When is a city not a city?

Generally speaking a city is thought to be a large town possibly with a university or Cathedral. The actual definition is a little different and defined by the Department for Constitutional Affairs (part of the British Government):

"City status is a rare mark of distinction granted by the Sovereign and conferred by Letters Patent. It is granted by personal Command of The Queen, on the advice of Her Ministers. It is for Her Majesty The Queen to decide when a competition for city status should be held. Competitions are usually held on occasions such as important Royal anniversaries."

Hence Hampshire has 3 cities and they are:-

Portsmouth - approximate population of 186,000.
Southampton - approximate population of 220,000.
Winchester - approximate population of 108,000.

These 3 cities accommodate almost 1/3 of the Hampshire population.

The following is a list of towns - large and small within the county.

A	Aldershot, Alresford, Alton, Ampfield, Andover
B	Barton Stacey, Barton-on-Sea, Basingstoke, Baughurst, Beaulieu, Beauworth, Bentley, Bentworth, Bishops Waltham, Bordon, Botley, Bramdean, Bramshill, Bransgore, Brockenhurst, Broughton, Buriton, Burlesdon, Burley
C	Cadnam, Chalton, Chandler's Ford, Charter Alley, Chawton, Cheriton, Copythorne, Countywide, Crawley, Crondall
D	Damerham, Denmead, Dibden, Dogmersfield, Downton, Dummer, Dunbridge
E	East End, East Stratton, East Tytherley, East Wellow, Eastleigh, Easton, Emsworth, Eversley
F	Faccombe, Fair Oak, Fareham, Farnborough, Farnham, Fleet, Fordingbridge, Fritham, Froxfield
G	Gosport
H	Hamble, Hambledon, Hartley Wintney, Havant, Hawkley, Hayling Island, Heckfield, Highfield, Holybourne, Hook, Horndean, Horsebridge
I	Ibsley, Itchen Abbas
K	Kingsclere, Kingsley
L	Langstone, Leckford, Lee-on-the-Solent, Linwood, Liphook, Liss, Longparish, Lymington, Lyndhurst
M	Mapledurwell, Mattingley, Meonstoke, Micheldever, Milford on Sea, Minstead
N	New Alresford, New Milton, North Waltham
O	Odiham, Old Basing, Otterbourne, Overton, Ovington, Ower, Owslebury, Owslesbury
P	Petersfield, Pilley, Plaitford, Portchester, Portsmouth, Preston Candover
R	Ringwood, Romsey, Rotherwick, Rowlands Castle
S	Salisbury, Setley, Shawford, Shedfield, Soberton, Sopley, Southampton, Southsea, Southwick, Sparsholt, St Mary Bourne, Stockbridge, Stoney Cross, Stuckton, Sway
T	Tadley, Tangley, Tichbourne, Tidworth, Titchfield, Totton, Twyford
U	Upper Froyle, Upton Grey
W	Warsash, Waterlooville, Well, Wherwell, Whitchurch, Whitsbury, Wickham, Winchester, Winchfield, Wolverton, Woodfalls, Woodlands
Y	Yateley