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UK
USA
Area Comparison
London is 13.0x larger than San Francisco
Population Comparison
London has 10.3x more people than San Francisco
London is significantly larger, covering 13.0 times the area of San Francisco. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 1,451 km². You could fit San Francisco inside London approximately 12 times.
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, San Francisco at 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper).
Capital of England and the United Kingdom. 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 of London, Buckingham Palace, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the London Underground.
London was the first city to have an underground railway, opening in 1863
A cultural and financial center in Northern California. Also known as "SF", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.
San Francisco's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater San Francisco at 6,984 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 4.7 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though San Francisco is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — London in Europe versus San Francisco in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
London has a oceanic climate while San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in London, it's 4:00 AM in San Francisco — a 8-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
San Francisco fits inside London ~12 times
Time Difference
8 hours apart
History
London is ~1,733 years older
The straight-line distance from London to San Francisco is 8,616 km (5,354 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 38m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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