Boasting a bigger population than some UK towns and even cities, one village still remains without official town status, despite its Gothic Chapel and train station
The village is yet to gain its title as a town(Image: Getty Images)
A picturesque village that has been deemed the ‘largest in the UK’ is so big that people think it’s a town.
Nestled along the Sussex coast is the large village of Lancing, home to around 19,000 residents. Situated between Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea, it’s renowned for its shingle beaches and panoramic sea views.
The village offers a charming, peaceful life alongside the Sussex coast, with a close-knit community feel. It’s also perfect for a seaside day out, with coastal paths and along the seafront is its award-winning café, The Perch, which offers brunch, burgers, an ultimate sharing roast, and homemade desserts
It has its own train station, hotels near the beach, a Mermaid School, and impressively, the largest school chapel in the world at the Lancing College Chapel. Lancing also boasts the rare Widewater Lagoon, the tranquil Sensory Garden, and even its Premier League training grounds.
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With a population of around 19,000, Lancing is known as the ‘largest village in the UK’, with claims that it could be the biggest in Europe. Yet, it fails to gain recognition as a town, even though it’s larger than established towns across England, and even some cities!
The town of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire has a population of around 5,000, while the city of Wells in Somerset has an estimated 12,000 residents, give or take. However, it’s believed that the residents of Lancing are quite proud to have their status as the ‘UK’s largest village’.
James Brown, director at Robert Luff and Co estate agents, previously told Sussex Live: “I think a lot of people are surprised it isn’t a town. Although we are quite glad it maintains its village status, as it helps us, and people living here like having that title. But it is likely that it will become a town with new developments taking place, and if or when this happens, it could attract more businesses to the area.
“Lancing is especially popular with people moving out of Brighton & Hove who are looking to move somewhere a bit cheaper than Shoreham, so it becomes an obvious choice.”
Yet, the boundary between a village and a town is not as clear as you may think. While we might assume the UK would have established a firm definition by now, neither the National Planning Policy Framework nor the national planning practice guidance offers one.
“Instead, we’re left with a delightful mix of historical interpretations, local authority classifications, and the occasional dictionary reference,” noted planning organisation Land Tech.
The House of Commons Library’s research briefing City and Town Classification of Constituencies and Local Authorities (2018), sought to clarify the various classifications with the following population guides:
- Villages and small communities: Under 7,500 residents
- Small towns: 7,500 to 24,999 residents
- Medium towns: 25,000 to 59,999 residents
- Large towns: 60,000 to 174,999 residents
- Cities: 175,000+ residents
However, this isn’t a rigid system, as numerous cities have minuscule populations, including the famously compact St Davids in Wales. The progression from town to city is equally uncontroversial.
Despite its village status, Lancing still attracts visitors for a day out at its famed beach. One shared on TripAdvisor: “Great beach, very clean and tidy. Great for families and winter walks. Great views and very clean. Lovely beach huts to see as well.”
Another added: “A really good beach with plenty of facilities around for eating, exercising and for kids too. Great for dog walking. Good sea views.”
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