United Kingdom

1707 (May 1, Thursday): Act of Union unites the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland to form Great Britain

1801 (January 1, Thursday): Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland forms the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

1837-1901 (June 20, Tuesday – January 22, Tuesday): Victorian Era, reign of Queen Victoria

1914 (July 28, Tuesday): Britain enters World War I

1922 (December 6, Wednesday): Irish Free State established, marking the partition of Ireland

1939 (September 3, Sunday): Britain declares war on Germany, entering World War II

1945 (May 7, Monday): End of World War II in Europe

1952 (February 6, Wednesday): Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne

1973 (January 1, Monday): United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community (EEC)

1979 (May 4, Friday): Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister

1984 (October 12, Friday): Brighton hotel bombing (IRA attack on Conservative Party conference)

1997 (May 1, Thursday): Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister

2005 (July 7, Thursday): London bombings, terrorist attacks on public transport

2016 (June 23, Thursday): Brexit referendum, 51.9% vote to leave the European Union

2019 (July 24, Wednesday): Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister

2020 (March 23, Monday): UK imposes nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic

2022 (September 8, Thursday): Death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III ascends the throne

2023 (September 1, Friday): Major flooding in South England due to heavy rainfall

2024 (January 25, Thursday): UK government officially celebrates 100 years of BBC radio broadcasting

Continent: Europe
Location: Northwestern Europe, consisting of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Northern Ireland
Capital: London
Language: English (official), Welsh, Scottish Gaelic
Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
Population: ~67 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) / British Summer Time (BST)

Borders: Ireland (Northern Ireland)
Landscape: Diverse landscapes including mountains, forests, plains, and coastline
Major Rivers: Thames, Severn, Mersey, Trent, Clyde, Tyne
Major Mountains: Ben Nevis (highest peak in the UK), Scafell Pike, Snowdon
Deserts: None
Lakes: Loch Ness, Lake Windermere, Loch Lomond
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Ben Nevis (1,345 m / 4,413 ft)
Lowest Point: The Fens, near sea level
Climate: Temperate maritime climate with mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and unpredictable weather
Geological Features: Rolling hills, rocky coasts, valleys, and plateaus. The UK sits on a mixture of sedimentary and volcanic rocks.

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly British, with significant ethnic minority groups including South Asian, African, and Eastern European populations
Religion: Christianity (mainly Church of England, Roman Catholicism, and other Protestant denominations), Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and other religions
Urban Population: ~83% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~18% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Literature, music, theatre, royal heritage, historical landmarks, sports (football, rugby, cricket)
Cuisine: Fish and chips, full English breakfast, roast dinners, scones, Yorkshire pudding, curry (Indian cuisine is widely popular)
Arts: Shakespearean plays, the British Museum, classical music, pop music (The Beatles, Adele, etc.)
Sports: Football (soccer), rugby, cricket, tennis (Wimbledon), cycling, golf, boxing

Economy Type: Advanced, mixed economy
GDP: Approx. $3.1 trillion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Financial services, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, creative industries, technology
Key Exports: Machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, oil, financial services, alcohol
Unemployment Rate: ~4.2% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: London (financial center), the North of England (manufacturing), South East and East of England (agriculture, services), Wales and Scotland (tourism, energy, manufacturing)

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
Head of State: King Charles III (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral (House of Commons, House of Lords)
Constitution: Unwritten (based on common law, statutes, and conventions)

London: Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, British Museum, London Eye
Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat
Stonehenge: Prehistoric monument, one of the most famous landmarks in the world
Scottish Highlands: Stunning natural beauty, hiking, and wildlife
Lake District: Picturesque region of lakes and mountains in northwest England
Oxford and Cambridge: Prestigious university towns
Windsor: Windsor Castle, the royal residence