The Evolution of Mega-Cities in the UK: Past and Present

In the United Kingdom, the narrative of cities with a population exceeding one million is both fascinating and complex. While there are cities that have crossed this threshold, the borders and definitions used to count them are subject to debate.

Scots Towns vs. Cities with Population Over a Million

Interesting enough, in Scotland, there are five towns that are often considered cities. However, when it comes to cities with a population over one million, the list is significantly shorter. According to studies and population counts, Glasgow, the largest of these, has a total population of approximately 606,340 within the city boundaries alone. This figure places Glasgow as one of the oldest cities to achieve a million population, though not quite reaching the milestone on its own.

Defining a City: Size Matters

The definition of a city can vary widely depending on the source and criteria used. For instance, whether a city council boundary is considered or if the conurbation (the larger urban area) is taken into account affects the list of cities with a population over one million.

City with the Defined Boundaries

When using city council boundaries, the list of cities in the UK with a population over a million includes:

Birmingham

This is because Birmingham is the only city in the UK that meets the criteria with its defined city council boundaries.

City with Greater Boundaries

When including the broader metropolitan areas, the list expands to:

Greater London (which includes City of London and City of Westminster) Birmingham

Giving us two cities that fall into this category based on inclusion of Greater London.

City with Conurbation Boundaries

When the conurbation (the larger urban area) is considered, the list grows to:

Greater London (which includes City of London and City of Westminster) Greater Manchester (includes City of Manchester and City of Salford) West Midlands (includes Birmingham and Wolverhampton) West Yorkshire (includes Leeds Bradford and Wakefield) Greater Glasgow (includes City of Glasgow) Merseyside (includes City of Liverpool)

Here, we see that Greater London remains the largest city, followed by Greater Manchester and the West Midlands conurbation.

London and Birmingham: The Largest Cities

No matter how you define a city, the two largest cities in the UK with a population over a million are:

London Birmingham

According to recent population estimates, Birmingham has passed the one million milestone, while London’s population exceeds much more.

Conclusion

The story of cities in the UK with a population over a million is an evolving one. Definitions and boundaries play a crucial role in determining which cities meet this criterion. Whether through the city council boundaries, the conurbation, or broader metropolitan areas, the list changes. However, London and Birmingham stand out as the two largest such cities in the UK.