The British Isles are an archipelago located to the northwest of the European continent and separating the Atlantic Ocean from the North Sea. At the same time, the islands are separated from the mainland of Europe by two straits - the English Channel and the Pas de Calais. The states of the British Isles have a long history and rich traditions of democracy and market economy. On the map of modern Europe, they occupy a special place, since it was on their territory that the appearance of modern capitalism was formed.
Geography of the British Isles
The total area of the islands of the archipelago exceeds 315 million square kilometers, but the vast majority of the islands are extremely modest in size. The largest islands are Great Britain and Ireland. There are two states in the British Isles: the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition, some of the islands have the special status of crown estates of the ruling house of Great Britain.
The extreme northern and extreme southern points are at a distance of a thousand kilometers from each other, and the width of the archipelago is eight hundred kilometers. The extreme northern point of the islands is Cape Herma Ness. Cape Lizard, located in the English county of Cornwall, is considered the extreme southern point. Cape Lowestoft is called the easternmost point of the archipelago, while the westernmost point is Sline Head.
The largest geographical features are the Scottish Highlands, the Pennines and a low plain in the southwest of Great Britain called the London Basin. The largest rivers are considered to be the Thames, Severn, Trent and Shannon.
political map
The countries of the British Isles have a long common history, full of both tragic events and powerful breakthroughs. For many centuries, local residents competed with each other, resisted foreign invaders, fought with the Roman Empire, France, seized colonies and waged religious wars with their closest neighbors.
There are two states on the modern political map of the islands: Great Britain and Ireland. The islands of Guernsey, Jersey and Maine have a special legal status.
Until recently, both states were members of the EU, but in 2017 a referendum was held in the UK, in which citizens voted for the country's exit from the European Union.
History of the British Isles
It is reliably known that the settlement of the archipelago by modern man began more than thirty thousand years ago. Subsequently, the people who settled the islands formed a culture that scientists call the culture of the island Celts.
Already in prehistoric times, Great Britain was inhabited by the Britons, while the Gaels lived on the island of Ireland, whose distant descendants live today in Scotland.
An important milestone in the history of the islands was their conquest by the Roman Empire in 43 AD. Although the Romans managed to conquer only the southern part of the islands, their four hundred years of rule did not pass without a trace on the local culture and had a huge impact on both technological development and the formation of local languages, although they do not belong to the Romance family.
Norman Conquest
The conquest of the British Isles by the Normans began in 1066, when the first boats of the northern conquerors landed on the coast of England. Quite quickly, foreigners managed to subdue Wales as well. Realizing the danger posed by aggressive warriors, the inhabitants of Scotland themselves invited the Normans to settle in their country.
Despite the fact that the invaders brought their customs and French-style feudalism to the country, they were nevertheless quickly assimilated by the local population and disappeared without a trace in the culture of the indigenous population.
It was the Norman conquest that created the prerequisites for the formation of a single cultural space in England and Wales and the subsequent annexation of Wales by the British. Scotland, however, managed to maintain its independence over the next few centuries, despite constant conflicts with England.
History of Scotland
As part of modern Great Britain, Scotland is an autonomous administrative unit with its own parliament and other self-government bodies. But its head is the English monarch.
The history of relations between the metropolis and Edinburgh has many centuries of struggle and attempts by English kings and queens to conquer their northern neighbors. Scotland was first conquered by England in 1296, but the greed of the English rulers provoked discontent among the locals, and a year later they revolted. Scotland was again liberated, but the next few decades were overshadowed by bloody wars.
The final unification of the two states happened in 1707 after the signing of the "Act of Union". Since then, the issue of secession for Scotland has been raised repeatedly, but always decided in favor of unity.
Special status of crown lands
The island dominions of the British monarch, which are not part of the Kingdom of Great Britain and are ruled directly by the king through his vicegerent, are called crown dominions. These include the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.
Despite the fact that historically these islands are closely connected with all the states surrounding them, and from a geographical point of view they belong to the British Isles, the possessions have never been part of the EU. Each of the islands has its own parliament and is governed by a lieutenant governor appointed by the British monarch.
The Parliament of the Isle of Man, known as Tynwald, claims to be the oldest parliament in existence, having first met in 979.
Great Britain (Great Britain ) is a kingdom located in the north-west of Europe, in the British Isles. Full title - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), consisting of four national regions (in fact, 4 different countries with their own characteristics): England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Great Britain- these are mountains, lakes, corners of wild nature and the sounds of the bagpipes of Scotland; the amazing castles and national parks of Wales; architectural monuments, theaters, museums, art galleries, shops, bars and restaurants in England; unique natural monuments of Northern Ireland.
United Kingdom - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1. Capital
The capital of Great Britain- city London (London ) is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population, located on a plain at the mouth of the navigable River Thames, near the North Sea. London- an amazing, ancient city, whose history goes back almost 2000 years. Capital geographically divided into 4 parts: City, West End, East End and Westminster. The City of London is the financial and business center of the capital, has the status of a ceremonial county, not subject to royal authority, and is a state within a state. The Bank of England and the London Stock Exchange are located here. The West End is the main entertainment center of the British capital, which has a large number of theaters, galleries, concert halls, popular boutiques and restaurants. The East End is an industrial area located in the eastern part of London, which is home to a large number of immigrants. Westminster Historic District London and political center Great Britain. Here is the residence of the British monarchs - Buckingham Palace.
2. Flag
— « Union Jack» («Union Jack») is a blue rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 1:2. The canvas is crossed by two diagonal red lines with a white outline and a wide red cross with a white outline located on top of them.
- The straight red cross in the center is the cross of St. George, the symbol of England.
- White diagonal cross - the cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland
- Red oblique cross - the cross of St. Patrick, the symbol of Ireland
3. Coat of arms
State coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland represents a shield held by a golden lion and a white unicorn, standing on a green meadow overgrown with roses, thistles and clover. The shield is divided into 4 segments: the first and fourth segment are coat of arms of england(three golden lions (leopard)); second - coat of arms of scotland(image of a red lion); third - coat of arms of ireland(musical instrument - harp). Around the shield is the blue ribbon of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with the motto: " Honi soit qui mal y pense » (« Shame on whoever thinks ill of it"). Above the shield are a golden tournament helmet and a royal crown, on which stands a golden crowned lion. At the bottom of the entire composition there is a golden-silver ribbon with the inscription: "Dieu et mon droit" ("God and My Right").
- the lion standing on the crown is a symbol of the power of the state
- The royal crown - symbolizes the monarchy in the UK
- a white unicorn chained is Scotland, subject to England within the United Kingdom
- lion holding a shield - a symbol of England
- roses, thistles and clover - symbolize the unity of the three powers: England, Scotland and Ireland.
- The Order of the Garter is Britain's highest honor.
4. Anthem
listen to the British anthem
5. Currency
National UK currency — GBP (Pound Sterling) (symbol £ ; bank code: GBP ) equal to 100 pence. In circulation there are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence and 1.2 pounds, as well as banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds. British pound sterling- is a monetary unit, which is also the official for Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as the parallel currency of the crown lands of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man and legal tender for the British Overseas Territories: Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Saint Helena. British pound exchange rate to the ruble or any other world currency can be viewed on the currency converter below :
6. UK on the world map
Great Britain is an island nation located in the northwest of Europe. The kingdom occupies the island Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and numerous small islands. General uk area is 244 820 km 2 , consisting of 4 national regions: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The country has a land border with Ireland, in the north and west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the east and south by the waters of the North Sea and the English Channel and Pas de Calais.
Great Britain has a large number of rivers, many of which are navigable and interconnected by canals, the largest of them are the Thames, Trent and Severn. In the north of the country there are the largest lakes - Loch Neagh in Northern Ireland, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond in Scotland.
Mountainous terrain prevails in the north and west - the North Scottish Highlands, the South Scottish Highlands, the Pennines and the Cambrian Mountains. The eastern and southern parts of the kingdom are occupied by hilly plains.
7. How to get to the UK?
8. What is worth seeing in the UK?
And here is a small list of attractions which you should pay attention to when planning excursions to Great Britain:
- Big Ben - the main bell of the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London
- British Museum in London
- Buckingham Palace - the residence of Queen Elizabeth II in London
- Windsor Castle in England
- Westminster Abbey in London
- Hyde Park is the largest of London's royal gardens.
- Balmoral Castle - Scotland
- Warwick Castle - England
- Stirling Castle - Scotland
- Houses of Parliament - Palace of Westminster in London
- Millennium Wheel - a giant Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames in London
- The Tower of London is a historic castle on the banks of the Thames in central London
- Beachy Head - a natural monument of southern England
- Snowdonia National Park - Wales
- Oxford University - England
- Loch Ness - Scotland
- Tower Bridge - London
- Stonehenge - an architectural and archaeological monument in England
9. Major cities
List of the ten largest cities in the UK:
- London(London) the capital of Great Britain— England
- Birmingham - England
- Leeds — England
- Glasgow - Scotland
- Sheffield - England
- Bradford - England
- Manchester - England
- Edinburgh - Scotland
- Liverpool (Liverpool) — England
- Bristol — England
10. Climate
Climate UK- temperate continental, rather mild and humid, which is characterized by warm winters and relatively cool summers. The average summer temperature is +12 °C…+18 °C, and in winter +4 °C…+6 °C. A feature of the weather in Great Britain is instability and abundant precipitation, as well as "heavy" clouds and fogs. The maximum amount of precipitation is observed in the west of the country, where it falls from 1800 mm to 3000 mm per year. In the south and east of the country, they are much less than 600 - 800 mm per year. The driest time is from March to June.
11. Population
population UK population is 65,373,099 people (data as of February 2017). The ethnic composition of the country's inhabitants differs from other European states in its diversity: 83% are British, 9% are Scots, 4% are Welsh, 2.5% are Irish and 1.5% are other nationalities (Indians, Pakistanis and Africans). countries). The life expectancy of the female half of the population is 78 - 81 years, the male - 74 - 76 years.
12. Language
State UK language — English , while Scots and two Celtic languages are active: Welsh and Gaelic. National language Wales- Welsh, which has equal rights with English. Within the territory of Scotland They speak three languages: English, Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish. AT Northern Ireland the official state language is English, and Gaelic has the status of a national minority language. With the growing flow of immigrants, other languages began to spread, such as: Italian, Greek, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali and others.
13. Religion
In Great Britain There are two officially recognized churches: Anglican in England and Presbyterian in Scotland. Within the territory of Wales and Northern Ireland there are no state religions. The predominant religion of the country is Christianity- 71% of the total believing population of the country (Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists). Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism are also practiced.
14. Holidays
UK national holidays:
- January 1 - New Year
- January 5 - Twelfth Night
- January 25 - Bern Night. Birthday of Robert Burns - National Scottish Poet
- February 14 - Valentine's Day
- March 1 - Day of the patron saint of Wales, St. David
- March 17 - Saint Patrick's Day, patron saint of Northern Ireland
- movable date in March - April - Easter
- April 23 - Saint George's Day
- April 23 – William Shakespeare Memorial Day
- May 1 - Celtic Fire Festival - Beltane (Beltain)
- May 1 - May Day - meeting of spring
- movable date in august - fringe festival in edinburgh
- movable date in august - notting hill carnival
- October 31 - Halloween
- November 5 - Bonfire night
- November 11 - Day of Remembrance for those who died in wars
- November 30 - Patron Saint of Scotland Saint Andrew's Day
- December 25 - Christmas
- December 26 - Boxing Day
15. Souvenirs
Here is a small list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from UK:
- ties
- umbrellas
- books
- smoking pipes
- juniper vodka and gin
- models of a red double-decker bus, Big Ben, Tower and Westminster
- scarves
- scotch whiskey
- porcelain and crystal
- football paraphernalia
- tea and tea accessories
16. "No nail, no wand" or customs regulations
UK customs regulations do not restrict the import and export of any currency, but the amount of more than 10 thousand euros and the equivalent amount in other currencies must be declared (for non-EU countries).
Allowed:
Persons over 17 years old can import duty-free (optional) 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 gr. tobacco, 1 liter of spirits (over 22%), 2 liters of alcohol less than 22%, 60 ml of perfume, 250 ml of eau de toilette. Goods for personal use can be imported for a total amount of 145 pounds per tourist.
Forbidden:
The import and export of items of artistic and historical value, drugs, drug-containing medications (special permission is required), firearms and cold steel, ammunition, explosives, poisonous, poisonous substances, pornography is prohibited. It is forbidden to import and export without permission plants, flowers, wild animals and birds, various products from rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
As in all EU countries, to the UK, it is forbidden to import meat and dairy products, including canned food and even milk chocolates. The exception is baby food and special food for people with various diseases.
Animals
Pets can only be imported if they have an international veterinary certificate and a special license obtained no later than six months before entry to the UK.
17. Voltage in the electrical network
Mains voltage: 230 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz. socket type: TYPE G.
18. Telephone code and domain name
Phone country code: +44
First level geographic domain name: .uk
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Great Britain located in northwestern Europe. Consists of the island of Great Britain, on which are located England, Scotland and Wales, and part of the island of Ireland, which occupies 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 waters of 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 - by the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.
Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Capital:
The area of the land: 244 thousand sq. km
Total population: 61.6 million people
Administrative division: It 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 districts (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 of the judiciary, the supreme commander in chief.
Composition of the population: 83.6% - English, 8.5% - Scots, 4.9% - Welsh, 2.9% - Irish, also live 0.7% - (Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese and from African countries)
Official language: English. Accordingly, in Scotland they use Scottish, and in Wales - Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scots (Scots).
Religion: 71.6% Christian, 15.5% Atheist, 0.3% Buddhism, 2.7% Islam, 1% Hinduism, 0.6% Sikhism, 0.5% Judaism.
Internet domain: .uk
Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz
Phone country code: +44
Country barcode: 50
Climate
The climate of the United Kingdom is very mild. Although extreme temperatures above 38°C or below -18°C have been recorded, temperatures very rarely rise above 29°C on summer days or fall below -7°C on winter nights. The mildness of the climate is mainly due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current (an extension of the Gulf ), which brings warm waters to the western coast of Europe. At these latitudes, westerly winds prevail, and thus cool air comes from the Atlantic Ocean in summer and warm air in winter.
Although temperature differences are quite small, winters are warmer on the west coast of the United Kingdom than on the east. In the Isles of Scilly, the extreme southwest of Great Britain, and Holyhead in northwest Wales, the average January temperature is 7°C, in London it is only 5°C, and on most of the east coast it is below 4°C. Despite temperatures are similar, winters become less favorable as you move north along the east coast, where chilly, damp winds blow from the cold North Sea.
Frost and snow are not uncommon, especially at high altitudes, but in the lowlands in a typical winter, temperatures below 0 ° C stay only 30-60 days a year, and snow - only 10-15 days. In London, snow lies on the ground only about 5 days a year.
The highest summer temperatures are in the southeast. In London, the average July temperature is 17°C, in the Isles of Scilly 16°C, in Holyhead 15°C, and on the north coast of Scotland it is less than 13°C.
In normal years, all areas of Great Britain receive enough rainfall for agricultural work, and in some mountainous areas they are even excessive. Seasonal and annual fluctuations in precipitation are insignificant, droughts are rare.
The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the west of the United Kingdom, relatively little - in its eastern part. In London, the average annual rainfall is only 610 mm, in most of Low Britain - up to 760 mm, and in parts of High Britain - up to 1020 mm. Central Wales averages over 1525 mm of precipitation per year, with parts of the Lake District and the western Highlands of Scotland (the wettest places in the interior of the United Kingdom) receiving over 2540 mm.
Fairly cloudy weather prevails, as most of the precipitation falls in the form of constant drizzle rather than showers, and the sun does not show for many days of the year.
At these latitudes, summer days are long and winter days are very short. In January for a share south coast The UK receives an average of two hours of sunshine a day, and north of Birmingham rarely more than an hour and a half. Even on the long July days, the southern coast gets only seven hours of sunshine on average, while the northern part of the country gets less than five hours a day. The lack of sunlight depends more on overcast than on fogs.
The famous London fogs of the past enveloped the city because of the thick smoke from burning coal for space heating, and not due to meteorological conditions. However, wet, damp fog is still recorded in London on average 45 days a year, mainly in January and February, and in most ports there are from 15 to 30 foggy days each year, and the fog can paralyze all traffic for a couple of days or more. .
Geography
Great Britain is an island nation in the northwest of Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain, part of the island of Ireland and a number of smaller islands (Man, Wight, Channel Islands, Orkney, Hebrides, Shetland and others).
Great Britain consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland. The total area of the country is 244.9 thousand square meters. km. Great Britain has a land border with the only country - Ireland. In the north and west, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east and south - by the North Sea and the narrow straits of the English Channel and Pas de Calais. The entire coast is dotted with bays, bays, deltas and peninsulas, so most of the UK is located at a distance of no more than 120 km from the sea.
Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Northern England are dominated by medium-altitude mountains and uplands with deeply incised river valleys. The highest point of the country is located in Scotland - it is Mount Ben Nevis with a height of 1343 m. The southeastern and central parts of Great Britain are occupied by elevated plains and wastelands. In these areas, only a few places reach 300 m above sea level.
Great Britain has a dense network of rivers. In England and Wales the main rivers are Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames, in Scotland the Clyde, Fort and Tweed, in Northern Ireland the Bann and Logan. All of them are short, full-flowing and non-freezing in winter. There are many lakes in the mountains, mostly of glacial origin. The largest of them are Loch Neagh, Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.
The nature protection of Great Britain is carried out by a system of national parks, national nature and forest reserves and reserves for the protection of waterfowl, which occupy about 7% of the country's territory. The peculiarity of the British national parks is that these are not "deaf" areas, but areas quite close to large cities, more like huge city parks or botanical gardens. The largest national parks are the Lake District or Lake District and Snowdonia, the Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons reserves.
Flora and fauna
Vegetable world
In prehistoric times, much of the United Kingdom was densely forested with oak, birch and other hardwoods, but now, after more than 20 centuries of economic development, the area is largely deforested. Nevertheless, despite the absence of large forest areas, agricultural areas appear wooded thanks to hedgerows, protective forest belts in fields, game animal sanctuaries, and small forest plantations near farms and homesteads.
Forest plots are usually confined to areas with highly rugged topography or sandy soils that are of little use for agriculture. Enormous old trees are preserved in the royal forests, i.e. in areas such as the New Forest, which were originally set aside for royal hunting, but some of them have never been heavily forested. After 1919, and especially after 1945, the government began to encourage the creation of both public and private border forest belts from fast-growing coniferous trees. According to a 1997 estimate, forest inventory was carried out in the country on an area of approx. 2 million ha. However, Low Britain is not dominated by forests, but by fields and pastures.
The main plant formation in Great Britain is the moorhens, which prevail in High Britain at altitudes above 215 m, but are also found in other areas. In general, they account for approximately 1/3 of the area of Great Britain and most of Northern Ireland. In fact, four completely different types are combined here: heath proper, dominated by common heather (Calluna vulgaris), found on rather steep slopes and well-drained, usually sandy soils; grassy heathlands on well-drained soils with a predominance of bentgrass (Agrostis sp.) and fescue (Festuca sp.), and in less drained areas - blue moth (Molinia coerulea) and white-beard protruding (Nardus stricta); sedge barrens, represented by cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), reeds (Scirpus cespitosus) and rushes (Juncus sp.) in more humid lands, and sphagnum bogs in the dampest areas.
Animal world
Many large mammals, such as the bear, wild boar and Irish red deer, have long been extirpated in the British Isles as a result of intense hunting, and the wolf has been extirpated as a pest. Now there are only 56 species of mammals left. Red deer - the largest representative of mammals - lives in the uplands of Cornwall, in the Scottish Highlands. There are quite a few roe deer that are found north of Yorkshire and in the south of England.
Wild goats live in mountainous areas. Among small mammals there are hare, rabbit, marten, otter, wild cat, a large number of partridges and wild ducks. Of the small predators, the ermine and weasel are the most numerous, ferrets are found in Wales, and wild European cats and American martens are found in the mountains of Scotland.
There are a lot of salmon and trout in the rivers and lakes of Scotland. Cod, herring, haddock are caught in coastal waters. The fauna is practically the same as in England, with the exception of the black polecat, which is not found in England. Various types of fish are found in the waters off the British Isles: in the surface layers of sea waters - sable fish, herring, sprat feed in the bays and estuaries of rivers, and sardines and mackerel appear off the coast of the Kirkwall Peninsula.
The most important commercial fish of far and near waters are cod, haddock and marlan. Some cod individuals weigh up to 20 kilograms. Also in rivers and lakes there are roach, chub, barbel. The famous monster of Loch Ness, which could supposedly be a relic aquatic dinosaur, is most likely a fiction invented to attract tourists and various types of businesses.
The gray seal is found near the islands and coastal cliffs of Cornwall and Wales, while the common seal prefers the coasts of Scotland, the eastern coasts of Northern Ireland and the islands adjacent to them.
More than 200 species of birds can be seen in England, of which more than half come from other countries. The British Isles are home to 130 species of birds, including many songbirds. Many species are able to adapt to changing conditions, and it is believed that there are more birds in suburban gardens than in any forest. The most common sparrows, finches, starlings, crows, kingfishers, robins, tits. The national symbol of England is the red-breasted robin. Millions of birds migrate along the coast of Great Britain from south to north and back.
Attractions
The territory of Great Britain is full of natural contrasts - ancient and bleak moors, moorlands and incredible blue lakes of Scotland in the north, picturesque coastal cliffs and crystal clear calm waters off the south and west coasts, hilly cultivated Central England with parks and lawns, majestic mountains and green valleys of Wales in the West. Each region of the country has a characteristic appearance, its own distinctive traditions, culture and customs.
- Beaumaris
- York Minster
- canterbury cathedral
- Tower
- sherwood forest
- Edinburgh castle
- Westminster Abbey
- Loch Ness lake
Banks and currency
The monetary unit of Great Britain is the pound sterling (GBP). There are 100 pence in one pound. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pounds and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence and 1 pound. In the provinces, the names of old British coins are sometimes used - "guinea", "shilling", "penny" and others, but the real unit of payment is the pound.
In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, banknotes are printed slightly different from each other. Although they are valid throughout the United Kingdom, it is best to leave them in the shops of the parts of the country where you received them. If you did not have time to do this, such banknotes can be exchanged at banks, and without commission.
Banks are open from 9.00 to 15.30 without a break on weekdays, large banks also work on Saturday.
You can change money at any bank branch (commission 0.5-1%), in the evening - at exchange offices of large department stores and in some travel agencies. Exchange offices at airports operate around the clock. A passport is required to exchange cash.
Credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express, as well as traveler's checks are widely used. Street ATMs are widespread, but there are cases of mistaken blocking of credit cards, so it is better to use ATMs in institutions.
Useful information for tourists
Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.30, although many of the department stores are open until 18.00, and on Wednesdays or Thursdays - until 19.00-20.00. Large stores can also 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-long lunch break.
Hotels in many cases have a special service charge, usually 10-12%. Where this fee is not included in the bill, the employees and maids serving you are usually given a tip of 10-15% of the bill.
Service is included in the bills of some restaurants. Where it is not taken into account, a tip of 10-15% of the bill is accepted.
Porters receive 50-75 pence per suitcase, taxi drivers - 10-15% of the fare.
One of the peculiarities of the UK that you may encounter is that until now in most hotels the water taps above the wash basin are not equipped with a faucet. The English do not wash themselves with running water, but draw a full washbasin of water, use it, then lower it.
On the day of departure, you must vacate the room before 12.00. If there is a lot of time left before the departure of the plane, things can be left in the hotel's storage room.
In England, good manners are very important, the ability to stay at the table, so you need to follow the basic rules of the ritual of eating. Never put your hands on the table, keep them on your knees. Cutlery is not removed from the plates, as knife stands are not used in England. Do not shift cutlery from one hand to another, the knife should always be in the right hand, the fork in the left. Since various 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 a fork without piercing them. If you dare to prick at least one pea on a fork, then you will be considered ill-mannered.
Don't kiss ladies' hands or say compliments in public like "What a dress you have on!" or “How delicious this cake is!” - they are regarded as a big indelicacy.
It is not allowed to have separate conversations at the table. Everyone should listen to whoever is speaking 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.
Going to Great Britain - the country of fogs - we advise you not to forget that the British weather is unpredictable! Winters are usually quite mild, with temperatures rarely reaching below zero. From March to May, the days can be both sunny and windy, with rain. In June-August the temperature can reach +30°C or more, but during the day, as a rule, it stays somewhere between +20-25°C. It rains 180 days a year in London, and the wettest cities are Liverpool and Manchester.
What countries are part of the UK? rich in history and culture, it intertwines the traditions of four historical and geographical regions, which are distinguished by their religious characteristics. This island nation has many interesting facts.
The history of the formation of Great Britain dates back to the 1st century BC, when almost all the lands were under the rule of the Romans. The latter initiated the construction of cities and proclaimed Christianity. Later, in the 5th century AD, the Germanic tribes captured the islands and drove out the Romans, giving the country the name England.
In the IX-XI centuries. Great Britain was regularly attacked by the Vikings, and in 1066 the island was conquered by the Duke of Normandy William, who later became King William I of England. Around this time, the English language was formed, combining Scandinavian, German and French words.
England developed rapidly. And at the end of the 16th century, international trade became the most developed type of activity.
The main competitor of the state in this industry was Spain, which at that time was at war with Holland. In this struggle, England actively supported Holland. Later, Britain repeatedly showed its strength in the military issue, capturing and colonizing new lands in Australia, Asia, America, Africa and Oceania.
Map of the colonies of the British Empire
In 1707, Great Britain consisted of England, Wales and Scotland, and 100 years later Ireland joined the union. But at the beginning of the 20th century, part of Ireland defended its independence and withdrew from the union, and Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the country began to develop rapidly economically. Trade still occupied a significant place. Gradually, Great Britain received the status of a great naval state, turning into an industrialized power.
In the 20th century, the world was shocked by two wars in which Great Britain took the position of future winners. But over time, the influence of the state became less, and in the second half of the 20th century it lost some of its colonies.
About interesting facts The UK is covered in this video:
In 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Union, and English became the international language. But later, the country was in for a severe economic downturn, which brought unemployment to the migration of Africans. Recently, the government has taken up the development of industry and science.UK government
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located in the British Isles located in Western Europe. The islands are separated from the mainland by two straits: the English Channel and the Pas de Calais. The state occupies the entire part of the island of Great Britain, the northern part of the island of Ireland and a large number of the British Isles.
UK and Ireland, political map
The country covers an area of 244 thousand square meters. km. About 65 million people live in the UK. The capital of the state is London, and its current ruler is Queen Elizabeth II.
As you know, Britain is a constitutional monarchy, the government of which consists of the reigning monarch and parliament, which forms the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Such a government has practically unlimited influence in matters relating to population and territory. The throne is inherited by seniority. The eldest son or eldest daughter is appointed monarch if there are no sons in the family.
UK composition
The countries that make up the UK are as follows:
- England;
- Scotland;
- Wales;
- Northern Ireland.
England
Everyone knows England as Foggy Albion. It rains here almost every day. But the government of England cares about the ecology of the capital and the whole country. Despite the gloomy weather, the capital of the state, London, is a city with a friendly population. It is visited by many tourists, because there is something to see here. The most famous sights are Tower Bridge, Big Ben, British Museum, Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace, home of the royal family, has become accessible to tourists.
Scotland
In 2012, a referendum took place in Scotland. According to its results, Scotland as part of the UK decided to stay. The country is known for whiskey, kilt and bagpipes. The expanses of the state lie on 787 islands. The capital of the country is Edinburgh. The state has not only thousands of years of tradition and a rich history full of wars, but also a charming nature. Majestic castles, mountain spirit and rocky coasts make Scotland a popular tourist destination. The Scots have a wayward temperament, they are independent and extraordinary, sociable and friendly, but will not open up to a stranger.
Wales
The Principality of Wales occupies a small area in the western part of the island of Great Britain with a population of 3 million people. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. The country is a land of amazing landscapes and majestic medieval castles, of which there are countless. Speaking about the beauty of the area, it is impossible to convey in words all the uniqueness of architecture. This historic region of Great Britain is known for its cheeses, tender beef and lamb, and seafood is also popular here.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is known as a major European student center and has a rich culture. The capital of Ireland is Belfast, the city famous for building the Titanic. Among the sights of Northern Ireland are the Giants' Road, Oxford, Glenarif and Cabble National Parks, Coole Castle.
Great Britain - a country of combination of nations
The ethnic composition of Great Britain has a rather motley character for a European state. Due to the fact that numerous attacks were made on the British Isles from continental Europe, the Romans, Normans, Saxons and Danes occupied the lowlands, driving the indigenous population into the mountains and to the west and north of the island.
Since the British Isles were a colonial state, the composition of the population here has changed markedly. Here there was a migration of immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. The Chinese, Pakistanis, Indians and Africans diluted the ethnic composition.
Back in the Middle Ages, three main ethnic communities were formed in Great Britain, which were represented by the British, Scots and Welsh. A special role in the political sphere of the country is always played by the relationship between these indigenous peoples.
The national composition of Great Britain is not as diverse as the ethnic one. After the Second World War, the British Isles experienced an influx of workers from European countries, amounting to 1 million people. In addition, every year the country is populated by 50 thousand Europeans and Asians who come here in search of work.
Of the 65 million people, the dominant part is occupied by the British with a population of about 53 million. They mainly live in England, a small part of the British occupies Wales and Scotland.
The second largest number is occupied by the Scots, who are represented by 6 million people. Most of the Celts live in the northwestern part of the island of Great Britain and the numerous northern islands.
The Irish make up 1.5 million of the population of the British Isles, while the Welsh make up 1.2 million. The other nations of Great Britain number about 3 million.
