A city does not automatically have a Lord Mayor or Lord Provost in Scotland . There are 66 cities in the UK but only 30 Lord Mayors . There are currently 66 recognized cities ( including 30 Lord Mayoralties or Lord Provostships ) in the UK : 50 cities ( 23 Lord Mayoralties ) in England , five cities ( two Lord Mayoralties ) in Wales , six cities ( four Lord Provostships ) in Scotland and five cities ( one Lord Mayoralty ) in Northern Ireland .