Chapter 2 · What is the UK?
The UK and its nations: Life in the UK test study notes
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Everything else on the island of Ireland forms a separate, independent country. Officially, the UK is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. By contrast, Great Britain covers only England, Scotland and Wales. '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 belonging to it. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are Crown dependencies with their own governments. Elsewhere in the world, British overseas territories, St Helena and the Falkland Islands among them, also have ties to the UK without forming 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 to remember
- The UK is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- The remainder of the island of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, is a separate independent country outside the UK.
- Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales only.
- Northern Ireland is part of the UK but not of Great Britain.
- The handbook uses 'Britain' and 'British' to mean everyone in the UK, even though Great Britain strictly excludes Northern Ireland.
- 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 Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
- Crown dependencies have their own governments and are not part of the UK.
- British overseas territories, St Helena and the Falkland Islands among them, have ties to the UK without being 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.
- Devolved parliaments and assemblies can only act in the policy areas handed to them; everything else stays with the UK Parliament at Westminster.
- 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 on chapter 2
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These notes summarise the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), which all the test questions come from. Try the free chapter 2 questions.