London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. Situated on the River Thames in the southeast of England, it serves as the nation's political, financial, and cultural center. As the largest city in the UK, it is the seat of the government and the Royal Family.
The capital and largest city of England and the UK is London; Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are the national capitals of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Why is London the capital of both the UK and England?
For many years, England had no capital city. However, the institutions of central government were moved to Westminster, close to London. This and the rise of trade in the area were two decisive factors in London's emergence as the capital of England.
London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million.
Currently, Birmingham is commonly referred to as the UK's second city, although Manchester has also emerged as a contender. Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast also have alternative claims due to their status as capital cities of the other countries of the United Kingdom: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.
UK | United Kingdom | United Kingdom Song | A Geography Song About the UK and its Capitals
Does the UK have three capitals?
There are 4 countries in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A continent. The capital cities of each country in the UK are; London (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).
London's most famous nickname is "The Big Smoke," referring to its historical air pollution from coal, but other nicknames include "The Square Mile" (for its financial district) and "The Great Wen," a disparaging term from the 1820s. It's also called "The Metropolis" and, due to Russian oligarchs, "Londongrad" or "Moscow on the Thames".
Five major cities in the UK include London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, representing a mix of England's largest hubs and Scotland's key cities, known for population, culture, and economic significance. Other prominent cities are Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, and Cardiff.
List Things The UK Is Famous For. The United Kingdom is one of the world's most sought after tourists destinations. Whether for the iconic hustle and bustle of London, the wild and mysterious Scottish highlands or the charm and romance of Cardiff; there's lots to love about the land of the Queen and pubs.
The oldest city in the UK is widely considered to be Colchester, in Essex, recognized as Britain's oldest recorded town and former Roman capital, officially gaining city status in 2022, though with continuous occupation and Roman origins dating back centuries before that. Its claim stems from being the first Roman colony, Camulodunum, mentioned in ancient texts (around 43 AD) and as a significant Iron Age center.
The three biggest cities in England by population are consistently London, Birmingham, and Manchester, though the exact ranking order for Birmingham and Manchester can vary slightly depending on whether you measure the city proper or the wider urban/metro area, with London always being significantly larger.
The first reference that England has to a capital city is Colchester. It is recorded by the Romans as a centre of power and the home of Catus Decianus, the governor of Britannia. As such, Colchester was named the first capital of Roman Britain.
Once well ahead, the West Midlands' economy is now last place behind Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire (Leeds), and South Western Scotland (Glasgow). Extremely unusually, instead of being a wealth-generating hub, the central city of Birmingham has a weaker economy than its surroundings.
