United Kingdom — … our ‘just the essentials’ portal
The United Kingdom, short-form The UK– is part of Western Europe.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the full and correct name of the country.
Great Britain is the name of the island where England and Scotland are located.
Ireland is another island and consists of Northern Ireland (capital city is Belfast) and the Republic of Ireland (capital city is Dublin).
The Republic of Ireland is a separate country and does not belong to the United Kingdom.
Travel Information
Topics like:
- Arrival in the UK (Visa, Customs, etc.)
- Climate
- Electricity
All our articles about the UK can be found here ↦ www.travel1000places.com/tag/uk/
Currency
UK Pound
UK Time Zone / Daylight Saving Time
This current year’s Daylight Saving Time can be found on all our pages within the sidebar or on our Homepage: www.travel1000places.com
Overview: UK
The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth’s surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK’s strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic’s withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998.
The UK has been an active member of the EU since its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU. The UK and the EU are currently negotiating the terms of the UK’s withdrawal and will discuss a framework for their future relationship ahead of the UK’s scheduled departure from the bloc on 29 March 2019.
Description of the UK flag:
- blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland);
- properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack;
- the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories
United Kingdom Data & Facts: population, area, coastline
Location
Western Europe, islands – including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland – between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France
Area
total: 243,610 sq km
land: 241,930 sq km
water: 1,680 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Comaprison: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Population
65.6 million (July 2017 est.) Population Growth Rate 0.52% (2017 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 443 km
border countries (1): Ireland 443 km
Coastline
12,429 km
Climate
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain
mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Elevation
mean elevation: 162 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
