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Biggest Urban Areas in the UK

Name the most populous built up areas in the United Kingdom as of the 2021 census.
Also try Biggest Cities in the UK
Source
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Featured Quiz
Last updated: February 11, 2023
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First submittedFebruary 1, 2010
Times taken167,908
Average score62.5%
Rating4.40
Quiz and answer stats >>
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Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Population
City or Town
10,552,913
London
2,737,412
Manchester
2,594,803
Birmingham
1,877,125
Leeds
1,026,880
Glasgow
895,385
Liverpool
888,340
Southampton
790,461
Newcastle
Population
City or Town
761,541
Nottingham
692,851
Sheffield
680,527
Bristol
622,000
Belfast
559,367
Leicester
529,580
Edinburgh
494,419
Brighton and Hove
490,037
Bournemouth
Population
City or Town
464,269
Cardiff
389,603
Coventry
383,552
Middlesbrough
382,687
Stoke-on-Trent
355,440
Reading
334,224
Sunderland
331,350
Birkenhead
328,859
Preston
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105 Recent Comments
totalsoup
+4
Level 39
Jan 15, 2014
ha I live in southend. did not expect that to be on there
VhMatthews
+3
Level 38
Dec 20, 2015
Where about? So do I.
duckwantbread
+3
Level 65
May 26, 2016
I'm originally from Southend as well, Jetpunk appears to have cornered the quiz market in Essex.
AVB
+2
Level 72
May 15, 2018
I'm from Southend, too. Amazed that it's on this list.
JayWing1218
+2
Level 35
Jun 30, 2019
me too :P
richiesyxx
+2
Level 73
Oct 24, 2020
Also from Southend... only 8% have heard of us :-(
OGille
+2
Level 25
Jan 12, 2021
I'm from Chelmsford and I'm equally baffled as to Southend's inclusion here. I think it must include Rayleigh, Wickford and possibly Basildon in the urban area.
abz10183
+6
Level 51
Jan 26, 2014
why isnt Coventry on there???
happyviolinist1
+11
Level 29
Jul 7, 2016
cuz it isn't. DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!
IsleAuHaulte
+16
Level 91
Apr 12, 2020
You don't seem to be dealing very well with this. Put down the exclamation point and step back slowly.
QuizMasterGeneral05
+3
Level 70
Sep 10, 2017
I think Coventry has a population of around 360,000, so it should make the list
Yeeee123
+3
Level 40
Jan 27, 2019
I think it should too because it is the 9th largest city in England and 12th in the UK
IsleAuHaulte
+2
Level 91
Apr 12, 2020
It's on the list of 100 largest European cities, but not the 24 largest British cities.
JerseyzFinest
+6
Level 59
Mar 14, 2014
Only missed Belfast and Preston - not bad for an American!
buck1017
+8
Level 78
Nov 12, 2014
One thing I have learned about the British by taking these quizzes, is that they make things way more confusing than they need to be. Sure, we use the imperial measurements, which is confusing versus the metric system, but I have yet to come on to one of these quizzes where there isn't tons of arguing over what is and is not a country within the UK and what is or is not a city in the UK.
Malbaby
+10
Level 70
Aug 2, 2015
What?
kiwiquizzer
+3
Level 68
Aug 8, 2016
:-)
pkerr116
+4
Level 72
Dec 4, 2018
Didn't you mean to say, 'tonnes' ?
JackintheBox
+2
Level 80
Mar 3, 2019
no
MDW
+7
Level 55
Jun 25, 2019
American city populations are completely pointless. The central city council district is counted as the city so depending on whether this is large, small, oddly shaped, determines the population of the 'city.' Other urban areas are uncounted. The population of New York regularly leaves swathes of suburbs across the Hudson uncounted because they're not part of the 'city' on a mere technicality like a state border. That is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more confusing than it needs to be.
Quizmaster
+3
Level ∞
Feb 11, 2023
You are absolutely spot on @buck1017. As painful as it is to interact with U.S. government data, it's so much better than the U.K. equivalents.
rawe
+2
Level 66
Dec 18, 2014
Got 13, forgetting a few.
QuizGuy2472
+3
Level 25
May 20, 2015
Forgot Portsmouth

Dear Dear

Eclatee
+2
Level 63
Jul 10, 2020
I feel personally attacked :-(
brandybuck96
+4
Level 83
Jun 19, 2015
I had no idea Huddersfield was that big. It's just off my radar, I think. I assumed Hull would make the list, but it turns out there are just 256,000 people there. I think it's mostly dockyards and things.
Soph1
+2
Level 50
Jul 30, 2015
So do I
epicdjyoshi
+2
Level 33
Aug 2, 2015
MISSED OUT LIVERPOOL. HOW COULD I?
beccimoo
+2
Level 56
Dec 5, 2015
So weird. I often miss Liverpool from this type of quiz. Why??!!!
Andon
+4
Level 40
Jul 12, 2017
Because its a dump and easily forgettable
Malbaby
+4
Level 70
Sep 8, 2017
Andon ..... jealousy is a curse.
Duzza
+2
Level 34
Aug 5, 2015
Bournemouth has a population of 183000, the figure on here is for both Bournemouth and Poole, the town nest to it.
Possums
+4
Level 30
Jun 19, 2016
The quiz says urban areas and since there is no gap between Poole and Bournemouth then it counts both under one area
fitheach
+4
Level 58
Sep 12, 2017
Do people not read the name of the quiz (Urban Areas - note, not cities/towns) or the further comments or instructions, including the links? This is for urban areas clearly defined by the British government and using census data. Why bother complaining when there is a clear source?
ThatEmoShyGuy
+2
Level 79
Aug 23, 2015
I missed Bristol. Wow....
Possums
+2
Level 30
Jun 19, 2016
Wow
manchesterutd10
+4
Level 59
Sep 29, 2015
EPL teams help anyone else out there?
Sunderlandblackcats
+3
Level 41
Dec 6, 2015
Yeah but I'm surprised Sunderland isn't up there
Mfundo
+1
Level 35
Dec 25, 2021
yes,i'm a fan
ChocolateMoose
+2
Level 28
Dec 21, 2015
I suck and im an American
mrsmartguy
+2
Level 34
Jan 10, 2016
urban Edinburgh is bigger that
growltiger
+3
Level 34
Jan 23, 2016
since when has Preston been bigger than Leeds, Coventry or Hull?
Possums
+5
Level 30
Jun 19, 2016
751,500 - Leeds

356,500 - Preston

According to the quiz, never

ribs3147
+2
Level 16
Feb 9, 2016
dover, bath, Plymouth, Dundee, brighton
Possums
+6
Level 30
Jun 19, 2016
Have you got anything to back this up or are you just throwing out cities which you can think of? Dunno about the others but Bath is tiny and I'm pretty sure Dover is as well, in terms of population
fitheach
+3
Level 58
Sep 12, 2017
The quiz is based on census data and on clearly defined urban areas (there's a link for God's sake!!) - if the places you listed aren't on the quiz, then it's CLEARLY because they aren't big enough to appear on it.
JohnOfili
+3
Level 40
Aug 29, 2016
could you count poole for bornemouth? if i remember correctly the bornemouth urban area is incorporated into the bournemouth-poole urban area.
ander217
+4
Level 75
Sep 8, 2017
Middleborough, Middleboro, Middlethingy...I gave up. (Who put that s in the middle, anyway?)
DrWhoFanJ
+1
Level 63
Apr 23, 2023
Sorry, that was me when I was born there 23 years ago. Apologies.
Mosestomtom
+3
Level 36
Sep 8, 2017
Very surprised about york not being here!
TWM03
+5
Level 72
Sep 8, 2017
York isn't actually very big - a lot of large cities in the UK didn't even a exist before the industrial revolution (or were just small towns/villages). York is an old walled city founded in Roman times. What I am more surprised about is that Bradford doesn't count as part of Leeds.
Hoofar
+3
Level 75
Feb 21, 2020
Bradford doesn't count as part of Leeds because, despite being only ten miles apart, they are completely separate in terms of politics, public spending, postcodes, telephone codes etc. Most of those things were established before Bradford and Leeds swallowed up their respective suburbs, and were quite separate geographically, too.
Airbus
+3
Level 31
Nov 18, 2022
York has a population of around 200,000 people and I should know that because I live their!
kitsims
+4
Level 84
Feb 12, 2023
You live their what?

Their lives for them?

Their fantasies daily?

We need to know, damn it.

Marius1882
+2
Level 44
Sep 8, 2017
i missed Leeds,Bradford,preston,huddersfield,southend.Cool quiz! But Plymouth isn't here?
ScrambledEgg
+2
Level 35
Sep 8, 2017
I just named football teams. Did pretty well XD
scrumpyone
+4
Level 45
Sep 19, 2017
Bet you cussed when Heart of Midlothian & Hamilton Academicals didn't work :)
SAFETYFIIIRST
+2
Level 48
Jun 13, 2018
darn i got all of them except hudderfield... i even tried hudderfield but i must have typed it too fast and made a typo..
JackintheBox
+5
Level 80
Mar 17, 2019
it's 'Huddersfield'
PotatoBoy
+2
Level 66
Jul 25, 2018
Edinburgh doesn't accept the standard "edinburg" type-in
JackintheBox
+17
Level 80
Mar 17, 2019
good
Chutney
+7
Level 62
Jun 26, 2020
well then type edinburgh its not hard
Wistful
+1
Level 72
Oct 12, 2022
If you've gotten that far, I think you'll manage.
Jakub
+2
Level 68
May 27, 2019
I thought Reading was the largest town to not be registered as a city which is why I missed it. If this is the case, please remove it from the quiz or change the description.
JayWing1218
+7
Level 35
Jun 30, 2019
It's just urban areas, rather than cities :)
Confabulously
+3
Level 79
Jul 1, 2019
Southend has probably rebuilt its fire-prone pier more times than it has people
pollydee
+2
Level 47
Aug 30, 2019
As someone from Middlesborough it is VERY obvious that this is not towns/cities (boro has about 150,000 residents actually in the town) and urban areas. I do have to question the size of this urban area though? Where are these extra 300k people from?!
jojo8
+1
Level 65
Aug 4, 2022
Think you've absorbed the Tees Valley
kitsims
+1
Level 84
Feb 12, 2023
You're from Middlesbrough but you can't spell it?
JonOfKent
+2
Level 58
Apr 29, 2020
I totally don't believe that Preston or Southend are bigger than the Medway Towns. I agree, the numbers are a bit suspect. But then these things are always approximate.
Thaxted
+2
Level 62
Jun 26, 2020
Coventry should be here with a population of 352,000
ALA02
+2
Level 64
Jun 26, 2020
Surprised that Brighton isnt here yet Southend is
nojik
+2
Level 67
Jun 26, 2020
As a 23 year old Greek, I am proud to get 24/24 :p
ander217
+3
Level 75
Jun 26, 2020
And you should be. Well done.
ghanburighan
+2
Level 83
Jun 28, 2020
Can't believe no Brighton and Hove or Sheffield
kalbahamut
+4
Level 81
Oct 25, 2020
Sheffield is on here. Pretty high in the rankings, too
EcceHomo
+2
Level 83
Jan 12, 2021
All of these population quizzes are arbitrary. I missed 3 - I tried Coventry, Brighton, but missed Bradford, Preston, Huddersfield.
Mfundo
+3
Level 35
Mar 2, 2021
I took advantage by being a premier league fan to get 19/24
Geopro
+2
Level 59
Apr 21, 2021
As an Aussie I'm happy with 20, but I missed Newcastle!
lethano
+1
Level 53
Jun 26, 2021
Ah, the ever-elusive Saafend
yzgh
+1
Level 50
Oct 23, 2021
Where is Hull, Bradford, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Plymouth
PavPanesar
+4
Level 55
Feb 16, 2023
In The UK
GrammarBeane1
+1
Level 83
Dec 25, 2021
Dang it, how did I forget about Birmingham
PrinceofFasad
+1
Level 23
Jun 23, 2022
I missed Nottingham, Middlesbrough and Reading

I live near Reading but I still forgot...

Airbus
+1
Level 31
Nov 18, 2022
This quiz needs updating, I believe that Manchester has more people than Birmingham and Leeds has more people now, please update this soon!
KingOfNachos
+1
Level 33
Jan 2, 2023
i won in the last second

even tho im british

i missed PORTSMOUTH

aaaaaaaah

but then i got it :)

AlmostAGenius
+9
Level 84
Feb 12, 2023
How odd that Birkenhead is not considered part of the Liverpool urban area. Looking at a map, I would say that it appears that it should be. Never heard of it before today though. I also find it odd that the list of urban areas under the UK tab on citypopulation have such different numbers from the world version. I guess no such thing as a perfect source though.
Pazza
+1
Level 59
Feb 13, 2023
The Wirral peninsula (which Birkenhead is on) is seen as separate area completely to Liverpool. Different local council, different postcodes, etc. Another weird thing is that the population of Birkenhead accounts for all of Wirral however if you ask someone from the west side of Wirral if they lived in Birkenhead, they would laugh. Birkenhead is not a great place overall although there are some nice parts but Birkenhead is east Wirral and people from west Wirral would never say they live in Birkenhead. People from Liverpool also refer to the Wirral as "the dark side" for banter.
OfficerDibble
+3
Level 83
Feb 12, 2023
Birkenhead is surprising
GeoRockstar14
+1
Level 90
Feb 12, 2023
Thanks for updating.

I had just made an updated quiz back in january before the update:)

raymun
+2
Level 68
Feb 12, 2023
I got every answer, except for Birkenhead, where I live...

I guess I just assumed it would be included with Liverpool? Looking at only 800k for Liverpool it does make sense now though

sihollett
+1
Level 89
Mar 23, 2023
The river Mersey is wider than the 200m gap between buildings that separates urban areas.
protector441
+1
Level 48
Feb 12, 2023
I am so sad, that Plymouth, Portsmouth nor Bradford made it. Is the source 100% consistent? Two of those cities are not even there...
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Feb 12, 2023
Assuming Bradford part of Leeds....
sihollett
+1
Level 89
Mar 23, 2023
Portsmouth, to both cities' chargrin, is counted as part of Southampton here.

It's the most egregious citypopulation.de change from the ONS's more generic names for built-up areas. 'South Hampshire' is not only more neutral, but more descriptive.

3nchiladas
+1
Level 70
Feb 23, 2023
well I'm stupid. For some reason I only gave English answers, rather than answers for the whole UK.

definitely could have gotten a few more...

lango1875
+2
Level 54
Feb 25, 2023
Should accept "Wirral" for Birkenhead. Otherwise great quiz
sihollett
+2
Level 89
Mar 23, 2023
The Office of National Statistics call many of these urban areas (or 'built up areas') something more generic than citypopulation.de's use of the largest single town/city inside the area.

I'd argue that all these (Wirral, Teesside, South Hampshire, etc) should be type ins - not least as its what the source's source uses.

hellodrew
+1
Level 66
Mar 14, 2023
the answer for Manchester should be "Greater Manchester" which is where the 2.8 million figure comes from, which is the metropolitan area around Manchester that also includes a lot of other large towns. Manchester itself as a city wouldn't even make the top 10.
sihollett
+3
Level 89
Mar 23, 2023
Every answer here includes other towns. If you are going to move the goalposts for one place, you have to move them for all for it to mean anything other than your being unfair. Manchester as a city would come 6th - which is definitely top 10.

Greater Manchester is a very different concept to the Manchester urban area (not metropolitan area - which is yet another thing, though much more nebulous in definition) listed here. The former is administrative geography, the latter is physical geography (where buildings are). Wigan is in the former, not the latter. Wilmslow in the latter but not the former.

Jm4chine99
+1
Level 41
Apr 6, 2023
plymouth, Portsmouth and Norwich should be in this Bournemouth shouldnt be at all
TheKarateKid
+1
Level 38
Apr 24, 2023
i just named premier league teams XD (got 19)
RJG
+1
Level 63
Jun 8, 2023
i got 20/24, surprise Birkenhead at 6% I got that.
plattitude
+1
Level 95
Jul 14, 2023
After the second one, I just started guessing Premier League teams. Worked mostly well, except for Scotland.
CyberSnare
+1
Level 59
Nov 11, 2023
er..... ever heard of Bradford? It should be about 6th.
MaxGG
+1
Level 32
May 1, 2024
can anyone tell me wtf a BIRKENFIELD IS????

I was so close lol. Just missed one

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