What is the difference between England and the UK?

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by Kate Simmons >> more about the author

When some people think of the UK, they imagine the country of England. But these two places are not exactly the same! In fact, England is one of four countries that are part of the UK, also known as the United Kingdom, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The UK includes the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. To recap, the UK is the union of four countries (also called a country of countries); England is one of the four countries.

England is the largest of the countries in the United Kingdom, and the UK’s capital city of London is located in England! You may also have heard of Great Britain. Is this another country? No! Great Britain is the name of the island on which England, Scotland, and Wales are located. While Northern Ireland is part of the UK, it is not a part of Great Britain. It is located next to Great Britain, on the island of Ireland.

Whew! You’ve just learned a lot about England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. Now it’s time to put it all together! Take a look at a map. First, find the continent of Europe—the UK is located in Europe. Now find England, Scotland, and Wales. Remember, they are on the island of Great Britain. Note that Northern Ireland is not on the same piece of land!

Now look to the left, and you’ll see a smaller island called Ireland. At the top of this island you will find Northern Ireland. You may also notice the Republic of Ireland. Note that while the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland share the island of Ireland, only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Now congratulate yourself—you’re a budding geographer!