London
1,572 km²
Melbourne
9,993 km²
UK
Australia
Area Comparison
London is 6.4x smaller than Melbourne
Population Comparison
London has 1.8x more people than Melbourne
Yes — Melbourne is 6.4x larger than London by area. Melbourne spans 9,993 km² (3,858 mi²) while London covers 1,572 km² (607 mi²) — a difference of 8,421 km². You could fit London inside Melbourne approximately 6 times.
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Melbourne at 9,993 km² is about 1.6x the size of Shanghai.
In more relatable units, London's 1,572 km² is about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris. Melbourne, by comparison, equals about 1,400,000 American football fields, 170 times the area of Manhattan, or 95 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.
Known as "The Big Smoke", London covers 1,572 km² with a population of 9.0 million. The city was established in 43. London is known for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second most-populous city in Australia. The city's name generally refers to a 9,993-square-kilometre (3,858 sq mi) area, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local government areas. The name is also used to specifically refer to the local government area named City of Melbourne, whose area is centred on the Melbourne central business district and some immediate surrounds.
Melbourne has an area of 9,993 km² and is home to 5.1 million people. The city dates back to 1835. Visitors come for Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Melbourne Trams & Metro.
Melbourne's metropolitan area spans 9,993 square kilometers across 31 local government areas, making it Australia's second-most-populous city.
Looking beyond city limits, the Melbourne metropolitan area covers 9,993 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater London at 8,382 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 5.1 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. Melbourne, with 508 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. London is dramatically more crowded, with 11.2x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — London in Europe versus Melbourne in Oceania. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Melbourne, it's 2:00 AM in London — a 10-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
London fits inside Melbourne ~6 times
Density Gap
London is 11.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
10 hours apart
History
London is ~1,792 years older
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).
Melbourne covers 9,993 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Xi'an (10,097 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Chengdu (14,378 km²).
The straight-line distance from London to Melbourne is 16,904 km (10,503 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~20h 23m.
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