List of urban areas in the United Kingdom explained

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:

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

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.[1]

Area[2] Population
(2011)
Area (km2) Density (People/km2)Primary subdivisionsNotable changes from 2001 to 2011[3]
1Greater London9,787,4261,737.95,630London boroughs, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Woking, Harlow, St Albans, BracknellGuildford, Harlow, Bracknell and St Albans added.
2Greater Manchester2,553,379630.34,051Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Atherton, Leigh, Trafford, TamesideGolborne, Glossop and Newton-le-Willows added.
3West Midlands2,440,986598.94,076Birmingham, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Dudley, Walsall, Solihull
4West Yorkshire1,777,934487.83,645Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Keighley, HalifaxHalifax added
5Greater Glasgow957,620368.53,390Glasgow, Paisley, Clydebank, Rutherglen, Newton Mearns, Bearsden, Cambuslang, Clarkston, Bishopbriggs
6Liverpool864,122199.64,329Liverpool, Bootle, Litherland, Crosby, Prescot, St. Helens, Ashton-in-MakerfieldAshton-in-Makerfield added
7South Hampshire855,569192.04,455Portsmouth, Southampton, Eastleigh, Gosport, Fareham, HavantPortsmouth Urban Area and Southampton Urban Area combined.Hedge End, Locks Heath, Bursledon and Whiteley added.Stubbington and Lee-on-the-Solent removed.
8Tyneside774,891180.54,292Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South TynesideWashington, Chester-le-Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring removed.
9Nottingham729,977176.44,139Nottingham, Beeston, Carlton, West Bridgford, Ilkeston, Hucknall
10Sheffield685,368167.54,092Sheffield, Rotherham, Rawmarsh
11Bristol617,280144.44,274Bristol, Filton, Pill, Frampton Cotterell, Kingswood, Warmley, Mangotsfield, Winterbourne
12Belfast595,879960620Belfast, Castlereagh, Greenisland, Holywood, Lisburn, Newtownabbey
13Leicester508,916109.44,653Leicester, Wigston, Oadby, Syston, Blaby, Birstall, Narborough, EnderbyRatby removed and Narborough and Enderby added
14Edinburgh482,2701254,172Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Wallyford
15Brighton and Hove474,48589.45,304Brighton and Hove, Worthing, Littlehampton, Shoreham-by-SeaRottingdean, Saltdean and Findon removed.
16Bournemouth/ Poole466,266131.03,559Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ferndown, New Milton, Wimborne MinsterFerndown and Wimborne Minster added.
17Cardiff447,287102.34,370Cardiff, Caerphilly, Penarth, PontypriddCaerphilly and Pontypridd added.
18Teesside376,633108.23,482Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham, RedcarEston & Southbank added to Middlesbrough sub-division, no longer counted as separate sub-division
19Stoke-on-Trent372,775103.93,588Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kidsgrove
20Coventry359,26281.34,420Coventry, Bedworth
21Sunderland335,415137.54,018Sunderland, Washington, Chester-Le-Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-SpringWashington, Chester-Le-Street, Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring added.
22Birkenhead325,26488.23,687Birkenhead, Wallasey, Ellesmere Port, Bebington
23Reading318,01483.73,800Reading, Wokingham, Woodley, CrowthorneBracknell removed.
24Kingston upon Hull314,01882.63,802Kingston upon Hull, Cottingham, Hessle
25Preston313,32282.43,802Preston, Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Fulwood, LeylandLongton and Adlington added.
26Newport306,84484.23,643Newport, Pontypool, Cwmbran, Blackwood, Risca, Ystrad MynachPontypool, Cwmbran and Blackwood added.
27Swansea300,35287.63,431Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Ystradgynlais, PontardaweYstradgynlais added.
28Southend-on-Sea295,31071.84,111Southend-on-Sea, Hullbridge, Rayleigh, RochfordHullbridge added.
29Derby270,46864.14,219Derby, Borrowash, Duffield
30Plymouth260,20359.74,356Plymouth
31Luton258,01850.75,088Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis
32Farnborough/ Aldershot252,39778.53,217Farnborough, Aldershot, Camberley, Farnham, Frimley, Sandhurst, Yateley
33Medway Towns243,93152.24,677Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester
34Blackpool239,40961.33,908Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton, CleveleysFleetwood removed.
35Milton Keynes229,94162.53,678"Milton Keynes", Bletchley, Newport Pagnell, Woburn SandsWoburn Sands added.
36Barnsley/ Dearne Valley223,28159.73,739Barnsley, Wath upon Dearne, Wombwell, Hoyland
37Northampton215,96357.93,731Northampton, Collingtree
38Norwich213,16661.93,444Norwich, Taverham, Costessey, Cringleford, Colney, Horsham St Faith, Queens Hills, Thorpe End, Trowse with Newton
39Aberdeen208,19069.53,050
40Swindon185,60947.13,945Swindon, Haydon Wick, Stratton St. Margaret, Broad Blunsdon, Blunsdon St Andrew, Wroughton
41Crawley180,50858.13,107Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Copthorne, Crawley DownEast Grinstead, Copthorne and Crawley Down added.Reigate and Redhill removed.
42Ipswich178,83549.13,639Ipswich, Kesgrave, WoodbridgeWoodbridge added
43Wigan175,40543.84,009Wigan, Skelmersdale, Standish, Ince-in-Makerfield
44Mansfield171,95848.43,556Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Mansfield Woodhouse
45Oxford171,38037.44,585Oxford, Kennington, WheatleyKennington and Wheatley added
46Warrington165,45644.93,686Warrington
47Slough163,77734.14,797Slough, Stoke Poges, Poyle
48Peterborough163,37944.23,693Peterborough, Farcet
49Cambridge158,43442.13,760Cambridge, Fen Ditton, Girton, HistonHiston and Fen Ditton added.
50Doncaster158,14143.53,634Doncaster, Bentley, Armthorpe, SprotbroughBessacarr added.
51Dundee157,55049.93,180Dundee, Monifieth, Invergowrie
52York153,71734.04,518York, Earswick
53Gloucester150,05340.43,718Gloucester, Innsworth
54Burnley149,42235.74,183Burnley, Padiham, Brierfield, Colne, Barrowford, Nelson
55Telford147,98047.73,103Telford, Broseley
56Blackburn146,52135.64,115Blackburn, Darwen
57Basildon144,85937.13,902Basildon, Wickford, Ramsden Heath, North BenfleetWickford added.
58Grimsby134,16035.33,804Grimsby, Cleethorpes, WalthamNew Waltham removed.
59Hastings133,42233.24,019Hastings, Bexhill
60High Wycombe133,20439.23,398 High Wycombe, Cookham, Hughenden Valley
61Thanet125,37027.94,495Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs
62Accrington/ Rossendale125,05930.04,168Accrington, Rawtenstall, Bacup, Great Harwood, Haslingden, Oswaldtwistle, ChurchAccrington and Rossendale areas combined.
63Motherwell124,54045.12,765Motherwell, Wishaw, Bellshill, Viewpark, Newmains, Holytown
64Burton-upon-Trent122,19935.03,487Burton-upon-Trent, SwadlincoteSwadlincote, Stapenhill and Winshill added.
65Colchester121,85932.73,732Colchester, Marks Tey
66Eastbourne118,21925.14,705Eastbourne, Polegate
67Exeter117,76328.54,133Exeter, Topsham
68Cheltenham116,44728.94,034Cheltenham
69Paignton/ Torquay115,41031.53,667Paignton, Torquay, Marldon
70Lincoln114,87932.73,518Lincoln, North Hykeham
71Chesterfield113,05734.63,263Chesterfield, Staveley, Wingerworth, HolymoorsideWingerworth added.
72Chelmsford111,51126.24,259Chelmsford, Little Waltham
73Basingstoke107,64229.43,662Basingstoke
74Maidstone107,62725.44,229Maidstone
75Bedford106,94024.84,309Bedford, Kempston
76Worcester101,65924.74,121Worcester, Norton

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: United Kingdom: Urban Areas . Citypopulation.de . 31 December 2014 .
  2. Web site: 2011 Census – Built-up areas . . 1 July 2013 . (needs a more direct citation)
  3. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales/index.html Census 2001 Key Statistics, Urban areas in England and Wales