Settlements are given distinct names according to size, with isolated dwellings giving way to hamlets, then villages, growing to towns, cities and then finally conurbations (regions).
In terms of settlements, hamlets are the smallest.
Next up in size is a village, bigger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. Villages usually have a small population and are centred around a hub such as a church or community space.
A town is more densely populated still, with more centralised services and infrastructure than a village.
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What’s the difference between a village and a town?
A bit like the differentiation between towns and cities, the difference between villages and towns has evolved over time and there’s no formal definition.
Historically, a town needed a market in order to be defined as a town – but these days a town is generally defined by a mix of legal status, population size and historical significance.
How big are towns?
Towns vary in size, with Reading in Berkshire clocking in at the largest town in the UK. It has a population of 174,200, according to the 2021 census. The smallest town in the UK is believed to be Fordwich in Kent, a market town with a population of around 400 people. Despite its diminutive population size, Fordwich is considered to be a town rather than a village because of its town council.
Top image: Lower Slaughter village in the Cotswolds (credit: Getty Images)
