2) and consists of the City of London and 32 boroughs. 

Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-most populous city in England with 1,153,717 residents in the urban area, and 4,332,629 people in the metropolitan area of Birmingham. 

During the Industrial Revolution, the residents of Birmingham registered more patents than any other English city. Birmingham is located in the West Midlands region and has frequent departures to other major cities in England such as London, Liverpool, and Manchester.

Liverpool

Liverpool is the third-largest city in England by population with a total of 579,256 residents within the city limits, and 2,241,000 people in the metropolitan area.

The Beatles and the local football team Liverpool F.C has certainly put the city on the world map and made it into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. 

The port of Liverpool is also one of the busiest ports in the UK and the city saw a major growth during the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, the city has somewhat reinvented itself as a cultural city rather than industrial. 

Bristol

Bristol is one of the major cities in England with a total population of 571,922 within the city limits, and 1,006,600 in the metropolitan area of Bristol.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the city had one of the most important ports in England and was a major trading center. Bristol further grew in importance and wealth during the 17th and 18th centuries thanks to the rise of the British colonies in America. 

Today, the old docks have become a center of culture and the city is noted for its music and art scene. 

Manchester

Manchester has one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, and Greater Manchester is home to 3,348,274 people. Within the city limits, there are 547,627 residents, making it the fifth most populous city in England.

Sheffield

Sheffield is located in South Yorkshire and has a population of 544,402 residents. The city played a major role during the Industrial Revolution and it grew rapidly after local production of stainless steel and crucible steel started. 

Furthermore, the city is home to the oldest football club in the world, Sheffield F.C as well as the first professional Ice Hockey team in the UK. 

List of the most populated cities in England

London is the most populated city in England, followed by Birmingham and Liverpool. 

Rank	City/Town	Region	Population
1	London	London	8,907,918
2	Birmingham	West Midlands	1,153,717
3	Liverpool	North West	579,256
4	Bristol	South West	571,922
5	Manchester	North West	554,400
6	Sheffield	Yorkshire Humber	544,402
7	Leeds	Yorkshire Humber	503,388
8	Leicester	East Midlands	470,965
9	Coventry	West Midlands	369,127
10	Bradford	Yorkshire Humber	361,046

List of the biggest cities in England by area

London is the biggest city in England by area, followed by the City of Carlisle and Manchester. 

Rank	City	Area
1	London	607 sq mi (1,572 km2)
2	City of Carlisle	401.53 sq mi (1,039.97 km2)
3	Manchester	243.4 sq mi (630.3 km2)
4	Birmingham	231.2 sq mi (598.9 km2)
5	Leeds	213.0 sq mi (551.7 km2)
6	Sheffield	142.06 sq mi (367.94 km2)
7	Peterborough	132.58 sq mi (343.38 km2)
8	York	105.00 sq mi (271.94 km2)

Which is the biggest town in England?

Northampton is the largest town in England as well as the largest settlement in the country that doesn’t hold the status of a city. 

How many cities are there in England?

Urban areas can only obtain the status of a city by Royal Charter and unlike many other countries in the world, the city status is not decided by the number of residents. In total, there are 51 cities in England that have the official city status. 

However, there are hundreds of towns that could easily be called a city if it was decided by the population. In fact, the biggest town in England has a population of 222,408 people, which actually makes it more populated than several smaller cities in England.

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How many of the largest cities in England did you know about? Leave a comment below!