In Wales, as in England and Northern Ireland, a town is any settlement which has received a charter of incorporation, more commonly known as a town charter, approved by the monarch. Fifty-five boroughs in Wales were given parliamentary representation in 1536, but the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 recognised only 20 Welsh boroughs. Subsequent urban growth led to the designation of other places as boroughs, including Wrexham, Rhondda, Barry and Merthyr Tydfil, but many other settlements were only granted the status of urban district. The Local Government Act 1972 allows civil parishes in England and Wales to resolve themselves to be town councils.
Cities listed are annotated as "(city)". Until the 16th century, a town was recognised as a city if it had a diocesan cathedral within its limits. The city of St Davids, with a population of about 2,000, received its city status in this way. St Asaph acquired city status in 2012 as part of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
A
Aberaeron Aberavon Aberbargoed Abercarn Aberdare Abergavenny Abergele Abersychan Abertillery Aberystwyth Amlwch Ammanford
B
Bala Bangor (city) Bargoed Barmouth Barry Beaumaris Bedwas Bethesda Blaenau Ffestiniog Blaenavon Blackwood Blaina Brecon Bridgend Briton Ferry Brynmawr Buckley Builth Wells Burry Port
C
Caerleon Caernarfon Caerphilly Caerwys Caldicot Cardiff (city) Cardigan Carmarthen Chepstow Chirk Colwyn Bay Connah's Quay Conwy Corwen Cowbridge Criccieth Crickhowell Crumlin Cwmbran
D
Deganwy Denbigh Dolgellau
E
Ebbw Vale
F
Ferndale Fishguard Flint
G
Gelligaer Glynneath Goodwick Gorseinon
H
Harlech Haverfordwest Hay-on-Wye Holyhead Holywell
K
Kidwelly Knighton
L
Lampeter Laugharne Llandeilo Llandovery Llandrindod Wells Llandudno Llandudno Junction Llandysul Llanelli Llanfair Caereinion Llanfairfechan Llanfyllin Llangefni Llangollen Llanidloes Llanrwst Llantrisant Llantwit Major Llanwrtyd Wells Llanybydder Loughor
M
Machynlleth Maesteg Menai Bridge Merthyr Tydfil Milford Haven Mold Monmouth Montgomery Mountain Ash
N
Narberth Neath Nefyn Newbridge Newcastle Emlyn Newport (city) Newport, Pembrokeshire New Quay Newtown New Tredegar Neyland
O
Overton-on-Dee
P
Pembroke Pembroke Dock Penarth Pencoed Penmaenmawr Penrhyn Bay Penrhyndeudraeth Pontardawe Pontarddulais Pontyclun Pontypool Pontypridd Port Talbot Porth Porthcawl Porthmadog Prestatyn Presteigne Pwllheli
Q
Queensferry
R
Rhayader Rhuddlan Rhyl Rhymney Risca Ruthin
S
St Asaph (city) St Clears St David's (city) Saltney Shotton Swansea (city)
T
Talbot Green Talgarth Tenby Tonypandy Tredegar Tregaron Treharris Treorchy Tywyn
U
Usk
W
Welshpool Whitland Wrexham (city)
Y
Ystradgynlais Ystrad Mynach
See also List of cities in Wales List of built-up areas in Wales by population Welsh place names in other countries List of standardised Welsh place-names
Notes