chrisb84uk;445819 wrote: I just heard someone say that outside London, that Manchester is the second largest city in the UK. I always thought it was Birmingham!?

Manchesters population is just under 400,000 while Birminghams is just under 1,000,000.
Manchester as the second city seems to be an idea pushed by Manchester City Council.
Historically, it's always been Birmingham, but I suppose it depends what their claim is based on