According to the latest figures, what are the three largest cities in the British Isles, after London. Using England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

While London's scale is unmatched, the race for the next largest urban centres highlights some of the UK's great industrial powerhouses. England's historic "second city", Birmingham, leads the pack with a population of over one million people within its official city boundaries. Following it are two northern giants, Glasgow in Scotland and Leeds in England. These two cities are remarkably close in size, each with a population hovering around the 700,000 mark.

Measuring city size can be surprisingly complex, as the answer often depends on whether you count the administrative city proper or the wider metropolitan area. These figures are based on the core city populations, which explains why a sprawling region like Greater Manchester isn't on the list, despite its immense overall population. The inclusion of the entire British Isles also adds an interesting layer; while the Dublin metropolitan area in Ireland is huge, its core city population places it just outside of this top three, making this a list of the largest UK cities after the capital.

Each of these cities was a titan of the Industrial Revolution, and that heritage still defines them. Birmingham was the "Workshop of the World," a global hub for manufacturing and invention. Glasgow was the "Second City of the Empire," renowned for its shipbuilding and heavy engineering. Leeds, meanwhile, grew into a major centre for the wool and textile industries. While their economies have since diversified, this powerful industrial past has left a lasting mark on their culture and character.