Great Britain Map, UK | Where is Great Britain, List of Countries


Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: February 16, 2025, 03:45 AM ET

Great Britain is a geographic term that refers to the island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales. It is the largest island in the British Isles and forms part of the United Kingdom.

Map of Great Britain

Great Britain Map, UK | Where is Great Britain

About Map: The map shows the location of Great Britain within the United Kingdom. It highlights the island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales, situated to the east of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Where is EnglandWhere is ScotlandWhere is WalesWhere is Northern IrelandWhere is Great BritainWhere is London

Where is Great Britain Located?


Great Britain, also called Britain, is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the western coast of Europe and consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales. It is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island, and the ninth-largest island in the world.

About Great Britain, UK

Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. England, Scotland, and Wales, along with any of their constituent neighboring islands, are collectively referred to as "Great Britain." The United Kingdom today consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is located on the Eurasian Plate's European Continental Shelf, off the coast of continental Europe, and is a portion of the Eurasian Plate. The English Channel, which narrows at the Straits of Dover, and the North Sea separate Great Britain from the European mainland. According to Worldometer's analysis of the most recent United Nations data, the population of the United Kingdom is 68,696,018.

Over a very long time, a number of plate tectonic processes have affected Great Britain. Because of its turbulent geological history, the island exhibits a wide range of landforms. The island's small land area, the relatively young age of habitats created during the last glacial period, the physical separation of the island from continental Europe, and the impacts of seasonal unpredictability all contribute to the island's low animal diversity. There are numerous species of bats, shrews, European moles, European rabbits, and European hare in great numbers. Weasels, stoats, red foxes, Eurasian badgers, Eurasian otters, and the elusive Scottish wildcat are among the carnivorous mammals. On or around British shorelines and coastlines, different species of seal, whale, and dolphin can be found.

Great Britain was one of the world's most important centers of cultural development and was a vital part of the British Empire. Despite its flaws, the imperial system left behind a cultural, intellectual, legal, and political heritage that has been embraced by a large portion of the world.

Great Britain is an island off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. With Wales, Scotland, and England as its constituent parts, Great Britain is the biggest island in all of Europe. Although the phrases "Great Britain" and "United Kingdom" are frequently used interchangeably, the U.K. also refers to Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland, a handful of offshore islands, and many other overseas territories.

Largest urban areas in Great Britain

The list below shows the most populated urban areas in the Great Britain, United Kingdom.

AreaPopulationArea (km2)Density (km2)
Greater London9,787,426.001,737.905,630
Greater Manchester2,553,379630.34,051
West Midlands2,440,986598.94,076
West Yorkshire1,777,934487.83,645
Greater Glasgow1,209,143368.53,390
Liverpool864,122.00199.64,329
South Hampshire855,569.001924,455
Tyneside774,891180.54,292
Nottingham729,977.00176.44,139
Sheffield685,368.00167.54,092

Great Britain Facts

LocationNorthwestern Europe
Coordinates (Central Point)53°50′N 2°25′W
Political StatusLargest island of the United Kingdom
Countries on the IslandEngland, Scotland, and Wales
ArchipelagoBritish Isles
Total Area209,331 km2 (80,823 sq mi)
Population (2024 est.)67,736,802 (United Kingdom total, UN World Population Prospects 2024)
Largest CityLondon
Highest PointBen Nevis - 1,345 m (4,413 ft)
Longest RiverRiver Severn
Major Mountain RangeScottish Highlands
Official LanguageEnglish (with recognized regional languages: Welsh, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish)
CurrencyPound Sterling (GBP)
Time ZoneUTC+00:00 (GMT), UTC+01:00 in summer (BST)
Calling Code+44
Driving SideLeft
ClimateTemperate Maritime Climate