The United Kingdom is a small group of islands that has played a big role in world history. At one time, the United Kingdom ruled colonies in Africa, the West Indies, China, India and, of course, the United States. Because of this, the English language is spoken all over the world.
Wales, to the north of England, supplied coal to the UK for many years. Men and boys worked in coal mines. Today most of the coal mines have closed. People in Wales are having trouble finding new jobs.
For many years, people in Northern Ireland have been fighting. The Protestant people want to stay connected to the United Kingdom. The Catholics want to be independent. The Irish and British governments are trying to find a solution.
Fun Facts about the United Kingdom for Kids
- England has been ruled by kings and queens for thousands of years. Today, the monarchy doesn’t make political decisions. The UK has a multiparty, democratic government.
- Many great writers came from the UK. William Shakespeare, Jane Austin and Charles Dickens, considered some of the greatest writers of all time, lived in England. You might have read Roald Dahl’s books. Dahl wrote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach.” And of course, don’t forget J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” series.
- The capital city is London.
- The UK includes 93,282 square miles.
- The population is 64,231,000.
- 61 percent of the people in the UK are Christian; 3 percent are Muslim, while 36 percent are other.
- 99 percent of adults can read.
- People in the UK can expect to live 78 years.
United Kingdom Vocabulary
- Colony: an area settled by colonists, or people who have come from somewhere else
- Independent: separate, free
- Monarchy: kings and queens
- Coal mine: a mine that produces coal
All About the United Kingdom Video for Kids
Watch this awesome United Kingdom video for kids:
This is a video discussion of the history, the present UK and the people of UK.
United Kingdom Q&A
Question: What sports do people play in the UK?
Answer: Rugby, cricket and golf were started in the UK and are still loved here. The rules for soccer are based on games played at boys’ schools.
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Question: What do people do for jobs in the UK?
Answer: Some of the first factories in the world were started in the UK. Today most people work in a service industry, such as banking, insurance and education. London is the largest financial center in the world.
Map of the United Kingdom
Here’s a map of the country of the United Kingdom and all its cities and villages. Zoom in to get into street level or zoom out to see other countries around the United Kingdom! You can see the terrain, but also see the roads, images of the buildings and even take a 3D tour through the streets of the cities of the United Kingdom, as though you are actually there!
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