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Values & Principles

What is the UK?

Know which places are inside the UK, which names exclude Northern Ireland, and which linked territories are not part of the UK.

In this topic

What to be able to answer

  • Recall the four countries of the United Kingdom.
  • Separate United Kingdom from Great Britain.
  • Identify Crown dependencies: Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
  • Identify British overseas territories: St Helena and the Falkland Islands.
  • Remember that the UK Parliament sits at Westminster.

Learn

Four nations, one kingdom, and territories beyond

Topic 4 of 4

The boundaries the test checks

The UK, Great Britain, Crown dependencies and overseas territories are different groups.

Inside the UK

United Kingdom

Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In the test, Britain, British and British Isles refer to everyone in the UK.

EnglandScotlandWalesNorthern Ireland
UK Parliament sits at Westminster.

Smaller group

Great Britain

EnglandScotlandWalesnot Northern Ireland

Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales only.

Linked, not part

Places outside the UK

Crown dependencies
Isle of ManChannel Islands

They have their own governments.

British overseas territories
St HelenaFalkland Islands

They are linked to the UK but not part of it.

The rest of Ireland is an independent country, not part of the UK.

Do not mix up

Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales only; it does not include Northern Ireland.
Isle of Man and Channel Islands are linked to the UK but are not part of it.
St Helena and the Falkland Islands are British overseas territories, not Crown dependencies.

Practise

Check this topic

Preparing three random questions from this topic.