The United Kingdom (often abbreviated
to UK) consists of England, Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland. Great Britain consists
of England, Wales and Scotland.
The largest of the countries in the British
Isles, England has many historic attractions
ranging from prehistoric standing stones,
Roman ruins, Norman castles and old country
houses to picturesque towns and villages.
The landscape ranges the beaches of Cornwall,
whose waters are used for sports such
as surfing and scuba diving to the forests
and lakes of Cumbria, popular for camping
and hiking. London is home to many galleries
and museums and is famous for its shopping,
nightlife and parks. Events include the
Chelsea Flower Show held in May and the
Glastonbury rock festival held in June.
The history of Scotland has been influenced
by its southern neighbour England, but
the country retains its own cultural identity.
Visitors are attracted by the open spaces,
fresh air and dramatic scenery of lakes,
mountains and islands. Popular activities
include fishing, climbing and skiing,
in areas such as Aviemore. Events include
the Festival of arts held in Edinburgh
each August.
Wales is a country of valleys, rolling
moors, mountains and picturesque castles.
Popular outdoor activities include cycling,
hiking and water sports. Cultural events
include the International Eisteddfod,
held in Llangollen each July and the Royal
National Eisteddfodd of Wales held in
August.
Geography: The United Kingdom has rolling
plains to the south and east and low mountains
and hills to the north. The island is bordered
by the North Sea on its eastern coast, the
English Channel to the south and the Atlantic
to the west.
Weather: Cool summers and wet, mild winters.
Language: English, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic.
Currency: British Pound
British Tourist Authority
Visit Britain
Thames Tower
Black's Road
Hammersmith
London W6 9E
Getting There: Located 20 miles to the west of London, Heathrow
is the largest international airport in the world
and has direct flights available to most countries
in the world. Other airports near London are Gatwick,
Stansted, City and Luton. There are also regular
flights between regional British airports and
cities and major towns across Europe. Budget airlines
such as Easyjet and Ryan Air offer cheap flights
to many popular tourist destinations. Eurostar
operates a train service which runs through the
Channel Tunnel between Waterloo Station in London
and Gare du Nord in Paris. There are ferries sailing
from many British ports to destinations around
Europe and as well as people, their cars and coaches
these ferries transport lorries carrying goods
to and from the continent.
