The United Kingdom is composed of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland, and Wales make up the island of Great Britain, while Northern Ireland is located on the island of Ireland. Each country has its own patron saint and national emblems. The capital of the UK is London, and British people are known for their love of tea, fish and chips, and discussing the weather.

1. Ireland
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2. • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
is the official name of a group of 4 countries: England, Scotland
and Wales are part of Great Britain, the largest island
of the British Isles. Northern Ireland is part of the second largest
island together with the Republic of Ireland, which became
independent in 1922. The island of Ireland is also known as
“the Emerald Isle”.
• All the other smaller islands are not part of the United Kingdom – the Isle of
Man, between Northern Ireland and England, the Orkney Islands up North and
the Channel Islands in the South, near the north-western coast of France.
The Hebrides
Ireland
Isle of Man
Orkney Islands
Channel Islands
Great Britain

3. • The Union Flag, commonly known as the Union Jack, is the name of the flag of
the UK. It is made of several symbols: the red cross of St. George for England;
the white diagonal cross of St. Andrew on blue ground for Scotland and the red
diagonal cross of St. Patrick, on white ground, for Ireland (although now only
Northern Ireland is part of the United kingdom).
• The national flag of Wales is not represented in the Union Flag,
because the Principality was already united with England when
the first version of the flag appeared.
St George St Andrew St Patrick Union Jack

4. • Each country in the UK has a patron saint and a symbol/emblem which is a flower.
National Days and Emblems
1.England’s: St. George’s Day on April 23rd / The Rose
2. Scotland’s: St. Andrew’s Day on Nov. 30th/ The Thistle
3. Northern St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th/ The Shamrock
Ireland’s
4. Wales’: St. David’s Day on March 1st / The Daffodil / The Leek
the daffodil

6. • CAPITALS / NATIONALITIES
• The United Kingdom (The UK) – London –
British
• Great Britain – London – British
• England – London – English
• Scotland – Edinburgh - Scottish (Scot)
• Wales – Cardiff – Welsh
• Northern Ireland (Ulster) – Belfast - Irish
• The Republic of Ireland (Eire – Emerald
Isle)– Dublin - Irish

7. • POPULATION:
• England:  49.5 Million
• Wales:  2.9 Million  59.2 Million
• Scotland:  5.1 million
• Northern Ireland:  1.7 million
• London:  8 million.
• The UK is a monarchy and it has a Queen, Elizabeth II (since 1952)
• Queen’s residence: Buckingham Palace
• Currency: the pound
• Borders: sea border with France, through the crossing of the English Channel (Canal
da Mancha) or by train (Eurostar) through an underwater tunnel.
• Religion: Protestant (Anglican Church in England and Presbyterian in Scotland)
• Sports: cricket, football, rugby, tennis, horse racing, polo, canoeing.
• Food: fish and chips, tea and scones, apple pie, roast beef;
• Famous English breakfast: cereals and milk, orange juice; scrambled eggs and bacon
with tomatoes, beans, mushrooms, pork sausages, toast with marmalade, tea, coffee.
• Famous Icons/people: William Shakespeare, King Henry VIII, The Beatles, Diana,
Princess of Wales; Winston Churchill; Queen Victoria.
• Famous Places: Big Ben, The Tower of London, Oxford and Cambridge universities,
castles, Stonehedge, Loch Ness (Scotland).

8. • The Queen’s husband is the Duke of Edinburgh but he is not King. He is the Prince Consort
and his name is Philip.
• They have 4 children: Charles (Prince of Wales), Anne, Andrew (Duke of York), Edward
(Earl of Wessex)
• The English love to talk about the weather. As for the weather it rains most of the year, so
carrying an umbrella and a raincoat is a good idea.
• The English travel mainly by underground (the Tube), or on double-deckers (red buses) or
by taxi (black).
• The bulldog symbolises the essence of Britishness. He is solid,
reliable, loyal, very individual and very nice.
• The British police are called “Bobbies”, because the founder of the police force was called
Sir Robert Peel (Bobby or Bob is short for Robert). They don’t carry guns.
• Pubs are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink, meet their friends and relax
there.
• The Queen’s jewels are called the Crown Jewels and they are kept in The Tower of London
(which used to be a prison where prisoners were beheaded but is now a museum). To guard
them are the Beefeaters accompanied by ravens (black birds). They can’t fly away: their
wings are clipped. An old legend says that if all the ravens fly away from the Tower, London
and the monarchy will fall.
Quick Facts

9. Some British Symbols

11. The capital city of the U.K is......
London
Edinburgh
Cardiff
Tap on the name of the city

15. TORNA INDIETRO