TheUnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland(UK)wascreatedbytheActofUnion1800andconstitutesthegreaterpartoftheBritishIsles,agroupofislandslyingoffthenorthwestcoastofEurope.ThelargestoftheislandsisGreatBritain,whichcomprisesEngland,WalesandScotland.NextlargestisIreland,comprisingNorthernIreland,whichispartoftheUnitedKingdom,and,inthesouth,theRepublicofIreland.
CultureintheUnitedKingdomisrichanddiverse,withastrongtraditionofliterature,theatre,popularandorchestralmusicandtheperformingarts.These,togetherwithcollectionsinUKmuseumsandgalleries,actasamagnetforoverseasvisitorsandmakeasubstantialcontributiontotheeconomy.AccordingtoeconomicestimatesmadebytheDepartmentforCulture,MediaandSport(DCMS),thecreativeindustriesaccountedfornearly8percentofUKgrossdomesticproductin2000,andprovidednearly2millionjobsinDecember2001.ColourbrochuresareavailablehereonvariousaspectsofUKculture,includingthearts,architecture,dance,thevisualarts,andliteratureandpoetry.