Country Studies

Formation of the UK

The United Kingdom of GB and NI

Member	Capital
England	London
Scotland	Edinburgh ['edɪnb(ə)rə]
Wales	Cardiff
Northern Ireland	Belfast

London

The Romans founded London on the River Thames in 43 AD. Its name is derived from the Celtic word Londinios, which means the place of the bold one.

London (then called Londinium) had also been the capital of Roman Brittania, but during the early days the Roman administration was in Colchester (Camulodinum)

London did not become the capital city of England until the 12th century.

Winchester  was the capital of England before London.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh began as a fort.

Its origins as a settlement can be traced to the early Middle Ages.

In the 7th century the English captured this part of Scotland and they called this place Eiden's burgh (burgh is an old word for fort).

By the middle of the 14th century was being described as the capital of Scotland.