Inverness is unusual, however, in that although there are letters patent, dating from 2001 and now held in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, the city has no statutory boundaries. According to Telegraph.co.uk 3 February 2008, Inverness is Europe's fastest growing city and is ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life.

The city lies where the River Ness enters the Moray Firth and is a natural hub for various transport links. A settlement was established by sixth century AD, the first royal charter being granted in the thirteenth century. It lies near the site of the eighteenth century Battle of Culloden.

Because Inverness has no statutory boundaries, population figures vary from about 40,949 to 51,832 or more depending on what boundaries are used. Inverness is twinned with three other European cities. Inverness College is the hub campus for the UHI Millennium Institute. City status was granted in 2001.

Scottish Gaelic appears on the majority of road signs around Inverness, with around 3,555 people (5.47% of the population) speaking the language.