THE Isle of Man is well known for it’s annual motorcycle race, as well as its unique location in the Irish sea.
Here, we look at if the island is part of the UK and what currency they use.
Where is the Isle of Man located?
It is located in the Irish sea, in between England and Ireland.
British and Irish citizens are able to enter and live in the Isle of Man without a visa or clearance from the Immigration Office.
Is the Isle of Man a part of the UK?
Despite being off the coast of northern England, the Isle of Man is not — and never has been — part of the United Kingdom.
It is also not part of the European Union and, therefore it is not represented at Westminster or in Brussels.
The island is in fact a self-governing British Crown Dependency.
Like Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands, it has its own parliament, government and laws.
Although not being part of the UK or Great Britain, it is included in the British Isles.
As such, sports people from the island can represent Team GB at the Olympics, such as cyclist Mark Cavendish.
However, the nation is included in the Commonwealth Games in its own right.
The UK government, on behalf of the Crown, is ultimately responsible for the isle’s international relations.
The island is famous for the Manx cat, known for being tail-less.
It is also the home of the TT races, an annual motorcycle racing event on the island.
What is the Isle of Man capital?
Douglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man – and it has been since 1869.
It has a population of 27,938.
It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, which forms part of the town’s harbour and its main commercial port.
The town which grew rapidly during the 18th century is the Island’s main hub for business, finance, legal services, transport, shipping, entertainment and shopping.
What languages do they speak?
People on the Isle of Man speak their own language called “Manx”.
It belongs to the Gaelic group of the Celtic languages.
And, like Scots Gaelic, Manx was an offshoot of Irish.
The earliest record of the language dates back to 1610 when a version of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer was translated into Manx.
It was in danger of dying out, but now it’s enjoying a revival.
What is the currency?
The Manx pound is divided into 100 pence. Notes and coins, denominated in pounds and pence, are issued by the Isle of Man Government.
It is in parity with sterling, and all notes and coins used in the United Kingdom are legal tender on the island.
However, Manx Pounds are not legal tender in the United Kingdom.
How long is the flight to the Isle of Man?
From London, it takes just over 1 hour 20 minutes to fly to the Isle of Man.
There is only one airport in the Isle of Man, which is called Ronaldsway, located towards the south of the island.
