Chapter 2: What is the UK?
The UK and its nations
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; the rest of Ireland is an independent country. Its full official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is not the same thing: it covers England, Scotland and Wales only. 'The British Isles' is a geographical term for the group of islands that includes Great Britain and Ireland; it is not the name of a country. Some places are closely linked to the UK without being part of it. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies with their own governments. British overseas territories in other parts of the world, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands, are also linked to the UK but are not part of it. The UK as a whole is governed by Parliament at Westminster in London, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved parliaments or assemblies. The capital cities are London (England and the UK), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).
Key facts
- The UK is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- The rest of the island of Ireland is an independent country, the Republic of Ireland, and is not part of the UK.
- Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales only.
- Northern Ireland is part of the UK but not of Great Britain.
- Official name: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- 'The British Isles' is a geographical term, not the name of a country.
- Crown dependencies: the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
- Crown dependencies have their own governments and are not part of the UK.
- British overseas territories, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands, are linked to the UK but are not part of it.
- The UK is governed by Parliament at Westminster in London.
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved parliaments or assemblies; England does not.
- Wales's devolved body, called the National Assembly for Wales in the handbook, was renamed the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in 2020.
- Capital of England and of the UK: London.
- Capital of Scotland: Edinburgh.
- Capital of Wales: Cardiff.
- Capital of Northern Ireland: Belfast.
Test yourself
The United Kingdom
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain
England, Scotland and Wales only. It does not include Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland
Part of the United Kingdom but not of Great Britain. Its capital is Belfast.
The UK's full official name
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The British Isles
A geographical term for the group of islands that includes Great Britain and Ireland. It is not the name of a country.
Crown dependencies
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. They have their own governments and are not part of the UK.
British overseas territories
Places in other parts of the world, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands, that are linked to the UK but are not part of it.
Westminster
Where the UK Parliament sits. It governs the UK as a whole.
Devolved parliaments and assemblies
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have one, with powers over certain matters. England does not have its own.
Capital cities of the UK's four countries
England: London (also the UK capital). Scotland: Edinburgh. Wales: Cardiff. Northern Ireland: Belfast.
Practise chapter 2 questions
Check what you've learned with questions on this chapter.