The United Kingdom also called as England or Great Britain is the country which once ruled nearly the whole world a century ago. The magnificence might have been lost but people are still proud of their country and heritage. It has come a long way from a royally empire to a member of the EU.
The country comprises mainly of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The country is full of scenic locales and energetic cities. Also the county is home to nearly two million tradition points. The capital city of UK is London. A city beyond comparison, on behalf of itself as an icon of diversity with people from different races, creeds and all walks of life blended into its culture.
It is also home to many architectural marvels and one of them is the London Bridge. While York and Durham manifests the bygone era of country, Liverpool and Newcastle are modern industrial marvels. Not to forget the scenic Lake District and Edinburg still attract people from all over the world.
Geographic Location:
It is located in Western Europe and consists of islands counting the northern one-sixth of the Ireland. It is 22 miles from the France border and linked by an undersea tunnel. The terrain is mostly rolling lowlands and low mountains.
Population & Languages:
The population is around 61 million and the official language is English. Additional regional languages spoke are Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Irish etc.
Climate:
It has a moderate climate but lots of rain with around half of the years being overcast. The lowest temperatures never go below -15 °C (5 °F) and in summer the average maximum is 34 °C (93.2 °F). It also gets snow in winter and early spring.
Local Customs:
The handshake is customary when you are meeting an important person for the first time. When visiting someone’s house a small gift like flowers or chocolates is usual.
Waiting till everyone is served before eating is also one of the etiquettes. Tipping is usually 10-15% in hotels, restaurants and taxis. Smoking and non-smoking areas are clearly selected and thus should be taken care of.
Places to see:
- London – Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Whitehall Palace and the Tower of London
- Scotland – The Bannockburn Heritage Centre and Ben Lawers Mountains
- Wales – Aberdulais Falls, King Arthur’s Labyrinth, Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Great Orme Mines, Portmeirion Village, Rhossili Visitor Centre, Taff Valley Activity Centre and TechinQuest
How to Travel:
By Air – The domestic airlines is British Airways which also connects almost all major world destinations. Almost all airlines connect UK through London which is hub for all international flights among east to west and west to east. Heathrow and Gatwick are international airports of London.
By Sea – Since UK is surrounded by water from almost all sides it has many ports. There are a lot of ferry services operating between Europe and UK.
By Rail – Trains connect Ferries at Dover, Folkestone, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Weymouth, sailing for Belgium, France, Germany and Spain (you need to board at Victoria Station in London); and at Harwich, marine for Germany, The Netherlands and Scandinavia (you need to board at Liverpool Street). Eurostar train connects London with Brussels and Paris through channel tunnel.
By Road – The vehicles can enter UK through channel tunnel. Cars and motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft) can also use channel tunnel. Bicycles are as well provided for.