England

Quick Facts

[edit]

Capital

London

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

Nationality

English

Population

50 763 000^[1]

Languages

English

Religions

Christianity (Protestant), Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism

Currency

Pound sterling (GBP) £

Calling Code

+44

Time Zone

GMT (UTC)

Summer (DST)

BST (UTC+1)

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Introduction

Ravenscar, North Yorkshire

© All Rights Reserved mtbird

It couldn't be any more English: bright red double decker buses, cabbies, the Tube, tea and scones on a rainy afternoon, a pie and pint for dinner perhaps. Culture and history enthral visitors: from the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London to Stonehenge to the world renowned universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The Queen's country feels like a giant open air museum, where every valley reveals another cathedral or ancient ruin.

But 21st century England is not simply, or even mainly, about the heritage industry. Many tourist clichés are long obsolete: London no longer has 'pea souper' fogs; Manchester is no longer an industrial city; Englishmen don't wear bowler hats and you'll have to look long and hard to find a gentleman. Modern England is a vibrant and fast-growing economy dominated by the services sector. If it no longer make things that weigh something, it sells advertising, insurance and music to the rest of the world instead. And these days, it even eats well.

And some of the clichés were never true. In England, it rains frequently, but not very much. London's rainfall is about the same as that of Paris and about half that of New York City.

Brief History

There is obvious evidence that England has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Up until the 15th century AD, England was a dominion of other empires, including the Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Towards the end of the 15th century, England started to become a global superpower in its own right, thanks to the Reformation and successful reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Civil war turned the 17th century into a bloody one, with the long-running battles between Royalists and Parliamentarians finally ending in 1660 under Charles II. Since the accession of the Stuart dynasty in 1603, the kings and queens of England have also been the monarchs of Scotland, although the two countries only entered into political union at the beginning of the 18th century. Since then, England has formed a part of the United Kingdom. During the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, England became a world leader in manufacturing and engineering, growing its vast global empire.

In the first half of the 20th century, England suffered heavy casualties in the First and Second World Wars. During the second half of the 20th century, England, under the reign of current Queen Elizabeth II, recovered from the effects of war. It also granted independence to many of its former colonies. Over the last 15 years, England's economy has thrived, thanks in large part to the success of financial and hi-tech service industries.

Geography

The Coastal path round Cornwall and Devon

© All Rights Reserved bob flinn

The South East of England, particularly the Greater London conurbation, is densely populated and largely flat. Most of the South-West consists of gently undulating agricultural plains, with some areas of high moorland (particularly Exmoor and Dartmoor). Cornwall is the exception - a rough, ruggedly beautiful rural peninsula, with the sub-tropical Isles of Scilly beyond. East Anglia is extremely flat, with much fenland and some quiet stretches of coastline. The mountains of England are in the north, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, the Pennines, the Howgills and the Lake District punctuating the landscape.

Regions

England is divided into nine governmental regions.

• North East - Northumberland, County Durham, Tyneside and Teesside. The North East of England is colder and drier than the rest of the country. Attractions in this area include the port city of Newcastle, ancient cathedral city of Durham, the remote Cheviot hills, the Wear valley and Kielder Water.
• North West - Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside. The great industrial cities of Liverpool and Manchester can be found here, as well as the Lake District, the Howgill Fells, the Forest of Bowland and the cities of Lancaster and Carlisle.
• Yorkshire and the Humber - Covering the rural areas of the Yorkshire Dales and the Northern half of the Peak District, as well as the cities of Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull.
• East Midlands - Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, covering the southern half of the Peak District and the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.

Petersfield Lake

© All Rights Reserved david.byne

• West Midlands - Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Birmingham. Coventry, Warwick, Hereford, Worcester and the Malvern hills can be found here.
• East - covering the East Anglian area of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Cities here include Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge and Lincoln, much of the inland area is either flat agricultural land or fenland including the Norfolk Broads.
• London - the sprawling capital is so large that it deserves a region of its own.
• South East - the Home Counties and the South-East coast, including Kent, Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Berkshire. Cities here include Brighton, Oxford, Portsmouth and Reading, and there is some rolling countryside including the South Downs and the Chiltern Hills.
• South West - the large rural area west of Hampshire as far as Land's End, comprising the counties of Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. The Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks can be found here, as well as the cities of Bristol, Salisbury, Exeter and Plymouth.

Cities

London

big ben

© All Rights Reserved Antek

London is a cultural melting pot where the world has found a home, a legacy of their colonialist past and a great contributor to its vibrant culture today. It forms a fabulous stepping stone to all that England has to offer.

Escaping London quickly takes one through tiny towns barely on the map and large cities with significant marks on history. There is no shortage of lush rolling hills, peaceful lakes and seaside cliffs to keep you entertained on the way from one borough to the next.

Others

• Birmingham
• Brighton is a fun, cosmopolitan seaside town with a café culture and good nightlife, less than an hour away from London by train.
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Oxford, home of the oldest university in the English speaking world.
• Portsmouth, 'The waterfront city', with miles of sea views, centuries of maritime history and modern developments on the water's edge.
• Southampton
• Winchester, the former capital of England, is of particular interest to those with a fascination for history.

Sights and Activities

The trees of Lake Buttermere

© All Rights Reserved Mikey B

Throughout England, there are traces of history. An abundance of cathedrals, castles, ancient towns and scenic countryside is enough to keep any visitor occupied. Some of the very most popular are listed below.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the best known structures in the world and is near present day Salisbury. This mysterious megalithic ruin was built over a thousands of years from large stones transported from hundreds of miles away in present day Wales. The structures are designed to line up with major solar and lunar events and may have been a large calendar for religious ceremonies. Stonehenge has inspired and awed people for millennia and continue to this to the current day.

Lake District

The Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England and is in the north-west part of the country. To this day the beauty is stunning and the area has not lost its charm. Many authors and painters have highlighted the sublime nature of the lakes and hills around the Lake District but no words can truly give it justice.

London Nightlife

London has some of the best nightlife in the whole world. If you're looking for a nice pub, a blue colour watering hole or one of the fanciest night clubs on this planet, London has it. Make sure to have extra money to burn because these places are fun but never cheap. Where else in the world can you see the future King of England dancing the night away right next to you?

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is the most important church in all of England and maybe Europe. The main function of this church is the coronation of all the new British monarchs. There are also several very famous tombs in Westminster Abbey. Some of these are the tombs of Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry Prucell, Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and also several kings and queens. Any visit to London is not complete without visiting the amazing Westminster Abbey.

Palace of Westminster

Houses of Parliament

© All Rights Reserved Hien

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the iconic landmark that represents not just London where it is located, but the entire United Kingdom as well. Until 1512, the site was a royal residence, but a fire forced Henry VIII to move out. However, the site remained a Royal Palace; therefore, its official title is the Palace of Westminster. Today, it is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) meet.

The Clock Tower, the main part of the iconic landmark to travellers, if often referred to as Big Ben, the nickname of the bell housed within the Clock Tower. Big Ben's official name is the Great Bell.

Other Sights and Activities

• The Roman Baths - In the city of Bath offer a well-preserved glimpse into Roman life in Britain.
• Greenwich, home of Greenwich Mean Time and Longitude 0°.
• Hadrian's Wall - On the border of Scotland was built in 122 AD under the orders of Roman Emperor Hadrian. It is the traditional dividing line between Scotland and England.
• Tower of London - The home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
• Canterbury Cathedral - The cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Events and Festivals

Music Festivals

• Global Gathering - An annual dance and music festival, usually held on the last weekend of July at Long Marston Airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, West Midlands.
• The Glade - An electronic dance music festival held for three days in the summer at the Wasing Estate, adjoining Aldermaston near Newbury in Berkshire, South East England.
• Creamfields - A large dance music festival featuring DJs and live acts. It is held annually on the UK's August Bank Holiday weekend in Daresbury, Warrington, Cheshire, North West England.
• Glastonbury - This is one of the largest music and performing arts festivals in the world. It also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. It is held annually in Somerset, South West England.

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

Airports
There are many international airports in England, with the busiest ones being those in London.

• London Heathrow (LHR)
• London Gatwick (LGW)
• London Stansted (STN)
• London Luton (LTN)
• London City Airport (LCY)
• Birmingham International Airport (BHX)
• Blackpool International Airport (BLK)
• Bournemouth International Airport (BOH)
• Bristol International Airport (BRS)
• Coventry Airport (CVT)
• Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Airport (DSA)
• Durham Tees Valley Airport (MME)
• East Midlands International Airport (EMA)
• Exeter International Airport (EXT)
• Humberside International Airport (HUY)
• Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBA)
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
• Manchester Airport (MAN)
• Newcastle International Airport (NCL)
• Norwich International Airport (NWI)
• Southampton Airport (SOU)

Airlines
British Airways is the national carrier of the United Kingdom and flies to many main cities around the world. Apart from the national carrier, virtually all major airlines have England as one of their destinations. For those on a budget, there are also many low-cost carriers in Europe with destinations in England. Easyjet, one of the biggest low-cost carriers in England, flies into different parts of England from around Europe.

By Train

It is possible to take the train to Wales, Scotland and France.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

It is possible to fly between most major cities. British Airways operate an extensive service covering almost every major population centre. Cheaper national flights are available with budget carriers Ryanair, Easyjet and FlyBE. Routes which may be of particular interest given the comparative expense of travelling overland include London to Newcastle with Easyjet, London to Newquay with Ryanair and Birmingham to Newquay, Manchester to Exeter, Manchester to Norwich and Manchester to Southampton with FlyBE.

An interesting and scenic flight is England's only scheduled helicopter service, operated by inappropriately named British International, connecting Penzance in mainland Cornwall with St Marys and Tresco in the Isles of Scilly.

By Train

Paddington

© All Rights Reserved Crouchy

There is an extensive train network serving all cities and most towns. The ticketing system is confusing and complex and travellers often pay too much for tickets as a result.

The cheapest available tickets are special discount rate tickets issues directly by the train companies. These are usually sold as singles. The very cheapest are available on National Express owned routes (including London to Peterborough, Leeds, York and Durham) or via the Stagecoach franchise Megatrain (routes include London to Exeter, Axminster, Bournemouth and Sheffield, and Manchester to Oxenholme - the Lake District, Penrith and Carlisle). Other operators, including Virgin Trains, may offer discount rate single tickets. It's important to note that these tickets are only for travel on a specific train - if you book this ticket type and travel on the wrong train you'll be charged the full Standard Open fare. This will always be extortionately expensive.

Rather more expensive are 'Saver' tickets. These are always cheaper as returns than as singles and are available for any route on the network. It's possible to reserve a seat, but permissible to travel on any 'off-peak' train. The definition of 'off-peak' varies according to the route, but will always include most trains departing after 10:00.

'Standard Open' tickets are available up until the last minute on any train, and are the preserve of the rich, the desperate and the mad. As an example, the Standard Open single fare from London to Exeter is more than 12 times the cheapest discounted fare available from Megatrain - for travelling in the same class on the same train.

Some train companies offer special discounts for first class tickets. Occasionally this makes them almost as cheap as the cheapest available standard fare. Travelling first class is a pleasant experience and worth buying if the difference between available fares is low.

At weekends long distance routes can be disrupted by repair work. Information on all routes, including details of engineering work and train running, is available at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.

By Car

Cars can be hired from airports, city and town centres and near many stations. The road network is extensive and in good condition, so it is easy and convenient to drive around the country. Levels of car ownership are high, and congestion is a problem in most cities and most motorways, particularly in and around London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Be aware that driving into Central London requires payment of a Congestion Charge, which you'll be liable for even if you're driving a hire car. Non-payment of the charge will result in a large fine.

Strictly enforced speed limits and drink-driving regulations together with a tough driving test mean that safety standards on England's roads are among the highest in Europe. Some accident 'blackspots' do still exist however and particular care must be taken in rural areas and after dark.

By Bus

England's bus network is very extensive. As a result almost every town, village and hamlet is connected to the public transport network. Most local bus services are provided by regional operators. In rural areas buses may only run on certain days. This would be difficult to work out if it wasn't for the extremely useful Traveline service which provides a searchable database of local and regional bus timetables. Local buses are usually comparatively cheap.

National Express and Megabus operate a national coach network between major cities. Providing tickets are purchased in advanced this is usually the cheapest method of transport to cover long distances, with all http://www.megabus.com/Megabus fares starting from £1 each way. Long-distance bus travel can be time consuming and uncomfortable compared to rail or air travel.

Cut-price airport coach services are operated by Terravision and Easybus.

By Boat

There are a small number of useful boat services within England:

• Wightlink Ferries to the Isle of Wight
• Scilly Line boats to the Isles of Scilly
• The Windermere Ferry (across England's largest lake), and a number of other small Lake District passenger ferries.
• Scheduled Steamer routes in the Bristol Channel operated by Waverley Excursions.

Red Tape

Money

The British Pound is the currency in England other currencies are rarely accepted outside of airports. You can change money from major currencies at most banks, Post Offices and some travel agents throughout the country. Nearly all shops, restaurants and hotels (but not Bed and Breakfasts) will accept credit cards, usually Visa and Mastercard, although some places do accept American Express you should not rely on an American Express card. ATM machines are located in all town centres and transport hubs and quite often petrol stations.

Work

Study

Language

English is, unsurprisingly, the main language here and you will be able to speak that across the country. That said some accents can be difficult to understand. There is a small movement in Cornwall that is trying to revive Cornish as a language, but you are unlikely to encounter someone who doesn't speak English.

Eat

England has a reputation for dire food, and if you want to find it, you can. But things have changed beyond recognition in the last twenty years. Restaurants have undergone a revolution: master foreign chefs such as Raymond Blanc and Giorgio Locatelli have built careers here as they always have, but many of the best restaurants are owned and managed by home-grown chefs such as Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and Gary Rhodes. Perhaps more importantly, the quality of the average restaurant has improve in leaps and bounds: the English just don't tolerate overcooked vegetables and leathery meat the way they used to. And pubs - which in the 1960s served beer to men - now make far fatter margins serving food to families. Over large swathes of England, and spurred on by the ban on smoking in public, the gastropub is replacing the local boozer.

Traditional English staples include:

• Fish and Chips - battered fish, usually cod or haddock, with thick cut, deep fried chips.
• Roast Dinner - traditionally eaten at Sunday lunchtime, a roast joint of meat with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy, and sometimes Yorkshire Pudding (especially with Beef). Beef is served with horseradish, pork with apple sauce and lamb with mint sauce.
• Cornish Pasty - a pastry filled with mincemeat and vegetables.
• English breakfast - a cholesterol-inducing combination of bacon (fried or grilled); egg (scrambled or fried); sausages; black pudding (a sausage made from... don't ask); fried mushrooms; fried bread; fried or grilled tomatoes, and anything else that takes your fancy. Preferably accompanied with HP sauce.
• Pies - steak and kidney; steak and ale; chicken and mushroom.
• Cumberland Sausage - a curled (not linked) spicy sausage from the north of England. Other good sausages are Lincolnshire and chipolata.
• Ploughmans Lunch - a mixed plate of British cheeses, salad and bread.

Away from the hearty homecooked meals, some of the world's top chefs reside in England, particularly in London. Eating out at one of the Ramsay chain (Gordon Ramsay, Claridges, Maze, etc) is a great experience.

Chinatown, London

© All Rights Reserved janeyee

It must be said, though, that when they eat out (and very often when they cook at home), the English do not usually eat English food. The most popular food is "Indian" (which is usually in fact Bangladeshi), Chinese and Italian. Thai food is increasingly commonly found, not just in restaurants but also in pubs. It is said that the most common dish ordered in English restaurants - and therefore surely our national dish - is chicken tikka masala, a dish unknown in India and invented in the UK. This is not a new phenomenon: the taste for "curry" was brought back by Army officers and their wives returning from India in the nineteenth century. And after a night on the beers, when one's judgment is a little clouded, a kebab with extra chilli sauce is just the ticket.

Sleep

Drink

Traditionally England is the bastion of Real Ale and most pubs will have a suitable brew on tap. Cider is also widely sold, and is particularly good in the West Country where orchard conditions are at their best. Some good white wines, particularly sparkling whites, are produced along the south coast.

In reality, most Britains drink imported lager and spirits, expensive compared to most of Europe apart from Scandinavia.

Health

Safety

Keep Connected

Village life.

© All Rights Reserved david.byne

Internet

There are internet cafés in most towns and cities and many coffee shops also have wifi connections if you have your laptop with you. The connection speeds are usually pretty good. In larger hotels it is also common to find wifi connections.

Phone

There are phone boxes in all towns and cities, usually you'll be able to quickly find one around the town centre or at a train/bus station. The traditional red phone boxes have been largely replaced by glass and steel boxes. Some boxes require use of a phone card (they will be signposted as such), but most accept cash.
If you are phoning the UK you should remove the first zero of the phone number.

Post

There will be at least one Post Office in any town/city and there are quite often post offices in larger villages. It's common for a Post Office to be incorporated into a grocery store, where there will be a small counter located at the back of the store for dealing with post related matters.
All Post Offices are marked with signs that say 'Post Office' in Red lettering. Post boxes can be found at any post office and standalone large red post boxes on the streets or red boxes in the sides of public buildings.