The Facts:
Capital: London
Currency: British pound (Sterling)
Time Zone: GMT
http://www.visitbritain.com
Introduction:
A small island state, the United Kingdom sits separate to the rest of continental Europe. Given its size - its total area of 244,820 square km make it just slightly smaller than the state of Oregon - it's an incredibly diverse country to visit comprised of four different home nations, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Add to this the divergent cultures that have later arrived on its shores and you have a truly multi-cultural landscape.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy and Elizabeth II is the head of state. Worldwide interest in the royal family is one of the country's great calling cards. Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London as well as nearby Windsor, the Queen's famous castle residence are all popular stopping off points. But the country's capital has more than just monarchy to show for itself.
There is age old history from iconic architecture such as Sir Christopher Wren's St. Paul's Cathedral, the world's best known clock tower, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament as well Shakespeares Globe theatre. Wander the banks of The Thames, take a river tour to the Cutty Sark, be entertained by the street artists of Covent Garden or soak up this famous city skyline from the London Eye. There's renewed hope that the roads to London will be paved with gold as the city prepares for the 2012 Olympics which has seen already great swathes of regeneration in some of its east end.
Just outside London the elegant university towns of Cambridge and Oxford remain age-old seats of learning where ceremony and gowned students are still commonplace. Head southwest to the city of Bath and Roman ruins and Georgian architecture sit elegantly side by side. Then there are the quaint thatched cottages of the Cotswolds as well as the cider-drinking west to explore.
With over 12429 kilometres of coastline the UK seaside has a big draw. Twisting cobbled streets and clustered fishing villages packed with pastel painted cottages set the Cornish, Dorset and Devon coast alight. Even wilder seascapes can be found in Wales on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path whilst Scotland's Western Isles have remote stretches of pristine wind licked beaches that you could easily have all to yourself.
It is these natural landscapes that the UK serves up so well. With 14 different National Parks you can take your pick from the rugged mountains of Snowdonia, the wild expanse of Dartmoor to the boat lovers haven of the Norfolk Broads. Hills, dales, lakes and lochs there are plenty of panoramas should you go looking.
Where To Go:
The United Kingdom is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is formed from Great Britain (which includes England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man and Channel Islands are part of Great Britain but not the UK. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The Channel Tunnel links Great Britain, to France.
What To Eat & Drink:
Unmissable UK:
