Topic outline of the United Kingdom

:"For an alphabetical index of this subject, see the List of United Kingdom-related topics."

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain, [See British Isles (terminology) for further explanation of the usage of the term "Britain" in geographical and political contexts.] is a sovereign island country [cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110750/United-Kingdom|title=Encyclopaedia Britannica |quote=Island country located off the north-western coast of mainland Europe|accessdate=2007-09-25] cite web |url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page823.asp |title=Countries within a country |author=www.number-10.gov.uk |accessdate=2007-06-13|quote=Countries within a country] located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe.The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the northeast part of the island of Ireland and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. [Cite web
url = http://www.eu2005.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1115141709899/
title = Member States: United Kingdom
accessmonthday = 29 May
accessyear = 2006
publisher = UK Presidency of the EU 2005] Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel.

The United Kingdom constists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with its seat of government in London, the capital, and a constitutional monarchy with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. The Crown Dependencies of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, formally possessions of the Crown, are not part of the UK but form a federacy with it. [cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/AboutBritain/DG_10012517|title=UK gov explanation of names] The UK has fourteen overseas territories, [cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1013618138295 |title=UK Overseas Territories |publisher=Foreign & Commonwealth Office |accessdate=2007-04-20] all remnants of the British Empire, which at its height encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface, making it the largest empire in history. As a direct result of the empire, British influence can be observed in the language and culture of states such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and the United States of America, and other less globally influential independent states. HM Queen Elizabeth II remains the head of the Commonwealth of Nations and head of state of the Commonwealth realms.

The following topic outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to United Kingdom:

__TOC__

* Abbreviation: UK
* Pronunciation:
* International rankings of the United Kingdom
* Terminology of the British Isles
* United Kingdom-related topics
** England-related topics
** Scotland-related topics
** Wales-related topics
** Northern Ireland-related topics

Geography of the UK

: "Main article: Geography of the United Kingdom"

* The United Kingdom is: an island country
* Location:
** Atlantic Ocean
** Northern Hemisphere, on the Prime Meridian
** Eurasia (but not on the mainland)
*** Europe
**** Northern Europe
***** British Isles
****** Great Britain (island, all of it)
****** Ireland (island, northeastern sixth of it)
**** Western Europe
** Extreme points of the United Kingdom
* Population of the United Kingdom: 60,975,000 people (2007 estimate) - 22nd most populous country
* Area of the United Kingdom: unit sqkm|244820|0|lk=on - 79th largest country
*
**
**
**
**
* Geography of the United Kingdom
** Geography of England
** Geography of Northern Ireland
** Geography of Scotland
** Geography of Wales

Environment of the UK

* Climate of the United Kingdom
* Ecology of the United Kingdom
** Conservation in the United Kingdom
*** Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom
** Ecoregions in the United Kingdom
** Renewable energy in the United Kingdom
*** Green electricity in the United Kingdom
*** Wind power in the United Kingdom
*** Solar power in the United Kingdom
* Geology of the United Kingdom
* National parks of the United Kingdom
** National Parks of England and Wales
** National Parks of Scotland
* Protected areas of the United Kingdom
** Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)
** Heritage Coast
** Scenic areas
*** Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - England, Wales, Northern Ireland
*** National Scenic Area - Scotland
** Scheduled Ancient Monument
** Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
** Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (European Union)
** Special Protection Area (SPA) (European Union)
** Wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention (International)
* Wildlife of the United Kingdom
** Flora of the United Kingdom
** Fauna of the United Kingdom
*** Birds of the United Kingdom
**** Birds of Great Britain
*** Mammals of the United Kingdom

Geographic features of the UK

* Fjords of the United Kingdom
* Glaciers of the United Kingdom
* Islands of the United Kingdom
* Lakes of the United Kingdom
* Mountains and hills of the United Kingdom
** Volcanoes in the United Kingdom
* Rivers of the United Kingdom
** Waterfalls of the United Kingdom
* Valleys of the United Kingdom
* World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom

Regions of the UK

* Time zone of the UK

Ecoregions of the UK

: "Main article: Ecoregions in the United Kingdom"

Subdivisions of the UK

: "Main article:Subdivisions of the United Kingdom"

* Islands of the United Kingdom

Constituent countries of the UK

= England=

* Regions of England
** Counties of England "(see also Metropolitan county and Shire county)"
*** Districts of England "(see also Metropolitan district and Shire district)"
**** Civil parishes in England
** Greater London
*** London boroughs
** Unitary authorities of England

= Northern Ireland =

* Regions of Northern Ireland
** Districts of Northern Ireland

= Scotland =

= Wales =

Municipalities of the UK

* Capital of the United Kingdom: London
* Second city of the United Kingdom
* Cities of the UK
* Cities of the UK by population
* Towns of the United Kingdom
** Towns in England
** Burghs in Scotland
** Towns in Wales
** Towns in Northern Ireland

* City status in the United Kingdom
* Conurbations in the United Kingdom
* Green belt

Demography of the UK

: "Main article: Demographics of the United Kingdom"

Government and politics of the UK

: "Main articles: Her Majesty's Government, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, and Politics of the United Kingdom"

* Form of government: parliamentary multi-party representative democratic constitutional monarchy
* Capital of the United Kingdom: London

* Censorship in the United Kingdom
* Elections in the United Kingdom
** (specific elections)
* Gun politics in the United Kingdom
* Political parties in the United Kingdom
* Political scandals of the United Kingdom
* Taxation in the United Kingdom

Branches of the government of the UK

Executive branch of the government of the UK

* Head of state: Monarch of the United Kingdom
** Coronation of the British monarch
*** Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
* Head of government: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
* Cabinet of the United Kingdom
* Departments of the United Kingdom Government

Legislative branch of the government of the UK

* Parliament of the United Kingdom (bicameral)
** Upper house: House of Lords
** Lower house: House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Judicial branch of the government of the UK

* Courts of England and Wales
* Courts of Northern Ireland
* Courts of Scotland
* Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

Foreign relations of the UK

* Anglo-American relations (US-UK relations)

International organization membership

The United Kingdom is a member of:
* United Nations
* European Union
* NATO

Law and order in the UK

: "Main article: Law of the United Kingdom"

* English law
* Scots law
* Northern Ireland law

* Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
* Constitution of the United Kingdom
* Crime in the United Kingdom
* Human rights in the United Kingdom
** LGBT rights in the United Kingdom
** Freedom of religion in the United Kingdom
* Law enforcement in the United Kingdom

Military of the UK

: "Main article: British Armed Forces"

* Command:
** Commander-in-chief: Queen of the United Kingdom
*** Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
**** Defence Council of the United Kingdom
* Naval Service
* British Army
* Royal Air Force
* United Kingdom Special Forces
* United Kingdom and weapons of mass destruction
** Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom

Local government in the UK

* Local government in England
** History of local government in England
** Mayors in England
* Local government in Northern Ireland
** History of local government in the United Kingdom
** Mayors in Northern Ireland
* Local government in Scotland
** History of local government in Scotland
** Provosts in Scotland
* Local government in Wales
** History of local government in Wales
** Mayors in Wales

History of the UK

: "Main article: History of the United Kingdom, Timeline of British history, and

* History of the formation of the United Kingdom
* UK underground

* Economic history of the United Kingdom
* History of local government in the United Kingdom
* Maritime history of the United Kingdom
* Military history of the United Kingdom
** Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II

Culture of the UK

: "Main article: Culture of the United Kingdom"

* Architecture of the United Kingdom
* Cuisine of the United Kingdom
* Ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom
* Festivals in the United Kingdom
* Humour in the United Kingdom
* Languages of the United Kingdom
* Marriage in the United Kingdom
** Civil partnership in the United Kingdom
* Media in the United Kingdom
* Symbols of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
** Coat of arms of the United Kingdom
** Flag of the United Kingdom
** National anthem of the United Kingdom
* Prostitution in the United Kingdom
* Public holidays in the United Kingdom
* Religion in the United Kingdom
** Buddhism in the United Kingdom
** Christianity in the United Kingdom
** Hinduism in the United Kingdom
** Islam in the United Kingdom
** Judaism in the United Kingdom
** Sikhism in the United Kingdom
* World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom

The Arts in the UK

* Art in the United Kingdom
** Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
** Pornography in the United Kingdom
* British comedy
* Cinema of the United Kingdom
* Literature of the United Kingdom
* Music of the United Kingdom
* Television in the United Kingdom
* Theatre in the United Kingdom

Sports and games in the UK

Sport in the UK

: "Main article: Sport in the United Kingdom"

* Football in the United Kingdom
* Horseracing in Great Britain

Games in the UK

Economy of the UK

: "Main article: Economy of the United Kingdom"

* Economic rank (by nominal GDP): fifth

* Agriculture in the United Kingdom
* Banking in the United Kingdom
* Banks of the United Kingdom
* Communications in the United Kingdom
* Companies of the United Kingdom
* Currency of the United Kingdom: Pound sterling
* Economic history of the United Kingdom
* Mining in the United Kingdom
* Oil industry in the United Kingdom
* Tourism in the United Kingdom
* Transport in the United Kingdom

* United Kingdom Stock Exchange

Education in the UK

: "Main articles: Education in the United Kingdom and List of schools in the United Kingdom"

* Grammar schools in the United Kingdom
* Independent school
* Preparatory school

Infrastructure of the UK

* Communications in the United Kingdom
** Internet in the United Kingdom
* Energy in the United Kingdom
* Fire services in the United Kingdom
* Health care in the United Kingdom
* Transportation in the United Kingdom
** Airports in the United Kingdom
** Rail transport in the United Kingdom
** Roads in the United Kingdom
* Water supply and sanitation in the United Kingdom

See also

* English Wikipedia
* List of basic geography topics
* List of international rankings
* List of United Kingdom-related articles
* List of United Kingdom-related topics

References

External links

*fr icon [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_dirigeants_des_r%C3%A9gions_du_Royaume-Uni List of United Kingdom regions rulers]
* [http://www.royal.gov.uk/ Official website of the British Monarchy]
* [http://www.direct.gov.uk/ Official website of the United Kingdom Government]
* [http://www.visitbritain.com/ Official tourist guide to Britain]
* [http://www.the-pass.co.uk/ Details of days out and attractions around Britain]
* [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5703 Official Yearbook of the United Kingdom]
* [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page823.asp "Countries within a country"] from the [http://www.number-10.gov.uk Official Website of the British Prime Minister]
* [http://dataranking.com/country.cgi?LG=e&CO=29 Economic & Social Data Ranking/ United Kingdom]
*