City status in the United Kingdom

City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The status does not apply automatically on the basis of any particular criteria, although it was traditionally given to towns with diocesan cathedrals. This association between having a cathedral and being called a city was established in the early 1540s when Henry VIII founded dioceses (and therefore cathedrals) in six English towns and also granted them all city status by issuing Letters Patent. City status is conferred by Letters Patent (an "open letter" and not by a royal charter) but there are some British cities which predate the historical monarchy and have been regarded as cities since "time immemorial". City status brings no special benefits, other than the right to be called a city.

Related Topics:
City status in the United Kingdom - British monarch - Diocesan cathedrals - City - Time immemorial

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Some people have disputed the official definition, especially inhabitants of places that have been considered cities in the past but are not generally considered cities today. Additionally, although the Crown clearly has the right to bestow 'official' city status, some have doubted the right of the Crown to define the word "city" in the United Kingdom. In informal usage, "city" can be used for large towns or conurbations that are not formally cities. The best-known example of this is London, which contains two cities (the City of London and the City of Westminster) but is not itself a city.

Related Topics:
London - City of London - City of Westminster

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There are currently sixty-six officially designated cities in the UK, of which eight have been created since 2000 in competitions to celebrate the new millennium and Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. The designation is highly sought after, with over forty communities submitting bids at recent competitions.

Related Topics:
2000 - Millennium - Elizabeth II - Golden Jubilee

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