What's the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?

Did you know you can now travel with Culture Trip? Book now and join one of our premium small-group tours to discover the world like never before.

Here is where it gets confusing for some. Made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom is a sovereign state in the north west of Europe. To use its full name correctly – The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – would generally dispel any confusion, but this full-length version is very rarely used. The United Kingdom is more of a political unit, as all countries within it generally report to the UK parliament, apart from devolved matters such as housing and education.

England is by far the largest country within the state, and although all government matters are traditionally discussed in England, the country is still a component of the United Kingdom.

Great Britain is an island consisting of England, Wales and Scotland that is separated by the English Channel and North Sea. Northern Ireland is not a part of Great Britain, though this term is often confused with the United Kingdom. On a map, Great Britain is the larger of the two British Isles, on the right hand side.

The British Isles is a collective term used for Great Britain, Ireland and over 6,000 smaller islands which surround them. This includes the likes of Skye, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.

The British Isles is a rarely used term but can be used to describe all of the islands and countries that sit within English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish sovereignty.

Northern Ireland has been a member of the United Kingdom since 1922, however, the Republic of Ireland is a sovereign state.

When the Irish Free State (later renamed Ireland, 1937) became a free state in 1922, Northern Ireland exercised its right to stay within the UK. In 1949, Ireland declared itself as a Republic. The Republic of Ireland is not in Great Britain or the United Kingdom, so therefore refers to its own parliament, despite being a part of the British Isles.

Put simply, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is exactly that.

Remember, Great Britain consists of just England, Wales and Scotland, whereas the United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland, as its long name states.