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
Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W
Total area: 243,610 sq km
Land area: 241,930 sq km
Water area: 1,680 sq km
Notes: Includes Rockall and Shetland Islands; lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters.
Comparative area: Slightly smaller than Oregon.
Total land boundaries: 360 km
Border countries: Ireland 360 km
Coastline: 12,429 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea 12 nm; exclusive fishing zone 200 nm; continental shel: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries.
Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than half of days are overcast.
Terrain: Mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast.
Lowest point: The Fens -4 m
Highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
Land use: Arable land 23.23 percent; permanent crops 0.2 percent; other 76.57 percent (2005)
Irrigated land: 1,700 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: 160.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Total 11.75 cu km/yr (22 percent/75 percent/3 percent); per capita 197 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards: Winter windstorms; floods
Environment issues: Continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5 percent reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a domestic goal of a 20 percent cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government reduced the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85 percent of 1998 levels and recycled or composted at least 25 percent of household waste, increasing to 33 percent by 2015.
Environment agreements: Party to Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling.

The great British breakfast is famous (or notorious) throughout the world! Actually nowadays it is a bit of a myth, today many British people are more likely to have a bowl of cornflakes or a cup of coffee with a cigarette than to indulge in the wonders of this feast! It is a meal of many courses and great delicacies; succulent sausages, crisp bacon, tender mushrooms, rich black puddings and exquisite eggs combining to sate the most demanding of tastes and fortify the body for the day’s labours. One need not of course partake of all courses, and there may be times when circumstance does not permit one to relax and enjoy this finest of meals to its full extent – there are peoples and parts of the world who do not appreciate such civilities. However, a spread such as that outlined below would provide a reasonable attempt at this most noble of meals.

Read the rest of this entry »

England is closer to the European Continent than any other part of mainland Britain.It is separated from France by a 34-kilometre (21 mi) sea gap, though the two countries are connected by the Channel Tunnel near Folkestone. Geographically England comprises the central and southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain, plus such offshore islands as the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly. It is bordered by two fellow countries of the United Kingdom—to the north by Scotland and to the west by Wales. As England is on an island, is it surrounded by the water of the Irish Sea, North Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
The most important rivers in England, because of their ports of London, Liverpool, and Newcastle, are the tidal rivers Thames, Mersey and Tyne. The tides raise the level of water in their estuaries and enable ships to enter the ports. At 354 kilometres (220 mi), the Severn is the longest river flowing through England. It empties into the Bristol Channel and is notable for its Severn Bore tidal waves, which can reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. However, the longest river entirely in England is the Thames, which is 346 kilometres (215 mi) in length. There are many lakes in England but the majority are in the aptly named Lake District; the largest of which is Lake Windermere, it is known by the nickname “Queen of Lakes”.
In geological terms, the Pennines, known as the “backbone of England”, are the oldest range of mountains the country, originating from the end of the Paleozoic Era around 300 million years ago. The total length of the Pennines is 400 kilometres (250 mi), peaking at Cross Fell in Cumbria. The material of which they are composed is mostly sandstone and limestone, but also coal. There are karst landscapes in calcite areas such as parts of Yorkshire and Derbyshire. The Pennine landscape is high moorland in upland areas, indented by fertile valleys of the region’s rivers. They contain three national parks, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, and the Peak District. The highest point in England, at 978 metres (3,209 ft), is Scafell Pike in Cumbria. Straddling the border between England and Scotland are the Cheviot Hills.
The English Lowlands are to the south of the Pennines, consisting of green rolling hills, including the Cotswold Hills, Chiltern Hills, North and South Downs—where they meet the sea they form white rock exposures such as the cliffs of Dover. The granitic Southwest Peninsula in the West Country provides upland moorland, such as Dartmoor and Exmoor, which flourish with a mild climate; both are national parks.

England has a temperate and a moist ocean climate in general. The rain at every season. England has a temperate maritime climate meaning that it is mild with temperatures not much lower than 0 °C (32 °F) in winter and not much higher than 32 °C (90 °F) in summer. The weather is damp relatively frequently and is subject to change. The coldest months are January and February, the latter particularly on the English coast, while July is normally the warmest month. Months with mild to warm weather with least rainfall are May, June, September and October.
The biggest influences on the climate of England comes from the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, its northern latitude and warming of the waters around the Gulf Stream. England receives quite a significant proportion of rainfall during the year, with autumn and winter being the wettest time—geographically the Lake District receives more rain than anywhere else in the country. Since weather recording records began, the highest temperature received was 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) on 10 August 2003 at Brogdale in Kent, while the lowest was −26.1 °C (−15 °F) on 10 January 1982 in Edgmond, Shropshire. The rain at every season in England.

The discovery, of Homo erectus remains, was made in what is today Norfolk and Suffolk. The oldest proto-human bones discovered in the area date from 700,000 years ago. Modern humans first arrived in the area around 35,000 years ago; but due to the tough conditions of the Last Ice Age, known specifically in this area as the Devensian glaciation, they fled from Britain to the mountains of southern Europe. Only large mammals such as mammoths, bison and woolly rhinoceros remained. Roughly 11,000 years ago, when the ice sheets began to recede, humans repopulated the area; genetic research suggests they came from the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The sea level was lower than now, and Britain was connected by land to both Ireland and Eurasia. As the seas rose, it was separated from Ireland 9,000 years ago and from Eurasia half a century later.
Beaker culture arrived around 2500 BC, and the making of food vessels constructed out of clay and copper was introduced. It was during this time that major Neolithic monuments such as Stonehenge and Avebury were constructed. By heating together tin and copper, both of which were in abundance in the area, the Beaker culture people were able to make bronze, and later iron from iron ores. They were able to spin and weave sheep’s wool, from which they made clothing.
During the Iron Age, Celtic culture, deriving from the Hallstatt and La Tène cultures, arrived from Central Europe. The development of iron smelting allowed the construction of better ploughs, advancing agriculture (for instance, with Celtic fields), as well as the production of more effective weapons. Brythonic was the spoken language during this time. Society was tribal; according to Ptolemy’s Geographia there were around 20 different tribes in the area, however earlier divisions are unknown because the Britons were not literate. Like other regions on the edge of the Empire, Britain had long enjoyed trading links with the Romans. Julius Caesar of the Roman Republic attempted to invade twice in 55 BC; although largely unsuccessful, he managed to set up a client king from the Trinovantes.
The Romans conquered Britain in AD 43 during the reign of Emperor Claudius, and the area was incorporated into the Roman Empire as Britannia province. The best known of the native tribes who attempted to resist were the Catuvellauni led by Caratacus. Later, an uprising led by Boudica, queen of the Iceni, resulted in her death at the Battle of Watling Street. This era saw a Greco-Roman high culture prevail with the introduction of law and order, Roman architecture, personal hygiene, sewage systems, education, many agricultural items, and silk. In the 3rd century, Emperor Septimius Severus died at York, where Constantine was subsequently proclaimed emperor. Christianity was first introduced around this time, though there are traditions linked to Glastonbury claiming an introduction through Joseph of Arimathea, while others claim through Lucius of Britain. By 410, as their Empire declined, the Romans had left the island, to defend their frontiers in continental Europe.

London is a city of galleries, and you will find one on almost everything there. One of the most famous museums is the British Museum. London truly is one of the greatest city on earth. A melting pot of all cultures and faiths, it is also a leading centre of finance, trade and commerce, culture, fashion, and education. Seat of the much-loved British monarchy, it is traditional yet jazzy. Here, the Shakespearean London blends seamlessly with the London of the 21st Century.
Being the largest city in the United Kingdom, apart from being its capital, the city has many attractions for all tourists, adult and children. This imposing building has collections of art from the prehistoric man to the latest works of world-renowned painters. It also has as exhibits, some of the sculptures of the Parthenon that you might be interested in seeing. You can also visit the Tate Modern. It is Britain’s national museum of modern art. You will find some of the most famous works of art from such artists like Picasso here.
If you are wondering about the Ferris wheel-like structure that dots the skyline of London, perhaps you should visit the London Eye – the world’s highest observation wheel. The passengers of the London Eye can get excellent views of about 55 of London’s most famous landmarks. It is sure to take your breath away.
Visit Madame Tussauds’ to meet with all your favorite celebrities that have been created from wax. From the Beatles to Beckham, you can pose for a photo with one and all. Had had enough of the museums, it is time to move on to London’s history. Visit the Tower Of London, one of the most fortified buildings in the world. While you are here, you can witness the Ceremony of Keys, which is being held here for without break for the past 700 years. Talking of history, any trip to London is incomplete without a visit to the Queen, in the Buckingham Palace. The Buckingham Palace is both the office and the London residence of the Queen. You can take a tour of 19 State Rooms inside the Palace. Or you can even watch the Changing of Guards ceremony held right outside the palace.
The city of London offers various kinds of interesting tours of the city, some of which include the Open Bus Tour and the Walking Tour of London. These tours will make sure that you do not miss out of any of London’s many wonders.