Explore Settlements | Geography for Year 6 PDF Download

What are settlements?

Settlements are locations where people reside and sometimes work. They vary in size based on population and available facilities, which are places designated for specific activities, such as schools for education, parks for recreation, or shops for commerce.

Types of settlements

• Hamlet: A very small settlement with just a few houses.

Blaise Hamlet in England

• Village: A small settlement that may include houses, a primary school, a few shops, a Post Office, and a village hall.
• Town: Larger than a village, featuring many houses, primary and secondary schools, and sometimes a railway station or shopping center.
• City: The largest settlement type, with numerous buildings and a large population. Cities typically have hospitals, sports facilities, universities, shops, offices, many homes, and often a cathedral. In the UK, some smaller settlements are classified as cities due to the presence of a cathedral, such as St Davids in Wales and Wells in England.

Some settlements have specific roles or functions, for example:

• Ports: Located by rivers or seas for shipping goods.
  Felixstowe Port
• Market towns: Where local farmers sell their produce.
• Resorts: Destinations for holidays.

Exploring cities

• Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city after London (the capital), is located in the Midlands region of England. 
• Cities are hubs for trade and economic activity, often characterized by high-rise buildings for workplaces and many residents living in flats.