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For an alphabetical index of this subject, see the List of United Kingdom-related topics.
Location of United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain,1 is a sovereign island country23 located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the northeast part of the island of Ireland and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland.4 Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel.

The United Kingdom consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with its seat of government in London, the capital, and a constitutional monarchy with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The Crown Dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, formally possessions of the Crown, are not part of the UK but form a federacy with it.5 The UK has fourteen overseas territories,6 all remnants of the British Empire, which at its height encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface, making it the largest empire in history. As a direct result of the empire, British influence can be observed in the language and culture of states such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the United States of America, and other less globally influential independent states. HM Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of the Commonwealth of Nations and head of state of the Commonwealth realms.

The following topic outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to United Kingdom:

United Kingdom portal
Flag of United Kingdom Flag of United Kingdom
Flag of United Kingdom
Coat of arms of United Kingdom

Contents


General reference

Geography of the UK

Satellite photo of the United Kingdom
Main article: Geography of the United Kingdom

Environment of the UK

Twelve areas are designated as national parks in England and Wales, and a 13th (South Downs) is in the process of being designated.
Main article: Environment of the United Kingdom

Geographic features of the UK

Main article: Landforms of the United Kingdom

Regions of the UK

Ecoregions of the UK

Main article: Ecoregions in the United Kingdom

Subdivisions of the UK

Main article:Subdivisions of the United Kingdom

Constituent countries of the UK
Main article: Constituent country

England
Main articles: England and Subdivisions of England
v • d • e
Structure of English administrative divisions (since 1995)
Region level
   

Region

Region

Region
County level
District level
Parish level
   

Civil parish

Civil parish

Civil parish

n/a

Northern Ireland
Map of the United Kingdom
Main articles: Northern Ireland and Subdivisions of Northern Ireland

Scotland
Main articles: Scotland and Subdivisions of Scotland

Wales
Main articles: Wales and Subdivisions of Wales

Municipalities of the UK
Main article: Municipalities of the United Kingdom

Demography of the UK

Main article: Demographics of the United Kingdom

Government and politics of the UK

Main articles: Her Majesty's Government, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, and Politics of the United Kingdom

Branches of the government of the UK

Main article: Government of the United Kingdom

Executive branch of the government of the UK

Legislative branch of the government of the UK

Judicial branch of the government of the UK

Main article: Courts of the United Kingdom

Foreign relations of the UK

Main article: Foreign relations of the United Kingdom

International organization membership

The United Kingdom is a member of:

Law and order in the UK

Main article: Law of the United Kingdom

Military of the UK

Main article: British Armed Forces

Local government in the UK

Main article: List of articles about local government in the United Kingdom

History of the UK

Main article: History of the United Kingdom, Timeline of British history, and Current events of the United Kingdom

Culture of the UK

Main article: Culture of the United Kingdom

The Arts in the UK

Sports and games in the UK

Sport in the UK

Main article: Sport in the United Kingdom

Games in the UK

Economy of the UK

Main article: Economy of the United Kingdom

Education in the UK

Main articles: Education in the United Kingdom and List of schools in the United Kingdom

Infrastructure of the UK

See also

References

  1. ^ See British Isles (terminology) for further explanation of the usage of the term "Britain" in geographical and political contexts.
  2. ^ "Encyclopaedia Britannica". Retrieved on 2007-09-25. "Island country located off the north-western coast of mainland Europe"
  3. ^ www.number-10.gov.uk. "Countries within a country". Retrieved on 2007-06-13. "Countries within a country"
  4. ^ "Member States: United Kingdom". UK Presidency of the EU 2005. Retrieved on 29 May, 2006.
  5. ^ "UK gov explanation of names".
  6. ^ "UK Overseas Territories". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.

External links

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