The United Kingdom, also known as Great Britain or simply Britain, is a country located off the coast of mainland Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which reflects its political and cultural union of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The UK is often referred to as 'Albion', which is a frequently used name from ancient times that was given to the island of Great Britain, believed to have first been used by Greeks and Romans. Other informal synonyms for the UK include 'Britannia', 'the British Isles', 'her Majesty's land' and 'the old country'.