United Kingdom is an island country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. The United Kingdom comprises the whole of the island of Great Britain—which contains England, Wales and Scotland—as well as the northern portion of the island of Ireland.

 The capital is London, which is among the world’s leading commercial, financial, and cultural centers.

Other major cities include Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester in England, Belfast and Londonderry in Northern Ireland, Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, and Swansea and Cardiff in Wales.