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Formally "The United Kingdom of [[Great Britain]] and [[Northern Ireland]]". The United Kingdom comprises [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and the six counties of [[Northern Ireland]]. The UK is situated off the western coast of mainland [[Europe]]. The [[Isle of Man]] and [[Channel Islands]] are not legally part of the United Kingdom; they are British crown dependencies, though the United Kingdom is responsible for their external affairs. The United Kingdom also has many [[United Kingdom/Dependent territories|dependent territories]] throughout the world, which are legally part of the UK.
{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|+<big><big>'''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'''</big></big>
| align="center" colspan="2"|
{| border=0 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="background:#f9f9f9; text-align:center;"
| width="130px"| [[Image:uk flag large.png|125px|Flag of the United Kingdom]] || align=center width=130px| [[Image:UK_Royal_Coat_of_Arms.png|120px|British Coat of Arms]]
|-
| width="130px"| ([[Flag of the United Kingdom|National Flag]]) || style="text-align:center; width:130px;" | ([[Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]])
|}
|-
| align=center colspan=2 | <small>''[[National motto|Royal motto]]: [[Dieu et mon droit]]<br>([[English language|English]]: God and my right)''<sup>1</sup></small>
|-
| align=center colspan=2 style="background:#f9f9f9;" | [[image:LocationUnitedKingdom.png|Location of the United Kingdom]]
|-
| '''[[Official language]]''' || [[Languages in the United Kingdom|None]]; [[English language|English]] is [[de facto]] <sup>2</sup>
|-
| '''[[Capital]]''' || [[London]]
|-
| '''Largest city''' || [[London]]
|-
| '''[[British monarchy|Queen]]''' || [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]]
|-
| '''[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]''' || [[Tony Blair]]
|-
| '''[[Area]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Total<br>&nbsp;- % water || [[List of countries by area|Ranked 76th]] <br> [[1 E11 m2| 241,590 km²]] <br> 1.319%
|-
| '''[[Population]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Total<br>&nbsp;- [[Population density|Density]] || [[List of countries by population|Ranked 21st]] <br> 60,270,708 <br> 249/km&sup2;
|-
| '''Establishment''' || [[1801]]<br/>[[Act of Union 1800]]<sup>3</sup>
|-
| '''[[Gross domestic product|GDP]]'''<br>&nbsp;- Total<br>&nbsp;- GDP/capita
| [[List of countries by GDP|Ranked 4th]] <br> $1.666 trillion <br> $27,642
|-
| '''[[Currency]]''' || [[Pound Sterling]] (£)
|-
| '''[[Time zone]]''' || [[GMT]], [[British Summer Time|Summer: GMT +1]]
|-
| '''[[National anthem]]''' || ''[[God Save the Queen]]''<sup>4</sup>
|-
| '''[[Top-level domain|Internet TLD]]''' || [[.uk]]<sup>5</sup>
|-
| '''[[List of country calling codes|Dialling code]]''' || +44
|-
| colspan="2" | <small>
<sup>1</sup> The Royal motto in Scotland is ''Nemo Me Impune Lacessit'' ([[Latin language |Latin]]: "No-one harms me with impunity").<br>
<sup>2</sup> Officially recognised regional languages:<br>in [[Wales]]: [[Welsh language|Welsh]]; and in the [[Western Isles]]: [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]].<br>
<sup>3</sup> Formed as ''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland''. Name changed to the ''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'' in [[1927]].<br>
<sup>4</sup> Unofficial.<br>
<sup>5</sup> [[ISO 3166-1]] is [[.gb]].</small>
|}
The '''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland''' is a [[country]] in [[western Europe]], usually known simply as the '''United Kingdom''', the '''UK''', or, inaccurately, as '''Great Britain''' or '''Britain'''. The UK was formed by a series of [[Act of Union|Acts of Union]] which united the formerly distinct [[nation]]s of [[England]], [[Wales]], [[Scotland]], and [[Ireland]] under a single government in [[London]]. The greater part of Ireland left the United Kingdom (then called the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]) in [[1922]], and is today the [[Republic of Ireland]], whilst the north-eastern portion of the island, [[Northern Ireland]], remains part of the United Kingdom.


The primary language spoken is [[English language|English]]. Other languages include [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and various [[Scots|Scottish dialects]]. Recent immigrants from elsewhere in [[the Commonwealth]] speak other languages, including [[Urdu]].
The UK is situated off the north-western coast of continental [[Europe]], surrounded by the [[North Sea]], the [[English Channel]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Also under the [[sovereignty]] of the United Kingdom, though not part of the United Kingdom itself, are the [[Crown dependency|Crown dependencies]] of the [[Channel Islands]] and the [[Isle of Man]] and a number of [[Crown colony|overseas territories]].


The United Kingdom uses a form of [[democracy]] known as a [[constitutional monarchy]] and is governed from its [[capital]], [[London]]. It is also a member of the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]]. The UK's head of state is Queen [[Elizabeth II]] who was crowned in [[1953]], although her role is mainly ceremonial. See [[/Government|/Government]]
[[Great Britain]], now sometimes called simply [[Britain]], is the geographical name for the largest island in the [[British Isles]], and includes the mainland nations of [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Scotland]], sometimes also including their islands. Additionally, the media as shorthand for the United Kingdom regularly use "Britain". The term "Great" is used in opposition to "Little" Britain or [[Brittany]] in France (the '-ny' ending being diminutive).


See also: [[/Monarchs|Monarchs]]; [[history of Britain]]; [[history of England]]; [[Ireland/History]]; [[history of Scotland]]; [[history of Wales]]; [[film history/United Kingdom|British film]].
[[British Isles|The British Isles]] is sometimes used to describe an [[archipelago]] of islands including Great Britain, [[Ireland]], the [[Isle of Man]], [[Isle of Wight]], [[Orkney]], the [[Hebrides]], [[Shetland Islands]], [[Channel Islands]] and others. However the term is not used in [[Ireland]] because it was sometimes understood internationally to mean "the islands belonging to Britain", a description in the Irish case out of date since 1922. An alternative ''Islands off the North Atlantic'' (IONA) is sometimes used.


The United Kingdom was established by the union of England, Wales and Scotland, by the [[Act of Union]] of 1707; Ireland later became part of the United Kingdom under the Act of Union of 1801 (?), though most of it left again in 1922, See [[Ireland/History]].
== History ==
''Main article: [[History of the United Kingdom]]''


<i>From the [[CIA World Factbook]] 2000.</i>
Scotland and England have existed as separate unified entities since the [[10th century]]. Wales, under English control since the [[Statute of Rhuddlan]] in [[1284]], became part of the [[Kingdom of England]] by the [[Acts of Union 1536-1543|Act of Union 1536]]. With the [[Act of Union 1707]], the separate kingdoms of England and Scotland, having shared the same monarch since [[1603]], agreed to a permanent union as the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]. The [[Act of Union 1800]] united the Kingdom of Great Britain with the [[Kingdom of Ireland]], which had been gradually brought under English control between [[1169]] and [[1603]], to form the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. In [[1921]] the ''[[Government of Ireland]] Act'' partitioned Ireland into two states, both of which remained part of the United Kingdom. However in [[1921], the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] which followed the [[Anglo-Irish War]] (1919-1921), allowed Ireland to leave the UK as the [[Irish Free State]]. As provided for in the treaty, Northern Ireland, which consists of six of the nine counties of the Irish province of [[Ulster]], immediately opted out of the Free State and to remain in the UK. The nomenclature of the UK was changed in [[1927]] to recognise the departure of most of Ireland, with the name '' United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'' being adopted.


* [[/History|History]]
The United Kingdom, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing Western ideas of property, liberty, capitalism and [[parliamentary democracy]] - to say nothing of its part in advancing world literature and science. At its zenith, the [[British Empire]] stretched over one quarter of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK is currently weighing the degree of its integration with continental [[Europe]]. A member of the [[European Union]], it has not chosen to adopt the [[Euro|euro]], owing to internal political considerations and the government's judgement of the prevailing economic conditions. Constitutional reform is also a current issue in the UK. The [[House of Lords]] has been subjected to ongoing reforms, [[Scotland]] elected its own [[Scottish Parliament|parliament]] in [[1999]] and in the same year, [[National assembly|national assemblies]] were created in [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]]. According to opinion polls, the monarchy remains generally popular in spite of recent controversies. Support for a [[British republican movement|British Republic]] usually fluctuates between 15% and 25% of the population, with roughly 10% undecided or indifferent.[http://www.mori.com/mrr/2000/c000616.shtml]
* [[/Geography|Geography]]
* [[/People|People]]
* [[/Government|Government]]
* [[/Economy|Economy]]
* [[/Communications|Communications]]
* [[/Transportation|Transportation]]
* [[/Military|Military]]
* [[/Transnational issues|Transnational issues]]
* [[/Dependent territories|Dependent Territories]]


=== Law ===
The United Kingdom is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] (successor organisation to the former British Empire) and [[NATO]]. It is also a permanent member of the [[UN Security Council]] and holds a [[veto]] power. It is one of the few [[nuclear powers]] on the planet.


Britain uses both the common law and the civil law legal systems, in different parts: England, Wales and Northern Ireland use the common law system, while Scotland uses the civil law system.
See also: [[British Monarchs|Monarchs]]; [[History of Britain]]; [[History of England]]; [[History of Ireland]]; [[History of Scotland]]; [[History of Wales]], [[UK local history terms]]


See also [[British Nationality Law]], [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]].
== Politics ==
''Main article: [[Politics of the United Kingdom]]''


=== Berwick-upon-Tweed ===
The United Kingdom is a [[constitutional monarchy]], with executive power exercised by a [[Departments of the United Kingdom Government|government]] headed by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and his [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]. The cabinet is theoretically a committee of the [[Privy Council]], the ancient council that officially advises the monarch. Executive power is vested in the [[British monarchy|monarch]] but in reality ''Her Majesty's Government'' is answerable and accountable to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], the lower and only directly elected house in Britain's [[bicameral]] [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. By constitutional convention, Ministers of the Crown are chosen largely from among [[Members of Parliament]] (members of the Commons). A small number are chosen from the appointed upper house, the [[British House of Lords|House of Lords]].


The status of Berwick-upon-Tweed has been anomalous since the 15th Century (the last time it was captured by England from Scotland). The town is north of the river Tweed, and was formerly the county town of Berwickshire. During the reign of Queen [[Elizabeth I]] vast sums were spent on its fortifications. After King [[James VI]] of Scotland also became [[James I]] of England in [[1603]], it was not returned to Scotland. Various proclamations referred to "England, Scotland and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed". One such was the declaration of war against [[Russia]] in 1853, but it was not named in the peace treaty of 1856 - was it still at war with Russia or not?
The UK's current [[monarch]] and [[head of state]] is [[Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] who acceded to the throne in [[1952]] and was crowned in [[1953]]. In modern Britain, the monarch's role is mainly though not exclusively ceremonial. She has access to all cabinet papers and is briefed weekly by the Prime Minister. Constitutional writer [[Walter Bagehot]] asserted that the monarch had three rights: to be consulted, to advise and to warn. These rights are exercised rarely but have proved important at key times. In day to day politics real executive political power is exercised by the Prime Minister and cabinet. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] and is commissioned to form a government by the monarch based on his or her ability to command the support of parliament. The current prime minister is [[Tony Blair]] of the [[British Labour Party|Labour Party]].


External resources:
[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] is [[bicameral]], composed of the 659-member elected [[House of Commons]] and the appointed [[House of Lords]]. Historically, the House of Lords has featured members of [[nobility]] who were granted seats by nature of birthright, although this feature has been abolished. Furthermore, the [[House of Lords Act 1999]] severely curtailed the powers of the [[hereditary peers]] - only 92 out of several hundred retain the right to sit in the House of Lords, by either being elected by their fellow peers or by holding either of the royal offices of [[Earl Marshal]] or [[Lord Great Chamberlain]]. Reforms of the House of Lords originally called for all of the hereditary peers to lose their voting rights, however a compromise was reached which will allow them to be gradually phased out.
* There is an official UK Government Website at http://www.gov.uk/opengov/


The United Kingdom is described as being traditionally a centralised, or unitary, state, with Parliament at [[Westminster]] holding responsibility for most of the UK's political power. Throughout the late nineteenth century the UK debated giving Ireland [[home rule]]. Home rule was eventually given to [[Northern Ireland]] in 1921: it was eventually abolished in [[1972]]. Home rule came back on the political agenda in the [[1990s]], with the creation of three home rule parliaments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In [[1999]], the [[Scottish Parliament]] and the [[National Assembly for Wales]] were established, the former having primary legislative power. [[Northern Ireland]]'s most recent attempt at home rule, with a directly elected [[Northern Ireland Assembly|Assembly]] emerged from the [[Belfast Agreement|Good Friday Agreement]], but it is currently suspended. Unlike federalism, however, home rule parliaments have no constitutional status or rights to exist. They are created by parliament and, as Northern Ireland experienced in 1972, can be abolished by parliament.


[[/Talk]]
The British system of government has been emulated around the world because of the UK's colonial legacy. Nations that follow British-style parliamentarism, with an executive chosen from, and answerable to, the legislature, are said to operate under the [[Westminster system]]. This system of government is generally very stable and creates strong government..

''See also:''
* [[Law of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Politics of Scotland]]

== The official name ==
In the UK, [[Languages in the United Kingdom|some other language]]s have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous (regional) languages under the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]. These languages are [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]], [[Irish language|Irish Gaelic]], [[Cornish language|Cornish]], [[Scots language|Lowland Scots]] and [[Ulster Scots language|Ulster Scots]]. In each of these, the UK's official name is as follows:

* ''Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon'' ([[Welsh language|Welsh]])
* ''An Rìoghachd Aonaichte na Breatainn Mhòr agus Eirinn a Tuath'' ([[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]])
* ''Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann'' ([[Irish language|Irish Gaelic]])
* ''An Rywvaneth Unys a Vreten Veur hag Iwerdhon Glédh'' ([[Cornish language|Cornish]])
* ''Unitit Kinrick o Great Breetain an Northren Ireland'' ([[Scots language|Lowland Scots]])

== Subdivisions ==
''Main article: [[Subdivisions of the United Kingdom]]''

The United Kingdom is [[subnational entity|made up of]] the [[home nations]], four constituent "parts": the nations of [[England]], [[Scotland]], and [[Wales]], and the province of [[Northern Ireland]]. These are in turn made up of the following subdivisions:

*[[Regions of England]], [[Subdivisions of England|Counties and unitary authorities of England]]
*[[Subdivisions of Scotland|Council areas of Scotland]]
*[[Unitary Authorities of Wales|Counties and county boroughs of Wales]]
*[[Districts of Northern Ireland]]

The [[Act of Union 1536]] incorporated Wales and England into [[England and Wales]] for legal purposes.

Although all four home nations have historically been divided into [[Traditional counties of the British Isles|counties]], England's population is an order of magnitude larger than its sisters'; so in recent years it has for some purposes been divided into nine intermediate-level [[Regions of England|Government Office Regions]] - [[North East England|North East]], [[North West England|North West]], [[Yorkshire and the Humber]], [[East Midlands]], [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]], [[East of England|Eastern]], [[Greater London|London]], [[South East England|South East]], [[South West England|South West]]. Each region is made up of [[administrative counties of England|counties]] and [[unitary authorities]], apart from [[London]], which consists of [[London borough]]s. Although at one point it was intended that each or some of these regions would be given its own regional assembly, the plans' future is uncertain, [[as of 2004]], after the first-scheduled North East region rejected its proposed assembly in a referendum.

Scotland consists of 32 Council Areas. Wales consists of 22 Unitary Authorities, styled as 10 County Boroughs, 9 Counties, and 3 Cities. Northern Ireland is divided into 26 Districts.

There are also a number of different dependencies belonging to the United Kingdom, see [[Crown colony]].

The [[Isle of Man]] and [[Channel Islands]] are not legally part of the United Kingdom; they are British crown dependencies, though the United Kingdom is responsible for their external affairs.

The United Kingdom monarch also reigns in 15 other sovereign countries that are known as [[Commonwealth Realms]]. Although Britain has no political or executive power over these independent nations, it retains influence, through long-standing close relations. In some [[Commonwealth Realms]] the [[Privy Council]] is the highest [[Court of Appeal]].

''See also:'' [[City status in the United Kingdom]], [[Towns of the United Kingdom]], and [[Local government in the United Kingdom]]

== Geography ==
[[Image:United Kingdom map.png|thumb|200px||Map of the United Kingdom]]
''Main article: [[Geography of the United Kingdom]]''

Most of England consists of rolling lowland terrain, divided east from west by more mountainous terrain in the northwest ([[Cumbrian Mountains]] of the [[Lake District]]) and north (the upland moors of the [[Pennines]]) and [[limestone]] hills of the [[Peak District]] by the [[Tees-Exe line]]. The lower [[limestone]] hills of the [[Isle of Purbeck]], [[Cotswolds]], [[Lincolnshire]] [[Wolds]] and [[chalk]] downs of the North Downs, South Downs and [[Chilterns]] of southern England. The main rivers and estuaries are the [[Thames]], [[Severn]] and the [[Trent]] & [[Ouse]] feeding the [[Humber|Humber Estuary]]; major cities include [[London]], [[Birmingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Sheffield]], [[Liverpool]], [[Leeds]], [[Bristol]], [[Nottingham]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]. Near [[Dover, England|Dover]], the [[Channel Tunnel]] links the United Kingdom with France. There is no peak in England that is 1000m or greater.

Wales is mostly mountainous, the highest peak being [[Snowdon]], at 1,085 m above sea level. North of the mainland is the island of [[Anglesey]]. Main and capital city is [[Cardiff]], located in the south of Wales.

Scotland's geography is varied, with [[Scottish Lowlands|lowlands]] in the south and east and [[Scottish Highlands|highlands]] in the north and west, including [[Ben Nevis]], the UK's highest mountain (1343 m). There are many long and deep-sea arms, [[firth]]s, and [[loch]]s. A multitude of islands west and north of Scotland are also included, notably the [[Hebrides]], [[Orkney Islands]] and [[Shetland Islands]], as is the uninhabited islet of [[Rockall]], although this claim is disputed. Main cities are [[Edinburgh]], [[Glasgow]] and [[Aberdeen, Scotland|Aberdeen]].

Northern Ireland, making up the north-eastern part of Ireland, is mostly hilly. The main cities are [[Belfast]] and [[Derry]].

In total it is estimated that the UK is made up of around 1098 small islands, some being natural and some being [[crannog]]s, a type of [[artificial island]] which was built in past times using stone and wood, gradually enlarged by natural waste building up over time.

== Economy ==
''Main article: [[Economy of the United Kingdom]]''

The United Kingdom, a leading trading power and financial centre, has an essentially capitalist economy, one of the largest of [[Western Europe]]. Over the past two decades, the government has greatly reduced public ownership by means of [[privatisation]] programmes, and has contained the growth of the [[Welfare State]].

[[Agriculture]] is intensive, highly mechanised, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labour force. The UK has large [[coal]], [[natural gas]], and [[oil]] reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], one of the highest shares of any industrial state.

Services, particularly [[banking]], [[insurance]], and business services, account for by far the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. [[Tourism]] is also important: with over 23.9 million tourists a year, between [[People's Republic of China|China]] (36.8) and [[Canada]] (20), the United Kingdom is [[World Tourism Rankings|ranked]] as the sixth major tourist destination in the world.

The [[Tony Blair|Blair]] government has put off the question of participation in the [[Euro]] system, citing [[five economic tests]] that would need to be met before they recommend that the UK adopts the Euro, and hold a [[referendum]].

== Demographics ==
''Main article: [[Demographics of the United Kingdom]]''

The primary language spoken is [[English language|English]]. Other indigenous languages include the Celtic languages; [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[Scots Gaelic|Scottish Gaelic]], which is closely related to [[Irish language|Irish Gaelic]], [[Cornish language|Cornish]] and [[Irish language|Irish Gaelic]]; as well as [[Scots language|Lowland Scots]], which is closely related to [[English language|English]]; [[Romany language|Romany]]; and [[British Sign Language]] ([[Irish Sign Language]] is also used in Northern Ireland). Celtic dialectal influences from [[Cumbric]] persisted in Northern England for many centuries, mostly famously in a unique set of numbers used for counting sheep.

Recent immigrants, especially from [[the Commonwealth]], speak many other languages, including [[Cantonese]]-Chinese, [[Gujarati]], [[Hindi]] and [[Urdu]].

Also see: [[Languages in the United Kingdom]]

== Culture ==
''Main article: [[Culture of the United Kingdom]]''

The United Kingdom contains two of the world's most famous universities, the [[University of Cambridge]], and the [[University of Oxford]], and has produced many great scientists and engineers including [[Isaac Newton]], [[Charles Darwin]], [[Michael Faraday]] and [[Paul Dirac]].

Many believe that a great number of major sports originated in the United Kingdom, including [[Football (soccer)|Association football (soccer)]], [[golf]], [[cricket]], [[boxing]], [[Rugby_football|rugby]], [[lawn tennis]] and [[billiards]]. England won the [[Football World Cup 1966|1966 FIFA World Cup]] and the [[2003 Rugby Union World Cup|2003 Rugby World Cup]]. The [[Wimbledon Championships]] are an international [[tennis]] event held in [[Wimbledon]] in south [[London]] every Summer.

Playwright [[William Shakespeare]] is arguably the most famous writer in the world; other well-known writers include the Brontë sisters ([[Charlotte Brontë|Charlotte]], [[Emily Brontë|Emily]], and [[Anne Brontë|Anne]]), [[Jane Austen]], [[Agatha Christie]], [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] and [[Charles Dickens]]. Important poets include [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]], [[Robert Burns]], [[Thomas Hardy]] and [[Dylan Thomas]].

Notable composers from the United Kingdom have included [[William Byrd]], [[Thomas Tallis]], [[John Taverner]], and [[Henry Purcell]] from the [[16th century|16th]] and early [[17th century|17th]] centuries, and, more recently, [[Edward Elgar]], [[Arthur Sullivan]] (most famous for working with librettist [[W. S. Gilbert]]), [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]], and [[Benjamin Britten]] in the [[19th century|19th]] and early [[20th century|20th]].

The UK was, with the US, one of the two main contributors in the development of [[rock and roll]], and the UK has provided some of the most famous bands, including [[the Beatles]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Pink Floyd]], and many others. The UK was at the forefront of [[punk]] music in the [[1970]]s with bands such as the [[Sex Pistols]] and [[The Clash]], and the subsequent rebirth of [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] with bands such as [[Motorhead]] and [[Iron Maiden]]. In more recent years, the [[Britpop]] phenomenon has seen bands such as [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Blur]], and [[Supergrass]] gain international fame. (''see main article:'' [[Music of the United Kingdom]]).

== Miscellaneous topics ==
''Main article: [[list of United Kingdom-related topics]]''

*[[Communications in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Transport in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Religion in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Military of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Foreign relations of the United Kingdom]]
*[[The United Kingdom and weapons of mass destruction]]
*[[UNDP]]: [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/ Human Development Index 2004], Rank 12 out of 177 countries
*[[Transparency International]]: [http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en.html Corruption Perceptions Index 2004], Rank 11 out of 146 countries
*''[[Reporters Sans Frontières]]'': [http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=11715 Third Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2004], Rank 28 out of 167 countries

== External links ==
*[http://www.parliament.uk/ The United Kingdom Parliament]
*[http://www.hmso.gov.uk Her Majesty's Stationery Office] Source for all UK legislation 1987-present
*[http://www.number-10.gov.uk Number 10 Downing Street]
*[http://www.direct.gov.uk Gateway to UK governmental services and websites]
*[http://www.royal.gov.uk The British Monarchy]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)]
*[http://www.statistics.gov.uk Office of National Statistics]
**[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5703&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=272 UK 2004 Factbook]
*[http://www.multimap.co.uk www.multimap.co.uk] provides online maps and aerial photographs of the UK
*[http://www.streetmap.co.uk www.streetmap.co.uk] alternative to multimap
*[http://www.upmystreet.com www.upmystreet.com] detailed localised information about places in the United Kingdom
*[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html CIA World Factbook: UK]
{{wikitravel}}
*[http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom World66 Guide to United Kingdom] A travel guide written by its users.
*[http://www.ukcities.co.uk UK Cities] lists a variety of useful resources for every city in the UK
*[http://www.justuk.org UK travel guide] United Kingdom for travellers

{{EU countries}}
{{Europe}}
{{Commonwealth_of_Nations}}
{{NATO}}

[[Category:United Kingdom| ]]
[[Category:British Isles]]
[[Category:Monarchies]]
[[Category:European Union member states]]

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Revision as of 04:45, 15 January 2005

Formally "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales and the six counties of Northern Ireland. The UK is situated off the western coast of mainland Europe. The Isle of Man and Channel Islands are not legally part of the United Kingdom; they are British crown dependencies, though the United Kingdom is responsible for their external affairs. The United Kingdom also has many dependent territories throughout the world, which are legally part of the UK.

The primary language spoken is English. Other languages include Welsh and various Scottish dialects. Recent immigrants from elsewhere in the Commonwealth speak other languages, including Urdu.

The United Kingdom uses a form of democracy known as a constitutional monarchy and is governed from its capital, London. It is also a member of the European Union and NATO. The UK's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II who was crowned in 1953, although her role is mainly ceremonial. See /Government

See also: Monarchs; history of Britain; history of England; Ireland/History; history of Scotland; history of Wales; British film.

The United Kingdom was established by the union of England, Wales and Scotland, by the Act of Union of 1707; Ireland later became part of the United Kingdom under the Act of Union of 1801 (?), though most of it left again in 1922, See Ireland/History.

From the CIA World Factbook 2000.

Law

Britain uses both the common law and the civil law legal systems, in different parts: England, Wales and Northern Ireland use the common law system, while Scotland uses the civil law system.

See also British Nationality Law, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Berwick-upon-Tweed

The status of Berwick-upon-Tweed has been anomalous since the 15th Century (the last time it was captured by England from Scotland). The town is north of the river Tweed, and was formerly the county town of Berwickshire. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I vast sums were spent on its fortifications. After King James VI of Scotland also became James I of England in 1603, it was not returned to Scotland. Various proclamations referred to "England, Scotland and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed". One such was the declaration of war against Russia in 1853, but it was not named in the peace treaty of 1856 - was it still at war with Russia or not?

External resources:


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