How does a Briton differ from an Englishman? Great Britain or the United Kingdom - two names of the same country or different concepts? Government of Great Britain

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 this respect for traditions that 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" is still a mystery for many of us ...

Great Britain is located in northwestern Europe at British isles... In the north, Great Britain borders on Ireland, in the southeast the English Channel ("English Strait"), whose width is 35 km, separates this country with France. The total area of ​​Great Britain is 244 820 km2. sq. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The most high peak Great Britain - Mount Ben Nevis in Scotland (its height is 1343 meters).

The capital of Great Britain is London, which now has a population of over 8.2 million. London was founded by the Romans in AD 43.

The official language of Great Britain is English, which is spoken by over 95% of the population. The minority languages ​​are Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Gaelic and Cornish.

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

Great Britain has been a constitutional monarchy for 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 is vested in a bicameral Parliament, which consists of the House of Lords (1200 seats) and the House of Commons (659 seats). The main political parties are the Conservative Party, Labor Party and Liberal Democrats.

The climate in Great Britain is temperate maritime with a lot of rainfall. The Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Gulf Stream have a decisive influence on the climate of Great Britain. The average temperature in winter is 0C, and in summer - + 25C. The warmest months are July and August, while the coldest is February.

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

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

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

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

Archaeologists have found evidence that people lived in the territory of modern Britain as early as the Neolithic era. Also found are many historical artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age.

In 43 A.D. Britain, after stubborn resistance from local tribes, was captured by the Roman Empire, and became its province. Power Ancient rome lasted over Britain until 410 AD, after which the Angles and Saxons from Germany, and then the Vikings from Scandinavia, invaded the island in turn. 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, securing the victory of the Normans 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, in the territory of modern Great Britain there were numerous wars between the British, Scots, Irish and Welsh. In 1337 began " Hundred Years War England against France for the French provinces of Guienne, Normandy and Anjou, which ultimately ended with a French victory in 1453.

Immediately after that, in 1455, a bloody internecine war of the Scarlet and White Rose between the two branches of the royal seven (Yorks and Lancaster) began in England.

In 1534, King Henry III became head of the Church of England, leading to the English Reformation and the dissolution of many monasteries. The middle of the 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 Alliance, 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. During this time, revolutionary changes took place in English industry and agriculture.

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

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

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.

All over the world there are traditional English folk legends about the semi-mystical King Arthur and his knights, as well as semi-historical legends about Robin Hood. 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 traditions play a greater role in Great Britain 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. For example, theaters have been closed on Sundays in Great Britain for over 300 years.

Even one English tradition - in the tower of london, by order of King Charles II, 6 crows should live permanently. The British are sure that while 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 days when sheep's wool made England a wealthy 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 by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, published in 1476, had a decisive influence on the development of literature in Great Britain. In the Middle Ages, England provided the world with such talented poets, writers and playwrights as Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Wyatt, John Milton and, of course, William Shakespeare.

Later Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, John Keats, William Blake, George Byron, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Hardy, Virginia Woolf, Woodhouse, Eliot, Graham Greene, Iris Murdock and Ian Banks appeared.

However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also boast "high-profile" literary names. The most famous of these are perhaps the Scottish poets William Dunbar and Robert Burns.

The most famous British artists 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, there were quite talented classical composers in Great Britain, however, this country, first of all, gave the world the legendary “Liverpool Four” - the rock group “The Beatles”.

Each region of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) has its own traditional cuisine... In general, the British food can be said to be 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 "mild" with no spices. However, after Great Britain seized numerous colonies (we are, of course, talking about India), various Indian spices began to be used more in English cuisine.

Traditional English food - Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas Pudding, Roast Beef, Cornish Pasta, Pudding and Buttenberg Cake.

Traditional Scottish dishes - haggis, oatmeal, pickled rollmops and Cranahan dessert.

Traditional Welsh dishes are bar brit yeast bread, sorrel soup, beef in beer and Welsh tortillas.

Traditional Irish dishes are Irish stew, coddle (sausages, bacon, potatoes and onions), yeast bread with barmbrack and potato boxy pancakes.

Tourists in the UK are advised 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 also 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).

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

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

Tower Bridge in London
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 finest country houses in the UK. It was in it that the 2005 film "Pride and Prejudice" was filmed.

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

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

Path of the Giants
The Giants Trail 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 is Edinburgh - old City, which 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. On the this moment Tresco Abbey Gardens is home to flowers and trees from 80 countries, including Burma and New Zealand, for example. More than 300 plants bloom here even in winter.

York cathedral
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 throughout Western Europe.

Project "Eden"
The Eden Project is a modern botanical garden in the UK. It is located in Cornwall. Now in this botanical garden, more than 100 thousand flowers and trees from different countries the world.

The most big cities Great Britain - London (over 8.2 million people), Birmingham (over 1.1 million people), Glasgow (about 600 thousand people), Belfast (over 600 thousand people), Manchester (over 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, in this country, it turns out, there are 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. In total, there are about 760 beaches in the UK, which are tested annually for compliance with European standards.

Everyone has heard these names. But, most likely, he considered it one and the same country (state). However, this is not quite true. Should be distinguished geographic name region and political structure.

United Kingdom and the full name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is Island state in the northwest of Europe. The state consists of 4 provinces:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

That is, England is a constituent and at the same time the largest historical and administrative unit of one of the largest states in Europe. It makes up 2/3 of the entire state. It houses the city of London, which is not only the capital of England, but also the capital of the entire United Kingdom. The population of England is about 84% of the total population of Great Britain.
Such a state formation resembles the USSR. Only instead of our 15 autonomous republics there are 4 provinces. Moscow, like London in Great Britain, was the capital not only of the RSFSR, but of the entire USSR.

In modern terminology, the full country name (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is often replaced by short UK, implying that it includes the entire territory of the islands.

In addition, there is the concept of the British Isles. This includes the entire archipelago (Great Britain and Ireland with the adjacent islands of Anglesey, Maine, White, Arran, etc.).
The name British Isles has been in use for over 2000 years. When the Romans conquered the area, they gave it the name Britannia, and later Caledonia.
Great Britain is often called Albion, which comes from the Latin "albus" - "white" or from the Celtic root meaning "mountains"), probably, it got this name because the white cliffs of Dover are clearly visible from the continent on the island. And the adjective "foggy" next to it owes its existence to the thick sea fog that constantly envelops the low-lying parts of Great Britain.

Scotland - the country with the capital Edinburgh is also a constituent unit of Great Britain. The word Scotland comes from the Latin word Scoti, meaning Gaels. Gaels are inhabitants of the Scottish mountains. Despite the relatively small territory, a lot of land in Scotland has not been touched by man.

It is in Scotland that a deep freshwater lake Loch Ness, famous for its monster. According to legend, the monster is represented as the water spirit of the lake in the form of a horse with a long neck and a very small head. Seeing a random traveler, he lured him, exposing his sleek back - as if offering to take him - and dragging the gullible person under the water.

Wales with its capital Cardiff is a country, one of 4 parts of Great Britain. The name "Wales" comes from the English. Wales, and that, in turn, from OE. Wealas, plural of Wealh. The last word is common German and comes, most likely, from the name of the Volkov tribe, that is, initially it meant all the Celts.

Northern Ireland is another part of Great Britain with the capital Belfast. The entire island of Ireland is divided into 4 historical regions: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht. And only 6 of the 9 Ulster counties are included in Northern Ireland. After the end of the Anglo-Irish War in 1921, 26 Irish counties were granted independence. But the 6 counties of Ulster refused to secede from Great Britain and remained in its composition.

Great Britain located in the northwest of 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 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 English Great britain... Britain - according to 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: 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 division - Greater London (administrative center- London).

Wales: 8 counties (administrative center - Cardiff).

Scotland: 12 regions and 186 islands (administrative center - Edinburgh).

Northern Ireland: 26 counties (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 the executive power, the head of the judicial system, the supreme commander in chief.

Population composition: 83.6% - British, 8.5% - Scots, 4.9% - Welsh, 2.9% - Irish, also 0.7% live - (Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese and from African countries)

Official language: English. Accordingly, Scottish is used in Scotland, and Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (scots) are used in Wales.

Religion: 71.6% - Christians, 15.5% - atheists, 0.3% - Buddhism, 2.7% - Islam, 1% - Hinduism, 0.6% - Sikhism, 0.5% - Judaism.

Internet domain: .uk

Mains voltage: ~ 230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +44

Country barcode: 50

Climate

The United Kingdom has a very mild climate. Although there have been extreme temperatures above 38 ° C or below -18 ° C, temperatures very rarely rise above 29 ° C on summer days or drop below -7 ° C on winter nights. The climate mildness is mainly due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current (continuation of the Gulf Stream ) bringing warm waters to the west coast of Europe. At these latitudes, westerly wind transport prevails, and thus cool air comes from the Atlantic Ocean in summer and warm air in winter.

Although the temperature differences are very small, winters are warmer on the west coast of the United Kingdom than on the east. On the Isles of Scilly, in the extreme southwest of Great Britain, and in Holyhead in northwest Wales, the average January temperature is 7 ° C, in London - only 5 ° C, and on most of the east coast - below 4 ° C. Despite similar temperatures, winters become less favorable as we move north along the east coast, where chilly, moist winds blow from the cold North Sea.

Frost and snow are not uncommon, especially at high altitudes, but in the lowlands during normal winter temperatures are below 0 ° C only 30-60 days a year, and snow only 10-15 days. In London, snow lies on the ground for only about 5 days a year.

The highest summer temperatures are noted in the southeast. In London, the average July temperature is 17 ° C, on the Isles of Scilly 16 ° C, in Holyhead 15 ° C, and on the northern coast of Scotland less than 13 ° C.

During normal years, all parts of the UK receive enough rainfall for agricultural work, and in some mountainous areas it is even excessive. Seasonal and annual fluctuations in precipitation are insignificant, droughts are rare.

Most rainfall occurs in the west of the United Kingdom, comparatively little in the east. 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 more than 1,525 mm of precipitation annually, and parts of the Lake District and western Highlands of Scotland (the wettest places in the interior of the United Kingdom) over 2,540 mm.

Rather cloudy weather prevails, since most of the precipitation falls in the form of constantly drizzling rains, not showers, and the sun is not shown many days a year.

At these latitudes, summer days are long and winter days are very short. In January, the UK's southern coast receives an average of two hours of sunshine a day, and rarely more than an hour and a half north of Birmingham. Even on the long July days South coast on average, it receives only seven hours of sunshine, and the northern part of the country receives less than five hours a day. The lack of sunlight depends more on overcast clouds than on fogs.

The famous London fogs of the past enveloped the city because of the thick smoke from burning coal to heat the premises, and not because of the meteorological conditions. However, wet wet fog is still recorded in London on average 45 days a year, mainly in January and February, and in most ports there are 15 to 30 foggy days each year, and the fog can paralyze all traffic for a couple or more days. ...

Geography

Great Britain is an island nation in northwestern Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain, part of the island of Ireland and a number of more small islands(Maine, White, Norman, 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 shares a land border with a single country, Ireland. In the north and west, the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east and south - by the North Sea and the narrow English Channel and Pas-de-Calais. The entire coastline is dotted with bays, coves, 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-high mountains and highlands with deeply incised river valleys. The most high point 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 the Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames, in Scotland - the Clyde, Fort and Tweed, in Northern Ireland - Bunn 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 Ney, Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.

Nature conservation in 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. The peculiarity of British national parks is that these are not "wilderness" areas, but rather close to large cities areas, more like huge city parks or botanical gardens... The largest National parks- This is the Lake District or Lake District and Snowdonia, Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons Reserves.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

In prehistoric times, most of the United Kingdom was rich in forests of oak, birch and other hardwoods, but now, after more than 20 centuries of economic development, the area is largely deforested. However, despite the absence of large woodlands, agricultural areas appear to be wooded thanks to hedges, protective forest belts in the fields, wildlife sanctuaries and small plantations near farms and estates.

Forest areas are usually confined to areas with highly rugged relief or sandy soils, unsuitable for agriculture. Huge old trees are preserved in the royal forests, i.e. in areas such as New Forest, which were originally designated for royal hunting, but some of them were never heavily forested. After 1919 and especially after 1945, the government began to encourage the creation of both state and private border forest belts of fast-growing conifers. According to the 1997 estimate, forest inventory was carried out in the country on an area of ​​approx. 2 million hectares. However, in Low Britain, it is not forests that predominate, but fields and pastures.

The main vegetation formation in Great Britain is heathweeds, which prevail in High Britain at heights of more than 215 m, but are also found in other areas. In total, they account for about 1/3 of the area of ​​Great Britain and most of Northern Ireland. In fact, four completely different types are combined here: heather wastelands proper, dominated by common heather (Calluna vulgaris), found on rather steep slopes and well-drained, usually sandy soils; herbaceous wastelands on well-drained soils dominated by bent grass (Agrostis sp.) and fescue (Festuca sp.), and in less drained areas - blue thorns (Molinia coerulea) and protruding whitebirds (Nardus stricta); sedge wastelands, represented by cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), reeds (Scirpus cespitosus) and bulrush (Juncus sp.) on more humid lands, and sphagnum bogs in the dampest areas.

Animal world

Many large mammals such as bear, wild boar and Irish red deer have long been exterminated in the British Isles as a result of intense hunting, and the wolf has been destroyed as a pest. Now there are only 56 species of mammals left. The red deer - the largest representative of mammals - lives in the uplands of Cornwall, on 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. Small mammals include 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 Highlands of Scotland.

The rivers and lakes of Scotland are rich in salmon and trout. In coastal waters, cod, herring, haddock are caught. The fauna is practically the same as in England, with the exception of the black marten ferret, which is not found in England. Various types of fish are found in the waters off the British Isles: in the surface layers sea ​​waters- coal fish, herring, sprat feed in bays and estuaries of rivers, and sardines and mackerel appear off the coast of the Kirkwall Peninsula.

The most important commercial fish in far and near waters are cod, haddock and marlans. Some cod specimens weigh up to 20 kilograms. Roach, chub, barbel are also found in rivers and lakes. The famous Loch Ness monster, which could be speculated to be a relict aquatic dinosaur, is most likely a fiction invented to attract tourists and a variety of businesses.

The islands and coastal cliffs of Cornwall and Wales have a gray seal, while the common seal prefers the coast of Scotland. eastern shores Northern Ireland and the surrounding islands.

More than 200 bird species 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 are 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 vice versa.

sights

The territory of Great Britain is full of natural contrasts - ancient and dull peatlands, moorlands and incredibly 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 the green valleys of Wales to the west. Each region of the country has a characteristic appearance, its own distinctive traditions, culture and customs.

• Beaumaris
• York Cathedral
• Canterbury cathedral
• The tower
• Sherwood forest
• Edinburgh castle
• Westminster Abbey
• Loch Ness

Banks and currency

The British currency 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 province, the names of old British coins are sometimes used - "guinea", "shilling", "penny" and others, but the real payment unit is the pound.

In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, slightly different banknotes are printed. Although they are valid throughout the United Kingdom, it is best to leave them in stores in 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 a commission.

Banks are open from 9.00 to 15.30 without interruption on weekdays, large banks are also open on Saturdays.

You can change money at any branch of the bank (commission 0.5-1%), in the evening - in exchange offices of large department stores and in some travel agencies... At airports, exchange offices work around the clock. A passport is required to exchange cash.

Credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express and travelers checks are widely used. Street ATMs are widespread, but there are frequent cases of mistakenly blocked credit cards, so it is better to use ATMs in institutions.

Useful information for tourists

Shops are usually open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, although many department stores are open until 6:00 pm and on Wednesdays or Thursdays until 7:00 pm-8:00pm. Large stores can 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's lunch break.

In many cases, hotels have a special service charge, usually 10-12%. Where this fee is not included in the bill, employees and maids who serve you are usually tipped 10-15% of the bill.

Some restaurants include service. Where it is not taken into account, a tip is accepted in the amount of 10-15% of the invoice amount.

Porters get 50-75p per suitcase, taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.

One feature of the UK that you may encounter is that, until now, most hotels do not have a tap above the washbasin. The British do not wash themselves with running water, but collect a full washbasin of water, use it, and then drain it.

On the day of departure, you need to vacate your room by 12.00. If there is a lot of time before the plane takes off, you can leave your belongings in the hotel's storage room.

In England, good manners and the ability to sit at the table are very important, therefore, the basic rules of the meal ritual must be observed. Never put your hands on the table, keep them on your lap. The devices are not removed from the plates, since knife stands are not used in England. Do not transfer the cutlery from one hand to the other, the knife should always be in the right hand, the fork in the left. Since different 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 keep them there with back side forks without piercing. If you dare to chop at least one pea on a fork, then you will be considered ill-mannered.

You should not kiss the ladies' hands or say publicly such compliments as "What a dress you have!" or "How delicious this cake is!" - they are regarded as gross indelicacy.

Separate conversations are not allowed at the table. Everyone should listen to the speaker 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.

Traveling to Great Britain - the land of fogs - we advise you not to forget that British weather is unpredictable! Winters are usually quite mild, with temperatures rarely reaching sub-zero. From March to May, the days can be either sunny or windy with rain. In June-August, the temperature can reach + 30 ° С or more, however, during the day, as a rule, it remains somewhere in the range of + 20-25 ° С. It rains 180 days a year in London, and the wettest cities are Liverpool and Manchester.

How England differs from Great Britain, the payment of lords from the House of Commons, and Prince Harry from Princess Beatrice, you will learn from this article.

Most of us use the words "England" and "Great Britain" as identical concepts, without delving into the legal meaning of these concepts. Meanwhile, as they say in Odessa, these are "two big differences", two completely different territories.

England (England)- a territory on the island of Great Britain, its largest administrative unit. The name "England" goes back to the name of one of the Germanic tribes (Angles), who once inhabited this historical area.

Scottish man in traditional costume

In the era of medieval fragmentation of Europe, England was an independent kingdom, whose possessions either increased or decreased depending on the military successes of local rulers.

Great Britain- this is the name of the most large island The British archipelago, on which, in addition to England, there are two more independent territories that were previously independent states: Wales and Scotland.

Country England or Great Britain?

The country that we call either England or Great Britain is officially called The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Therefore, strictly speaking, both names are wrong.

Domains of the United Kingdom: the island of Great Britain, the north of the island of Ireland, as well as many small islands and archipelagos around the world, such as Gibraltar, Bermuda, Falkland and Cayman Islands.

In Russia, this cumbersome name is often shortened to "Great Britain". In Europe, the abbreviation UK is almost always used for abbreviation (from “united kingdom”).

United Kingdom of Great Britain: general information

Where is the UK located on the mainland?

Great Britain, apart from the small islands, is located in the British Archipelago, in the North-Western part of Europe. This region is often called Foggy Albion due to the abundance of rain, dampness and endless fog that cyclones bring from the Atlantic.

The warm waters of the Gulf Stream soften the climate a little: there are no too cold winters here (with the exception of the highlands of Scotland and Wales), and in summer average temperature keeps in the region of 20 C heat.

Capital of England and Great Britain

London is the capital of Great Britain, it is also the capital of the administrative region of England. This is the most Big City kingdom, its cultural and economic center. London is also one of the world's global financial centers.

Here economic institutions of a global scale are concentrated, the main financial flows of the largest transnational corporations and currency centers of smaller states pass through London.

London was founded by the Romans as the capital of the Roman province of Britain, located in the British Isles. The first mentions of London are found in 117 by the Roman historian Tacitus - at that time the city had existed for more than 50 years.

London has occupied its leading position among other capitals since the Middle Ages. In terms of the degree of influence on world politics, few of the cities of the Old World can compete with the center of the British Empire.

In the 20th century, London also gained fame as one of the world's main centers of fashion and youth subculture. It is to London that we owe the appearance of the dandy and casual styles, rock musicians and the Beatles.

Great Britain on the world map

Today, the United Kingdom occupies a modest 78th place in terms of territory in the world. It accounts for only 2% earth surface... We can say that Great Britain is only a small spot on the world map. But it was not always so.

During its greatest heyday, the British Empire literally owned a quarter of the world. At the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain was the largest state that ever existed on the planet (its record has not yet been broken).

In addition to the crown territories in the British Isles, Great Britain belonged to: Canada, Australia, half of the African continent, India, Oman, Iraq, Honduras, Bermuda and Bahamas, Malaysia, Burma, New Zealand, New Guinea, Cyprus and other smaller territories. The United States was also the territory of the British Crown until its War of Independence in 1776.

Contemporaries said that the sun never sets over the British Empire. In fairness, it should be noted that the colonial policy of Great Britain did not bode well for the conquered territories. In the history of the British Empire there were many bloody wars and the most brutal punitive operations in the controlled territories.

Great Britain map in Russian

Detailed maps of Great Britain, including a map of attractions, roads and railways, administrative division and many others you can watch. All maps are available for download.

Political structure of Great Britain

Who is the head of state in the UK?

The UK has a rather complex and confusing management system. In addition to the monarch, there are such governing bodies of the country as the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Prime Minister.

UK House of Commons

The main task of the House of Commons is to represent the interests of all classes of the population when passing laws in the state. Members of the House of Commons are elected by voting in administrative districts Great Britain for a period of 5 years. This is the lowest rung of the UK legislature.

House of Lords of Great Britain

The House of Lords represents the interests of the upper aristocracy and the clergy in Great Britain. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the House of Lords had the right to reject any bill proposed by the House of Commons if it considered that this law infringed the interests of the nobility.

Currently, the Lords can only delay the adoption of such laws for a period of one month to a year. The duties of the members of the House of Lords also include the consideration of court appeals.

The seat in the House of Lords is hereditary (with the exception of representatives of the church, where members of the Palana Lords are appointed by the Council of Bishops), and it is one of the most archaic governing bodies in Europe. Members of the House of Lords, unlike the House of Commons, do not receive a regular salary for attending meetings and are not required to attend every meeting.

Parliament of Great Britain

The Commons and the House of Lords are collectively referred to as the Parliament of Great Britain. If necessary, the monarch can dissolve parliament and announce early elections, or vice versa, extend his powers.

Cabinet of Ministers

The Cabinet of Ministers is the supreme governing body of the country. Members of the Cabinet of Ministers are headed by various government structures (departments or ministries). Ministers are appointed from among the representatives of Parliament, their responsibilities include the leadership of the ministries, as well as consult with the monarch on important decisions. The UK Cabinet is subordinate to Parliament.

Prime Minister of Great Britain

The Prime Minister of Great Britain is the main official in the country after the monarch. He heads the government, in certain issues he can act on behalf of the monarch. The candidacy for the post of prime minister is approved by the king or queen from among the most influential members of parliament.

Kings and queens of Great Britain

Great Britain is one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The highest head in the country is the monarch (king or queen), the throne is passed on by majority inheritance (that is, the eldest in the family).

Despite the fact that outwardly members of the royal house of Great Britain perform purely representative and ceremonial functions, the monarch in Great Britain has very real power.

The king or queen of Great Britain can dissolve the government, confer the title of lord on citizens of non-noble origin to enter the House of Lords, approve bills, appoint ministers and pardon criminals.

Conservative Party of Great Britain

The British Conservative Party (Tory Party) is the oldest political party in Europe, dating back to the 17th century. The party traditionally represents the interests of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie.

Historically, it is the most influential political force in the kingdom, which invariably occupies the majority of seats in Parliament. The brightest prime ministers in recent history Great Britain belonged precisely to the Conservatives: Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron.

The current Prime Minister of Great Britain, Theresa May, is also a member of the Conservative Party.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is one of the oldest reigning monarchs in the world. She took the throne from her father George VI in 1952, the second year, and has been in power for over 60 years (in 2016, Elizabeth II turned 90). According to most British people, Elizabeth is an example of an impeccable ruler who has not tarnished his royal title in any way.

Despite belonging to the weaker sex, Elizabeth II is famous for her iron character, and will give odds to many men. Some interesting facts from her biography:

At the age of 18, Elizabeth persuaded her father to let her go to the active army and in 1944 she took courses for driver-mechanics, after which she entered military service in the women's self-defense squad and served for about six months until the end of World War II. She is the only lady in the royal family who took part in the hostilities.

Elizabeth fell in love with her future husband, Prince Philip, as a child. Philip is the heir to an impoverished Greek monarchy, whose members were forced to flee their own country after being exiled. Philip's candidacy did not suit Elizabeth's parents and the ruling elite of Great Britain at all, but the princess managed to obtain consent to the marriage. Moreover, she herself offered him a hand and a heart, without waiting for reciprocal signs of attention.

Elizabeth bought the fabric for her wedding dress with discount coupon cards. In 1947, the British economy had not yet had time to recover from the war, and Elizabeth considered it indecent to spend the kingdom's treasury on magnificent celebrations.

Even in her 90 years, Elizabeth still personally conducts all the most important meetings in the state and, as the supreme commander-in-chief, inspects all military facilities of the kingdom. She does not trust her direct heir Prince Charles with any of these questions.

The queen's steel character does not prevent her from having small human weaknesses.

Elizabeth II is considered a trendsetter and a big lover of hats. She wears bright colors regardless of age, but never goes beyond the boundaries of strict classics.

According to the protocol, the queen cannot appear at official events in the same outfit twice. Each of her toilets is entered into a huge catalog, has its own serial number and is accompanied by a note: where, when and under what circumstances she put it on - this avoids repetition and embarrassment.

The queen is obliged to be the standard of politeness, but the number of meetings and audiences is so great that it takes too much energy. Elizabeth II has several secret signs by which the courtiers must understand that it is time to end the event. For example, if Elizabeth twists the ring on her finger, the conversation must be ended within the next 5 minutes.

In her busy schedule, Elizabeth II always makes time to watch her favorite TV series and TV shows. She is known to be a fan of the English version of X-Factor, as well as several TV series, including Game of Thrones.

Once a year, Elizabeth takes a long vacation and retires in a castle in Scotland, where she spends most of her time reading books and walking. There, Elizabeth takes a warm bath for several hours every day, in which, according to the assurances of the courtiers, she cannot do without a small rubber duck, given to her as a child.

Other representatives of the Royal House of Great Britain

Elizabeth II belongs to the royal branch of the Windsor, whose descendants are quite numerous in modern Great Britain. The British are very sensitive to the institution of the monarchy; among the members of the royal family they have their favorites and scandalous persons, whose name is on everyone's lips.

Princess Diana

Diana Spencer (or Lady Dee) consistently ranks in the TOP 10 Greatest Britons in national polls. The first wife of Prince Charles (son of Elizabeth II) won the true sincere love of her subjects and millions of people around the world.

She is often called the "Queen of Hearts" for her great contribution to charity, as well as boundless personal charm, modesty and simplicity.

According to rumors, Elizabeth II very much disliked her daughter-in-law for her popularity among the people (at times she overshadowed the queen herself).

In 1997, Lady Dee suddenly died in a car accident, which still raises a lot of rumors and suspicions: there is a version that members of the ruling family set up the crash. But even after her death, Princess Diana remains the queen of human hearts.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Prince William is the grandson of Elizabeth II, the son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. William inherited many traits from his mother (he is also charming, does a lot of charity work), and in the degree of adoration of his loyal subjects, he has recently been rapidly overtaking his grandmother. He serves as a helicopter pilot for the England Medical Service and takes part in rescue missions.

Kate Middleton comes from a simple family. She met her future husband, Prince William, while studying at the university. The modest Kate in her demeanor is very reminiscent of the British Diana. They admire her attitude towards children, impeccable manners, but most of all the audience is touched by the romantic story of Kate and William, which is very reminiscent of the tale of Cinderella.

Prince harry

The youngest son of Diana and Prince Charles causes mixed feelings among the British. On the one hand, he is not distinguished by impeccable behavior, but on the other, he is such a cutie that the citizens of Great Britain forgive him everything. In addition, his antics are caused rather by curiosity and youthful carelessness than by a spoiled disposition.

The loudest "exploits" of Prince Harry: boundless amorousness (photos of Harry with lovely young ladies regularly appear in the press), hussar antics and merry partying. But there are also serious achievements: Prince Harry took part in the hostilities in Afghanistan as an ordinary pilot, and put his life in danger on an equal basis with others without any indulgences.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Sisters Beatrice and Eugenie are granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II, daughters of her second son, Prince Andrew. Unlike William and Harry, girls cannot boast of an ideal reputation in the eyes of others, or even relative charm.

Elder Beatrice is often criticized by residents of Great Britain for being too extravagant attire, which does not always correspond to the protocol. She also gets it for too lush forms and an idle lifestyle (in Great Britain, belonging to the royal house does not at all mean the right to idleness). Otherwise, Beatrice manages to keep within the bounds of decency.

The youngest Eugenia is a real headache for her family. The girl regularly excites the British public with her antics and another portion of paparazzi photos: drunken dances, cigarettes and obscene antics are the main thing that Eugene is famous for.

Video. Interesting facts about the UK