United Kingdom territories, London and essential facts for planning

The official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and other smaller islands. Great Britain and the United Kingdom are not interchangeable names: the former is an island; the latter is a state that also includes Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is in northwestern Europe, off the coast of continental Europe. The North Sea lies to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the southwest; the Irish Sea separates Great Britain and Ireland. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland. This layout helps place the country geographically, but does not by itself determine routes or travel times.

The capital is London, the recorded language is English and the currency is the pound sterling (£). These are useful starting points when researching your trip; before travelling, check current sources for any practical details that depend on your itinerary or circumstances.

It makes sense to start with the areas you want to visit, then check how they connect: the information here locates the territory, but does not provide transport guidance, prices or entry conditions. Check those details separately before finalising your bookings.

Country and geographical data: World Countries — mledoze, GBR record; Wikidata, Q145; DBpedia, United_Kingdom. The sources consulted are limited to these basic facts and do not support information on schedules, prices, entry requirements or transport recommendations.