The United Kingdom is a country that includes the regions of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The term is not exactly synonymous with "Great Britain," which refers to the large island containing all of the above regions except Northern Ireland.

England is the largest and most populous country of the United Kingdom, occupying most of the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain. England's largest city, London, is also the capital of the United Kingdom.

During its long and varied history, the country now known as the United Kingdom has been the home of ancient megalithic civilizations, Celtic tribes, the Roman Empire, various Nordic and Germanic tribes, Catholic Christianity, Protestant Christianity, and a wide range of world religions brought in by immigrants.

Not surprisingly, then, the United Kingdom offers a rich landscape of sacred sites from a wide variety of time periods and traditions. Its cathedrals are widely renowned, it boasts numerous world-class museums, and it has the best collections of ancient standing stones in the world.