Shock and awe: Britain reacts to Brexit

As United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum, scenes of celebration and gloom could be seen across the nation.

While Leave campaigners celebrated the results, after securing 51.9 per cent of the total votes, Remain supporters wore a look of despair and glum.

You can’t blame him for being ecstatic! Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, is all smiles at a Leave.eu party after the referendum revealed that they had won the vote. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Drinks are on me! A vote LEAVE supporter with a bottle of wine and can of beer walks outside Vote Leave HQ, WestminsterTower. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

No happy faces here! Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign react after heading the result from Orkney in the EU referendum. The Remain campaign was only able to secure 48.1 per cent of the total votes. Photograph: Rob Stothard/Pool/Reuters

LeaVe for victory! Leave campaigners celebrate as they win the vote in Sunderland during the North East region European Union referendum count. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Not what we were expecting: Supporters of the Stronger In Campaign express shock and gloom as the results of the EU referendum are announced at the Royal Festival Hall, in London. Photograph: Rob Stothard/Pool/Reuters

So long! A vote leave supporter holds a poster in Westminster, London. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Down and out: Traders from BGC Partners, a global brokerage company in London's Canary Wharf financial centre react as the pound sinks to its lowest since 1985. Photograph: Russell Boyce/Reuters

Music to his ears: A lone piper plays his bagpipes outside the home of former London Mayor Boris Johnson, in London. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

Can’t help but smile: A vote leave supporter holds a Union flag, following the result of the EU referendum, outside Downing Street in London. Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters