UK counties, regions and cities
Beyond the four nations, the UK is divided into counties and regions, each with its own mix of landscape, industry and city life.
Part of your national curriculum
- Locational knowledge: Understand the wider context of the UK, including the physical and human geography of its counties and regions, and its major cities
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand the wider context of the UK, including the physical and human geography of its counties and regions, and its major cities
Key learning points
- • Counties and regions
- • Major cities
- • Physical variety by region
- • Why regions matter
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 19 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 19
Visual introductionPicture this
UK counties, regions and cities
Beyond the four nations, the UK is divided into counties and regions, each with its own mix of landscape, industry and city life.
In a nutshell
Understand the wider context of the UK, including the physical and human geography of its counties and regions, and its major cities
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 19
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Counties and regions
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 19
Learn
Counties and regions
England alone has dozens of counties, from Cornwall in the far south-west to Northumberland on the Scottish border, grouped into regions such as the South East, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Reset break
Part 4 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 19
Learn
Major cities
London, the capital, is a global financial centre with over 8 million people. Birmingham is a hub of manufacturing and transport, Manchester grew from the cotton industry, and Edinburgh is Scotland's historic capital and a centre for finance and tourism.
Quick check
Part 6 of 19
Quick check
Part 7 of 19
Reset break
Part 8 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 19
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Physical variety by region
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 19
Learn
Physical variety by region
The South East includes chalk hills like the North and South Downs; the North West includes the Lake District's mountains and lakes; Yorkshire includes the Yorkshire Dales and the industrial cities of Leeds and Sheffield.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 19
Learn
Why regions matter
Government statistics, transport planning and economic policy are often organised by region, so understanding these divisions helps explain investment, migration and inequality across the UK.
Reset break
Part 12 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 19
Challenge round
Part 14 of 19
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 15 of 19
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
England alone has dozens of ____, from Cornwall in the far south-west to Northumberland on the Scottish border, grouped into regions such as the South East, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Reset break
Part 16 of 19
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 19
Game · Recall cards
Deindustrialisation in UK cities was mainly caused by
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 18 of 19
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: UK counties, regions and cities
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Deindustrialisation in UK cities was mainly caused by
2. Brownfield land is
3. A common criticism of regeneration is that
4. Which best describes counter-urbanisation?
Lesson round-up
Part 19 of 19
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 19 · Watch & discover
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Understand the wider context of the UK, including the physical and human geography of its counties and regions, and its major cities