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The British Isles is the term commonly used to identify the group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland and the many smaller adjacent islands.

The term "British Isles" refers to these islands as a geographical - not a political - unit, although the Channel Islands are only included due to their political association.

Politically, the group of islands is divided between the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey.

The last three of these are British crown dependencies, but not part of the United Kingdom.

Many people in Ireland dislike the term "British Isles" because it may suggest incorrectly that Ireland is British. This is understandable, but unfortunately there really is no suitable alternative. The term "Britain and Ireland" is not equivalent because it does not include the other islands in the group.

These islands are an archipelago off the west coast of Europe (121,674 square miles), consisting of:

• Great Britain

• Ireland

• The Isle of Man

• The Isle of Wight

• The Channel Isles

• The Orkney Isles

• The Shetland Isles

• The Hebrides

• Anglesey

• The islands of the Firth of the River Clyde, including Arran and Bute

and many other smaller islands.