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{{Country information
|image =Flag of United Kingdom.svg
|official languages = [[English]]
|capital = [[London]]
|area = 243,610 km<sup>2</sup> 
|government = constitutional monarchy
|religion = Anglican and other protestant (75%), Others 3%, None 22% 
|population = (63,181,775) British 76%, German 8%, French 5%, Nordic 2%, Muslim 6%, Black 3% 
|time_zone = GMT (UTC+0)
|currency = [[Pound sterling]]
|demonym = British
}}
[[File:Europe-UK.svg|right|300px|thumb|The location of the United Kingdom within the [[European Union]].]]
The '''United Kingdom''' ('''UK''') is a country in north-western Europe. The UK is one of the most famous and important countries in the world. Some people call the country ''[[England]]''. This is incorrect, for England is only a part of the United Kingdom. Other people call the country ''[[Great Britain]]''. That is also false, because Great Britain is one of the islands of the UK. A nickname for the UK is ''Britain''. 

The capital of the country is [[London]] in England. [[English]] is the official language of the United Kingdom and is common to the whole of the [[British Isles]]. It comprises the islands of [[Great Britain]] and of [[Northern Ireland]] and many smaller surrounding islands. Officially, the UK is a [[political union]] between four countries. These countries are not independent states, but can make their own policies on certain levels. Some areas, like [[Gibraltar]] and the [[Falkland Islands]], are also a part of the United Kingdom. 

From 1973 to 2020, the United Kingdom was a member state of the [[European Union]]. The 2016 referendum opened the door to a [[Brexit]], the leaving of the EU by the UK. On 31 January 2020, the country left the Union. The United Kingdom also helped form [[NATO]] (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). The national anthem is [[God Save the King]] and the national flag is the [[Union Jack]]. The [[Pound sterling]] is the currency. 

==History==
[[file:Stonehenge cloudy sunset.jpg|left|300px|thumb|[[Stonehenge]], one of the most mysterious and famous buildings from the [[prehistory]].]]
As the name sais, the United Kingdom is a collection of former countries. Al these countries have their own history. The British history is mostly focused on England and Great Britain. 

===Prehistory===
A long time ago the UK hasn't an island. It was a part of the main land of Europe. Then, there wasn't a [[North Sea]]. During thousands of years, the land crumbled until the United Kingdom parted from the main land in 6000 B.C. The UK was finally an island, but that didn't meant people from the main land could reach the island. The North sea was dry in some [[ice age]]s. Therefore, one culture settled it from England to the [[Baltic States]]. 

Farmers from [[Bretagne]] and the Southwest of [[France]] came to England. The farmers spread themselves over all the islands. They built monuments and grave circles from 2500 B.C. The world famous [[Stonehenge]] was built during this period. The various tribes built houses and forts to protect themselves too. The [[Celtics]] expelled the original British inhabitants 2000 years later. 

===The Romans and kingdoms===
[[file:Anglo.Saxon.migration.5th.cen.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The [[Migration Period]]. This map shows the areas the [[Anglo-Saxons]] came from and in which tribes they were divided.]]
The Roman leader [[Julius Caesar]] wanted to conquer England, but didn't succeed. Approximately one hundred years later, Roman emperor [[Claudius I]] did succeed. The Romans built some cities and brought prosperity. Later on, they introduced [[Christianity]] to England. The Romans didn't conquered [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]] and [[Cornwall]]. Although the Roman set to the north and conquered some areas, they had to give it back very soon. To keep the northern tribes at distance, the Romans built the [[Hadrian's Wall]] (named after emperor [[Hadrian]]). Hadrian's Wall is seen as one of the first hard borders. During the fifth century A.D. the [[Migration Period]] found place. Various tribes left for England, while the Roman left England for [[Rome]]. 

The Celtics were abandoned by the Romans and some new tribes, the [[Anglo-Saxons]], came to live in England. These tribes expelled the Celtics to some small areas in the west. The Anglo-Saxons consisted of various folks, like the [[Jutes]] in the southeast and the [[Angles]] in the center and north. Many (small) kingdoms did arise. [[Wessex]], [[Sussex]], [[Essex]], [[Kent]], [[East Anglia]], [[Mercia]] and [[Northumbria]] were the most important and are called the [[Heptarchy]]. Between the kingdoms was a during conflict, which resulted in Wessex becoming the most powerful. Wessex united all the kingdoms into the [[Kingdom of England]]. 

During this time most people were converted to Christianity. Also, the [[Vikings]] attacked England a few times. King [[Edgar of England|Edgar]] reduced these attacks. At the end of the 10th century the Danes took over England. The King of Denmark governed England for 26 years, but eventually the former royal house (Wessex) was restored. 
 
===William the Conqueror and Tudor===
[[file:Battle of crecy froissart.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The [[Hundred Years' War]]; one of the many wars between England and France.]]
After king [[Edward the Confessor]] passed away in 1066, it was unclear who became the new king. Edward had three sons, who all wanted to be king. The Witan decided [[Harold Godwinson]] would be the new king, but he was soon killed in an attacked. He was followed by [[William the Conqueror]], the king of [[Normandy]]. A [[personal union]] between Normandy and England was started. England was getting involved by the conflicts on the main land. King [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] wanted to expand his powers by conquering Ireland, Scotland and Wales. At the same time he lost Normandy to the French. For the first there was a British parliament. Between France and England the [[Hundred Years' War]] took place. The parliament could expand its powers. The economy was in good state, but then the [[plague]] did occur in 1348. The war with France caused eventually the [[Peasants' Revolt]]. 

At the end the [[House of Tudor]] came to power. This resulted in some changes. England became a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] country and the farmers got it better. Queen [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] is the most famous and last ruler of the House of Tudor. She established the [[Angelic Church]]. During Elizabeth's reign England was a prosperous and blooming country. 

===The Civil War and after that===
[[File:Burton, William Shakespeare- The Wounded Cavalier.jpg|right|300px|thumb|A wounded [[cavalier]] during the [[English Civil War]].]]
Queen Elizabeth I died without having any children. The [[House of Stuart]], which reigned over Scotland, came to power. Only the Stuarts were Catholic, while the rest of the country was Protestant. Also, there were issues about money and politics. Eventually, the [[English Civil War]] started between the [[cavalier]]s (in favour of the king) and the [[roundhead]]s (against the king). The roundheads wanted to establish a republic, where the parliament was in full charge. Roundheads won, beheaded the king, abolished the monarchy and created the [[Commonwealth of England]]. After 11 years, king [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] returned to England and England was a monarchy (again). 

After the Civil War, the Dutch and the English fought at the [[North Sea]]. Dutch [[Stadtholder]] [[William III of England|William III]] (in England William II) was the nephew of English king [[James II of England|James II]]. James II supported the Catholics in his country, but his daughter [[Mary II of England|Mary]] wanted to save Protestant Church and the freedom of England. She married Stadtholder William III and reigned together over England. They reduced the power of the king and increased the power of the parliament. Scotland and England became one state, with the name the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]. In this period England started to colonise overseas areas. 

===House of Hannover and the 19th century===
[[file:British Empire evolution3.gif|left|300px|thumb|The rise and decline of the [[British Empire]].]]
The [[House of Hannover]] came to power in 1714. In 1760, the Great Britain conquered large parts of [[Canada]] and [[India]]. Although the American colonies (nowadays [[United States]]) declared themselves independent after [[American Revolutionary War|a war for independence]], the power of England in the world started to grow. The English fought against [[Napoleon]] and conquered [[Sri Lanka]] and [[South Africa]]. The 19th century was also the time when the [[Industrial Revolution]] started. Many products were now made by machines, more and more people started to work in fabrics and the cities were growing. Great Britain became one of the most important countries on the planet. After [[Ireland]] became a part of Great Britain the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] was established. 

During the 19th century [[slavery]] was abolished in 1833 and every men got the right to vote in 1884. Women got the right to vote in 1918. The prosperity and wealth of the higher classes resulted in poverty for the lower classes, where people worked in factories. Special political parties for the workers were established. They wanted better and safer living and working conditions as well as better wages for the workers. The Industrial Revolution brought notable inventions like the [[steam engine]], the [[gas bulb]], [[electricity]] and the [[sewage system]]. Queen [[Victoria of United Kingdom|Victoria]] was the queen of the UK from 1837 to 1901. Although she had no political powers, she became the symbol of the nation and her reign is known as the [[Victorian era]]. The Victorian era brought a cultural wave and was a period of prosperity. After she died, the [[Edwardian era]] started, which was a more loose area. 

At the beginning of the 20th century the UK owned a quarter of the entire world. The [[British Empire]] included areas in Asia, Africa, Oceania and North America. The House of Hannover was followed by the [[House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] in 1901.

===The World Wars===
[[File:LondonBombedWWII full.jpg|right|300px|thumb|During the [[Battle of England]], [[London]] was bombed many times.]]
The United Kingdom got involved with the [[First World War]] in 1915 and fought alongside [[France]], [[Russia]] and the [[United States]] against [[Germany]], [[Austria-Hungary]] and [[Italy]]. The name of the House of Saxe-Goburg and Gotha was renamed to the [[House of Windsor]]. Also other German titles were changed to English sounding names. The king wanted to show the English people he was against the Germans. In 1922, [[Ireland]] became independent after the [[Irish Civil War]]. [[Northern Ireland]] stood in the United Kingdom and it changed its official name to the current one. In the 30s the country was involved in the global economic crisis. The politics as well as the monarchy was instable. After the death of the king, [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|Edward VIII]] became king, but was followed by [[George VI of the United Kingdom|George VI]]. Prime Minister [[Neville Chamberlain]] wanted to prevent a second world war by making a deal with [[Adolf Hitler]]. Although he thought he had prevented a new war, the deal was in fact worthless. 

In the [[Second World War]] the UK fought alongside France, the States and the [[Soviet Union]] against Germany, Japan and Italy. The Nazis sent a lot of bombs to the capital of London, which was in ruins at the time. Children had to leave the cities for the countryside, cause it was too dangerous. The British king refused to leave the capital, even after the whole front of his palace was gone. Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] fought against the Nazis and became the important figure next to [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Josef Stalin]].

===Modern era===
[[file:John Travolta and Princess Diana.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The death of [[Diana Spencer]] is one of the more modern tragedies of the United Kingdom.]]
The British Empire was falling to pieces. After Australia, Canada and South Africa, India and many African colonies became independent. In 1952, king George was followed by Queen [[Elizabeth II]]. The UK became a [[welfare state]] in which nobody had to live in poverty. The UK joined the [[European Union]] in 1973. 

In the 80s, [[Margaret Thatcher]] became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She had the nickname ''Iron Lady'', because of her strong opinion. Thatcher fought in the [[Falkland War]] against Argentina, survived a bomb attack and her policy caused many strikes. In Northern Ireland was a conflict between the Protestants (who wanted to remain in the UK) and the Catholics (who wanted to join Ireland). The [[Irish Republic Army]] (IRA) was very violent. In the 90s, there was an agreement between the IRA, Ireland and the UK. The British monarchy had other problems, for example the [[divorce]] between Charles and [[Diana Spencer]]. Diana Spencer would die in a car accident a brief time later. In 2005, terroristic attacks took place in [[London]]. The UK joined the [[War against Terror]]. 

In 2014, a [[referendum]] for an independent Scotland was held, but Scotland choose to stay in the UK. After the 2016 referendum, it became clear the UK was the first country to leave the European Union. On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom leaves the Union.

==Administrative division==
[[File:Flag-map of the United Kingdom (subdivisions).svg|right|300px|thumb|The four constitutional countries of the UK. The small island isn't a constitutional country, but the [[Isle of Man]].]]
[[File:DouglasIsleofMan.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Douglas (Man)|Douglas]] is the capital of the Isle of Man.]]
[[File:Inside the Reef Cayman.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This topical piece of nature is also within the UK, since the [[Cayman Islands]] are a part of the UK too.]]
The administrative division of the United Kingdom is quite complex and diverse per region. If you look at the UK as a whole, you see there are three main categories:
* The Constitutional countries
* The Crown dependencies 
* The British Overseas Areas 

===Constitutional countries===
There are four constitutional countries, which are divided over the main area of the United Kingdom. These countries are:
* [[England]], with its capital at [[London]].
* [[Scotland]], with its capital at [[Edinburgh]]. 
* [[Wales]], with its capital at [[Cardiff]].
* [[Northern Ireland]], with its capital at [[Belfast]]. 
England, Scotland and Wales are located at the island of [[Great Britain]]. Only Northern Ireland is located at the island of [[Ireland (island)|Ireland]]. The UK has over 60 million inhabitants and 80% of those inhabitants live in England. The countries all have a unique division; England is divided into regions, Wales into principal areas and Northern Ireland into counties. Scotland is divided in various ways. 

===Crown dependencies===
At one time, the United Kingdom got a number of islands. These islands are included by the United Kingdom, in contrast to the overseas areas. The dependencies all have their own government and the British government doesn't meddle into their businesses. The three crown dependencies are:
* [[Guernsey]], with its capital at [[Saint Peter Port]].
* [[Jersey]], with its capital at [[Saint Helier]].
* [[Isle of Man]], with its capital at [[Douglas]].
Guernsey and Jersey form together the [[Canal Islands]] and the Isle of Man is located in the [[Irish Sea]].

===British Overseas Areas===
Some areas belong to the United Kingdom, but aren't a part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has 14 overseas areas all over the world. Their the last remains of the British Empire. Those areas are:
* [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]], on the island of [[Cyprus]]. 
* [[Anguilla]], in the [[Caribbean Sea]].
* [[Bermuda]], in the [[Atlantic Ocean]].
* [[British Antarctic Territory]], on [[Antarctica]].
* [[British Indian Ocean Territory]], in the [[Indian Ocean]].
* [[British Virgin Islands]], in the [[Caribbean Sea]].
* [[Cayman Islands]], in the [[Caribbean Sea]].
* [[Falkland Islands]], at the coast of [[Argentina]].
* [[Gibraltar]], in the south of [[Spain]].
* [[Montserrat]], in the [[Caribbean Sea]].
* [[Pitcairn Islands]], in the [[Pacific Ocean]].
* [[Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha]], in the [[Atlantic Ocean]].
* [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]], in the [[Atlantic Ocean]].
* [[Turks and Caicos Islands]], in the [[Caribbean Sea]].
Except the Arctic Territory, all areas are inhabited. 260.000 people live in the areas and the areas cover 1.727.570&nbsp;km². All areas have voted to stay in the United Kingdom. 

==Geography==
===Location===
[[File:312SFEC LONDON-20070917.JPG|left|300px|thumb|The [[Greenwich Meridian]], which crosses through [[Greenwich]] near [[London]].]]
The United Kingdom is located in the western part of Europe. The country is divided over two big islands and several small ones. The biggest part of the UK is located on the island of [[Great Britain]], the other part on the island of [[Ireland (island)|Ireland]]. Because the Republic of [[Ireland]] was a part of the United Kingdom the islands are known as the [[British Isles]]. The United Kingdom borders only to the Republic of Ireland by land. Though the borders on the seas the United Kingdom borders also to [[France]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]] and also Ireland. The [[Channel Tunnel]] connects the UK with the main land of France. 

The [[prime meridian]] also passes the United Kingdom. This is an imaginary line from the [[North Pole]] to the [[South Pole]] and is important for the creation of maps. The prime meridian passes through the village of [[Greenwich]], causing the meridian to be called the ''Greenwich Meridian''. 

===Water===
[[File:Tower bridge London Twilight - November 2006.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The [[Tower Bridge]] over the [[Thames]]]]
The United Kingdom is surrounded by water. In the south it borders to the [[English Channel]] and in the east to the [[North Sea]]. Both seas are connected with each other by the [[Strait of Dover]]. In the north, it border to the [[Atlantic Ocean]], in the west to the [[Irish Sea]] and in the southwest to the [[Celtic Sea]]. The [[St George's Channel]] connects the Celtic with the Irish sea and the [[North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)|North Channel]] the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The [[Bristol Channel]] is located between England and Wales. 

The most famous river of the United Kingdom is the [[Thames]], which crosses the British capital of London. The [[Severn]] is nonetheless the longest river of the United Kingdom. The [[Trent]], the [[Humber]], the [[Aire]], the [[Great Ouse]] and the [[Wye]] are also long rivers. The most famous lake of the United Kingdom is [[Loch Ness]]. According to the legend, the [[Loch Ness Monster]] lives in this lake. The biggest lake is located in Northern Ireland and is called [[Lough Neagh]]. 

===Islands===
There are a number of islands around the UK. A few examples are the [[Isle of Wight]], [[Arran]], [[Jura]], [[Islay]], [[Skye]] and [[Anglesey]]. The most notable archipelagos are the [[Shetland Islands]], the [[Orkney Islands]], the [[Scilly Islands]] and the [[Hebrides]]. If you only look at the Scottish coast, there are a lot of islands. Over 800 islands are located before the Scottish coast, due to its many coves. On the contrary, the east coast just has a few islands. 

[[File:Eilean Donan pano.jpg|850px|center|thumb|The island of [[Skye]] is a part of the [[Hebrides]]. The Hebrides themselves can be divided in to the [[Outer Hebrides]] and the [[Inner Hebrides]].]]
===Hills and mountains===
[[File:Manchester from the Sky, 2008.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Manchester]] is one of the biggest cities in the UK. The famous football club [[Manchester City]] is located in Manchester]]
[[File:Edinburgh Cockburn St dsc06789.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Edinburgh]] is the capital of Scotland and the biggest of Scotland after [[Glasgow]].]]
The British landscape is quite diverse and hills are an important factor. Through England there's a line called the [[Tees-Exes Line]]. This line is located from the northeast to southwest. Everything south of the line is very flat with just a few hills, everything north of the line is very hilly and rough. The north and west of Scotland mountainous, while the rest of country is more flat. The north of Wales is quite mountainous too. Most people in Wales live therefore in the south. The largest part of Northern Ireland does have also a lot of hills. 

The highest mountain of the United Kingdom is the [[Ben Nevis]], located in Scotland. Other well-known hills are the [[Snowdon]] and the [[Scafell Pike]]. 

===10 largest cities===
The ten largest cities are:
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
!| Number !! Name !! Inhabitiants !! Region
|-
|1||[[London]]||8.174.000||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|2||[[Birmingham (Verenigd Koninkrijk)|Birmingham]]||2.440.986||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|3||[[Leeds]]||751.485||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|4||[[Glasgow]]||598.830||[[file:Flag of Scotland.svg|20px]] [[Scotland]]
|-
|5||[[Sheffield]]||552.698||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|6||[[Manchester]]||503.127||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|7||[[Edinburgh]]||495.360||[[file:Flag of Scotland.svg|20px]] [[Scotland]]
|-
|8||[[Liverpool]]||466.415||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|9||[[Bristol]]||428.234||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|10||[[Leicester]]||329.839 ||[[file:Flag of England.svg|20px]] [[England]]
|-
|}

===Climate===
[[File:The Weather Forecast - Heavy Showers - geograph.org.uk - 232911.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Heavy showers! Rain is seen as a typical weather for the UK.]]
The sea has a lot of influence on the British climate, because the country is surrounded by water. The United Kingdom has a [[moderate maritime climate]], which means the soft winters and cold summers. The British climate is known as wet and rainy. This isn't strange, because of the wind from sea towards the land. The moderate maritime climate isn't common in all of Britain, the mountains have a [[Alpine climate]], with lots of snow and cold temperatures. 

The spring is in the UK a cold, quiet and dry season. The sea has lost its heath during the autumn and winter. At the end of the season the wetter becomes more restless. Because the seawater is still cold and the weather still warm, thunder and rainstorms arise. The summer is the sunniest and warmest season, but heavy rain still occur. Despite the rain, the temperature could reach 35&nbsp;°C. The north is always a bit colder than the south. In the autumn, the wetter is cold, but the sea is still warm. The result is heavy rain again. In the winter the temperature can cold down to -10&nbsp;°C. Although, the beginning of the season is very windy, during the season the wind lays down. In the mountains, skiing is possible and [[blizzard]]s can occur.

==Culture==
There isn't a real common British culture, for the United Kingdom exists of four constitutional countries. However, some things are the cultures have in common, which we call the British culture. The British culture is nearly the same as the English culture. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have a culture, which is a bit different. The British culture was a big influence on the former colonies, which are now independent. Examples of these countries are the [[United States]], [[Ireland]], [[Canada]], [[India]], [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]] and [[South Africa]]

===Languages===
The UK has just one official languages, namely [[English language|English]]. English is a [[West Germanic languages|West Germanic language]] and is close family of the [[Dutch]] and [[German]] language. The language originated in England and spread to rest of the UK and its colonies. In the former colonies, English is still spoken. English is seen as the most important language since the 20th century. Before that, there wasn't a real worldwide language, although [[French language|French]] was spoken by some people. The status of English in the world is due to the influence of the UK and the USA. At the moment, a third of the worldwide population speaks English as native or second language. 

Due to the spread of the English language, there are many dialects. The type of English, which is spoken in the UK, is called [[British English]]. This is a bit different from [[American English]], which is mostly spoken by non-native speakers. British English uses other words than American English, for example ''gas'' is called ''petrol'' in the UK. Also, some words are spelled in a different way. Most foreigners in the UK speak there native language at home. From all the EU members states, the British speak the least foreign languages. There are some variants in pronunciation between the regions of the UK. For instance, someone in Scotland speaks with a [[Scottish]] dialect. 

There are still some [[Celtic languages]] spoken in the United Kingdom. [[Scottish Gaelic]] is spoken in the north of Scotland, [[Welsh]] in Wales and [[Irish]] in Northern Ireland. On the [[Isle of Man]], [[Manx Gaelic]] is spoken and [[Cornish]] is spoken in [[Cornwall]]. The last two languages died a couple of decades ago, but are reintroduced. Celtic languages aren't used very often, for most speakers also speak English. Although most Celtic languages are threatened with extinction, more and more people want to learn the languages. Also, some other languages are common. On the [[Channel Islands]], [[French]] is often used and [[Pitcairn]] is spoken on the [[Pitcairn Islands]]. 

===Music===
The UK has a big music industry, probably due to the English language which a lot of people can understand. During the 60s [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[The Beatles]] were successful bands, but later on the British bands were overshadowed by the American ones. In the 70s, the band [[Queen]] was quite popular. Their ''[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]'', is one of the worlds most well-known singles. Also, peace activist [[John Lennon]] was quite famous. The British music was over its height in the 80s, but later on revived. In the 90s, the [[Spice Girls]] became a big player. Today, the British music industry is still very famous. Artists like [[Adele]], [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Amy Whinehouse]] and the former band [[One Direction]] are a few examples of the biggest stars of the last few years. 

Despite of its big music industry, the United Kingdom has seen worst results in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]]. The country is one of the biggest payers and doesn't have to participate in semi-finals. The UK has won the ESC five times; [[Sandie Shaw]] in 1967, [[Lulu]] in 1969 (one of the four winners), [[Brotherhood of Man]] in 1976, [[Bucks Fizz]] in 1981 and [[Katrina and the Waves]] in 1997. During the first few years, the UK has hosted the festival multiple times for it had the most advanced studios. The English language was seen as a profit, because all countries had to sing in a native language. In modern days, every country choose whatever language it wants. Although the UK ends almost every year in the last place (in most recent years), the ESC remains popular in the UK. 

===Literature===
Also, the British literature is quite well-known and popular around the globe. The British literature influenced the English literature. One of the most well-known writers (or playwrights), [[William Shakespeare]], was an Englishman. He wrote many plays like ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' and ''[[Hamlet]]''. His sentence ''To be or not to be. That's the question.'' remains one of the most famous sentences around the globe. During the nineteenth century, [[Jane Austen]] (''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''), [[Charlotte Brontë]] (''[[Jane Eyre]]''), [[Emily Brontë]] (''[[Wuthering Heights]]''), [[George Elliot]] (''[[Middlemarch]]'') and [[Mary Shelley]] (''[[Frankenstein]]'') lived. The most famous writer of this time is probably [[Charles Dickens]], who wrote ''[[Great Expectations]]'' and ''[[Oliver Twist]]''. Later on, the more modern writers like [[Virginia Woolf]] (''[[To the Lighthouse]]''), [[E.M. Forster]] (''[[A Room with a View]]'') and [[Aldous Huxley]] (''[[Brave New World]]'') lived. After the war, [[George Orwell]] wrote political manifests like ''[[1984]]'' and ''[[Animal Farm]]''. The well-known British detective novels urned its reputation. [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] wrote novels about worlds well-known detective [[Sherlock Holmes]]. [[Agatha Christie]], worlds best selling author, wrote about [[Hercule Poirot]] and [[Miss Marple]]. In more recent years, the books of [[J.K. Rowling]] and [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] came a cult icon, also due to their movies. 

The British literature has also made much children's books, like ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' by [[Lewis Caroll]], ''[[The Tales of Peter Rabbit]]'' by [[Beatrix Potter]], ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' by [[C.S. Lewis]] and ''[[Peter Pan]]'' by [[J.M. Barrie]]. Author [[Roald Dahl]] wrote many children's books, for example ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'', ''[[Mathilda]]'' and ''[[The BFG]]''. 

===Cuisine===
The British cuisine is often underestimated, but the UK has got a very diverse cuisine. Typical British cuisines are [[fish and chips]] and [[lamb]] with [[mint]]. The spices used in Britain came from the colonies. Cuisines from the colonies were mixed with British cuisines, for example [[chicken tikki masala]]. Also, a lot of Celtic dishes are still present today, like [[Welsh stew]]. These Celtic dishes have often got simple sauces. With the [[Sunday Roast]], the British show the pride of their meat. Typical British, is the [[British breakfast]] with [[omelet]]s, [[bacon]], [[white bean]]s in [[tomato sauce]], [[blood sausage]]s and [[toast]]. [[Piccalilly]] is a typical British sauce, made from unions and pickles. 

The United Kingdom is famous, because of the [[tea]]. Although tea isn't produced in the UK, it is often drunken there with [[sugar]] and [[milk]]. The British even have a "tea time" dedicated to their tea, the [[afternoon tea]]. According to the story, duchess Anne of Bedford once was hungry at 4 p.m. It was too early to have diner and too late to have lunch, so her staff prepared her a light meal with tea. The afternoon tea mostly consist of [[sandwich]]es, [[scone]]s and [[Victoria sponge cake]]s. 

==Politics==
===The parliament===
The [[British Parliament]] seats in the [[Palace of Westminster]] in [[Westminster]], [[London]]. It consists of two chambers:
* The [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], which consists of 650 members. They're chosen for a period of four years. Unlike most countries, the ministers and prime minister are also part of the parliament. The opposition often forms a [[shadow cabinet]]. The normal and the shadow cabinet are seated in the front, while the other members are seated in the back. 
* The [[House of Lords of the United Kingdom|House of Lords]], which consists of 756 members. They aren't chosen in elections. Originally, the seats where for the church and the nobility, but nowadays people in high functions in the British society have a place in the house. In the past, the seats could be inherited, but now this is only the case with a few seats. The House of Lords has far less power than the House of Commons and only can delay laws. 
The British Parliament is also the parliament of England. Scotland has its own parliament ([[Scottish Parliament]]), as well as Northern Ireland ([[Northern Ireland Assembly]]) and Wales ([[National Assembly of Wales]]). The British overseas areas and crown dependencies have their own parliament too. 

===Government===
The prime minister and his/her ministers are called ''His Majesty's Government''. All prime minister have been males, except three ([[Margaret Thatcher]], [[Theresa May]] and [[Liz Truss]]). The current government is formed by the [[Labour Party]], with Sir [[Keir Starmer]] as its prime minister. In the past, governments were led by the Conservative or the [[Labour Party]]. They mostly have a majority in parliament, but in some cases they didn't. Then they had confidence and support from other parties, like [[Liberal Democrats]], the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] or the [[Ulster Unionist Party]].

Besides normal ministers (for foreign affaires, health, etc.), the UK also has special ministers for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. With the [[Brexit]], there is also a special Brexit minister.

===The European Union===
The UK was between 1973 and 2020 part of the [[European Union]]. It joined the EU in 1973, at the same time as [[Ireland]] and [[Denmark]] as the first enlargement of the union. In 1975, there was a referendum about whether Britain should be a part of the UK or not. Then, the people voted to stay within the union. In 2016, there was a new referendum after the Conservative Party of [[David Cameron]] won the elections. A slight majority wanted Britain to leave the EU. Originally, Britain should have left EU at the beginning of 2019, but due to political fights this was delayed until 2020. 

It is unsure which consequences the [[Brexit]] has for Britain and the European Union. The UK was after [[Germany]] the biggest economy within the European Union and 50% of the trade in Britain was with EU member state. People in favour of the Brexit, brexiteers (like [[Nigel Farage]] and [[Boris Johnson]]), say that Britain will have more control over the country, will have the opportunity for new trade agreements and will have less immigrants after Brexit. Pro-Europeanists, say that Brexit will have disastrous consequences for the British economy and will led to unemployment and even an economic crisis. 

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