How Big Is London?
UK · Europe
Area
1,572 km²
607 mi²
Population
9.0M
Metro: 14.3M
Density
5,712/km²
Founded
43
London Size Overview
London covers an area of 1,572 km² (607 mi²) in UK, Europe. Capital of England and the United Kingdom. The city is often called "The Big Smoke". To put this in perspective, London is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). In more relatable units, that's about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.
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.
With a population of 9.0 million (14.3 million in the metropolitan area), London has a population density of 5,712 people per km². The greater London metropolitan area extends to 8,382 km².
London has a history stretching back to 43. The city is renowned for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and London Underground.
London has a oceanic climate, with summer temperatures averaging 19°C and winters around 5°C. The city's main public transit system is the London Underground.
Did You Know?
- London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
- Greater London hit 9.1 million residents in 2024, while its wider metro area is Western Europe's largest at 15.1 million.
- The city sits at the head of an 80-km tidal estuary on the Thames that opens out to the North Sea.
Compare London with Other Cities
London vs Paris
105 km² · France
London vs New York
783 km² · USA
London vs Tokyo
2,194 km² · Japan
London vs Shanghai
6,341 km² · China
London vs Houston
1,725 km² · United States
Compare London with any city using our interactive map tool.
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).