The United Kingdom, or UK for short, is made up of four countries that work together. Each country has its own capital city.
Why this matters: The UK is where you live and learn. Knowing its countries, capitals and seas helps you understand your own home on the map.
The four countries and their capitals
| Country | Capital city |
|---|---|
| England | London |
| Scotland | Edinburgh |
| Wales | Cardiff |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast |
Put these UK countries in order, biggest first:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
The full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. That is a long name, so we usually just say the UK.
UK, Great Britain and the British Isles
These words are easy to mix up. Here is a simple way to remember them:
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Great Britain | England, Scotland and Wales together |
| United Kingdom | Great Britain plus Northern Ireland |
| British Isles | All the islands, including the Republic of Ireland |
The seas around us
The UK is surrounded by water. The North Sea is to the east, the Irish Sea sits between Great Britain and Ireland, and the English Channel is the narrow sea to the south that separates us from France. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west.
Remember: England has London, Scotland has Edinburgh, Wales has Cardiff, and Northern Ireland has Belfast.
Match each UK country to its capital city:
- England
- London
- Scotland
- Edinburgh
- Wales
- Cardiff
- Northern Ireland
- Belfast