Fact sheet: Northern Ireland

Along with England, Wales and Scotland, Northern Ireland makes up the United Kingdom and is the last stop on our tour of Great British Summer destinations.

Northern Ireland has a population of nearly two million people, making up just three percent of the UK total
The capital city is Belfast, sitting on the west coast
Belfast is a compact city, rich in architecture and culture, and is one of Europe's most popular destinations
Northern Ireland is also famous for its castles, historic monuments and beaches - the coastal formations provide a number of beautiful sandy beaches, eleven of which have been awarded the renowned Blue Flag status
The Giant's Causeway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. It is an area of coastline made up of 40,000 interlocking hexagonal-shaped columns of rock, forming a unique landscape
Internationally renowned sports stars and artists from Northern Ireland include George Best, Alex Higgins, Dennis Taylor, Rory McIlroy, Van Morrison, C. S. Lewis and the poet Seamus Heaney
Traditional Northern Irish dishes include Irish Stew, soda bread, potato bread, Champ (a mixture of mashed potato and spring onions), and, of course, steak and Guinness pie
There are three official languages in Northern Ireland: English, Irish and Ulster Scots
Lough Neagh, in the middle of Northern Ireland, is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, at 151 square miles