Great Britain Area

Great Britain is the large island off the northwest coast of continental Europe that contains the countries of England, Scotland and Wales. It is the largest island in Europe and one of the largest islands globally.

The island offers a wide range of attractions across urban and rural landscapes, from major museums, theatre and government landmarks in London, to the mountain and loch scenery of the Scottish Highlands and coastal national parks in Wales. Coastal cliffs, long-distance walking routes and historic towns provide specific draws - many long-distance routes exceed 100 kilometres and regional national parks span thousands of hectares.

Beyond city culture and natural scenery, people come for architecture and heritage sites including medieval castles, Roman remains and industrial-era infrastructure that are dispersed across the island. There are also extensive rail and road links connecting major cities and rural areas for multi-day itineraries.

Settled since prehistoric times, the island was home to Celtic peoples before Roman occupation from the 1st century. Political consolidation over many centuries produced the modern states; the 1707 Acts of Union united the English and Scottish parliaments into the Kingdom of Great Britain and later political arrangements created the United Kingdom.

Geographically it sits off the northwestern coast of continental Europe, separated from France by the English Channel and from Ireland by the Irish Sea. The island stretches roughly north-south for several hundred kilometres and forms the majority of the territory of the United Kingdom.

• Scale: Recognised as the largest island in Europe and one of the largest islands in the world, it is the geographic core of the United Kingdom.
• Closest point to Europe: The narrowest crossing to continental Europe is the Strait of Dover - about 34 kilometres between Dover and Calais.

What to See#

• England: The largest of the three political entities on the island, occupying the southern and central portion and containing the national capital, **London**.
• Scotland: Covers the northern third of the island and includes the Highlands, major cities such as **Edinburgh**, and a deeply indented western coastline.
• Wales: Lies to the west of the island with a rugged coastline and uplands; the administrative and cultural centre is **Cardiff**.