Explore the Beauty of the United Kingdom

1. Chapter 7 United Kingdom

2. United Kingdom • Country name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Kingdom • Capital: London • Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France • Border countries: Ireland

4. Government type: constitutional monarchy • Population: 60,094,648 (July 2003 est.) • Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland) • Religions: Anglican and Roman Catholic 40 million, Muslim 1.5 million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 500,000, Hindu 500,000, Jewish 350,000 • GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,500 (2002 est.)(24th in the world) (2002 est.)

5. Industries: machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods • Currency: British pound (GBP)(CIA, World Fact Book)

6. Important Facts • Among the top 10 destinations in the world • 24,2 million international tourist arrivals • $ 17,8 billion international tourism receipts (WTO, 2003) • Coastline: 12,429 km • Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

7. Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast(CIA, World Fact Book)

8. Selling Points • Historic sites, museums, theater, Stonehenge and other antiquities, London, rural scenery, the crown jewels, formal gardens, walking trails, county estates, canal trips, shopping, friendly people and cultural events.

9. Brief Introduction • there are bonds between UK and USA AND Canada (literature, law, tradition) • neighboring Ireland is more beautiful, UK still has stunning beauty, particularly in Scotland • countryside, rose gardens in the villages are among the loveliest in the world

10. London • London metropolitan area is fairly large - its population is 7,7 million • things of interest are within 5 km radius of Covent Garden. • a visitor can walk around or use the Tube (subway), a half-day city tour • Tower of London (dating to 1066 - a medieval prison, guides in medieval dress, crown jewels on display) • St. Paul’s Cathedral (where Diana and Charles got married)

11. British Museum (elements of world history on display including two Magna Cartas, the Rosetta Stone, the Eldin Marbles – statues from the Acropolis in Athens, Egyptian mummies) • Westminster Abbey (royalty is crowned here) • The Big Ben (the clock tower atop Parliament) • Tate Gallery and National Gallery (paradise for art lovers) • Buckingham Palace (changing of the guard at 11.30 am) • Houses of Parliament

12. Trafalgar Square (pigeons and towering statue of Lord Nelson) • Hyde Park (world famous Speaker’s Corner for Sunday morning speeches of anyone) • Victoria and Albert Museum (decorative objects) • Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum • Tower Bridge • Regent Street (between Piccadilly and Oxford Circus - heaven for shoppers) • Harrods, Selfridges (famous shops)

13. Leicester Square (the center of the “legitimate” theater street; full of restaurants, cinemas like WB, discos) and China Town • Museums (the Natural History Museum - animated dinosaur exhibit, the London Transport Museum, the Museum of Mankind, the Science Museum, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich - pieces from Titanic) • Greenwich (the Old Royal Observatory - where one can stand on the Prime Meridian, the Tunnel under the Times river by foot)

14. Vicinity of London • Chartwell (home of Winston Churchill) • Runnymede (place where Magna Carta was signed) • Windsor Castle (one of the Royal Households) • Hampton Court Palace (beautiful tapestry, art and formal gardens ) • Anthrop Park (childhood home of Princess Diana, converted to a museum dedicated to Diana)

15. Cambridge • a picturesque town, built near an ancient bridge over the River Cam (Cam-Bridge) • known for its university opened in 13th century • old stone buildings • 16th-century King’s College Chapel • Trinity College • Fitzwilliam Museum and the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology • botanic gardens • University’s fine choir

16. Oxford • home to oldest university in Britain, founded in 1263. • the university has 35 colleges, each with its own tradition, architecture and history. • Carfax Tower (to see the entire town view) • Magdalen College • Radcliffe Camera (one of the Oxford’s many libraries) • botanic gardens and the Tom Tower in Christ Church College • Oxford Story Museum (uses audiovisual displays to bring the history of the town)

17. Stonehenge • the circle of megalithic stones older than a thousand years in Salisbury Plain • 24 km north at Avebury, there is another complex of standing stones

18. Stratford-upon-Avon • hometown of William Shakespeare • Royal Shakespeare Theatre • The Bard • Shakespeare’s birthplace • The Guildhall (where he went to school) • The Trinity Church (where he is buried)

19. Leeds Castle • 11th century old castle • Still occasionally used by the Prime Minister • has excellent art

20. Canterbury • 200 year old city • 11th century cathedral containing Thomas a Becket’s tomb • The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer • The Canterbury Pilgrims Way Museum (colorful retelling of Chaucers tales)

21. York • a walled medieval city • churches, narrow streets, shops, timbered homes with gabled roofs • 14th-century York Minster is one of the largest medieval cathedrals in Europe • reputed to be the most haunted city in England

22. Lake District • has an amazing scenery • popular with anglers, honeymooners and walkers • place to relax, enjoy the scenery, hike

23. Scotland • famous for its pubs, country inns, friendly people, bagpipe and kilt • a cozy and warm area with a rebellious history and moody weather • the annual Edinburgh Festival is one of the best art events in the world • Edinburgh; • has two towns, the “New Town” and the “Old Town” divided by Princes Street Gardens

24. world’s first urban planning project created 200 years ago the New Town • Edinburgh Castle (treasures include the Scottish crown jewels) • National Museum of Antiquities • Glasgow; • used to be a shipbuilding port, now center for arts, entertainment, and education • Scotland’s largest city • Glasgow Cathedral (Gothic architecture, 12th century) • museums, concert halls, theatres, opera house

25. The Highlands; • rich in history and legend, wild beauty, very old fortresses • Oban (one of the most attractive seafront towns) • Dunadd Fort (the first capital of the Scots) • Golf • Scotland gave golf to the world, has world renown golf courses • St Andrews (reputed to be the first golf course)

26. Wales • compared with Scotland and Ireland, Wales is a bit reserved, still has its full share of Celtic mystique • has beautiful scenery, misty valleys, cozy cottages, castles • Cardiff (the capital); • has an intimate feel with a lovely pedestrian mall, the Victorian arcade , Snowdonia National Park and Wye Rive Valley (castle ruins)

27. Northern Ireland • misty green meadows, soft blue skies and dramatic coastline: overshadowed by the troubles between Catholic and Protestants • outgoing people and lively pubs • Belfast (the capital); • offers beautiful architecture and Giant’s Causeway (37000 ancient hexagonal basalt columns, origin is not known)

28. The Channel Islands • are geographically (may also be culturally) closer to France than England • The two most popular islands; Jersey and Guernsey (place like England 20 years ago) • wildflowers, sand dunes, soaring cliffs