Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and the third largest in the United Kingdom after London and Birmingham. It is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands. The city was formerly a royal burgh, and was known as the "Second City of the British Empire" in the Victorian era, it established itself as a major transatlantic trading port during the Industrial Revolution. The Clyde was the World's pre-eminent shipbuilding centre, building many famous vessels such as the Cunard liners RMS Queen Mary, RMS Queen Elizabeth and the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.