Human and Physical Features

The features of human and physical geography are revisited regularly throughout the KS1 and KS2 Geography curriculum.

In KS1 the curriculum focuses on UK geography. Children become familiar with the human and physical features KS1 geographical language and then build on this knowledge by comparing a small area of the UK with a small area of a non-European country.

In KS2 the children build on their knowledge of KS1 geography. The human and physical features KS2 Geography includes looking at land use, topographical language, and using field trips to gather information and make observations.  

What do the terms ‘human features’ and ‘physical features’ mean in KS1 and KS2 Geography?

In Geography, human and physical features are the terms given to things that you can see all around you.

What are human features?

Human features are things made or built by humans like cities, houses, roads, bridges, ports, farms, factories, language, political systems and religion.

What are physical features?

Physical features like things that occur naturally like seas, mountains, hills, valleys and rivers. Physical features would be there even if there were no people around.

What are some human features of the UK?

Human features in the UK include:

• utility services, like power plants, wind farms, solar farms, nuclear plants, power cables and water pipes
• leisure facilities, like swimming pools, hotels and restaurants
• retail facilities, like shopping centres
• transport facilities, like footpaths, roads, train tracks, train stations and bridges
• industrial facilities, like ports, warehouses and facories
• language
• religion
• population

The official language of the UK is English. English is spoken by 98% of the population. Other indigenous languages of the UK include, Scots, Welsh, British Sign Language, Irish, Angloromani, Scottish Gaelic and Cornish.

The official religion of the UK is Christianity. Christianity includes the Church of England, the Catholic Church and the Methodist Church. Over 50% of the UK population say they are not religious.

The population of the UK is 68.7 million. England is the most populated country in the UK, followed by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Port of Dover | A Human Feature of the UK

What are some physical features of the UK?

Physical features in the UK include hills, mountains, valleys, rivers, cliffs and beaches.

The longest river in the UK is the River Severn. It is 354 km long is in England and Wales!

The highest mountain in the UK is Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is in Scotland. It is 1,345 m high.

The largest forest in the UK is Galloway Forest. Galloway Forest is in Scotland. It is 297 square miles.

Ben Nevis | A Physical Feature of the UK

FREE Human Features of the UK

FREE Physical Features of the UK

COLLECTION Human Geography Lessons

COLLECTION Physical Geography Lessons

FREE Physical and Human Geographical Vocabulary Word Bank