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List of British Isles

Last Updated : 12 Mar, 2024
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The ‘British Isles’, is a region located off the north-western coast of Europe and contains the two large islands of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Ireland, along with numerous other islands and islets. The British Isles, consist of two sovereign nations, the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and together span an area of approximately 315,159 square km with only 210 isles being inhabited out of 6000.

This article discusses the important British Isles like Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands. etc. Please go through this article for further information on this topic.

List of British Isles

Given below is a list of important British Isles in tabular form, along with other related details:

S.No.

Name of the British Isles

Area (km²)

1.

Great Britain

229,848

2.

Ireland

84,421

3.

Island of Lewis And Harris (Outer Hebrides)

2,178

4.

Isle of Skye

1,656

5.

Shetland Islands

1,466

6.

Orkney Islands

990

7.

Isle of Mull

875.35

8.

Anglesey

714

9.

Islay

620

10.

Isle of Man

574

11.

Isle of Wight

384

12.

The Channel Islands

198

13.

Scilly Islands

16.33

14.

Lindisfarne

6.9

Important British Isles

There are about 6000-7500 islands that make up, the British Isles, however out of these only 210 are inhabited. Discussed below in detail are some of the important islands that make up the British Isles:

Great Britain

Population

60,800,000 (2011)

Area

229,848 km²

Location

North-western Europe

Great Britain, is the largest island among the British Isles and the ninth-biggest in the world. The island comprises of most of Scotland, England, and Wales and is a part of the UK, seen from a bigger perspective.

London is the biggest city on anthe a island and on is surrounded by more than thousand islands a and islets. Great Britain usually has a temperate maritime climate and has a great geographic and historic significance in the history of the world, as a leading colonial power.

Ireland

Population

7,185,600 (2023)

Area

84,421 km²

Location

Northwestern Europe

Ireland is the British Isles’ second-biggest and Europe’s third-biggest island. Politically, Ireland is part of Northern Ireland of the UK and the Republic of Island. The island boasts of features statesmanand a mild climate and is surrounded by low-lying mountains, and islands rivers and covered by a lush green landscape.

The island’s largest city is Dublin and it is also home to the Irish culture, which has had a significant impact on cultures across the globe, especially in the field of literature. The people of Ireland have a strong Irish identity, and they dislike being considered a part of the UK.

Island of Lewis And Harris (Outer Hebrides)

Population

21,031

Area

2,178 km²

Location

North of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides islands

Lewis and Harris is a Scottish island, which is a part of the island group of the Outer Hebrides and is the third largest island of the British Isles as well as the largest island in Scotland. Lewis and Harris refer to the northern and southern parts of the island, respectively.

The island is politically a part of Scotland of the UK, with the Isle of Harris being extremely hilly, comprising various hilly peaks as compared to the Isle of Lewis, which is comparatively flat and consists of many stunning lakes. Thesecond-largest Outer Hebrides itself are rich in nature, boasting beautiful beaches, crystal clear lakes and rugged moorland, making them a popular tourist attraction.

Isle of Skye

Population

10,008 (approx.)

Area

1,656 km²

Location

Northwest coast of Scotland

Skye is the northernmost and largest islands that make up the Inner Hebrides and the second-largest island in Scotland. The island is popular for the rock structures of The Storr, its wildlife, beautiful scenery and its fine whisky.

For whisky enthusiasts, no visit to this island would be complete without a visit to Talisker, one of the world’s most cherished whiskies. Popular movie character James Bond is said to be a Talisker enthusiast.

Shetland Islands

Population

22,990 (2018)

Area

1,466 km²

Location

Northernmost region of the United Kingdom.

Located close to the Norwegian coast, the Shetland Islands have a rich historical past as they were ruled by the Vikings for over five centuries, and many locals claim their descent from these Scandinavian raiders.

The island’s rich Nordic heritage makes this place unique and attracts tourists. The Viking influence can be experienced on this archipelago everywhere from food to names of places to language and local festivals.

Orkney Islands

Population

22,540 (2021)

Area

990 km²

Location

The north is on The coast of the island of Great Britain.

The Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, that is well known for its history of immigration, with of seafaring settlers being attracted to its strategically located shores.

The diversity of marine fauna and wildlife of the islands has been instrumental in attracting many tourists. Many bird watchers also visit this place to spot rare birds like short-eared owls and to get a glimpse of seabirds gathering on cliff faces.

Isle of Mull

Population

2,990 (2011)

Area

875.35 km²

Location

Off the West coast of Scotland

Mull is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides and the fourth-largest in Scotland. The whisky distillery in the teeming port town of Tobermory is one of the popular attractions of this island.

Tourists who visit the island have described it as one of mystery as it has four castles to be explored and an ancient stone circle. Wildlife diversity of the island includes rare eagles and whales.

Anglesey

Population

68,944

Area

714 km²

Location

North-West coast of Wales.

Anglesey is the largest island in Wales with Holy Island on the west coast as its largest town. Popular tourist sites on the island are Beaumaris Castle and Puffin Island. Beaumaris Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its striking symmetrical features statesmanpopularstatesman.

Wildlife diversity toursEnglish and boat tours are other tourist activities conducted here. The island houses Britain’s longest place name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwiiiiantysiligogogoch, which translates to “St. Maryfeatures Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave” in EnglishThe southernmost.

Islay

Population

3,228(approx.)

Area

620 km²

Location

The southernmost well popular island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.

Islay, known as “The Queen of the Hebrides” is the fifth-largest Scottish island. There is evidence and indication of a prehistoric settlement in Islay and the island seems to have become a part of a Gaelic Kingdom around the early Middle Ages before being merged into the Norse Kingdom of the Isles.

The economy of this island is based on agriculture, malt whisky distillation and tourism. The island is home to many rare bird species like the Greenland white-fronted and barnacle goose, for which many bird watchers visit the place.

Isle of Man

Population

84,069 (2021)

Area

574 km²

Location

Middle of the Northern Irish Sea

  • The asIsle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea however the government of the UK is responsible for the isle’s military defense and representation abroad. The island has traces of prehistoric settlement, going back to 6500 BC.
  • The island has a distinct Nordic influence and is a tax haven with an offshore banking destination. The isle has its language, Manx, a form of Gaelic and is popular for its TT motorbike races and Manx cat, a breed with short or no tails.

Isle of Wight

Population

138,300 (2011)

Area

384 km²

Location

Off the south coast of England, in the English Channel.

well-conserve popular statesman nation-states nation-states-enthusiast centre well-conserved tourist attractions like the Needles rock formation, Carisbrooke Castle and the Tennyson Memorial.

The island is home to poets Swinburne and Tennyson and interestingly Queen Victoria built her summer residence, Osborne House on the Isle. The island has a well-conserved wildlife and also hosts annual music festivals to gain more tourist footfall.

The Channel Islands

Population

171,916 (2021)

Area

198 km²

Location

Off the French coast of Normandy.

The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France. They are divided into two large islands, Jersey and Guernsey, which are dependent on the Crown just like the Isle of Man. Jersey and Guernsey are both major offshore financial centres for banking and insurance. Tourism and agriculture are the other economic foundations of this island.

Scilly Islands

Population

2,153 (2001)

Area

16.33 km²

Location

Archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, England.

  • The Scilly Islands is an archipelago, based off the southern coast of Cornwall. Out of these secluded 140 islands, only five are inhabited which are St. Mary’s with the largest population, Tresco, Bryher, St. Martin’s and St. Agnes.
  • Tourists come here to enjoy the fine beaches, sunset walking and to visit several prehistoric sites. The islands are known for the production of cut flowers and its economy mainly rests on tourism and agriculture.

Lindisfarne

Population

180 (2021)

Area

6.9 km²

Location

The northeast centration-well popular states-conserve popular-states centre coast of England

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, also called the Holy Island is a tidal island situated off the northeast coast of England in Northumberland. It used to be an important centre of Celtic Christianity and experienced the brutality of many the Viking invasions, before entering into an era of stability during the the rule of the Normans. Lindisfarne Castle was built around 1550, during Tudor period. Currently, the island is a tourist attraction for many day-trippers and bird-watchers.

Conclusion

Hence we find that the British Isles comprise the two sovereign nations of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, along with other isles and islets, that are mentioned above.

  • There are approximately 6,000 islands that form the entirety of the British Isles, however, only the most important ones were discussed in this article.
  • enthusiast great nation-states enthusiast centre well-conservedgreatcentration-well nation-states nation-states-enthusiast tourist and wildlife enthusiast attractions-nation-states-enthusiastnortheast centre great nation-states, that can help the economy of the UK and Ireland grow.
  • Many are also strategically important to their nation-statesa and used as a military base. The British Isles hence form a significant part of the Northwestern Europe and have great overall impact on the region.

Related Articles

  1. List of All Cities in the United Kingdom
  2. Best Places to Live in UK
  3. Difference Between the UK, Great Britain, and England

FAQ’s on British Isles

How many isles are there in Britain?

Great Britain and the British Isles are a collection of islands. Over 6,000 of them in fact though sources vary from 6,289 to 7,700 islands in total.

What are the six British Isles?

British Isles consists of two main islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and numerous smaller islands and island groups, including the Hebrides, the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, the Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Man.

What are the two largest British Isles?

Great Britain and Ireland are the two largest British Isles in terms of area.

What are the four parts of the British Isles?

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the four parts of the British Isles.

What are the five regions of the British Isles?

The major administrative divisions of the British Isles are England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.



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