Chapter 7Chapter 7

United KingdomUnited Kingdom

United KingdomUnited 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

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.)

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)

Important FactsImportant 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

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)

Selling PointsSelling 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.

Brief IntroductionBrief 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

LondonLondon

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)

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

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)

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)

Vicinity of LondonVicinity 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)

CambridgeCambridge

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

OxfordOxford 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)

StonehengeStonehenge

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

Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-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)

Leeds CastleLeeds Castle

11th century old castle Still occasionally used by the Prime

Minister has excellent art

CanterburyCanterbury

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)

YorkYork

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

Lake DistrictLake District

has an amazing scenery popular with anglers, honeymooners

and walkers place to relax, enjoy the scenery,

hike

ScotlandScotland

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

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

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)

WalesWales

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)

Northern IrelandNorthern 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)

The Channel IslandsThe 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