英国是公认的城市化进程最早的国家,从1760年开始到1851年的90年间,英国城市人口超过了总人口的50%,而当时世界人口中,城市人口只占总人口的6.5%。在工业革命、圈地运动引发英国城市人口快速增长的同时,城市规划与建设却相对滞后,被迫进入城市的农民成为彻底的无产者。工业、商业、居住混杂无序,城市环境普遍恶化。19世纪末、20世纪初,英国城市化率已超过70%。为了应对工业城市的发展要求和日益严重的城市病,规划城市的生长发展被提到了重要位置。1903年,英国在伦敦以北56公里处的郊区,建设历史上第一个田园城市莱彻沃斯(Letchworth), The United Kingdom is recognized as the earliest country in the process of urbanization. From the beginning of 1760 to the 1851-1890, the urban population of the United Kingdom exceeded 50% of the total population. At that time, the urban population accounted for only 6.5% of the total population. While the industrial revolution and enclave movements led to the rapid growth of urban population in the United Kingdom, urban planning and construction lagged behind and peasants forced into the cities became thoroughly proletarians. Industrial, commercial, residential mixed disorder, the general deterioration of urban environment. At the end of 19th century and early 20th century, the urbanization rate in Britain exceeded 70%. In response to the developmental demands of industrial cities and the growing urban disease, planning the growth and development of cities is mentioned as an important position. In 1903, Britain built Letchworth, the first pastoral city in its history, on the outskirts of London 56 kilometers north of London.