The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; a sovereign state in Europe, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK), or Britain. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, it includes the island of Great Britain—a term also applied loosely to refer to the whole country—the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
The United Kingdom is a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a member of:
See § History
The following are the major sports; local groups may well play many others.