UK Key Facts
- About the UK: The United Kingdom consists of
England, Wales, Scotland (which together make up Great Britain) and
Northern Ireland.
- Capital cities: The capital city of the UK is London,
which is also the capital of England. For Wales the capital is Cardiff,
for Scotland it is Edinburgh, and for Northern Ireland it is Belfast.
- Population: The population of the UK is estimated to
be around 63 million (England: 53 million, Scotland: 5.3 million, Wales: 3
million, Northern Ireland: 1.8 million).
- Land area: The UK is close to 95,000 square
miles (245,000 square kilometres), stretching from the Shetland Islands
off the north coast of Scotland, down to the Isles of Scilly in south west
England, and across the sea to Northern Ireland.
- Countryside: The UK’s long coastline is around
5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres). The geography ranges from green meadows
and woodland to rugged moorland and mountains. The highest mountain is Ben
Nevis in Scotland at just over 1,340 metres.
- Heritage: The UK has a fascinating history dating
back to 6500 BC. All over the UK you’ll find monuments marking its
history, from Stonehenge to Buckingham Palace. The UK is also home to over
28 cultural and natural UNESCO
World Heritage Sites and Heritage Cities includingEdinburgh, Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York.
- Economy: The UK is one of the world’s leading business locations and
the number one destination for inward investment in Europe.
The UK is one of the top ten manufacturers in the world and has the
largest industries in Europe for life sciences, ICT and the creative
industries. Find out more atUK Trade & Investment.
- Language: English is spoken throughout the UK,
but there are other official languages too, such as Welsh, Scots and
Gaelic.
- Money: The currency of the UK is pounds
sterling.
- Religion: The main religion in the UK is
Christianity. However, the UK is a multi-faith society where other
religions are widely welcomed and accepted.
- Government: The United Kingdom is a parliamentary
democracy – this means the government is elected by the people. There is
a general
election once every five years. The Prime Minister leads the
government with the support of the cabinet and ministers. The UK is a
member of the European
Union.
As well as the central
UK government, there are three ‘devolved administrations’ for Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland.
They are responsible for many domestic policy issues such as health, education,
culture, the environment and transport. You can find out more at the gov.uk website.
- The royal family: The Queen is Head of State in the United
Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, Her Majesty does not 'rule' the
country, but the royal family fulfils important ceremonial and formal
roles with respect to Government. Find out more at www.royal.gov.uk.
- Law: There may be some differences between the
law in your country and the law in the UK. For example, in the UK:
- You must not use or carry any illegal drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, LSD or amphetamines.
- It is illegal to carry self-defence CS
gas sprays, guns or stun guns. There are also very strict laws and
penalties around carrying knives.
- You must be aged 18 or over to buy
tobacco and alcohol.
- You should never buy property that you
think might be stolen, no matter how tempting it seems.
- It is illegal to drive a car without the correct
driving licence and without car insurance. Driving under the influence of
drugs or alcohol is a serious offence. Find out more in this article:Travel in
the UK
- You can find out about UK law at
the gov.uk website.
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