In this section, the narrator explores the peculiarities of how cities are defined in the UK. Unlike other countries where city status is typically determined by population or government structure, Britain has its own unique criteria. The list of officially recognized cities in the UK includes some surprising and seemingly unworthy contenders, while notable places like London, Reading, and Northampton are mysteriously absent. Contrary to popular misconceptions, having a cathedral or a university does not necessarily confer city status. Instead, city status in Britain is granted by the monarch through personal command and letters patent. This tradition dates back to the 10th century and is the sole determinant of whether a place is officially classified as a city. The misconception that cathedrals play a role in city status stems from the historical significance of powerful church centers in small settlements. However, in the 19th century, as towns grew due to the Industrial Revolution, the rules were changed, and places like Birmingham gained city status based on their industrial importance rather than religious institutions. Overall, the criteria for city status in Britain are distinct and can be attributed solely to the monarch’s decision. 00:05:00 In this section, the narrator discusses the inconsistencies in the list of British cities and how some cities have lost their city status. The merging of Rochester with its neighbors in 1998 inadvertently removed it from the official list of British cities. However, the opportunity to regain city status came in 2000 when the government allowed towns to bid for it. Many towns submitted bids, with Reading being the favorite to win. Ultimately, three new cities were added to the list: Brighton, Hove, and Inverness. The narrator questions the advantages of being a city instead of a town, as the benefits seem minimal. The bidding process seems to benefit the government in terms of positive PR without requiring much commitment. 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker questions the government’s authority to change the definition of a city and suggests that perhaps it’s time to abandon this system altogether and replace it with something more meaningful. However, the speaker recognizes that the government has more pressing matters to address and doubts that redefining the definition of a city will be a priority. The speaker concludes that this tradition, filled with pomp, ceremony, and a bit of royalty, is a quintessentially British thing that adds to the country’s charm, and it’s unlikely to change anytime soon. The speaker humorously predicts that at the current rate, every corner of the country will become a city by the year 3000.

I was on board with switching to a system that made sense, but their argument won me over. It’s very british and it would never happen in a boring country like Germany!

I just saw this video. I love the Map Men series.

Poor Northampton. One little treasonous insurrection nearly 400 years ago and now it’ll never be a city 😔✊