It is closer to continental Europe than any other part of mainland Britain, divided from France only by a 33 km (21 mi) sea gap, the English Channel.

[3] The 50 km (31 mi) Channel Tunnel,[4] near Folkestone, directly links England to mainland Europe.

[5] Most of England consists of low hills and plains, with upland and mountainous terrain in the north and west.

It has a milder climate than many places at similar latitudes: for example Newfoundland in Canada, and Sakhalin in Russia.

The prevailing wind is from the south-west, frequently bringing mild and wet weather to England from the Atlantic Ocean.

England is also sunnier throughout the year, but unlike Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the sunniest month is July, totalling around 192.8 hours on average.

The Tees–Exe line marks the division between younger, softer and low-lying rocks in the south east and older, harder, and generally a higher relief in the north-west.

The geology of England is recognisable in the landscape of its counties, for instance Cumbria, Kent and Norfolk all have very distinct and very different looks from each other.

Some hill and mountain chains in England are: Cities with the highest urban elevation include Sheffield, Bradford, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham.

Low-lying cities near sea level include London, Liverpool, Norwich and York.

Along the English Channel, the South Coast builds up into steep, white cliffs at Dover, which are often seen as an iconic symbol of England and Britain.

Following the coastline northwards the coast remains much the same as in south Devon and Cornwall but is besides the Celtic Sea until it eventually reaches the Bristol Channel, an important shipping and docking area.

Liverpool and Merseyside are areas of high population and important industry along this coast, with tourist resorts of Southport and Blackpool being further to the north.

The English section of the Irish Sea coast ends at the border with Scotland in the Solway Firth.

The total land area of England, excluding inland water, is 130,310 km2 (50,313 sq mi).

England boasts one of the largest economies in Europe and indeed the world, with an average GDP per capita of £22,907.