City Map Compare/Houston vs London
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5 km
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Houston

1,725 km²

London

1,572 km²

Houston vs London - City Size Comparison

Houston vs London - City Size Comparison

Houston

United States

Area1,725 km²
Population2.30M
Density1,333 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1836
London

UK

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

Area Comparison

Houston is 1.1x larger than London

Population Comparison

Houston has 3.9x fewer people than London

Is Houston Bigger Than London?

Yes — Houston is 1.1x larger than London by area. Houston spans 1,725 km² (666 mi²) while London covers 1,572 km² (607 mi²) — a difference of 153 km².

To put Houston's size in perspective, its area of 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).

In more relatable units, Houston's 1,725 km² is about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 times the area of Paris. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.

About Houston

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.

Known as "Space City", Houston covers 1,725 km² with a population of 2.3 million. The city was established in 1836. Houston is known for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, among other attractions.

Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.

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.

Nicknamed "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. The city dates back to 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

Houston has a population density of 1,333 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. London is dramatically more crowded, with 4.3x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

London is 4.3x more densely populated

History

London is ~1,793 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Houston

Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 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 Houston bigger than London?
Houston is 1.1 times larger than London by area. Houston covers 1,725 km² while London spans 1,572 km², a difference of 153 km².
How many times does London fit inside Houston?
London (1,572 km²) fits inside Houston (1,725 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Houston is 1.1x the area of London.
What is the population difference between Houston and London?
London has approximately 9.0 million people, while Houston has about 2.3 million. London has 6.7 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Houston or London?
London is more densely populated with 5,712 people per km², compared to 1,333 people per km².
Which city is older, Houston or London?
London is older, founded around 43, while Houston was established around 1836 — a difference of about 1793 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 Houston and London

The straight-line distance from Houston to London is 7,803 km (4,849 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 41m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.

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