British Overseas Territories

Study note

As well as the four countries that make up the UK, there are several British Overseas Territories around the world. Examples include the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic and St Helena, a remote island also in the Atlantic. These places have historic ties to Britain.

British Overseas Territories are linked to the UK but are not part of it. They are governed in their own way and are not counted among the four nations of the United Kingdom. They are also different from the Crown dependencies, such as the Isle of Man, which lie much closer to home.

For the test, the key point is to recognise places like the Falkland Islands and St Helena as British Overseas Territories. If a question offers Scotland, Wales or the Isle of Man as an Overseas Territory, those are wrong, because Scotland and Wales are countries of the UK and the Isle of Man is a Crown dependency.

Memory tip: Overseas Territories (e.g. the Falklands) are linked to the UK but not part of it.