Direct answer: The United Kingdom officially has 76 cities.

Context and nuance:

• Definitions vary between “cities” and “towns.” In the UK, a city is typically a settlement with a royal charter or other formal recognition, while towns are smaller urban areas without city status. Different sources count only cities (officially designated) or mix towns and cities, which can yield different totals.

• The commonly cited official count of cities by constituent country is England 55, Northern Ireland 6, Wales 7, Scotland 8, totaling 76. This breakdown is frequently used in travel and governance references.

If you’d like, I can also:

• List the 76 cities by country (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).
• Explain how city status is conferred in the UK and how that differs from counting towns.
• Provide a current, cited source directly next to each city name for quick verification.