London
1,572 km²
Zurich
88 km²
UK
Switzerland
Area Comparison
London is 17.9x larger than Zurich
Population Comparison
London has 20.9x more people than Zurich
London is significantly larger, covering 17.9 times the area of Zurich. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 1,484 km². You could fit Zurich inside London approximately 17 times.
To put London's size in perspective, its area of 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
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 Zurich, that's about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2024, the municipality had a population of 436,551, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.
Zurich has an area of 88 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. The city dates back to 15 BC. Visitors come for Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, and much more. Getting around is easy with the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich in north-central Switzerland.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 6.3x larger than greater Zurich at 1,334 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 1.4 million.
London has a population density of 5,712 people per km² — a densely populated city. Zurich, with 4,886 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 Zurich (Switzerland) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Zurich fits inside London ~17 times
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).
Zurich covers 88 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Copenhagen (91 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from London to Zurich is 776 km (482 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 25m.
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