City Map Compare/Brussels vs London
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Brussels

161 km²

London

1,572 km²

Brussels vs London - City Size Comparison

Brussels vs London - City Size Comparison

Brussels

Belgium

Area161 km²
Population1.26M
Density7,826 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1989
London

UK

Area1,572 km²
Population8.98M
Density5,712 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.14.3M
Founded43
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Brussels is 9.8x smaller than London

Population Comparison

Brussels has 7.1x fewer people than London

Is Brussels Bigger Than London?

In terms of area, London is 9.8x the size of Brussels. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Brussels covers 161 km² (62 mi²) — a difference of 1,411 km². You could fit Brussels inside London approximately 9 times.

To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).

In more relatable units, Brussels's 161 km² is about 23,000 American football fields, 80 times the area of Monaco, or 47 times the area of Central Park. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.

About Brussels

Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country. It is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, and is separate from the Flemish Region (Flanders), within which it forms an enclave, and the Walloon Region (Wallonia), located less than 4 km (2.5 mi) south.

Known as "Capital of Europe", Brussels covers 161 km² with a population of 1.3 million. The city was established in 1989. Brussels is known for Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, among other attractions.

The Brussels-Capital Region comprises 19 municipalities and forms an enclave entirely within the Flemish Region.

About London

London is the capital and largest city of 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. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.

Also known as "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. It was established in 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.

London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.

Population Density

Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Brussels is slightly more compact.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Brussels fits inside London ~9 times

Density Gap

Brussels is 1.4x more densely populated

History

London is ~1,946 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Brussels

Brussels covers 161 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Minneapolis (149 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), Miami (143 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to London

London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brussels actually bigger than London?
London is 9.8 times larger than Brussels by area. London covers 1,572 km² while Brussels spans 161 km², a difference of 1,411 km².
How many times does Brussels fit inside London?
Brussels (161 km²) fits inside London (1,572 km²) approximately 9 times. That means London is 9.8x the area of Brussels.
What is the population difference between Brussels and London?
London has approximately 9.0 million people, while Brussels has about 1.3 million. London has 7.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Brussels or London?
Brussels is more densely populated with 7,826 people per km², compared to 5,712 people per km².
Which city is older, Brussels or London?
London is older, founded around 43, while Brussels was established around 1989 — a difference of about 1946 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Brussels and London

The straight-line distance from Brussels to London is 321 km (199 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~53m.

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