Geography of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - An Introduction
"United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" is the official title of the United Kingdom (UK). It is located in Western Europe to the northwest of France and between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It includes Great Britain (the formerly separate realms of England and Scotland, and the principality of Wales), Northern Ireland (also known as Ulster) and many smaller nearby islands including the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, Scilly, Orkney, Shetland, and Hebridean archipelagos. The UK has coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the North Sea. It occupies a total area of approximately 241,930 square kilometres (93,410 sq mi). The mainland areas lie between latitudes 49°N and 59°N, and longitudes 8°W to 2°E. The Royal Greenwich Observatory, in South East London, is the defining point of the Prime Meridian. London is i ts capital and the largest city.