First things first is to nail down the definition of a city. Centre for Cities focuses on primary urban areas (PUAs) - a definition created by the Department for Communities and Local Government as a statistical tool for analysing the major cities of England. It captures the built up footprint of a city based on areas of continuous built-up land containing urban structures that are within 50 metres of each other.
In 2021, there was a total of 59,597,500 people living in England and Wales and a majority of them lived in cities.
It won’t be a surprise to anyone that, in terms of population size, London is still by far the UK’s largest cities – it now exceeds the 10 million inhabitants threshold.
But for those living outside the hustle and bustle of Britain’s capital where do the rest of us lie? According to the stats gathered by Centre for Cities, here are the top 10 cities by population in England.
7. Leeds - 812,000
With a population of 812,000, Leeds is the city is the nearest stop over to Sheffield yet somehow is slightly smaller than the Steel City. They boast a good shopping selection but they can't beat Sheffield's trees and green spaces. Photo: Bruce Rollinson
8. Bristol - 762,800
With a population of 762,800, Bristol was the first British city to be named European Green Capital. Bristol's modern economy is built on the creative media, technology, electronics and aerospace industries. Photo: Matt Cardy
9. Nottingham - 664,800
With a population of 664,800, Nottingham is famed for its links to the legend of Robin Hood as well as its lace-making heritage and 11th century Nottingham Castle. Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
10. Liverpool - 640,600
With a population of 640,600, Liverpool is famous for its music, its maritime heritage, and its connection to The Beatles. It is perhaps best known as home to English sides Liverpool and Everton. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA
11. Bradford - 546,400
With a population of 546,400, Bradford is the 10th largest city in England. It is the world's first UNESCO City of Film, having long been home to the National Science and Media Museum. Photo: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images