GeodlyEurope
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland lies off the north-west coast of mainland Europe. It is made up of four countries: England, Scotland and Wales on the island of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland on the island of Ireland. About 69 million people live in the UK, and London, its capital, is one of the largest and most international cities in Europe.
England and Scotland were united as the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, and Ireland joined in 1801. Most of Ireland left the union in 1922, giving the country its present name. The UK is a constitutional monarchy without a single written constitution, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved governments. The UK left the European Union in 2020. At its height, the British Empire was the largest empire in history, which is one reason English is spoken so widely today.
The flag of the United Kingdom
The flag, called the Union Flag or Union Jack, combines a red cross edged in white with red and white diagonal crosses, all on a dark blue field.
It combines the crosses of three patron saints: the red cross of St George for England, the white diagonal cross on blue of St Andrew for Scotland, and the red diagonal cross of St Patrick for Ireland. The first version, joining the English and Scottish crosses, appeared in 1606, and the cross of St Patrick was added in 1801. Wales is not represented because it was already joined to England when the first flag was made.
Landscape and geography
The UK has a varied landscape for its size. The Scottish Highlands contain the country’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, at 1,345 metres, and hundreds of islands lie off Scotland’s coast. Wales is hilly and mountainous, while much of southern and eastern England is low and gently rolling. The Severn is the longest river, and the Thames flows through London to the North Sea.
The climate is mild and changeable, shaped by the Atlantic Ocean. Nowhere in the UK is more than about 120 kilometres from the sea, and the country’s only land border is with Ireland.
Did you know?
- The Prime Meridian, the line of 0° longitude, runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.
- The London Underground opened in 1863 and is the oldest underground railway in the world.
- Stonehenge in Wiltshire was built in stages from around 3000 BC.
- Many of the world’s most popular sports, including football, rugby, tennis and cricket, took their modern form in Britain.
Key facts
- Capital
- London
- Continent
- Europe
- Population
- About 68 million
- Land neighbours
- 1
- Coast
- Island country
- European Union
- Not a member
- NATO
- Member
Land neighbours
World rankings
Geo Sort asks you to place countries by rank. A lower number means a higher place in that category.
| Land Area | #79 |
|---|---|
| Coastline | #12 |
| FIFA Ranking (M) | #4 |
| Military Strength | #6 |
| Avg Annual Temperature | #151 |
| UNESCO Sites | #8 |
| Population Density | #46 |
| Highest Point | #145 |
Practise the United Kingdom on Geodly
- Flag Drawing: The flag of the United Kingdom is in the Easy set. Draw it from memory and compare your drawing with the real design.
- Geo Click: Find the United Kingdom on the map, or locate its capital, London, in the capital modes.
- Geo Chain: Link countries through shared land borders. Knowing the neighbour of the United Kingdom gives you more routes.
- Geo Sort: Place the United Kingdom in the category where its world rank is strongest.
- Terra Tac Toe: Use the United Kingdom as an answer when its facts fit both the row and the column of a square.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica: United Kingdom · CIA World Factbook: United Kingdom