This is a list of cities in Wales. There are currently six (seven from later in 2022) cities in Wales, St Asaph was formally awarded the status in 2012, with the most recent city announced to be Wrexham on 20 May 2022, with the status awarded formally later in the year as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours.
Name in English | Name in Welsh | Principal area
(Welsh name) |
Year granted
or confirmed |
Cathedral | Image | Population[1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardiff | Caerdydd | City and County of Cardiff (Dinas a Sir Caerdydd) |
1905[2] | Llandaf Cathedral |
![]() Cardiff castle |
362,750 |
Swansea | Abertawe | City and County of Swansea (Dinas a Sir Abertawe) |
1969[3] | St Joseph's Cathedral |
![]() Aberavon Beach & Swansea Bay |
245,480 |
Newport | Casnewydd | Newport (Casnewydd) |
2002[4] | ![]() Newport Cathedral (St Woolos Cathedral) |
![]() Celtic Manor Resort |
151,500 |
Bangor | Bangor | Gwynedd | 1974[5] | ![]() Bangor Cathedral |
![]() A view of the city from Port Penrhyn |
18,000 |
St Asaph | Llanelwy | Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych) |
2012[6] | ![]() St Asaph Cathedral |
![]() Kentigern Arms |
3,500 |
St Davids | Tyddewi | Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro) |
1994[7] | ![]() St Davids Cathedral |
![]() Porth Brâg |
1,840 |
Announced but set to be awarded
Name in English | Name in Welsh | Principal area
(Welsh name) |
Year announced | Cathedral | Image | Population[8] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wrexham | Wrecsam | Wrexham County Borough (Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam) |
Announced on 20 May 2022;[9] awarded formally later in 2022 | ![]() Wrexham Cathedral |
![]() |
65,692 |
City bids
Since 2000, Welsh towns have competed in a contest to be awarded city status, as part of civic honours in notable celebrations, like the Millennium celebrations or the Jubilee of the reigning monarch. In the 2000 contest, no Welsh bid was successful.[10][11]
- Aberystwyth — 2000 (lost);[10] 2002 (lost)[4][12][13]
- Machynlleth — 2000 (lost);[10] 2002 (lost)[4][12][13]
- Merthyr Tydfil — Proposed for 2022, subsequently withdrawn
- Newport — 2000 (lost);[10][11] 2002 (won)[4][12][13]
- Newtown — 2000 (lost);[10] 2002 (lost)[4][12][13]
- St Asaph — 2000 (lost);[10] 2002 (lost);[4][12][13] 2012 (won)[6]
- Wrexham — 2000 (lost);[10][11] 2002 (lost);[4][12][13] 2012 (lost);[6] 2022[14][15][16] (won)
References
- ^ "Welsh cities". Wales. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "1905: Cardiff becomes a city". BBC. 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "Swansea celebrates 50 years of city status". BBC News. 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Newport wins battle for city status". BBC NEWS.
- ^ "Bangor City Council - Cyngor Dinas Bangor - History". bangorcitycouncil.gov.wales. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ a b c "St Asaph in north Wales named Diamond Jubilee city". BBC News. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "National Archives reveal St Davids city status row". BBC News. 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "Welsh cities". Wales. 2019-06-19. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "Platinum Jubilee: Eight new cities created in Queen's honour". BBC News. 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g "MILLENNIUM CITY STATUS COMPETITION - WINNING CITIES ANNOUNCED". www.wired-gov.net. Home Office. 18 December 2000. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ a b c Leader (2000-12-19). "The three Millennium cities". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ a b c d e f "Newport wins battle for city status". 2002-03-14. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ a b c d e f "Five new cities creates row". 2002-03-14. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "Wrexham to make fourth city status bid despite opposition". BBC News. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "City status 2022 | Wrexham County Borough Council". www.wrexham.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "Wrexham in bid to gain city status". The Leader. Retrieved 2022-03-28.