Research and analysis

Future of cities: investing in city regions - London and the UK system of cities

Essay examining how London interacts with the UK system of cities and the implications of this relationship.

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Investing in city regions: How does London interact with the UK system of cities and what are the implications of this relationship?

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This paper examines the way UK cities affect each other through the economic and other links between them. It focuses particularly on the role London, as the country’s only ‘world city’, plays in the UK system of cities. It considers:

  • how many UK cities could grow to ‘world city’ status
  • the economic links between UK cities and whether stronger UK supply chains are needed
  • the levers that could support a more productive urban economic network (eg transport and communications infrastructure)

This essay was commissioned as part of the Foresight future of cities project.

Published 20 October 2014
Last updated 30 January 2015 + show all updates
  1. Section on internet infrastructure updated with latest OECD information.

  2. First published.