In which city did Coldplay form?

Coldplay formed in London. Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland met during their first week at University College London in September 1996, and began writing songs together soon afterward.

Guy Berryman joined the pair in 1997, while drummer Will Champion came aboard in January 1998. The developing group used several early names, including Big Fat Noises and Starfish, before settling on Coldplay. Their first live performance as Starfish took place at the Laurel Tree in Camden on January 16, 1998.

The London connection is more specific than simply saying the band is British. Their early rehearsals, university friendships and first Camden performances all took place in the capital. The band released the Safety EP in 1998 and their debut single, "Brothers & Sisters," in 1999, before achieving wider recognition with "Yellow" from Parachutes in 2000. That early London scene provided the foundation for the lineup that became internationally famous.