City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the monarch. Until the 19th century, city status was associated with the presence of an Anglican cathedral, an association that arose in the time of Henry VIII; cities with cathedrals are often referred to as cathedral cities. Unlike many other countries, cities do not have to meet specific size criteria.
Strictly-speaking, the largest settlement with city status in the United Kingdom is Birmingham in Warwickshire. London is considered a city for its cultural significance, but does not itself have city status; as of 2025, it contains two settlements with such status: City of London (actually England's smallest city) and Westminster. The smallest city in the United Kingdom is St Davids (pop. 1,750) in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
