Dans comments:

The motherland, home of all things good and the starting point for my trip.

Country profile: (further details available on the BBC website)

The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has a long history as a major player in international affairs and fulfils an important role in the EU, UN and Nato.

The economy - one of the largest in the world - is no longer manufacturing but services-based, with e-commerce of growing significance. The City of London is a global financial centre.

Many of the country's people have never been richer, but a recent international study says the UK has the second highest child poverty rate in the European Union.