Rochester was a city until losing its status as one in 1998 following the forming of Medway and failing to protect its status as a city, the first city to do so in the history of the United Kingdom.
Rochester is a town and former city in Kent, England. It is located at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway about 30 miles (48 km) from London.
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to some communities. There are 70 cities in the United Kingdom (see list below) – 56 in England, six in Wales, seven in Scotland and five in Northern Ireland. Becoming a city is not automatic.
City status in the UK can be associated with having a cathedral or a university, a particular form of local government, or having a large population. Although any of these might be used to justify the popular use of the term 'city', in formal terms UK city status is granted by the monarch, on the advice of ministers.
Rochester was a city until losing its status as one in 1998 following the forming of Medway and failing to protect its status as a city, the first city to do so in the history of the United Kingdom.
A town becomes a city by receiving a royal charter, a formal document issued by the monarch. There's no strict criteria for city status; it's often granted as part of significant events like royal jubilees or major anniversaries.
A planned city created to thrive during Her Majesty's reign. Always intended to be a city, Milton Keynes represents the pinnacle of the post-war planning movement rebuilding the nation and accommodating its growing population.
If you spend more than 5 years in a row outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (4 years if you're a Swiss citizen or their family member) you'll lose your settled status. You'll usually need to apply for a visa to live and work in the UK.
The Roman town of Rochester was Durobrivae, meaning 'the fort at the bridges'. This name occurs only in the dative or ablative - Durobrivis - in the Second, third and fourth Iter of the Antonine Itinerary, 25-7 miles from Canterbury on the Roman road. This places the name reasonably at Rochester.
Medway is a Unitary authority at the mouth of the River Medway in the ceremonial county of Kent in the UK. Medway is made up of the towns or Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Rochester and Strood.
Colchester is said to be the oldest recorded town in Britain on the grounds that it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder, who died in AD 79, although the Celtic name of the town, Camulodunon appears on coins minted by tribal chieftain Tasciovanus in the period 20–10 BC.
Wharram Percy is one of the largest and best preserved of Britain's 3,000 or so known deserted medieval villages. It is also undoubtedly the most famous. For over 60 years, archaeologists have pioneered new techniques here to understand what life was like in the village and why it was eventually deserted.
Britain's oldest recorded town has officially become the UK's newest city. The former Roman settlement of Colchester was named one of eight towns to be made cities to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
UK cities without cathedrals include: Bath, Cambridge, Hull, Lancaster, Newport, Nottingham, Plymouth, Salford, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton. UK towns (and one village) with cathedrals that aren't cities include: Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Blackburn, Guildford and Southwell.
On 15 August 2022, the Crown Office announced formally that Queen Elizabeth II had ordained by letters patent that the Borough of Milton Keynes has been given city status.
Is Cambridge a city or a town? Cambridge is the county town of Cambridgeshire and was granted city status in 1951. Despite not having a cathedral, Cambridge was made a city due to its rich history and contribution to the UK economy.
St Davids is the United Kingdom's smallest city by population (number of residents within the wider community was 1,751 in 2021) and urban area, however it is not the smallest city by local authority boundary area (which is the City of London). St Davids was given city status in the 12th century.
You must have 5 years' continuous residence. If you are applying for the first time, this means you've been in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months in any 12-month period. Check the requirements if you move from pre-settled status to settled status.
A person whose settlement has lapsed and who now wants to return and settle in the UK must apply for entry clearance to return to the UK. Where that application is as a returning resident, it will be assessed by a decision maker under Appendix Returning Resident to the rules.
Generally, visitors can travel to the UK for up to 6 months at any one time. You cannot apply to extend it to permit longer stays unless you are visiting to access medical treatment in which case you can stay up to 11 months and if you are an academic visitor you can stay up to 12 months.
