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Entertaining UK map games to learn the countries and capitals of the UK, and divisions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Free educational resources.

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UK: England: Counties - Map Quiz Game - Seterra

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Smaller administrative regions in England are called counties. In total, there are 48, ranging in size from Greater London, with a population of nearly nine million, to Rutland, with a population of just 38,000. Traveling from Northumberland in the northeast to Cornwall on the southwestern tip is about a five-hundred-mile journey that goes right through Yorkshire, the Midlands and down into the southwestern coast. Read more about the administrative subvisions of England.

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Read about the UK, then do the exercises to help you practise your reading in English.

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What is the UK?

The UK stands for the United Kingdom.

It is called this because it is made up of four smaller countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

England, Scotland and Wales are located on the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are on the island of Ireland.

Which island do you live on?

The UK is surrounded by water:

The English Channel (between England and France)

The Irish Sea (between England and Wales and Northern Ireland and Ireland)

The North Sea (between Great Britain, Norway and Denmark).

When you visit the seaside, you might swim in one of these seas!

What are the capital cities in the UK?

Each of the four countries of the UK has its own capital city.

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales.

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland.

London is the capital city of England.

When we visit the capital cities, we see different landmarks in each one. Have a look at the photos.

What buildings can you see?

Have you noticed that all of the capitals are near water?

Watch: Find out more about the UK

Learn about the countries in the United Kingdom in this video from BBC Teach.

Video Transcript Video Transcript

Hi there, I'm Earth.

Come and take a look at one of my favourite places, the United Kingdom.

It's made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is England, the biggest country in the United Kingdom.

Its capital city is London.

This is the Tower of London, home of the Crown Jewels.

The north of England has many mountains and lakes, like Windermere, the largest lake in England.

Up here is Scotland. It has lots of lakes. They call them lochs.

The most famous is Loch Ness. Legend says it's home to the Loch Ness monster.

The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh, with its famous castle.

Wales's capital city is Cardiff.

Here's Cardiff railway station. It was built to handle all the trains coming in and out of the city.

And this is Snowdon, Wales's highest mountain.

Beautiful, if I do say so myself!

Across the Irish Sea is Northern Ireland.

Its capital city is Belfast.

This is the Titanic Museum, which tells the story of the famous ship.

And this is the Giant's Causeway.

Legend says it was built by a giant who wanted a shortcut between Northern Ireland and Scotland, but really it was formed when the lava from a volcano cooled and formed these columns.

With so many amazing places, I bet you can see why the United Kingdom is so special to me.

What is it like in the UK?

The UK is in the Northern Hemisphere and we have four seasons.

Spring is when the temperature increases and things start to grow again after the cold days of winter.

After spring comes summer. This is usually the warmest season. It is when crops grow and we expect the sunniest weather.

Then comes autumn and the temperature starts to cool down again. Plants and trees shed their leaves.

Winter is the coldest, darkest time of the year. Crops grow more slowly because of the low temperatures.

Activity 1: Countries in the UK

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Activity 2: UK capital cities

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Activity 3: Quiz - The UK

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Which countries are part of the UK and what are their capitals? Find out more with Bitesize KS1 Geography.

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Where is Scotland? Find out more with Bitesize KS1 Geography.

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Where is Wales? Find out more with Bitesize KS1 Geography.

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Where is Northern Ireland? Find out more with Bitesize KS1 Geography.

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Where is England? Find out more with Bitesize KS1 Geography.

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Find out more about the continent of Europe with this KS2 primary geography guide from BBC Bitesize.

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Europe: The continent transformed by humanity - BBC Bitesize

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Find out more about a continent where wildlife and over 700 million humans live together.

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Find out more about the continent of Europe with this primary geography guide from BBC Bitesize KS1.

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Mostar is a historic town in Bosnia and Herzegovina along the Neretva River.

OFFICIAL NAME: Bosnia and Herzegovina

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Emerging federal democratic republic

CAPITAL: Sarajevo

POPULATION: 3,849,891

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian

MONEY: Convertible Mark

AREA: 19,767 square miles (51,197 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGE: Dinaric Alps

MAJOR RIVERS: Sava River, Neretva River

Bosnia and Herzegovina is bordered by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, and has a narrow stretch of land along the Adriatic Sea.

The country consists of numerous mountains. The Dinaric Alps stretch along the western border. The mountainous areas are earthquake-prone. An earthquake in 1969 caused widespread building damage in the city of Banja Luka.

Forest covers half the land in Bosnia and Herzegovina and natural springs are found throughout the country.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a diverse country made up of a mix of Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, and people of other ethnicities who follow a mix of Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and other faiths.

Family and friends play an important role for people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and hospitality is common. People often meet at local coffee shops or cafés, known as kafanes and kafićis.

Popular foods include baklava, a type of sweet cake, and stuffed vegetables, both of which have Turkish roots.

Around 40 percent of Bosnia and Herzegovina is covered in forest, consisting of oak, pine, and beech trees. Plums, grapes, pears, and apples are common in the country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is abundant in wildlife, which includes bears, wolves, foxes, otters, and falcons.

A pilot project in the sustainable collection of wild plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina proved successful in 2009 with the possibility of its use as a model for conservation in other European countries.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Bosina and Herzegovina is split into two regions that govern themselves independently, each having its own president. As a result of tensions that remain among the country's three main ethnic communities, the president is elected as part of a tripartite presidency, whereby a Bosniak, Serb, and Croat president rotate, each serving eight months.

Agriculture plays a major role in Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy, with some 50 percent of the land used to raise livestock or grow crops. Some of the main crops include corn, wheat, cotton, and fruit.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's history extends way back to the time of Roman conquest in the first and second centuries B.C. Later, in the sixth century, the area of Bosnia would become part of the Byzantine Empire. The area of Herzegovina came to being in 1448, joining Bosnia later that century under Turkish rule.

The Russo-Turkish War broke out in 1877 and resulted in Bosnia and Herzegovina being placed under the rule of Austria-Hungary the following year. Following World War I and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina fell into the hands of Serbia. During World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina was incorporated into pro-Hitler Croatia and later became one of six member states of Yugoslavia.

Attempting to free themselves from Yugoslavia and avoid Serbian rule, Bosnaks and Croats voted for independence in 1991. Though the vote was recognized internationally, local Serbs and troops from Serbia fought to declare their rule of the country and were met with resistance by Bosnaks. War lasted for several years and two million people were displaced from their homes as a result.

War came to an end in 1995 after a treaty, the Dayton Agreement, was established. The treaty continues to be enforced by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). What remains is a fractured state, consisting of two independent regions, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Serb Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Bosnia and Herzegovina is bordered by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, and has a narrow stretch of land along the Adriatic Sea.

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Foxes were the only land mammals in Iceland when it was settled. Newcomers brought in domesticated animals and reindeer. Most of the wildlife is under conservation and protection. There are four national parks and more than 80 nature preserves.

Vatnajökull, or Vatna Glacier, is an extensive ice field in southeastern Iceland, which covers 3,200 square miles (8,400 square kilometers) with an average ice thickness of more than 3,000 feet (900 meters).

Iceland contains about 200 volcanoes and has one-third of Earth's total lava flow. One-tenth of the total land area is covered by cooled lava beds and glaciers. Because Iceland is volcanic, almost all of their electricity and heating comes from hydroelectric power and geothermal water reserves.

The Gulf Stream current and warm southwesterly winds make the climate more moderate and pleasant than one might expect from a northern country.

Iceland is known for explosive geysers, geothermal spas, glacier-fed waterfalls like Gullfoss (Golden Falls), and whale watching. More than 270,000 tourists visit each year.

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Iceland Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Iceland is a small island nation that is Europe's westernmost country and home to the world's northernmost capital, Reykjavik.

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There are lots of things to see and do in France. Visitors go to theme parks, ski in the mountains, build sandcastles on the beach and visit the capital, .

France is in . This is the you live in. The smallest country in the world is located in Europe. Can you find the Vatican City on a world map?

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There are lots of things to see and do in France. Visitors go to theme parks, ski in the mountains, build sandcastles on the beach and visit the capital, . France is in . This is the you live in. The smallest country in the world is located in Europe.

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The Alps are a mountain range found in Europe. Find out more with Bitesize KS2 Geography.

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Norway is a narrow country in northern Europe. It shares the Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden and Finland.

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The Swiss Alps are high, snow-covered mountains most of which are over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). The most famous peak is the Matterhorn which is 14,692 feet (4,478 meters) tall, but the highest peak is Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 meters).

Scientists are concerned that glaciers in the Swiss Alps have lost a lot of ice coverage in the past 40 years. This may be related to global climate change. Rapid melting of the glaciers could cause flooding to the villages below.

Most animals in Switzerland live in the mountains. The ibex, a species of mountain goat, was hunted to near extinction in the early 1800s. The species has since been reintroduced and more than 15,000 ibex now live in the Swiss Alps. Hikers may also encounter chamois, another goatlike animal, and marmots. The forests of Switzerland are also home to deer, rabbits, foxes, badgers, squirrels, and many bird species.

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Switzerland is a small mountainous country located in central Europe.

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Located in eastern Europe, Ukraine is the second-largest country on the European continent after Russia.

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2nd level Modern Languages - Scotland - BBC Bitesize

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2nd level Modern Languages learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers organised by topic.

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Learning for Sustainability is an entitlement for all learners within Curriculum for Excellence, and as languages teachers we are uniquely positioned to incorporate Learning for Sustainability into our learning and teaching. This toolkit brings together a wide range of reading and resources aimed at supporting teachers who wish to incorporate Learning for Sustainability and Global Citizenship into their languages curriculum.

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teaching resources
modern languages
modern language teachers
classroom resources
primary teaching
broad general education

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Learning for Sustainability is an entitlement for all learners within Curriculum for Excellence, and as languages teachers we are uniquely positioned to incorporate Learning for Sustainability into our learning and teaching. This toolkit brings together a wide range of reading and resources aimed at supporting teachers who wish to incorporate Learning for Sustainability and Global Citizenship into their languages curriculum.

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National birds and flowers of European countries

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List of national birds and flowers or plants of European countries.

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European Christmas Cakes - Europe Is Not Dead!

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Christmas is almost upon us! So to build the annual excitement, let us help you explore one of Christmastime's most important elements: the cakes we Europeans bake for Christmas Eve! There's a whole smörgåsbord to discover...

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European Musical Instruments - Europe Is Not Dead!

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Whether you’re listening to a classical symphony or a Magyar marriage, on a Slovakian hillside or a Hawaiian beach, whether you want to pluck or blow, you can bet there’s a European instrument that can provide the perfect accompaniment.

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Europe Games | World Geography Games Online

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Learn countries, capitals, flags, rivers, the EU and more with entertaining map quizzes to test your knowledge of Europe.

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General Election | KS2 | Ages 7-11 | Citizenship | BBC Bitesize - BBC Bitesize

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Learn about general elections in this helpful guide full of activities, videos, PDFs and quizzes.

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The UK Parliament - Democracy in the UK: Video playlist - BBC Bitesize

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Learn about what goes on in the UK Parliament.

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Why are there two parliament - Democracy in the UK: Video playlist - BBC Bitesize

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Learn about which powers are reserved and which are devolved.

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Teaching kit on the European Union to increase awareness among pupils aged 10 and over.

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European Day of Languages | KS2 | Ages 7-11 - BBC Bitesize

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Celebrate languages from all over Europe this European languages day with activities, songs, videos, quizzes and much more for children in KS2.

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Occasionally, member states can negotiate an opt-out from any of the European Union legislation or treaties, and agree to not participate in certain policy areas. Concerning the single currency, this is the case for Denmark. It kept its former currency after becoming member of the EU.

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Countries using the euro | European Union

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Occasionally, member states can negotiate an opt-out from any of the European Union legislation or treaties, and agree to not participate in certain policy areas. Concerning the single currency, this is the case for Denmark. It kept its former currency after becoming member of the EU.

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List of Currencies of European Countries

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Full list of European national currencies with their official names, codes and symbols for all countries in Europe. Get the national currency of all European countries.

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Discover everything about the European Green Capital Award past and current winners.