What is .uk?
The .uk domain is the direct country code TLD for the United Kingdom, launched for general registration in 2014. It offers a shorter, cleaner alternative to the traditional .co.uk in the world of domains.
A Brief History
While .uk existed since 1985, direct second-level registrations (like example.uk instead of example.co.uk) only became available in June 2014. Nominet, the .uk registry, offered existing .co.uk holders the right of first refusal on their equivalent .uk domain for five years.
Why Choose .uk?
- Shorter — Four characters shorter than .co.uk in every URL.
- Modern — Follows the global trend toward shorter, cleaner domain extensions.
- Same trust — Carries the same British identity as .co.uk.
- Managed by Nominet — Same reliable, nonprofit registry.
Did You Know?
- As of 2026, over 3.5 million .uk domains are registered.
- If you own a .co.uk, you may have priority rights to the matching .uk domain.
- .uk is the 4th most registered ccTLD in Europe.
Registration & Pricing
.uk domains are affordable, typically $8-12 per year through DomainWorld. DomainWorld offers fast registration and DNS setup of .uk — you can get a domain up and running in minutes.
The Future of .uk
As more businesses adopt the shorter format, .uk continues to grow alongside .co.uk in the world of domains.