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What is the difference between a city and a town?

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johnk | 12:23 Mon 13th Sep 2010 | Phrases & Sayings
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What is the difference between a city and a town? Some towns seem to be bigger than some cities!!
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Avatar Image squarebear
It used to be a city had to have a cathedral. Not sure if this is still the case.
12:24 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image GetOverIt
A Royal Charter is the manner in which a British town is raised to the rank of city
12:27 Mon 13th Sep 2010
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Avatar Image B00
Dunno, but Mr Boo and I had a heated 10 minutes arguing whether Blackpool was a city or a town the other day. Wiki came to my rescue and he's now sleeping in the shed :-)
12:28 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image ChuckFickens
The traditional definition is a city has a cathedral, but the Queen can also bestow city status on any town regardless of there being a cathedral in it or not.
12:29 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image johnk
Question Author
Thanks everyone, looks like there are 2 definitions.
12:31 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image Maggoty
A town can have a cathedral (we have one) - but we still don't have city status so not all with cathedrals are cities

x
15:41 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image ABerrant
http://en.wikipedia.o...in_the_United_Kingdom
15:45 Mon 13th Sep 2010
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Avatar Image Count-A-Strong
Ely is a city (because it has a cathedral)
15:58 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image ABerrant
Ely was for a long time informally considered to be a "city" by virtue of being the seat of a diocese. In 1974 the status was confirmed by Royal charter and is the third smallest city in England after Wells in Somerset and the City of London.

http://en.wikipedia.o...i/Ely,_Cambridgeshire
15:59 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image ABerrant
Towns can have cathedrals also.
16:00 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image mollykins
Or they can be upgraded if a university is built there (I think).
16:40 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image boxtops
It certainly used to be the cathedral which identified it, but Brighton & Hove is a city now, and they don't have one. Seems arbitrary now - are there benefits associated with having city status?
16:42 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image bednobs
i don't think there are ANY cities in my county
16:44 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image mollykins
I don't think there are any cities in my county, do you live in Suffolk too bednobs?
16:45 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image bednobs
no, berkshire
18:50 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image sara3
I'm in Ye Olde City of St Albans
18:52 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image marval
I live in Milton Keynes, all the signs say the city of Milton Keynes, but is isn't one.
18:55 Mon 13th Sep 2010
Avatar Image Old_Geezer
I think you just need firends in high places.
Usually the criteria to get something you want.
18:57 Mon 13th Sep 2010

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