1. Politics and current affairs

The UK Government Web site Directgov includes government departments, organisations, regulatory bodies, councils etc. Use the site index, arranged alphabetically, to browse.
Some other useful government sites are:

The UK Parliament site includes information about the House of Commons and the House of Lords and details about current debates.
Official Documents provides access to UK Government publications (summaries and some full-text) including Acts, Bills, Green and White Papers, press releases, committee papers etc.
The Home Office web site includes details about the British Crime Survey.
Department of Trade and Industry

The Labour party
The Conservative party
Liberal Democrats party
Green Party
Trades Union Congress
Political resources on the net for the United Kingdom: links to a variety of useful Web sites.
BBC news national and international news and links to topical issues.
British Monarchy official site for the British Royal Family.
The Commonwealth

2. Education

Department for Education and employment (DfEE)
National Union of Students
UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service for the UK) is the UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time undergraduate courses, HNDs and university diplomas.
UK University MapSensitive map of UK Higher Education institutions which allows you to access university web pages.

3. Television and media

BBC Online
Channel 4
News and Current Affairs Library guide with links to many Internet news services in the UK and abroad.

4. Arts, culture and sport

British Council
British Film Institute
UK Theatre Web
24 Hour Museum A guide to museums and galleries in the UK.
Art Guide Internet guide to art collections in the UK with links to hundreds of museums and galleries.
UK Sport
Britmovie

5. Health and social issues

National Health Sevice (NHS)
Department of Health
Commission for Racial Equality

6. History

Britannia: American guide to British History
History of the United Kingdom: Primary Documents provides links to many original documents on the history of the UK from the eighth century to the present day.

7. Business

BUBL link for British business
CBI UK employer's organisation

8. Travel and tourism

European Tourist Information Center
Europe for Visitors
World Travel Guide: United Kingdom
BUBL link for British travel and tourism
Visit Britain is the official Web site for the British Tourist Authority
YHA: Youth Hostelling Association for England and Wales

The Streetmap site allows you to type in a UK postcode and get a map showing its exact location.

Internet sites on contemporary Britain