Life in the UK · Chapter 2 · 2 min read
Chapter 2: What is the UK?
The four nations of the United Kingdom, the difference between the UK and Great Britain, the capital cities, and the Crown dependencies and overseas territories. Study notes for the Life in the UK test.
Why this chapter matters
This is the shortest chapter in the handbook, but its facts come up again and again. Many candidates mix up "the UK" and "Great Britain". Get that difference right, and know the four capitals.
The four nations
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries:
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| England | London |
| Scotland | Edinburgh |
| Wales | Cardiff |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast |
The country's full official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales only. Northern Ireland is part of the UK but not of Great Britain. The island of Ireland is shared between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is a separate, independent country.
How the UK is governed
The UK is governed by Parliament at Westminster in London. Some powers are passed down, or "devolved", to the other nations:
- Scotland has the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
- Wales has the Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd, in Cardiff. The handbook calls it the National Assembly for Wales, its earlier name.
- Northern Ireland has the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast.
Chapter 5 covers what these bodies do.
Crown dependencies
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are closely linked to the UK but are not part of it. They are Crown dependencies, with their own governments and their own laws.
British overseas territories
Several territories around the world are linked to the UK because of its history, such as the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and St Helena. They are not part of the UK either.
Exam tip: a question may ask which places are not part of the UK. The Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the overseas territories are all outside it.
Check yourself
- Which country is in the UK but not in Great Britain?
- What is the capital of Scotland, and of Northern Ireland?
- Are the Channel Islands part of the UK?
- Name one British overseas territory.
Ready to try a full test? Start Life in the UK practice test 1.