Useful data for tourists about the UK, cities and resorts in the country. As well as information about the population, UK currency, cuisine, peculiarities of visa and customs restrictions in the UK.
Geography of Great Britain
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is made up of four historic national regions: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A special regime has been established for the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Great Britain is located in the north-west of Europe, on the British Isles (the island of Great Britain is the largest, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, numerous small ones: the Hebrides, Shetland, Orkney, etc.). Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the seas - North and Irish, the English Channel, Pas-de-Calais, North and St. George. Coastline strongly dissected by numerous bays (fjords in the north and river estuaries in the south), forms the large peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall.
In the north and west, mountainous terrain prevails - the Scottish Highlands (the most high peak in Great Britain - Ben Nevis, its height is 1343 m), the South Scottish Uplands, the Pennine and Cambrian mountains. These mountain systems have plateau-like peaks and gentle slopes covered with vegetation. The eastern and southern parts of the country are occupied by hilly plains framed by rocky ridges (cuestas).
Great Britain has a large number of rivers, many of which are navigable and connected by canals. Among largest rivers- Thames, Severn, Trent. Lakes abound in the north of the country, the largest being Loch Ney in Northern Ireland, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond in Scotland. The vast Lake District is located at the northwestern spurs of the Pennines.
State
State structure
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state (as well as the head of the Commonwealth) is Queen Elizabeth II. Legislative power in the country belongs to the monarch and parliament, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the actual power is concentrated in the hands of the government, headed by the Prime Minister.
Language
State language: English, Welsh
Scottish Gaelic is spoken by about 60,000 people in parts of Scotland. Welsh is spoken mainly in rural areas in northwest Wales. It is the primary language for the majority of the population of Wales.
Religion
Residents of Great Britain - Anglicans, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs.
Currency
International name: GBP
1 pound sterling = 100 pence. Banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50 pounds, coins of 1, 5, 10, 50 pence are in circulation. Import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited.
You can exchange currency for pounds sterling at any bank branch or exchange offices. You must have a passport with you. The bank's commission is 0.5% - 1%.
History of Great Britain
In 43 A.D. Britain became part of the Roman Empire and remained there until 410, when the Celts, Saxons and other tribes drove out the Romans.
In 1066, the small kingdoms of Great Britain were conquered by the Norman commander William and united into a single state.
In 1215, King John Lackland signed a guarantee of rights providing for the rule of law "Magna Carta" (the document is still one of the main parts of the country's constitution).
In 1338, England entered a war with France, which lasted more than a hundred years (until 1453). Almost immediately after its end, the war for the English throne broke out (War of the Roses), which ended in 1485 with the victory of the Tudor dynasties.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, England became a great maritime power and received very extensive colonies on several continents.
In 1603, when the Scottish king James VI was crowned to the English throne as King James 1, Scotland and England were effectively united into one state. However, the Kingdom of Great Britain was proclaimed after the signing of the act of unification in 1707, from that time London became the capital of a unified state.
In 1642-1649, a conflict between the royal house of Stuarts and parliament led to a bloody civil war, as a result of which a republic was proclaimed led by Oliver Cromwell. The monarchy was soon restored, but the king's rights were significantly curtailed and, in fact, parliament held full power.
At the end of the 18th century, Great Britain lost 13 American colonies, but significantly strengthened its positions in Canada and India. In 1801, Ireland was annexed to the kingdom.
In 1815, Great Britain played a rather large role in the defeat of the Napoleonic army, which strengthened its position as one of the most important European powers. After that, the country lived in peace for a century, expanding its colonial possessions, which especially grew during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 - 1901).
After the First World War, Great Britain was in a difficult economic situation, which partly played into the hands of the Irish liberation movement, and in 1921 Ireland declared independence. After World War II, national problems arose in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The events in Northern Ireland, where the war has actually been fought since 1969, took on a particularly dramatic character.
In August 1994, the Irish Republican Army declared a unilateral ceasefire and the peace process, which began in the early 90s with negotiations between the governments of Great Britain and Ireland, went a little faster. However, dissatisfied with the progress of the process, the IRA militants resumed their terrorist activities in early 1996.
Great Britain is a member of the UN and all specialized agencies of this organization, NATO, CFE, EU, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, British Commonwealth nations.
In 43 A.D. Britain became part of the Roman Empire and remained there until 410, when the Romans were ousted by the Celts, Saxons and other tribes ...
Popular attractions
Tourism in the UK
Where to stay
Great Britain is one of the tourist countries that has its own stable "clientele": tourists who come to the country again and again.
Hotels in the UK have a European star rating. Not all hotels in the country include breakfast in the room rate. In "little-star" hotels, the rooms are small, and the service is rather modest. However, even in such establishments, increased requirements for cleanliness and comfort are observed. In the hotel restaurant, dining room, dinner is served 5-7 times a week.
In addition to the requirements for one and two-star hotels, three and four-star hotels place particular emphasis on helpfulness and cleanliness. The room rate must include breakfast, as well as the opportunity to use other services for an additional fee. All rooms must be equipped with a toilet and shower (bath). Such hotels must have at least one restaurant.
As for 5 star UK hotels, additional restaurants, appropriately equipped business centers, gyms, spa centers and 24-hour room service are welcome.
In addition to the traditional classification by stars, hotels in Great Britain are classified according to the following criteria: Small Hotel - a mini-hotel with 20 rooms; Metro Hotel is an institution that does not have its own cafe or restaurant, but is located within walking distance from catering places and the Country House Hotel is a country house hotel with a small park or garden.
Rural hotels are very popular in Great Britain, which are cheaper and have their own special charm. In addition, Bed & Breakfast hotels are widespread in the country, the price of which includes bed and breakfast, as well as hostels, which mainly offer separate rooms with a single bed, a table, a shower, a toilet and Internet access.
In cooking, the British are as committed to tradition as they are in many other things. For centuries, the English day begins with a traditional breakfast: scrambled eggs and fried bacon, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, sausages and blood sausage. Nowadays, oatmeal and cornflakes are more commonly served. After breakfast, you will definitely have tea and toasted toast with orange jam ...
Tips
In many restaurants and cafes, the service charge is included in the total bill and amounts to 10-15% of the order value. If not, it is customary to tip in the amount of this amount. Taxi drivers are given a tip of 10% of the amount on the counter, porter services - from 70 pence and depends on the category of the hotel.
Visa
Opening hours of institutions
The shops are open from 9 am to 5.30 pm. Museums and exhibitions are open from 10 am to 6 pm. On Sundays they are open from 14:00 to 17:00. Banks are open from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm on weekdays. Some banks close later on Thursdays and are open on Saturdays until lunchtime.
Purchases
In the UK, value added tax (VAT) is 17.5%. In shops, hotels and restaurants, VAT is almost always included in the price. VAT refund is possible in two ways.
The first way is the so-called Retail Export. You ask the store to fill out a VAT 407 form (you must have your ID with you) and give it to customs when you leave the UK. Please be aware that in major airports there can be long lines at VAT refunds points. Within 8 weeks, the VAT amount minus a small commission will be transferred to your card or sent in the form of a British check.
The second, more complicated method, Direct Export, is used if the goods are sent to your home address. In this case, you must have a VAT 407 form, certified by customs, police or a notary. When you arrive home, you send it to the store, which will refund you VAT.
Emergency telephones
Police, fire brigade - 999 or 112.
Questions and opinions about the UK
Question answer
Question answer
Great Britain
(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Area 244,100 sq. km Population -56 600 000 people
This country is located on the British Isles in the Atlantic Ocean - the largest archipelago in Europe. By name itself big island it is called Great Britain, and by the name of its main historical part - sometimes England. Officially, this country is referred to as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The country consists of 4 historical regions: England occupies the central and southeastern parts of the island of Great Britain, Scotland is located in the north of the island of Great Britain; Wales - in the west of the same island and Northern Ireland (Ulster) - on the island of Ireland. The inhabitants of this country call themselves British to show that not only the British, but also the Scots, Welsh (Welsh), and Irish live in the British Isles. They are all proud of their language and ancient culture.
Many people from Asia, Africa and the West Indies also live in large cities. Great Britain is a small, highly developed capitalist country, one of the first industrial countries in the world. The British were the first to build large factories and manufacture machine tools. The English inventor D. Watt created a steam engine, and the talented worker D. Stephenson built a steam locomotive. And now English machines and devices, ships and fabrics are famous.
Great Britain once had numerous colonies. The first English colony appeared in North America back in 1607, and the last - Gibraltar, exists to this day. The possessions of England were India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, a number of countries in Africa and the Middle East. Nowadays, almost all colonies have won independence.
The head of state is a monarch whose power is limited by parliament. Northern Ireland (Ulster) is a land of arable land, pastures, vegetable gardens and orchards. Main city- Belfast. There are many shipyards, shipbuilding and chemical plants, textile factories. Scotland is a land of mountains, lakes and beautiful valleys. The Scots love folk singing and dancing. At folk festivals, old music played on bagpipes sounds. National costumes of the Scots are picturesque, especially men's plaid skirts - kilts. But Scotland is still a country of factories and large ports. The outskirts of the cities of Edinburgh (the main city of Scotland) and Glasgow are literally "packed" with factories, factories, shipyards. Coal is mined here and steel is smelted. The ships delivering Scottish cars and goods to all countries of the world are built right there, at the shipyards at the mouth of the Clyde River. They make computers and plastic products, powerful turbines and precision instruments. Great Britain has always been rich in coal, but oil used to be brought to the country. Now, most of it is mined from the bottom of the North Sea. The Scottish city of Aberdeen is a major center for servicing oil fields - the "oil capital" of the country. Wales - the most mountainous part of Great Britain - is located in the southwest of the island. Coal is mined here, factories producing steel and tin plate, chemical and oil refineries, non-ferrous metallurgy plants have been built. The main city of Wales is Cardiff. In rural Wales, vegetables and potatoes are grown, and sheep are raised. Many of the coastal villages are fishermen.
The largest and most populous part of the UK is England. The bulk of the country's population lives here. England is one of the first industrialized countries in the world. In the old English cities: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool - factories and factories work day and night. In England, they make cars and airplanes, ships and electronic equipment, a variety of chemical and textile industry... Agriculture is well developed in England. The capital is located in the south of England on the River Thames UK - London... This is one of oldest cities in Europe. In London's West End, which means "West End", there are museums, hotels, shops - the best, most expensive. There is a lot of greenery here, in the largest park in London - Hyde Park - tourists gather to watch traditional discussions in the "Speakers' Corner", where everyone can make a speech. Westminster - political and administrative center country. Parliament, the oldest in the world, sits in the Palace of Westminster. Government offices are concentrated on White Hall Street. The Royal Buckingham Palace is nearby. The City area is the central business part of the city, one of the world's financial centers. Banks and offices are concentrated here. The City is home to houses built a century ago and modern skyscrapers. At the entrance to this "kingdom of gold" stands the Tower - this is both a palace and a fortress, a former prison turned into a museum. The docks and quays of the Port of London have been moved to the Thames estuary. There is a lot of greenery around London, the fields are sown with wheat and barley, and cattle graze in the meadows. This area is called green England.
Great Britain is called the land of traditions. The changing of the guard at the gates of Buckingham Palace has been going on for decades. Members of the royal family wear medieval clothes during the coronation. In courts, judges and lawyers sit in wigs and gowns. In some areas of Scotland, antique clothing is still worn. The folk costume of the mountaineer consists of a white linen shirt with a turn-down collar, a plaid knee-length skirt with a large pleat, a short cloth jacket with cuffs, and a plaid that is thrown over one shoulder. Knee-highs and thick coarse shoes with metal buckles are put on their feet, and a dark beret with a wide checkered band is put on the head. From the end of the 18th century. this garment became the uniform of the Scottish Guards. England is a country ancient culture, the homeland of talented scientists, writers: I. Newton, J. Watt, W. Shakespeare, W. Scott, B. Shaw, R. Burns, Ch, Dickens, etc. Much peculiar, national is preserved in the traditional holidays of the British. Of these, the most beloved is Christmas. The country has a traditional interest in sports. Sports figure prominently in many school curricula. Many sports games played around the world come from England, such as football. Until now, this is the most popular game here. On Shrovetide or Easter, in some villages, a kind of football competition is organized, in which all residents often participate. Traditional and obligatory such dishes of English cuisine as oatmeal, steak, puddings. Tea is the most popular drink.
Bibliography
For the preparation of this work were used materials from the site 5.km.ru/
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Great Britain is located in the northwest of Europe. Consists of the island of Great Britain, on which England, Scotland and Wales are located, and part of the island of Ireland, which is occupied by Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are dominions of the United Kingdom, but are not part of it. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north, the North Sea in the east. In the south, it is separated from the mainland by the English Channel.
The name of the country comes from the English Great Britain. Britain - according to the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.
Capital
Square
Population
59648 thousand people
Administrative division
Consists of four historical regions (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), which are administratively divided into numerous counties.
England: 39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London (administrative center - London).
Wales: 8 counties (administrative center - Cardiff).
Scotland: 12 regions and 186 islands (administrative center - Edinburgh).
Northern Ireland: 26 counties (administrative center - Belfast). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have a special status.
Form of government
A constitutional monarchy.
Head of state
The monarch is the supreme bearer of executive power, the head judicial system, the supreme commander in chief.
The highest legislative body. A bicameral parliament, consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Elected for a term of 5 years.
Higher executive agency... Council of Ministers.
Big cities
Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Belfast.
Official language
English, in Wales - English and Welsh.
Religion
47% are Anglicans, 16% are Catholics.
Ethnic composition
81.5% are British, 9.6% are Scots, 2.4% are Irish, 1.9% are Welsh.
Currency
Pound sterling = 100 pence.
Climate
Great Britain is called the land of fog and rain. The climate of the country changes depending on the region. In England, the climate is mild and humid, thanks to the relative warmth of the seas washing it. Average annual temperature is about + 11 ° С in the south and + 9 ° С in the northeast. Scotland is the coldest region in the UK. The mountains in the north are covered with snow from November to April-May. The climate in Wales and Northern Ireland is mild and humid. The average annual temperature in Northern Ireland is + 10 ° C. The most abundant rainfall is in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the mountains of England and Wales (1000-1500 mm per year). The smallest rainfall is in the south-east of England (600-750 mm per year).
Flora
The vegetation in England is rather poor, forests occupy less than 4% of the territory, most often oak, birch, pine. In Scotland, forests are more common, although the region is dominated by moorlands. Mainly in the forests in the south and east oak and conifers grow - spruce, pine and larch. In Wales, the forests are mostly deciduous - ash, oak. V mountainous areas coniferous trees are widespread.
Fauna
Deer, fox, rabbit, hare, badger live in England. Among the birds are a partridge, a dove, and a raven. Reptiles, of which there are only 4 species in all the British Isles, are rare in England. Mainly salmon and trout are found in the rivers. For Scotland, the most characteristic deer, roe deer, hare, rabbit, marten, otter and wild cat. Of the birds, partridges and wild ducks predominate. The rivers and lakes of Scotland are also rich in salmon and trout. In coastal waters, cod, herring, haddock are caught. In Wales, the fauna is almost the same as in England, with the exception of the black ferret and pine marten, which are absent in England.
Rivers and lakes
The main rivers of England are the Thames, Severn, Tyne. The main rivers of Scotland are the Clyde, Tay, Force, Tweed, Dee and Spey. Among the numerous lakes, the legendary Loch Ness, Loch Tay, Loch Catherine stand out. The main rivers of Wales: Dee, Usk, Teifi. The most large lake- Bala. The main rivers of Northern Ireland are Foyle, Upper Ban and Lower Ban. Lake Lough Ney is the largest in the British Isles.
sights
Stonehenge megalithic complex, church in Bargon, castle of the XII century. in Inverness, Glasgow Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and Church, Cardiff Castle, Shakespeare House in Stratford, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, in London - the British Museum, Tower Castle (the jewels of the royal crown are kept here), Westminster Abbey (the place of the coronation of British kings ) with Poets 'Corner, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben Clock Tower, Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, Hyde Park with Speakers' Corner and much more. Nelson's Column rises in Trafalgar Square. An interesting "square mile of sin" - the area of Soho.
Useful information for tourists
Shops are usually open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, although many department stores are open until 6:00 pm and on Wednesdays or Thursdays until 7:00 pm-8:00pm. Large stores can receive customers on Sundays, but only during any six hours from 10.00 to 18.00. In smaller towns and villages, shops often close for half a day after lunch once a week, as well as for an hour's lunch break.
In many cases, hotels have a special service charge, usually 10-12%. Where this fee is not included in the bill, employees and maids who serve you are usually tipped 10-15% of the bill.
Some restaurants include service. Where it is not taken into account, a tip is accepted in the amount of 10-15% of the invoice amount.
Porters get 50-75p per suitcase, taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.
One feature of the UK that you may encounter is that, until now, most hotels do not have a tap above the washbasin. The British do not wash themselves with running water, but collect a full washbasin of water, use it, and then drain it.
On the day of departure, you need to vacate your room by 12.00. If there is a lot of time before the plane takes off, you can leave your belongings in the hotel's storage room.
In England, good manners and the ability to sit at the table are very important, therefore, the basic rules of the meal ritual must be observed. Never put your hands on the table, keep them on your lap. The devices are not removed from the plates, since knife stands are not used in England. Do not transfer the cutlery from one hand to the other, the knife should always be in the right hand, the fork in the left. Since different vegetables are served at the same time as meat dishes, you should proceed as follows: you put vegetables on a small piece of meat with a knife; learn to hold them there with the back of the fork without piercing. If you dare to chop at least one pea on a fork, then you will be considered ill-mannered.
You should not kiss the ladies' hands or say publicly such compliments as "What a dress you have!" or "How delicious this cake is!" - they are regarded as gross indelicacy.
Separate conversations are not allowed at the table. Everyone should listen to the one who speaks in this moment and, in turn, speak loudly enough to be heard by those present.
Remember that the British have their own lifestyle, and they, like no other nation, sacredly honor traditions and customs.
Traveling to Great Britain - the land of fogs - we advise you not to forget that British weather is unpredictable! Winters are usually quite mild, with temperatures rarely reaching sub-zero. From March to May, the days can be either sunny or windy with rain. In June-August, the temperature can reach + 30 ° С or more, however, during the day, as a rule, it remains somewhere in the range of + 20-25 ° С. It rains 180 days a year in London, and the wettest cities are Liverpool and Manchester.
- State language UK is English. Together with him, three more languages actively coexist: Scottish and two Celtic: Welsh and Gaelic.
- In the 5th-6th centuries, the Anglo-Saxons conquered the British Isles. In 1066, the Norman commander William conquered the small kingdoms of Great Britain, which were united into a single state. In the second half of the XIII century, the English parliament was formed, the estate monarchy was formed. The name Kingdom of Great Britain was proclaimed in 1707, from that time London became the capital of the unified state.
- It is a rectangular blue panel, which depicts a red straight cross in a white edging, superimposed on the red and white oblique crosses.
- The official coat of arms of the British monarch depicts 2 lions and 7 heraldic leopards: 6 golden leopards on the shield correspond to England. The lion in the second field of the shield represents Scotland. On the right, the shield is supported by a golden crowned lion, on the left - a unicorn chained in a chain.
Name:
Great Britain
Title (English):
Great britain
Short description:
Great Britain is a state located on the British Isles (The possession of England includes: the island of Great Britain, the northeast of the Irish Island, many small islets and archipelagos, the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands.)
Area and location:
The state is located on the British Isles, which are washed Atlantic Ocean and its seas. The area of the country is 244 820 km², of which land occupies 240 590 km², 3 230 km² is the area of inland waters.
Capital, major cities:
The capital of Great Britain is one of largest cities Europe - the city of London with a population of 7.5 million. Big cities: Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Glasgow.
Population:
According to the 2009 UK census, the total population of the country is 61,634,783. Indigenous people (English, Scots, Welsh and Irish) make up 92% of the total. The remaining 8% are Indians, Chinese, Pakistanis, Africans.
Political structure and administrative division:
The country is a parliamentary monarchy headed by a queen. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament, which is supreme body authorities throughout the UK. Distinctive feature political structure this country is the lack of a Constitution. There are statutes, constitutional conventions, and unwritten laws and agreements to regulate the relationship between the government and the people. Great Britain consists of four administrative and political parts: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
The main, most widespread religion is Christianity (71.6%). Atheists in the country are 15.5%. Other religions in Great Britain: Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism.
Public Holidays:
In addition to the traditional holidays celebrated by the whole world, there are many national holidays in Great Britain: Winter Festival (January 2), St. Patrick's Day (March 17), Mother's Day (March 26), Scottish Independence Day (April 6), Royal National Day in Aberystwyth (August 12), Halloween (October 31). But the most grandiose and solemn of them is the Queen's Birthday, which takes place in mid-June in London (every second Saturday in June).
The country lives according to Greenwich time. In summer, it switches to summer time which is 1 hour ahead of GMT.
The currency in Great Britain is the pound sterling, which is equal to 100 pence.
Great Britain has a temperate oceanic climate, mild and humid (in Northern Ireland it is more humid, in Scotland it is cold and dry). The coldest month is January, the warmest is July. Most of the rainfall occurs from September to January, with frequent weather phenomenon- fogs. The warmest regions of the country are London, the South East and Westland.
Fauna and flora:
The territory of Great Britain is predominantly deforested, forests occupy about 9% of the country's area. The main plant formation in Great Britain is heathweed. The country is home to 56 species of mammals, the largest of which is the red deer. Also here you can find roe deer, wild goats, foxes, badgers, weasels, otters, ermines are widespread.
The least suitable time to visit the UK is between November and February. In March and October it is already warm enough, but it is still very chilly. The best time for visiting is the period from April to September. At this time, here relatively good weather, as well as the opening of the tourist season and many attractions.
Culture:
The culture of Great Britain is extremely rich and varied. It significantly influences world culture.
In the capital of Great Britain, tourists have chosen the Kensington area and Oxford Street. Major department stores in London: Selfridges, John Levis Partnership, Harrods, etc. There are many branded boutiques in this city, for example burberry. In a word, shopping lovers have a place to walk.
Classic national cuisine:
British cuisine is not overly sophisticated, but it places great emphasis on the quality of the ingredients, which are often locally sourced. Traditional British dishes - fish and chips, potato casserole with meat and mashed potatoes.
Interesting places:
St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster and Buckingham Palaces, Trafalgar Square, Tower of London, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Madame Tussauds, Royal Shakespeare Theater, Loch Ness, Lake District, Orkney Islands.
Traditions and customs:
The British are markedly different from all other nations. Characteristic feature the British are proud, stubborn, witty, adherent to tradition. They are friendly to tourists, always happy to show that they are the most civilized in the world. An integral part of English traditions are numerous festivals, the most famous of which is the Chelsea Flower Festival.
Transport system:
The UK has developed aviation, railway, automobile, aquatic species transport.
Airports:
Heathrow Airport (London) and Gatwick Airport (London) arrive international flights, domestic and international in Stansted (London).
