What do you know about England and its inhabitants? The fact that they have oatmeal for breakfast and prefer to drink tea instead of coffee. That it rains constantly in London, the capital of this wonderful country, and, probably, that England is ruled by a royal dynasty. That's all that comes to mind when mentioning this country. Of course, one cannot argue with the fact that England is a country of swamps and fogs, but it has no fewer sunny days than in any other country on the continent, and there are so many attractions that even a thousand-page guidebook cannot describe everything in detail.

Each of those who visit the country takes with them a lot of impressions. England carefully preserves its traditions, but its image among tourists is not only from majestic castles and picturesque villages. The diversity of landscape, culture, as well as a unique historical heritage have formed a nation that can harmoniously combine the present with care for the past. However, no matter how much time you spend in England and no matter how much you see, it will still not be enough to understand this amazing country.

Getting to know England

The character of the British and the uniqueness of their traditions were greatly influenced by the island position of the country. The rule of the Romans, who invaded in 43 AD, lasted 350 years, but with their departure from the island, Roman culture and Latin quickly faded away, giving way to the customs and languages ​​of settlers who came from Northern Europe. Since the Norman Conquest of 1066, England has successfully repelled all attempts at invasion. The establishment of the Anglican Church in the country in the 16th century, which was less dogmatic than the Catholic Church, contributed greatly to its isolation.

England continues to value its non-conformism even in such not very fundamental things as driving on the left, as opposed to the continental right-hand drive. The historical heritage of England is revealed to the eye in ancient castles, cathedrals, palace estates with their gardens and parks in classic style. Age-old rituals of ceremonies leading to the performance of the Morris dance on the village greens.

The landscapes of England are also very diverse: the rugged mountains of Northern England smoothly transition into the flat expanses of the Midlands and East Anglia and end with soft rolling hills in the south and east. The long, wide beaches of East Anglia contrast with the picturesque coves of much of the west coast.

Despite the fact that over the past two centuries many small and large towns have formed in the country, England still remains an agricultural country. The main crops are wheat, barley, sugar beets and potatoes, although in early summer the bright yellow fields of rapeseed or bluish fields of flax delight the eye. The countryside is dotted with farms and charming villages with picturesque cottages and lovingly tended gardens - the passion and pride of the British.

Usually the village grew up around an ancient church and a small, welcoming pub. Life there goes on smoothly as usual. Drinking a pint of ale in a cozy village inn and relaxing in front of a roaring fireplace is a centuries-old English tradition. The stranger will be received cordially, although perhaps somewhat warily, for, although the customs of hospitality are sacred, the English are a reserved people.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the success of trade, coupled with inexhaustible reserves of coal, gave a powerful impetus to the development of factory production, and the metropolis began to rapidly grow rich. Thousands of people moved from rural areas to towns and cities that grew up near coal mines, mills, and factories. By the beginning of the 20th century, the country was the most powerful industrial power in the world.

Over time, many of the older centers fell into disrepair, and today only 22% of the workforce is employed in industrial production, while 66% work in the growing service sector. Businesses producing goods for the service sector are located mainly in the south-east, near London, whose state-of-the-art offices clearly demonstrate its prosperity.

Be sure to also visit the charming English villages, although most will offer little more than a pub, a shop, a dozen cottages and a bed and breakfast farmhouse. The most picturesque of them are located in Devon, Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Yorkshire Dales, but in principle in England you can find a photogenic village in every region.

The historical heritage of England is scattered throughout its perimeter. Wherever you stay, there will likely be the ruins of a castle, a stately mansion or ancient monastery, and in many you can get acquainted with the culture of the peoples who once inhabited this territory. Thus, in the southwest, remnants of the Celtic culture have been preserved, which in other regions was destroyed by the Romans. In England you can also find traces of prehistoric settlements, the most famous being the stone circles - and Avebury.

Of course, England is also famous for its picturesque countryside, an extraordinarily diverse landscape that has inspired generations of poets, writers and artists. Exmoor and the North York Moors are stunningly beautiful wild moorlands, and the Lake District has 16 crystal clear lakes set in a mountainous landscape. Here you will be offered dozens of exciting walking routes to the most interesting places. Secluded spots are found everywhere in England, from the lush valleys of Shropshire on the Welsh border to the moors of The Fens and the chalk uplands of Sussex.

On the coast, in places with the purest sand and near picturesque rocky cliffs, significant resorts have long grown up. The most famous of these are on the Northumberland coast, the East Anglian coast and Dorset.

When to go to England

The British often say: “In other countries it’s the climate, but here in England it’s the weather.” This is because the weather here changes more often than in other countries. Anyone who spends an extended period of time in England will sympathize with the locals, who are constantly worried about the weather, although in general the country's climate is mild due to the relative warmth of the seas washing it, and its humidity is due to warm current Gulf Stream.

The least pleasant time to visit is from November to February, during this period it is cold and the days are short. March and October are sort of the "in-between" months - the days are quite long, but it can still be very cold. April-September, undoubtedly best time to visit the country, and it is not surprising that at this time most attractions are open to tourists, so it is very crowded.

July and August are the height of the tourist season, during which it is better to postpone a visit to the country if possible. At this time there are crowds of people all around: on the beaches, in nature reserves, in London and famous cities such as, and. Since travelers usually choose England to visit, you can go to the southern part of the country almost all year round. Winters there are mild, rarely falling below minus 5 degrees, and rain is possible at any time of the year.

In spring, cold winds and fog prevail in the north, while in the south there is velvet weather. Summer and autumn bring fresh sea breezes. There are no severe winters in England. Temperatures in the winter months rarely drop below 0 degrees. During the day the sun shines brightly and the air is fresh. Winter temperature sea ​​water, as a rule, 2-6 degrees lower than the air temperature and is determined by the intensity of the tides. The most pleasant weather in England occurs in June-July. The day length at this time is 19 hours and there is much less precipitation.

Precipitation is distributed evenly throughout the year with a slight maximum in the autumn-winter period. The greatest number of them is observed in the west of the country, where about 1,600 millimeters fall per year, and in some places up to 3 thousand millimeters. The highlands protect the lowlands in the south and east of the country, so the annual rainfall here is much less (about 800 millimeters, in some areas 635 millimeters), with an increase in intensity in the summer.

The driest time is from March to June, but everywhere the average rainfall for any month exceeds 30 millimeters. No matter what part of England you go to, take woolens and raincoats with you, as the English sky can be deceptive - it can start to rain at any moment.

When it was invaded by the troops of Julius Caesar, it was inhabited by Celtic tribes who called themselves Britons. As a result of the invasion, the entire southern part of the island became part of the Roman Empire. The entire territory where it is now located modern England and Wales was called Roman Britain. Further, the history of England is already connected with the Germanic tribes. In the 5th century AD it collapsed, and then the Britons turned to the barbarian Germans to protect them from the invasions of Celtic tribes from the north - the Scots and Picts.

The Germanic tribes that arrived consisted of three groups: Saxons, Angles and Jutes. The Germans quickly mastered the territory of the Britons and gradually began to push them into the territory of Wales and Cornwall. Separate kingdoms gradually formed on the lands occupied by Germanic newcomers. Subsequently, these kingdoms formed a union of seven kingdoms, which was called the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. One of these seven Anglo-Saxon kings gained control over most of England from time to time. This king was called “Britvalda”, which in translation is close in meaning to the name “Ruler of Britain”.

This went on for quite some time, so the history of England cannot accurately determine the date when the final unification of the state took place. Some historians believe that unification came at a time when the Danish Vikings captured eastern part England, which forced all the English kingdoms to join forces for defense. The first king of all England is often called King Egbert of Wessex, who died in 839. However, the history of England suggests that the title "King of England" arose only two generations later - during the period when Alfred the Great ruled the islands (871-899).

Some historians make their calculations, paying attention to the wars of England. For example, the rulers of the state are counted from the Norman conquest in 1066. This date is commonly used when numbering English monarchs as the zero point. For example, Edward I, who was crowned in the 13th century, was not actually the first king to bear this name, but he was the first Edward, if you count from 1066. In this year, the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror, captured England and became king, thereby founding the Anglo-Norman dynasty. However, William the Conqueror is not the founder of England and he did not unite the country, he only captured the already existing England, introducing Franco-Norman rule in it.

Then a dynasty called the Plantagenets (1154-1485) came to power. At this time, the history of England was marked by the longest Hundred Years' War with France (1337-1453). From 1485 to 1603, England was ruled by the Tudor dynasty. This was the era of centralized power and the strengthening of English absolutism, the period of the Reformation. The Tudor dynasty ended with a reign that established the Anglican Church. In 1603, the Stuart dynasty, which was a dynasty of Scottish and English kings, came to power in England. I succeeded Elizabeth I on the throne. This period of reign was marked by a civil war, which arose as a result of the revolutionary crisis, which was led by

Despite the fact that the Stuart dynasty was subsequently restored, the Hanoverians came to power in 1714. During their reign, the English army won a victory on June 18, 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo over Napoleon's troops. From 1837 to 1901, the reign passed to Queen Victoria. This period is rightfully considered the peak of Britain's prosperity. Since 1917 ruling dynasty The Windsor dynasty became the kingdom.

For many people, Great Britain and England are consonant concepts, synonyms that are used to name the same state. But in reality, everything is not so simple, and there are serious differences between them, which we will talk about later in the article.

What is Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the full name of an independent island state located in northwestern Europe and occupying its largest territory.

Great Britain was founded in 1801. It includes such territorial units (the so-called “historical provinces”) as northern Scotland and the Principality of Wales, which have sufficient autonomy and their own parliaments.

England is also one of the “provinces” of Great Britain (by the way, the largest in the country). It was, in fact, around it that the formation of the modern state initially took place. But, unlike other parts of the kingdom, it does not have its own legislative and executive branch, and their role is performed by the national parliament of Great Britain.

In addition to the named territories, the United Kingdom owns three more Crown Lands - the islands of Jersey, Maine and Guernsey, as well as fourteen overseas territories, which include, for example, Gibraltar, Bermuda, Falklands, etc.

England: information about the country

Despite large number dependent lands, England, we repeat, is the historical core of the United Kingdom, and its population accounts for 84% of all residents of Great Britain.

The English language was “born” here, and the formation of a powerful state began from here. This began with the Angles and Saxons, who conquered this territory at the beginning of the ninth century, displacing the Britons who inhabited it. In 825, King Egbert of Wessex united most of the smaller kingdoms into one, giving it the name England (this translates as “Land of the Angles”).

But when Scotland became part of the state in 1707 and the United Kingdom was formed, it was decided to call it Great Britain so as not to infringe on anyone’s pride. After all, the name, for example, Great England (Great England) would be absolutely unacceptable for the Scots.

Some features of the British government

While the meaning of the word “England” in our minds is closely intertwined with the meaning of the word “Great Britain”, and even some explanatory dictionaries list these names as synonymous, a cultured person should still understand what their internal difference is.

Of course, the role of England for the whole state cannot be overestimated. After all, its legal, legal and constitutional innovations were adopted by many states of the world. And it was this part of the United Kingdom that became the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, making Great Britain the world's first industrialized country.

In fact, the United Kingdom has quite a complex state structure, which, however, does not prevent it from being an example in maintaining democratic relations within the country.

Interestingly, Great Britain does not have a single constitution. It is to some extent replaced by a set of acts of different nature, common law, including many judicial precedents, and some constitutional customs. The most important of them include (signed back in 1215), as well as the Act of Succession to the Throne.

Why does England not have its own parliament?

Due to the fact that England is the only part of Great Britain that does not have its own parliament and government, a movement has formed in the country in support of its creation. After all, if decisions concerning Scotland alone can be made by the Scottish legislative bodies, then decisions regarding England are made by Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish deputies who are members of the national parliament.

But in response to this, representatives argue that if the largest part of the UK receives independent authorities, this will lead to the fact that the remaining small territories will sharply lose their importance, and this, in turn, could lead to the collapse of the Kingdom.

Once again about the differences between England and Great Britain

We hope the article helped to finally understand how England differs from Great Britain. And in order to finally systematize the information, let us once again recall their main differences:

• Great Britain is an independent state, which includes England as an administrative unit;
• England has no foreign policy relations, and Great Britain is an indispensable member of international organizations (UN, NATO, European Union, OSCE, etc.) and the “arbiter of destinies” for the countries dependent on it;
• England doesn't have its own monetary unit, the armed forces and parliament;
• The territory of England is only a small part of the whole of Great Britain.

Brief information

Great Britain, which is surrounded on all sides by sea and ocean, still jealously guards its traditions and customs, which may seem eccentric to many foreigners. However, it is precisely this careful attitude to traditions that has made Great Britain one of the most famous and influential countries in the world, which also has amazing nature and even seaside resorts. At the same time, Foggy Albion still remains a mystery to many of us...

Geography

Great Britain is located in northwestern Europe in the British Isles. In the north, Great Britain borders on Ireland; in the southeast, the English Channel (“English Channel”), whose width is 35 km, separates this country from France. Total area Great Britain - 244,820 km. sq. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean as well as the North Sea. The highest peak in Great Britain is Mount Ben Nevis in Scotland (its height is 1343 meters).

Capital of Great Britain

The capital of Great Britain is London, whose population now numbers more than 8.2 million people. London was founded by the Romans in 43 AD.

Official language

The official language of Great Britain is English, which is spoken by more than 95% of the population. Minority languages ​​include Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Gaelic and Cornish.

Religion

The state religion in Great Britain is the Anglican Christian Church, formed in 1534 under the influence of Protestantism. More than 10% of the UK population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, there are many Presbyterians and Muslims in the country.

UK government

Great Britain has been a constitutional monarchy for many centuries. The country consists of four provinces - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The head of state is the Queen, power is inherited. The head of government is the Prime Minister (he becomes the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons).

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the House of Lords (1200 seats) and the House of Commons (659 seats). Basic political parties- Conservative Party, Labor Party and Liberal Democrats.

Climate and weather

The climate in Great Britain is temperate maritime with high rainfall. The determining influence on the climate of Great Britain is the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Gulf Stream. Average temperature in winter it is 0C, and in summer – +25C. The warmest months are July and August, and the coldest is February.

Note that although July and August are considered the warmest months in the UK, they are also the wettest, with the most rainfall.

Seas and oceans in Great Britain

Great Britain is washed by waters Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The total coastline is 12,429 km. The English Crown Lands include the islands of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel, as well as the Isle of Man (located in the Irish Sea).

Rivers and lakes

There are over 20 large rivers and over 380 lakes (many of them artificial) in the UK. The largest rivers are the Severn (354 km), Thames (346 km), Trent (297 km), Great Ouse (230 km), Wye (215 km) and Tay (188 km).

Note that in Great Britain there is an extensive network of canals, most of which were built in the Victorian era.

British history

Archaeologists have found evidence that people lived on the territory of modern Britain back in the Neolithic era. Many historical artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age have also been found.

In 43 AD Britain, after stubborn resistance from local tribes, was captured by the Roman Empire and became its province. Power Ancient Rome over Britain lasted until 410 AD, after which the island was alternately invaded by tribes of Angles and Saxons from Germany, and then by Vikings from Scandinavia. The spread of Christianity in the British Isles began at the end of the 6th century.

In 1066, the famous Battle of Hastings took place, consolidating the Norman victory in the conquest of Britain. William of Normandy (better known as William the Conqueror) became king of England on December 25, 1066.

In the Middle Ages, on the territory of modern Great Britain, numerous wars took place between the English, Scots, Irish and Welsh. In 1337 began " Hundred Years' War» England vs France for French provinces Guienne, Normandy and Anjou, which eventually ended in French victory in 1453.

Immediately after this, in 1455, a bloody internecine 30-year War of the Roses began in England between two branches of the royal seven (Yorks and Lancasters).

In 1534, King Henry III became head of the Church of England, which led to the English Reformation and the dissolution of many monasteries. The mid-17th century was marked by the overthrow of the monarchy, the reign of Oliver Cromwell, and then the restoration of monarchical power.

In 1707, England and Scotland signed an act of union, thus forming the Kingdom of Great Britain.

In the 18th century, Great Britain became the largest colonial power with a huge fleet. Trade and banking developed rapidly in the country. At this time, revolutionary changes took place in English industry and agriculture.

The development of Great Britain continued in the 19th century, during the so-called “Victorian era”.

Great Britain played a big role during the world wars of the 20th century. In 1921, the Irish Rebellion broke out, leading to the formation of an independent Ireland. As for Northern Ireland, it is still part of Great Britain. Now Great Britain is an active member of the NATO military bloc and is also part of the EU.

Culture

Since Great Britain consists of several “provinces” (England, Scotland, Wales and, of course, Northern Ireland), which were previously independent countries, it is clear that its culture is multi-ethnic.

Traditional English folk legends about the semi-mystical King Arthur and his knights, as well as semi-historical legends about Robin Hood, are known all over the world. Many historians claim that such personalities really existed in Medieval England, but we know about them only from folk legends.

In general, it should be noted that in Great Britain traditions play a greater role than in many other countries of the world. Residents of Foggy Albion are proud of their traditions, many of which seem strange and eccentric to us. Thus, in Great Britain, theaters have been closed on Sundays for more than 300 years.

Another English tradition is that, according to the decree of King Charles II, 6 crows must permanently live in the Tower of London. The British are confident that as long as these birds live there, nothing threatens the royal power.

Some of you may know that in the House of Lords of the British Parliament the Chancellor sits on a sack of wool. This custom dates back to the times when sheep's wool made England a rich and powerful country.

Old English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish traditions may seem strange to modern Europeans, Asians or Americans, but the inhabitants of Foggy Albion adhere to them with enviable tenacity.

The Canterbury Tales had a decisive influence on the development of literature in Great Britain. English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, published in 1476. In the Middle Ages, England gave the world such talented poets, writers and playwrights as Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Wyatt, John Milton and, of course, William Shakespeare.

Subsequently, Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, John Keats, William Blake, George Byron, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Hardy, Virginia Woolf, Wodehouse, Eliot, Graham Greene, Iris Murdoch and Iain Banks appeared.

However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can also boast “loud” literary names. The most famous of them, perhaps, are the Scottish poets William Dunbar and Robert Burns.

The most famous artists in Great Britain are George Gower, Samuel Cooper, Joshua Reynolds, George Stubbs, John Constable, Joseph William Turner and David Hockney.

If we talk about music, then, of course, in the UK there were quite talented classical composers, however, this country, first of all, gave the world the legendary “Liverpool Four” - the rock group “The Beatles”.

UK cuisine

Each region of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) has its own traditional cuisine. In general, it can be said that British food is based on meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken), fish, eggs and flour. Meat and fish are usually served with potatoes or some other vegetable.

English cuisine has traditionally been "bland", with no seasoning. However, after Great Britain captured numerous colonies (we are, of course, talking about India), various Indian seasonings began to be used more in English cuisine.

Traditional English dishes - Yorkshire pudding, Christmas pudding, roast beef, Cornish paste, pudding and Battenberg cake.

Traditional Scottish dishes include haggis, oatmeal, pickled herring and Cranachan dessert.

Traditional Welsh dishes include bara brith yeast bread, sorrel soup, beef in beer and Welsh flatbreads.

Traditional Irish dishes include Irish stew, coddle (sausage, bacon, potatoes and onions), barmbrack and potato pancakes called boxties.

We advise tourists in the UK to try the famous English cheeses. In general, more than 400 varieties of cheese are now produced in England. The most popular of these is cheddar (a hard cheese with a strong nutty flavor). In addition, we note such varieties of English cheese as Stilton, Red Leicester and Cheshire.

Traditional British drinks are beer, cider, tea, gin and Pimm (made from gin with the addition of lemonade, fruit and mint).

Sights of Great Britain

There are so many attractions in the UK that we will highlight only the 10 most interesting of them (in our opinion):

Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle built several thousand years ago. This monument is located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. Historians do not know exactly for what purposes it was intended, although they are inclined to the version of a religious cult.

Tower Bridge in London
The Tower Bridge in London was built in 1894. It is considered one of the symbols of London.

Chatsworth House
This mansion was built in the English county of Devonshire in the middle of the 16th century. Considered one of the best country houses UK. It was here that the film “Pride and Prejudice” was filmed in 2005.

Lake Windermere
This lake is the largest in England. It is located in Cumbria. The beautiful scenery attracts thousands of tourists to Lake Windermere every year.

Portmeirion village
Located on the coast of North Wales. Construction of this amazing village began in 1925. Portmeirion may now be the most eccentric village in the whole of Great Britain.

Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is located in Northern Ireland, it consists of approximately 40 thousand basalt columns that appeared as a result of a volcanic eruption. According to legend, this Path was created in ancient times by the Giants who previously inhabited the Earth...

Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, is an ancient city that has preserved a huge number of historical and architectural monuments, among which the “star” is Edinburgh Castle.

Tresco Abbey Gardens
These gardens are located on the Isle of Scilly and were planted in the 19th century. At the moment, flowers and trees from 80 countries around the world grow in the Tresco Abbey Gardens, including, for example, Burma and New Zealand. Even in winter, more than 300 plants bloom here.

York Minster
Construction of York Minster in York (Northern England) began in 1230 and continued until 1472. York Minster is considered one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in all of Western Europe.

Project "Eden"
The Eden Project is a modern botanical garden in the UK. It is located in the county of Cornwall. Now in this botanical garden there are more than 100 thousand flowers and trees growing under two huge transparent domes. different countries peace.

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Great Britain are London (more than 8.2 million people), Birmingham (more than 1.1 million people), Glasgow (about 600 thousand people), Belfast (more than 600 thousand people), Manchester (more than 500 thousand . people), Edinburgh (more than 500 thousand people) and Liverpool (about 500 thousand people).

Most of us associate Great Britain with constant rain and fog. However, this country turns out to have excellent seaside resorts. Moreover, the UK even has the English Riviera (Torbay). The most famous seaside resorts of Foggy Albion are Newport, Eastbourne and Brighton. There are approximately 760 beaches in the UK that are tested annually to meet European standards.

Capital —
Square— 133,396 sq. km.
Population- 53 million people
Language- English
Form of government- dualistic monarchy
Date of foundation- 928
Largest cities— , Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester
Currency- pound sterling
Time zone— Greenwich mean time
Dialing code — +44

It is the largest and most populous country in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its inhabitants make up more than 83% of the total population of the United Kingdom, while mainland England occupies two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. England is washed by the waters of the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea, Bristol Bay and the English Channel.

England - video

It became a unified state in 927 and takes its name from the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who settled there during the 5th and 6th centuries. The capital of England is the largest city in the country and the largest city in Great Britain.

England is one of the world's most influential and far-reaching centers of cultural development. This is the place of origin English language and the Church of England and English law, which forms the basis legal systems many countries; in addition, London was the capital of the British Empire, and England was the homeland Industrial Revolution. England was the first country in the world to become industrialized. England is the home of the Royal Society, which laid the foundations of modern experimental science. Also, this country was the world's first modern Parliamentary democracy and, therefore, many Constitutional, state and legal innovations that originated in England were widely accepted by other states.

Sights of England

One of the main attractions of England is Tower of London. The attraction is a fortress located on the northern bank of the Thames; it is also the historical center of London. In addition, the Tower of London is one of the oldest buildings in the country. Throughout its long history (it was built in 1078!) the Tower was both a fortress and a palace, it housed a repository for royal jewelry, a mint, and even a zoo and a prison! But, undoubtedly, in any historical period The Tower of London was the site of a huge crowd of tourists.

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of British monarchs, where Queen Elizabeth II currently resides. In addition, it is also the main palace of the country. Story Buckingham Palace dates back to 1703, when it began to be built as Buckingham House for the Duke of Buckingham. In 1762, after the acquisition of the palace by King George III, architects worked hard on it and added three more similar ones to the main building. In 1837, when Queen Victoria ascended the throne, the palace was officially declared the main residence of British monarchs. Since then, monarchs have lived here, and the daily changing of the guard ceremony (which takes place at 11:30) attracts a huge number of tourists.

Famous silhouette Tower Bridge visible from afar. This monument to Victorian engineering is about a hundred years old. Its mechanisms are open for inspection by visitors, and you can take the elevator to the very top.

Theater Royal on Drury Lane, is one of the oldest theaters in London. It was opened in 1663. The king himself was present at the opening of the theater, which is why it was called Royal. Today most people call it Drury Lane, after the name of the street on which the theater stands.

The majestic York Minster - York Minster- the largest monument of Gothic architecture in Europe. The cathedral took a long time to build - from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Therefore, signs can be seen in his appearance various styles, which, however, does not in any way affect its overall harmony.

One more landmark of England is national park Yorkshire Dales (Yorkshire Dales), located in Northern England. Its wild, in some ways, even harsh romance of the hilly terrain, its fortresses and abandoned monasteries, seem to be created for numerous long walks. These places are famous thanks to a film filmed in the Yorkshire Dales.

1. The British are famous throughout the world for their politeness and are scrupulous in observing all the rules of etiquette. If you want to look well-mannered in the eyes of the British, you should definitely use the words “please” and “sorry” as soon as possible.

2. When visiting English bars and pubs, you need to know that it is customary to pay for the order immediately. As soon as you take a drink (or anything else), you must immediately pay for it. If you want more, pay again.

3. It is worth considering that in England It is customary to leave a tip (in hotels, restaurants, cafes, taxis, etc.). Often, the tip is 10% of the bill.

4. If you are a big fan of shopping, then it will be useful for you to know that in June and the end of December (after Christmas) the most significant sales take place in England.

5. The mains voltage in England is 240W, so be very careful with your electrical appliances.

6. When you are in England, do not forget that in this country you drive on the left.