Brighton and Hove built-up area

This conurbation is also the UK's most densely populated major conurbation outside London with 5,304 inhabitants per square kilometre (13,740/sq mi). This is due to its tight boundaries between the South Downs national park to the north, and the English Channel to the south together with less land devoted to domestic gardens in English seaside towns than in inland towns.

It is a multi-centred conurbation and the eastern part, the city of Brighton and Hove, has approximately half of its population.

Places in the conurbation

The total distance in a straight line from the western edge of Littlehampton to the eastern edge of Saltdean is between 23 and 24 miles (37 and 39 km). Along the shore or by road, it is slightly further.

The conurbation's population is made up of the following settlements as defined by the Office for National Statistics:

Notes:

• Hove and Brighton were separate subdivisions for the 2001 census but are combined in one Brighton and Hove subdivision for the 2011 census.
• In the 2011 census the Shoreham subdivision includes Sompting and Lancing.
• Findon was not included as part of the Brighton and Hove built-up area for the 2011 census.
• Saltdean and Rottingdean were not included as part of the Brighton and Hove built-up area for the 2011 census and instead form a built-up area called Saltdean/Woodingdean with a population of 22,729.
• In the 2001 census the Littlehampton subdivision included Angmering and Ferring. In the 2011 census the Littlehampton subdivision still includes Angmering but Ferring is part of the Worthing subdivision.

There are some small gaps that help maintain distinct identities of places in the conurbation, although in places the settlements coalesce:

• Goring Gap between Ferring and Goring/Worthing
• Sompting Gap between Worthing and Sompting
• Brooklands Park between Worthing and Lancing
• Lancing Gap between Lancing and Shoreham