United Kingdom also named Great Britain in an island located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. It consists of four parts; England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. UK includes the British Islands and the republic of Ireland. Together, England, Wales, and Scotland constitute the larger of the two principal islands, while Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland constitute the second largest. To the southwest of England are the Isles of Scilly, and to the south is the Isle of Wight. The Orkney island and Shetland island lie to the north of Scotland, and the Hebrides islands lie to the west. On the north west of Wales is the island of Anglesey. Apart from the land border with the Irish republic, the United Kingdom is surrounded by sea. To the south of England, and between the United Kingdom and France, is the English Channel. The North Sea lies to the east. To the west of Wales and northern England is the Irish Sea, while western Scotland and the northwestern coast of Northern Ireland face the Atlantic Ocean. Capital of the UK is London, situated on the River Thames in the southeastern corner of England. The names United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England are often confused, even by U.K. inhabitants. England is just one country within the kingdom. Great Britain comprises England, Wales, and Scotland, while the United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland (although the name Britain is sometimes used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole). Wales and England were unified politically, administratively, and legally by the acts of union of 1536 and 1542. In 1707 Scotland joined England and Wales in forming a single parliament for Great Britain.