London
1,572 km²
Moscow
2,511 km²
UK
Russia
Area Comparison
London is 1.6x smaller than Moscow
Population Comparison
London has 1.4x fewer people than Moscow
Moscow is significantly larger, covering 1.6 times the area of London. Moscow spans 2,511 km² (970 mi²) while London covers 1,572 km² (607 mi²) — a difference of 939 km².
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Moscow at 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.
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. For Moscow, that's about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 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.
Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2).
Often called "Third Rome", Moscow has an area of 2,511 km² and is home to 12.5 million people. The city dates back to 1147. Visitors come for Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Moscow Metro.
Moscow's metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest metropolitan footprints in Europe.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Moscow at 5,891 km². The Moscow metro area is also more populous, with 17.1 million people compared to 14.3 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. Moscow, with 4,994 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though London is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. London (UK) and Moscow (Russia) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
London has a oceanic climate while Moscow experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Moscow, it's 9:00 AM in London — a 3-hour time difference.
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
London is ~1,104 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).
Moscow covers 2,511 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Cape Town (2,455 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Cairo (3,085 km²).
The straight-line distance from London to Moscow is 2,501 km (1,554 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 27m.
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