United Kingdom flag

United Kingdom

History

The Laws in Wales Acts joined Wales to England in one legal and parliamentary system.
James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne.
Commissioners agreed the treaty joining England and Scotland.
The Acts of Union created the Kingdom of Great Britain.
The Acts of Union created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Irish Free State left the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland stayed within it.
Europe thumbnailPart ofEuropeMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalLondon
Population69.3M
Area242,495 km2
CurrencyBritish pound

Short facts

RegionNorthern Europe / British Isles
LanguageEnglish
Time zoneGMT (UTC+0)
Drives onLeft

Worth seeing

  • London: World-class museums, royal palaces and a global cultural hub in one city.
  • Scottish Highlands: Dramatic glens, lochs, whisky distilleries and castles in wild scenery.
  • Shakespeare Country: Stratford-upon-Avon, the Globe Theatre and 400 years of living dramatic tradition.

Find a city in United Kingdom

Showing all cities

Southport thumbnailSouthportCityGlasgow thumbnailGlasgowCityLondon thumbnailLondonCity

Planning questions

What is United Kingdom known for?London, Scottish Highlands, Shakespeare Country.
What is the capital?London.
Which language is useful?English.
When is the national day?No official national day.

Upcoming events

The Open Championship2026-07-16 - 2026-07-19 - England - PGA TourLIV Golf UK2026-07-23 - 2026-07-26 - England - LIV GolfAIG Women's Open2026-07-30 - 2026-08-02 - England - LPGA TourButterfield Bermuda Championship2026-10-22 - 2026-10-25 - Bermuda - PGA TourWimbledon thumbnailWimbledon29 Jun - 12 Jul 2026 ·British Grand Prix thumbnailBritish Grand Prix3-5 Jul 2026 ·British Sauna Week thumbnailBritish Sauna Week7 Sept 2026 - 13 Sept 2026 · United Kingdom, United KingdomSix Nations Championship 2027 thumbnailSix Nations Championship 20271 Feb - 31 Mar 2027 · England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and WalesLondon Marathon 2027 thumbnailLondon Marathon 202725 Apr 2027 · London, UKGlastonbury Festival thumbnailGlastonbury Festival23-27 Jun 2027 · Somerset, UKUEFA European Championship thumbnailUEFA European Championship9 Jun - 9 Jul 2028 · United Kingdom and Ireland

Use London as the first planning anchor for United Kingdom, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Fish and chips thumbnailFish and chipsSignature dishTea thumbnailTeaLocal drink

Known for

LondonWorld-class museumsroyal palacesScottish HighlandsDramatic glenslochswhisky distilleriesShakespeare Country
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.