New York
783 km²
London
1,572 km²
USA
UK
Area Comparison
New York is 2.0x smaller than London
Population Comparison
New York has 1.1x fewer people than London
Yes — London is 2.0x larger than New York by area. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while New York covers 783 km² (302 mi²) — a difference of 789 km². You could fit New York inside London approximately 2 times.
To put New York's size in perspective, its area of 783 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Berlin. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).
Picture New York another way: its area is large enough to fit about 110,000 American football fields, 13 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 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.
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive with its respective county. It is the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the United States by both population and urban area.
Known as "New York City", New York covers 783 km² with a population of 8.3 million. The city was established in 1624. New York is known for Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the NYC Subway.
New York City sits on one of the world's largest natural harbors, which shaped its rise as America's commercial gateway.
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.
Often called "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. Its history stretches 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the New York metropolitan area covers 17,405 km², which is 2.1x larger than greater London at 8,382 km². The New York metro area is also more populous, with 20.1 million people compared to 14.3 million.
New York has a population density of 10,651 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. New York is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — New York in North America versus London in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
New York has a humid subtropical climate while London experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in London, it's 7:00 AM in New York — a 5-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
New York fits inside London ~2 times
Density Gap
New York is 1.9x more densely populated
Time Difference
5 hours apart
History
London is ~1,581 years older
New York covers 783 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hamburg (755 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), Singapore (733 km²), or Santiago (838 km²).
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).
The straight-line distance from New York to London is 5,570 km (3,461 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 3m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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