2.1.4 Key geographic facts and capital cities

The UK is located in north-west Europe and covers a total area of approximately 243,000 square kilometres. The longest distance from the south coast to the tip of Scotland is about 1,000 kilometres. The UK has a temperate maritime climate, which means it has mild temperatures, regular rainfall, and few extremes of weather.

The major cities of the UK include London (the capital and largest city with a population of about 9 million), Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. London is a major global financial centre and is home to many important institutions including Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and the Supreme Court.

The UK is surrounded by water — the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the North Sea to the east, and the English Channel to the south separating it from France. The Channel Tunnel (opened in 1994) connects England to France by rail beneath the English Channel. The UK's landscape includes mountains, moorlands, lakes, and fertile farmland.