List of urban areas in the United Kingdom

This is a list of the most populous urban areas in the United Kingdom based on the 2011 census, as defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Definition

The methodology used by ONS in 2011 is set out in 2011 Built-up Areas – Methodology and Guidance, published in June 2013. When ONS reported the results of the 2011 UK census, it used the term "built-up area" rather than the term "urban area" as used in previous censuses. ONS states, however, that the criteria used to define "built-up area" have not changed:

the definition follows a ‘bricks and mortar’ approach, with areas defined as built-up land with a minimum area of 20 hectares (200,000 m2), while settlements within 200 metres of each other are linked. Built-up area sub-divisions are also identified to provide greater detail in the data, especially in the larger conurbations.[1]

In reporting the 2001 census, the ONS gave a clearer definition of the term "built-up" as follows:

This comprises permanent structures and the land on which they are situated, including land enclosed by or closely associated with such structures; transportation corridors such as roads, railways and canals which have built up land on one or both sides, or which link built-up sites which are less than 200 metres apart; transportation features such as airports and operational airfields, railway yards, motorway service areas and car parks; mine buildings, excluding mineral workings and quarries; and any area completely surrounded by builtup sites. Areas such as playing fields and golf courses are excluded unless completely surrounded by builtup sites...[2]

Most populous

The list below shows the most populated urban areas in the United Kingdom as defined by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), but as readily referenced at Citypopulation.de. The list includes all urban areas with a population in excess of 100,000 at the 2011 census.[3]

# Area[4][note 1] Population
(2011) 		Area (km2)[note 2] Density (People/km2) Primary subdivisions[note 3] Notable changes from 2001 to 2011[5][note 4]
1 Greater London 9,787,426 1,737.9 5,630 London boroughs, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Woking, Harlow, St Albans, Bracknell Guildford, Harlow, Bracknell and St Albans added.
2 Greater Manchester 2,553,379 630.3 4,051 Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Atherton, Leigh, Trafford, Tameside Golborne, Glossop and Newton-le-Willows added.
3 West Midlands 2,440,986 598.9 4,076 Birmingham, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Dudley, Walsall, Solihull
4 West Yorkshire 1,777,934 487.8 3,645 Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Keighley, Halifax Halifax added
5 Greater Glasgow 957,620 368.5 3,390 Glasgow, Paisley, Clydebank, Rutherglen, Newton Mearns, Bearsden, Cambuslang, Clarkston, Bishopbriggs
6 Liverpool 864,122 199.6 4,329 Liverpool, Bootle, Litherland, Crosby, Prescot, St. Helens, Ashton-in-Makerfield Ashton-in-Makerfield added
7 South Hampshire 855,569 192.0 4,455 Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh, Gosport, Fareham, Havant Portsmouth Urban Area and Southampton Urban Area combined.

Hedge End, Locks Heath, Bursledon and Whiteley added. Stubbington and Lee-on-the-Solent removed.

8 Tyneside 774,891 180.5 4,292 Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside Washington, Chester-le-Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring removed.
9 Nottingham 729,977 176.4 4,139 Nottingham, Beeston, Carlton, West Bridgford, Ilkeston, Hucknall
10 Sheffield 685,368 167.5 4,092 Sheffield, Rotherham, Rawmarsh
11 Bristol 617,280 144.4 4,274 Bristol, Filton, Pill, Frampton Cotterell, Kingswood, Warmley, Mangotsfield, Winterbourne
12 Belfast 595,879 960 620 Belfast, Castlereagh, Greenisland, Holywood, Lisburn, Newtownabbey
13 Leicester 508,916 109.4 4,653 Leicester, Wigston, Oadby, Syston, Blaby, Birstall, Narborough, Enderby Ratby removed and Narborough and Enderby added
14 Edinburgh 482,270 125 4,172 Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Wallyford
15 Brighton and Hove 474,485 89.4 5,304 Brighton and Hove, Worthing, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-Sea Rottingdean, Saltdean and Findon removed.
16 Bournemouth/ Poole 466,266 131.0 3,559 Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ferndown, New Milton, Wimborne Minster Ferndown and Wimborne Minster added.
17 Cardiff 447,287 102.3 4,370 Cardiff, Caerphilly, Penarth, Pontypridd Caerphilly and Pontypridd added.
18 Teesside 376,633 108.2 3,482 Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham, Redcar Eston & Southbank added to Middlesbrough sub-division, no longer counted as separate sub-division
19 Stoke-on-Trent 372,775 103.9 3,588 Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kidsgrove
20 Coventry 359,262 81.3 4,420 Coventry, Bedworth
21 Sunderland 335,415 137.5 4,018 Sunderland, Washington, Chester-Le-Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring Washington, Chester-Le-Street, Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring added.
22 Birkenhead 325,264 88.2 3,687 Birkenhead, Wallasey, Ellesmere Port, Bebington
23 Reading 318,014 83.7 3,800 Reading, Wokingham, Woodley, Crowthorne Bracknell removed.
24 Kingston upon Hull 314,018 82.6 3,802 Kingston upon Hull, Cottingham, Hessle
25 Preston 313,322 82.4 3,802 Preston, Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Fulwood, Leyland Longton and Adlington added.
26 Newport 306,844 84.2 3,643 Newport, Pontypool, Cwmbran, Blackwood, Risca, Ystrad Mynach Pontypool, Cwmbran and Blackwood added.
27 Swansea 300,352 87.6 3,431 Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Ystradgynlais, Pontardawe Ystradgynlais added.
28 Southend-on-Sea 295,310 71.8 4,111 Southend-on-Sea, Hullbridge, Rayleigh, Rochford Hullbridge added.
29 Derby 270,468 64.1 4,219 Derby, Borrowash, Duffield
30 Plymouth 260,203 59.7 4,356 Plymouth
31 Luton 258,018 50.7 5,088 Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis
32 Farnborough/ Aldershot 252,397 78.5 3,217 Farnborough, Aldershot, Camberley, Farnham, Frimley, Sandhurst, Yateley
33 Medway Towns 243,931 52.2 4,677 Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester
34 Blackpool 239,409 61.3 3,908 Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton, Cleveleys Fleetwood removed.
35 Milton Keynes 229,941[6] 62.5 3,678 "Milton Keynes",[note 5] Bletchley, Newport Pagnell, Woburn Sands Woburn Sands added.
36 Barnsley/ Dearne Valley 223,281 59.7 3,739 Barnsley, Wath upon Dearne, Wombwell, Hoyland
37 Northampton 215,963 57.9 3,731 Northampton, Collingtree
38 Norwich 213,166 61.9 3,444 Norwich, Taverham, Costessey, Cringleford, Colney, Horsham St Faith, Queens Hills, Thorpe End, Trowse with Newton
39 Aberdeen 208,190 69.5 3,050 Aberdeen
40 Swindon 185,609 47.1 3,945 Swindon, Haydon Wick, Stratton St. Margaret, Broad Blunsdon, Blunsdon St Andrew, Wroughton
41 Crawley 180,508 58.1 3,107 Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Copthorne, Crawley Down East Grinstead, Copthorne and Crawley Down added.

Reigate and Redhill removed.

42 Ipswich 178,835 49.1 3,639 Ipswich, Kesgrave, Woodbridge Woodbridge added
43 Wigan 175,405 43.8 4,009 Wigan, Skelmersdale, Standish, Ince-in-Makerfield
44 Mansfield 171,958 48.4 3,556 Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Mansfield Woodhouse
45 Oxford 171,380 37.4 4,585 Oxford, Kennington, Wheatley Kennington and Wheatley added
46 Warrington 165,456 44.9 3,686 Warrington
47 Slough 163,777 34.1 4,797 Slough, Stoke Poges, Poyle
48 Peterborough 163,379 44.2 3,693 Peterborough, Farcet
49 Cambridge 158,434 42.1 3,760 Cambridge, Fen Ditton, Girton, Histon Histon and Fen Ditton added.
50 Doncaster 158,141 43.5 3,634 Doncaster, Bentley, Armthorpe, Sprotbrough Bessacarr added.
51 Dundee 157,550 49.9 3,180 Dundee, Monifieth, Invergowrie
52 York 153,717 34.0 4,518 York, Earswick
53 Gloucester 150,053 40.4 3,718 Gloucester, Innsworth
54 Burnley 149,422 35.7 4,183 Burnley, Padiham, Brierfield, Colne, Barrowford, Nelson
55 Telford 147,980 47.7 3,103 Telford, Broseley
56 Blackburn 146,521 35.6 4,115 Blackburn, Darwen
57 Basildon 144,859 37.1 3,902 Basildon, Wickford, Ramsden Heath, North Benfleet Wickford added.
58 Grimsby 134,160 35.3 3,804 Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Waltham New Waltham removed.
59 Hastings 133,422 33.2 4,019 Hastings, Bexhill
60 High Wycombe 133,204 39.2 3,398 High Wycombe, Cookham, Hughenden Valley
61 Thanet 125,370 27.9 4,495 Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs
62 Accrington/ Rossendale 125,059 30.0 4,168 Accrington, Rawtenstall, Bacup, Great Harwood, Haslingden, Oswaldtwistle, Church Accrington and Rossendale areas combined.
63 Motherwell 124,540 45.1 2,765 Motherwell, Wishaw, Bellshill, Viewpark, Newmains, Holytown
64 Burton-upon-Trent 122,199 35.0 3,487 Burton-upon-Trent, Swadlincote Swadlincote, Stapenhill and Winshill added.[note 6]
65 Colchester 121,859 32.7 3,732 Colchester, Marks Tey
66 Eastbourne 118,219 25.1 4,705 Eastbourne, Polegate
67 Exeter 117,763 28.5 4,133 Exeter, Topsham
68 Cheltenham 116,447 28.9 4,034 Cheltenham
69 Paignton/ Torquay 115,410 31.5 3,667 Paignton, Torquay, Marldon
70 Lincoln 114,879 32.7 3,518 Lincoln, North Hykeham
71 Chesterfield 113,057 34.6 3,263 Chesterfield, Staveley, Wingerworth, Holymoorside Wingerworth added.
72 Chelmsford 111,511 26.2 4,259 Chelmsford, Little Waltham
73 Basingstoke 107,642 29.4 3,662 Basingstoke
74 Maidstone 107,627 25.4 4,229 Maidstone
75 Bedford 106,940 24.8 4,309 Bedford, Kempston
76 Worcester 101,659 24.7 4,121 Worcester, Norton

Map

List of urban areas in the United Kingdom is located in the United Kingdom
Greater London
Greater Manchester
West Midlands
West Yorkshire
Greater Glasgow
Liverpool
South Hampshire
Tyneside
Nottingham
Sheffield
Bristol
Belfast
Leicester
Edinburgh
Brighton and Hove
Bournemouth /Poole
Cardiff
Plymouth
Teesside
Stoke-on-Trent
Coventry
Sunderland
Birkenhead
Reading
Kingston upon Hull
Preston
Newport
Swansea
Southend-on-Sea
Derby   
Derby   
Luton
Farnborough /Aldershot
Medway Towns
Blackpool
Milton Keynes
Barnsley/ Dearne Valley
Northampton
Norwich
Aberdeen
Swindon
Crawley
Ipswich
Wigan
Mansfield
Oxford
     Warrington
     Warrington
Slough
Peterborough
Cambridge
Doncaster
Dundee
York
Gloucester
    Burnley
    Burnley
Telford
        Blackburn
        Blackburn
Basildon     
Basildon     
Grimsby
Hastings
High Wycombe
Thanet
Accrington
Motherwell
Burton upon Trent
Colchester
Eastbourne
Exeter
Cheltenham
Paignton/Torquay
Lincoln
Chesterfield
Chelmsford
Maidstone
      Bedford
      Bedford
Worcester
class=notpageimage|
Locations of largest built-up areas:
Over 1 million   500,000–999,999   250,000–499,999   150,000–249,999   100,000–149,999

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The built-up area names are taken from the 2011 census. Some articles use other names or link to the most appropriate article.
  2. ^ ONS definition. Excludes motorways, rivers, lakes, parks and other open space, even if fully contained but wider than 200m.[1]: 10 
  3. ^ ONS definition.[1]: 6 
  4. ^ The areas and sub-divisions can be renamed, merged, split or removed between censuses.
  5. ^ The BUASD that the ONS calls "Milton Keynes" is just that part of Milton Keynes after subtraction of Bletchley,[7] which has been part of its designated area since 1967 and which has expanded since then as part of the overall development.
  6. ^ Stapenhill and Winshill were treated as a separate urban area in the 2001 census but in the 2011 census they were treated as part of the Burton-upon-Trent subdivision.

References

  1. ^ a b c "2011 Built-up Areas – Methodology and Guidance" (PDF). 2013 v1. Office for National Statistics. June 2013. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Census 2001: Key Statistics for urban areas in the North" (PDF). 2004. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2014.
  3. ^ "United Kingdom: Urban Areas". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  4. ^ "2011 Census – Built-up areas". ONS. Retrieved 1 July 2013. (needs a more direct citation)
  5. ^ Census 2001 Key Statistics, Urban areas in England and Wales Office of National Statistics
  6. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Milton Keynes BUA Built-up area (E34005056)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  7. ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Milton Keynes Built-up area sub-division (E35001516)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 January 2022.