The United Kingdom is an island nation comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with London as its global cultural and financial hub. Its landscapes range from Scottish highlands to Welsh mountains and English lowlands under a mild maritime climate. Shaped by Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman roots and later a vast empire, the UK became a major force in global science, industry, politics, and culture. It maintains ties with former colonies through the Commonwealth and symbolizes unity through the Union Jack and the anthem God Save the King.