What is the UK?
The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland is an independent country.
The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ‘Great Britain’ refers only to England, Scotland and Wales, not to Northern Ireland. The words ‘Britain’, ‘British Isles’ or ‘British’, however, are used in this guide to refer to everyone in the UK.
There are also several islands which are closely linked with the UK but are not part of it: the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. These have their own governments and are called ‘Crown dependencies’. There are also several British overseas territories in other parts of the world, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands. They are also linked to the UK but are not a part of it.
The UK is governed by the parliament sitting in Westminster. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have parliaments or assemblies of their own, with devolved powers in defined areas.
The different countries that make up the UK
A simple way to remember that The Channel Islands and Isle of Man:
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Crown Islands = Channel Islands, Isle of Man
Practice
This part of the test will check your knowledge of the United Kingdom's political and territorial structure. It covers topics such as parliamentary locations, definitions of 'Great Britain,' and understanding the territories within the UK.During the quiz, correct answers will be provided with explanations to reinforce understanding.