What Paul said is my experience too. - Edit 1
Before modification by Rebekah at 15/12/2014 11:21:19 AM
Edinburgh (the only city I really feel qualified to comment on) is a mix too. Some sides of the city have a sudden shift from urban to rural, some are more gradual.
Where I live - Leith - used to be a separate city from Edinburgh but now there's no obvious distinction.