United Kingdom: Overview

Updated: 2017-03-15.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The U.K., sometimes just called Britain, is a country in the Atlantic Ocean near continental Europe, usually considered to be European. The United Kingdom is made up of four constituent countries (sometimes referred to as home nations): England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; together, they form the sovereign state of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by land only with the Republic of Ireland (not to be confused with the constituent UK country of Northern Ireland).

London is the capital and largest city, and also the capital of England. London is considered to be one of the greatest cities in the world, and is a center of fashion, technology, finance, industry, and culture. It is also the largest city in all of Europe.

Each constituent country within Britain has some underlying similarities, but also stark contrasts between each other. For more on England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, see HERE »