What is the difference between England, Britain and the UK?
England is one country. Great Britain is the island containing England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is the sovereign state made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
England is the largest and most populous of the four nations of the United Kingdom, with London as its capital. Scotland and Wales share the island of Great Britain with England, while Northern Ireland is on the island of Ireland.
The full official name of the state is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, usually shortened to the UK. Its citizens are British, and it has one government and parliament in London, along with devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Why the names get mixed up
Many people use England, Britain and the UK as if they meant the same thing. This can annoy Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish people, who are British but not English.
The term British Isles is a geographical name for the whole group of islands, including Ireland, the Isle of Man and many smaller islands. The Republic of Ireland is an independent country and not part of the UK, so many Irish people dislike the term.
In sport, the nations usually compete separately. England, Scotland and Wales have their own football and rugby teams, while at the Olympics athletes compete together as Great Britain, often called Team GB.