Important cities in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has a total of 69 cities. Therefore, it goes without saying that the tourist offer of each destination also differs substantially from the others.

It is therefore advisable to have a good idea of what each city offers before planning a visit to any part of the country or even before applying for an eTA for the UK.

The UK is indeed a popular international tourist destination for city breaks.

In fact, in the most important cities of the United Kingdom there is no shortage of fantastic historical attractions, popular cultural destinations and excellent shopping opportunities.

Find out how cities are defined in the UK and which are the main cities that are located in the 4 constituent countries of the island nation.

This article is intended to be a brief overview of the most famous and popular destinations that visitors head to for tourism, business, or medical treatment.

Northern Ireland’s key cities

Northern Ireland is the smallest country in the UK and consequently has the fewest ‘big’ cities.

The territory includes the 6 counties of Ireland. They remained loyal to the British crown after Ireland’s independence in 1922. Here we find only 5 cities in the United Kingdom.

The most important cities that are located in Northern Ireland are the following:

  • Belfast: the capital of Northern Ireland where about 280,000 people live. Visitors can enjoy fantastic bars and restaurants, a strong cultural scene, as well as historical attractions. There, for example, there is the Titanic memorial museum.
  • Londonderry (Derry): Northern Ireland’s second largest city is geographically very close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. It offers some of Northern Ireland’s most important historical sites and is a great base for visiting some of the beautiful natural attractions nearby. An example is the “giant’s causeway.

Scotland’s most famous cities

The nation of Scotland is best known for its rural and wild naturalness. In addition, there is a unique Celtic cultural influence here.

On top of that, Scotland is also home to a couple of popular cities that are tourist destinations for millions of travellers a year:

The largest and most important cities in Scotland are:

  • Edinburgh: The capital of Scotland and one of the country’s most historically significant centers. Major attractions include Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and King Arthur’s throne.
  • Glasgow: It is the largest city in Scotland. It is characterized as an industrial center with a glorious past that has now been revitalized and modernized. It has also been the European Capital of Culture.
  • Aberdeen: Known as ‘the Silver City’ or the ‘Granite City’, it is an excellent starting point for exploring the Cairngorms National Park. Whisky lovers will also not miss the opportunity to visit the many historic local distilleries.
  • Dundee: It is a major national hub for video game production and for journalistic and artistic publications. Dundee is also one of the most culturally significant cities in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Finally, it is characterized by a spectacular promenade.
Victoria Square in Birmingham

The most important cities in England

England is home to most of the cities in the United Kingdom. In fact, 51 of the nation’s 69 cities are located here, in the largest constituent country of the United Kingdom.

Each of these 51 cities offers its own unique cultural and historical experience.

The cities in England with the largest populations are:

  • London: with over 12 million inhabitants, it is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is also home to important and iconic landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Tower Bridge.
  • Birmingham: England’s second-largest city where just under 1.2 million people live. It is characterized by being one of the best shopping destinations and is also the national convention destination in the United Kingdom.
  • Manchester: it is the third largest city in the United Kingdom loved by lovers of music, culture and football.
  • Leeds: An important business centre. It is also the most important university center in the north of the nation. It is characterized by Victorian architecture.
  • Liverpool: one of Britain’s most significant cultural centres and also the place where the Beatles musical group was formed. A great place to explore the local architecture, experience a football match or visit the many local museums.
  • Bristol: Historic shipbuilding city in the southwest of England, it is also an important artistic center of its geographical area.
  • Newcastle: An architecturally rich and atmospheric city with a strong art scene. It is also surrounded by an impressive landscape.
  • York: An ancient and picturesque city, full of historic antiquities and magnificent old buildings that hark back to an England that lived long ago.
  • Oxford: England’s most famous university city. Home to the most important university in the country and the whole world, many museums and picturesque buildings in neo-Gothic style.

The main cities located in Wales

The population of Wales is much smaller in number than that of England or Scotland. Nevertheless, Wales is home to some of the most important cities in the United Kingdom.

There are 6 major population centers in Wales, the largest being:

  • Cardiff: the capital of Wales. It has been the business centre of Wales for centuries and is a great destination for both exploring the country’s history and attending a match of the national sport, rugby.
  • Swansea: The second largest city in Wales is a popular destination for European surfers and coastal tourism.
  • Bangor: The oldest city in Wales is a perfect destination to enjoy the wonders of the coast as well as the northern Welsh countryside.

Fun fact: How are cities defined in the UK?

The UK has an unusual methodology for assigning city status to settlements.

Internationally, to confer the status of city to a town, one looks at the number of the population, the presence of cathedrals or historic buildings.

In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the other hand, how and when cities become cities is decided by the King in office.

In addition, the status of a city in the United Kingdom does not confer any official advantage. Instead, it is seen as a sign of royal patronage and prestige for city councils.

However, it must be recognized that even if the status is decided by the King or Queen, most cities in the United Kingdom remain among the largest population centers in the country, reflecting international classification standards.

We can therefore conclude by saying that the cities of the United Kingdom are ideal places both to relax and unwind during a trip to the countryside, and for a vibrant tourist experience as in the case of the capital.

Each destination offers its own unique charm accompanied by numerous sights and tourist attractions that complement every visit to the UK.