The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, usually known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain, is a sovereign state off the coast of continental Europe. The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland (joined to Ireland-Eire-on a separate island), Scotland (to the north) and Wales (to the west) each home to a range of different counties with their own histories and customs.
England has the greatest population of some 50 million or so, almost one third of them living in the south east of the country around the capital London.
Scotland, with a third of the land area has a population of only 5 million, most of them living in the lowland areas to the south. In addition to the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands including the Northern Isles of Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney and the Hebrides - the inner including Mull and Skye and the Outer including Lewis and Bara.
Though the United Kingdom is small in size, it is dense in history and sites of interest giving a wide choice of activities for the visitor.