England is one of the most beautiful nations to live in. With over 50 cities to choose from, it can be a tough pick whether you’re a tourist or a person looking to live elsewhere. If you want to get the most out of the country and its people, you should consider moving to cities where most people are.
The majority of England’s population is situated in these eight cities. Aside from being beautiful and modern, these cities are rich in culture and history.
If you’re ever hoping to visit the wonderful cities of England soon, you may want to check these out. Here are the largest cities in England by population.
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Stoke-on-Trent
Area Size: 93.45 km2(36.08 sq mi)
Density: 2,738/km2 (7,090/sq mi)
Founded: Not available
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
You don’t need to worry about its mouthful of a name. You can call it as simple as Stoke. It’s the smallest city on this list in terms of population but keeps in mind that there are smaller cities in London.
Stoke is considered polycentric as it was formed by a federation of six towns back in 1910. Its name comes from Stroke-Upon-Trent, where its center for government and the central railway station was connected.
One of the primary industries is pottery. It is currently known as The Potteries, so if you’re into crafts like these, Stoke is a great place to visit. Aside from that, Stoke is known as the center for service industries and distribution centers because of its strategic location. It’s a quaint little city but still thriving with opportunities.
Did You Know
The property is affordable in Stoke. You can get a two-bedroom terrace house for as low as £50,000.
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Bristol
Area Size: 110 km2 (40 sq mi)
Density: 4,248 km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Founded: 1155
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
In the past, Bristol played a significant role as a port and a starting place for voyages to the New World. As a result, a lot of historic journeys were started in Bristol.
One is the journey of John Cabot — who became the first European to land on mainland North America in 1497. To this day, Bristol is still one of the ports in Europe.
Bristol’s economy is now built on creative media, aerospace, and the electronics industry. In addition, the city-center docks have now been designed to display the city’s heritage and culture. Bristol’s name translates to ‘place at the bridge.’ This describes the word, Brycgstow, from which Bristol is based.
Did You Know
The city has the largest community currency that’s circulating in the UK, and that’s the Bristol Pound.
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Liverpool
Area Size: 111.8 km2 (43.2 sq mi)
Density: 4,424 km2 (11,528 sq mi)
Founded: 1207
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Liverpool is one of the most visited cities in England. The city is loved for its culture, architecture, and convenient public transportation system. Regarding its cultural activities, Liverpool is rich in arts and music. The city is very closely associated with The Beatles, but many notable musicians came from the city.
Another reason to enjoy your visit to Liverpool is to check out its vast parks and open spaces. England’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest has dub Liverpool’s parks the “most important in the country.” So be ready to see some fantastic green spaces if you move to Liverpool.
Did You Know
Liverpool was formed by King John the First in 1207. He was the brother of Richard the Lionheart, who was the villain in Robin Hood.
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Manchester
Area Size: 115.6 km2 (44.6 sq mi)
Density: 4,735/km2 (12,260 sq mi)
Founded: 1st century
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Manchester may have started as a small manorial township. However, it began to expand rapidly during the turn of the 19th century. This was helped by the boom in texture manufacturing during the industrial revolution. This revolution made Manchester become the first industrialized city.
Manchester got its city status in 1853. Since then, the city has seen its ups and downs. However, it’s most notable for its culture, musical exports, architecture, scientific and engineering output, and many more. Its rich history and bustling economy have made Manchester one of the busiest cities in England.
Did You Know
Manchester is highly regarded for its schools and scientific exports. The first atom was split in Manchester in 1917.
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Sheffield
Area Size: 122.5 km2 (47.3 sq mi)
Density: 4,543/km2 (11,770/sq mi)
Founded: Not available
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Sheffield was one of the major cities during the industrial revolution. During this period, many inventions and technologies were developed in the city, including stainless steel and crucial steel.
This boom in their production helped kickstart Sheffield’s rise as one of England’s key economies.
Aside from its rich history and significant contributions to the industrial revolutions, Sheffield also has a long sporting heritage. It’s home to the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC, and the world’s oldest football ground, Sandygate. Football is huge in Sheffield, so that might be a thing to consider when checking out this place.
Did You Know
Sheffield is home to more than 2 million trees — that’s four trees for every person, the most out of any city in England.
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Leeds
Area Size: 111.6 km2 (43.1 sq mi)
Density: 4,626/km2 (11,980 sq mi)
Founded: Not available
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Leeds started as a small manorial borough during the 13th century. Then during the 16th century, it became a market town. Leeds’ big break was in the 1760s when it expanded into a major producer of various goods. It also became a major trading center during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The city once focused on improving its economy and various industries. However, the city council started a five-year cultural investment program in 2018.
All of their efforts will culminate in 2023 with an international cultural festival. That might be a great time to visit the city and take in all of its
Did You Know
At the height of its economic growth during the 1760s, Leeds came up with many things — one of which was carbonated water.
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Birmingham
Area Size: 267.8 km2 (103.4 sq mi)
Density: 4,262/km2 (11,040 sq mi)
Founded: c. 600
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Birmingham is historically a market town located in Warwickshire during the medieval period. However, Birmingham grew during the Midlands Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. During these times, there were major advancements in technology, science, and economic development.
In 1791, Birmingham was dubbed the “first manufacturing town in the world.” It continues to push through innovations thanks to its five universities.
Now, Birmingham’s economy is driven by the service sector. It’s also England’s central hub for retail, events, and conferences. As one of the major cities in England, Birmingham was the third most visited city in the UK by people worldwide.
Did You Know
Birmingham is unique for it’s the only place in the world where all ingredients for making iron are present within ten miles.
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London
Area Size: 1,572.03 km2 (606.96 sq mi)
Density: 5,598/km2 (14,500/sq mi)
Founded: AD 47
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
London is the largest city in England by population. It’s also the capital city of the nation as well. As one of the major cities in the world, London has a lot to live up to. With a population nearing 9 million, you can expect busy streets and happy lives in London.
It’s Europe’s third most populous city, following Istanbul and Moscow.
Apart from being the center of commerce in England, London is also the center for tourism and entertainment. It gets millions of visitors per year. In addition, London has four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St. Margaret’s Church.
Did You Know
London is one of the most culturally diverse cities. There are over 300 languages spoken within its boundaries.
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