Quick facts
London overview
London (orange) and the other large cities of United Kingdom
London lies in England in United Kingdom at 51.51°N, 0.13°W, about 25 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/London (UTC+1); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of United Kingdom: the next largest cities are Birmingham (1,157,603), Glasgow (626,410), Manchester (568,996). Together, the three largest cities hold 15.3% of the national population.
The nearest large city is City of Westminster, about 1 km away, followed by Islington (3 km).
United Kingdom as a whole has a live population of 70,040,452 (+0.5% a year) and ranks #22 of 238 countries — see the United Kingdom population page for the full statistics and the United Kingdom atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near London
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| City of Westminster England | 1 km | 247,614 |
| Islington England | 3 km | 319,143 |
| Archway England | 7 km | 215,667 |
| Tottenham England | 11 km | 130,000 |
| Walthamstow England | 12 km | 109,424 |
| Croydon England | 14 km | 173,314 |
| Barking England | 15 km | 218,534 |
| Ilford England | 15 km | 168,168 |
Largest cities in United Kingdom
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LondonCapital | England | 8,961,989 |
| 2 | Birmingham | England | 1,157,603 |
| 3 | Glasgow | Scotland | 626,410 |
| 4 | Manchester | England | 568,996 |
| 5 | Sheffield | England | 556,500 |
| 6 | Leeds | England | 536,280 |
| 7 | Edinburgh | Scotland | 514,990 |
| 8 | Liverpool | England | 496,770 |
| 9 | Bristol | England | 479,024 |
| 10 | Cardiff | Wales | 372,089 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of London?
London has about 8,961,989 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is London the capital of United Kingdom?
Yes — London is the national capital of United Kingdom.
How big is London compared with the rest of United Kingdom?
Its 8,961,989 residents are 12.8% of the 70,040,452 people living in United Kingdom today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is London?
In England, United Kingdom, at latitude 51.51 and longitude -0.13, 25 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include City of Westminster (1 km), Islington (3 km), Archway (7 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). London Population 2026 — United Kingdom. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/united-kingdom/london/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/united-kingdom/london/">London Population 2026 — United Kingdom</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.