British Islands
A map showing the areas referred to as the British Islands shaded red | |
Interactive map of British Islands | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | North-western Europe |
| Adjacent to | Atlantic Ocean, North Sea |
| Total islands | 6,000+ |
| Highest elevation | 1,345 m (4413 ft) |
| Highest point | Ben Nevis |
| Administration | |
| Capital and largest settlement | Saint Peter Port |
| Area covered | 78 km2 (30 sq mi) |
| Capital and largest settlement | Saint Helier |
| Area covered | 118 km2 (46 sq mi) |
| Capital and largest settlement | Douglas |
| Area covered | 572 km2 (221 sq mi) |
| Capital and largest city | London |
| Area covered | 244,111 km2 (94,252 sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| Languages | Auregnais, Cornish, English, French, Guernésiais, Irish, Jèrriais, Manx, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Sercquiais, Shelta, Ulster-Scots, Welsh |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| Drives on the | left |
The British Islands is a term within the law of the United Kingdom which refers collectively to the following four polities:
- the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland);
- the Bailiwick of Guernsey (including the jurisdictions of Alderney, Guernsey and Sark);
- the Bailiwick of Jersey;
- the Isle of Man.
These polities constitute the principal geopolitical and territorial nucleus of British sovereignty. Distinguished from the British Overseas Territories, which are remnants of the former British Empire, the British Islands represent the core legal and constitutional realm under the direct jurisdiction of The Crown and Parliament of the United Kingdom (i.e. United Kingdom proper), albeit with varying degrees of self-governance among the Crown Dependencies. A statutory definition of the term British Islands can be found in Schedule 1 of the Interpretation Act 1978.
The Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey are Crown Dependencies and not part of the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, the Parliament of the United Kingdom may, on occasion, introduce legislation that is extended to these islands, typically through Orders in Council. As such, it has been found useful to have a collective term to encompass the combined territories. The phrase The United Kingdom and the Islands is employed in the Immigration Act 1971 to refer to this collective grouping.
In addition, while several categories of British nationality exist, only British citizens enjoy the automatic right of abode in the British Islands. Other British nationals, such as British Overseas Territories citizens, British Nationals (Overseas) and others, do not possess this right unless they separately acquire British citizenship or are granted immigration status such as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).