The four nations and their capitals
Build a map of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with four capital cities.
Across Great Britain
England occupies the southern and central part of Great Britain and its capital is London, on the River Thames. Wales lies west of England and its capital, Cardiff, sits near the coast in the south. Scotland occupies the north of Great Britain. Its capital is Edinburgh, close to the Firth of Forth.
Across the Irish Sea
Northern Ireland lies in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Belfast is its capital and also a port. The rest of the island is the sovereign state of Ireland, whose capital is Dublin. Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff and Edinburgh are therefore capitals of places with different constitutional relationships to the UK.
Reading the names accurately
Great Britain covers England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom includes those three countries and Northern Ireland. Its full name, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, spells out the geographical distinction.
Key takeaways
- England · London. Scotland · Edinburgh. Wales · Cardiff. Northern Ireland · Belfast.
- Great Britain and the United Kingdom denote different geographical areas.