The UK's 20 largest cities have been placed in a new league table, with Birmingham securing a mid-table position despite its size. The ranking, compiled and published by The Telegraph on 19th January 2026, places the West Midlands metropolis in eighth place overall.
Liverpool Tops the List as Birmingham Lags
While Birmingham is Britain's second biggest city by population, it failed to crack the top five in the newspaper's assessment. The coveted number one position was claimed by Liverpool, which was praised ahead of other major hubs. It was followed in the rankings by Edinburgh in second, Belfast in third, and the capital, London, taking fourth place.
What The Telegraph Said About Birmingham
In its review, the publication acknowledged recent boosts to Birmingham's profile. It noted that hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games and featuring prominently in the hit television series Peaky Blinders (2013-2022) provided a much-needed fillip for the "long-overlooked second city."
The report stated that residents, known as Brummies, had a period of renewed pride, showcasing developments like the iconic Selfridges building, the new library, and the Ozzy the Bull sculpture. However, it questioned whether the city's momentum has been sustained.
The newspaper pointed to the recent heavy metal concert at Villa Park, which was Ozzy Osbourne's last ever gig, as causing "a bit of a stir." Yet, the analysis argued that Birmingham requires "constant and far more ambitious cultural self-assertion" if it wishes to remain in the serious limelight.
A Historical Comparison
The Telegraph's review also drew a historical comparison, suggesting that Birmingham's legacy as the "workshop of the world" and an industrial hub of "a thousand trades" has struggled to capture the public imagination in the same way as Manchester's Cottonopolis or Liverpool's maritime era. This final point was one the original local reporting explicitly stated it did not agree with.
The full report, which details the criteria and rankings for all 20 cities, remains available for readers seeking a complete picture of how urban centres across the United Kingdom currently measure up.
