The United Kingdom is an island country spanning 243,610 square kilometres whose archipelago includes Great Britain, Northern Ireland and several other islands. Its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was created out of the kingdoms of England/Wales, Scotland and the Northern part of Ireland. According to the 2001 census, its total population was 58,789,194 and is the third largest in the European Union. The UK has a temperate climate with adequate rainfall all year round, lying between latitudes 49° and 59° N (the Shetland Islands reach to nearly 61° N), and longitudes 8° W to 2° E. The distance that is greatest between two points is 1,350 kilometres between John o’ Groats in Caithness and Land’s End in Cornwall, while the whole territory has a North-South length spanning slightly over 1,100 kilometres and just under 500 kilometres width.
The UK is a cosmopolitan state and has several functioning religions including Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism as well as a host of other cultures. Travel in this dashy island state reveals a delight of scenery to fill your senses. It is rich in history and culture, and provides diversity and variety in its people and landscape from cities to rural life. UK Travel Guides provide a roadmap to these delicacies; travel information, accommodation, cities and towns as well as historic sites. UKtravel.com has an A to Z on travel in London and valuable information on the royal family while UKguide.org provides travel tips while in the UK.