Europe: United Kingdom: England

This constitutional monarchy of Northern Europe, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK is a most popular travel destination as is its capital city, London.

UK Geography consists of Southern and Eastern lowlands plus Northern and Western highlands in Scotland and about 800 islands. England is made up of hills and valleys, major rivers such as the Thames, Tees and Tyne plus the Humber and Severn. Wales is mountainous and Northern Ireland is known for its hills.

Climate of the UK is temperate, with rainfall all year round. Temperatures vary with seasons but usually stay above -10 °C (14.0 °F) and below 35 °C (95 °F). There is a prevailing wind from the southwest, bringing mild and wet weather. On the East one can find wind-protected dry situations and in the South East of England summers are warmest. Snowfall can happy during winter and early spring.

Cuisine of the UK used to be ridiculed, but those days are long gone. Famous regional dishes are:
Black Pudding - a sausage made of congealed pig's blood and rusks cooked in an intestine. Found especially of the north of England and the Black Country.
Cornish pasty - beef and vegetables baked in a pastry case. Found especially in Cornwall and Devon.
Deep Fried Mars Bar - Especially found in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire and other parts of Scotland.
Haggis - a fusion of sheep innards and oatmeal boiled in a sheep's stomach. Available widely, but especially Scotland.
Lancashire Hotpot - a vegetable and meat stew. Available widely but found especially in Lancashire.
Laver bread - a paste of seaweed, rolled in oatmeal, lightly fried and served with bacon rashers, or as a vegetarian dish. Found in Swansea and West Wales.
Oatcakes - a large, oats-pancake, eaten hot with a savoury filling. Found in Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Potato Bread - made with potatoes, salt, butter and flour. Found in Northern Ireland especially.
Yorkshire Pudding - a savoury round side dish made from unsweetened batter. Found especially in Yorkshire, but also throughout the UK.
Note: Smoking is now banned in ALL public eateries and pubs.

The United Kingdom has fantastic destinations to offer the traveller, such as 14 National Parks and almost 50 beautiful spaces of natural land worth visiting. Examples of these are:
Stonehenge - the ancient stone circle near Wiltshire's cathedral city of Salisbury.
Bath architecture - including Georgian architecture and Roman baths.
Canterbury Cathedral - seating the head of England's church, in Canterbury, Kent. York Minster Cathedral - in York.
The Eden Project - a massive botanical gardens including indoor rainforest and Mediterranean bio-domes - near St Austell.
Shakespeare's Birthplace - Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Oxford and Cambridge - ancient universities.
The Giant's Causeway - a World Heritage site and a natural wonder, an hour from Belfast on the north coast.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - housing 3 of the most important ships built in 800 years of naval history.

UK Currency is the pound (£) and alternatively called the Pound Sterling.
Visa requirements for citizens European Union member states usually do not require a visa, and have permanent residency and working rights in the UK. Citizens of Ireland have additional rights allowing them to vote in elections. Outside the European Union you most probably need a visa and should enquire.

Towns and Cities of the United Kingdom are (from most- to least populated):
London
Birmingham
Glasgow
Liverpool
Leeds
Sheffield
Edinburgh
Bristol
Manchester
Leicester
Coventry
Kingston upon Hull
Bradford
Cardiff
Belfast
Stoke-on-Trent
Wolverhampton
Nottingham
Plymouth
Southampton
Reading
Derby

The Travel-Informed Team

You are welcome to send us comments or suggestions of what you would like us to cover on this page (), we always enjoy hearing from you.

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