What countries are part of Great Britain? Countries belonging to the British state

Great Britain is great and very interesting country, attracting tourists with its rich history, beautiful landscapes and castles on the one hand and the lively bustle and cultural heritage its capital is London.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain includes 4 countries-regions:

  • - the oldest monarchy in Europe. This is the most popular tourist part of the country, home to many "themed" royal attractions, historical places and traditions. The capital of England - London.
  • - the birthplace of whiskey, bagpipes and kilts, a country with stunningly beautiful nature. Here high mountains, deep blue lakes where the elusive Nessie lives and green hills. Capital of Scotland - Edinburgh.

  • - a land of beautiful green plains and majestic castles. It was here that many medieval films, TV series and historical films were filmed. The famous British saga “Doctor Who” especially stands out. Capital of Wales - Cardiff.
  • Northern Ireland- the most picturesque region of Great Britain. Among the ancient towns and villages, time seems to pass more slowly. Capital of Northern Ireland - Belfast.

How to get to the UK from Russia?

From Moscow you can take a direct flight to London And Manchester oh, and from St. Petersburg only to London.

The following companies fly to London: Aeroflot, British Airways, Transaero and "" (Only from Moscow).

There are no direct flights to Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh.

UK visa

To visit the country you must obtain a visa. Great Britain is not included in the zone
Schengen Agreement, therefore you need to obtain a special visa.

To help the traveler:

On the plane you will need to fill out a migration card.

Useful information about the UK

Currency

The monetary unit of Great Britain is the pound sterling (£).
1 pound = 100 pence

There are notes in circulation: 5, 10, 20, 50 £ and coins in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence, 1 and 2 £.

A tourist can exchange currency only in exchange offices, and withdraw from the card at ATMs.

Note: in addition to England, pounds are issued by banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland. They differ in design and are accepted anywhere in the UK, but in Russia they are not accepted at exchange offices.

Transport

The country has developed extensive network railways, buses and flights. Railway communication is especially widespread.

There are also flights from London to France high speed trains Eurostar.

There are also ferries connecting UK port cities and European soil.

Climate

Despite a common misconception, the UK does not always have bad weather or fog.

In Great Britain the climate is temperate and mild. There are rains, but they are short and quick. The weather is very changeable, it is formed by the Gulf Stream. The further from the coast, the drier.

In the southern part of the country the weather is drier and slightly warmer than in the northern part, but floods and hurricanes are much more common.

UK hotels

There are many hotels in the UK that are mostly B&B (bed and breakfast) or do not include meals at all. The rooms are small, but quite cozy.

Of course, there are also prestigious luxury hotels, but their prices are exorbitant.

For many people, Great Britain and England are consonant concepts, synonyms that are used to name the same state. But in reality, everything is not so simple, and there are serious differences between them, which we will talk about later in the article.

What is Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the full name of the independent island state, located in northwestern Europe and occupying the largest territory in it.

Great Britain was founded in 1801. It includes such territorial units (the so-called “historical provinces”) as northern Scotland, the Principality of Wales and having sufficient autonomy and their own parliaments.

England is also one of the “provinces” of Great Britain (by the way, the largest in the country). It was, in fact, around it that the formation of the modern state initially took place. But, unlike other parts of the kingdom, it does not have its own legislative and executive powers, and their role is performed by the national parliament of Great Britain.

In addition to the named territories, the United Kingdom owns three more Crown Lands - the islands of Jersey, Maine and Guernsey, as well as fourteen overseas territories, which include, for example, Gibraltar, Bermuda, Falklands, etc.

England: information about the country

Despite the large number of dependent lands, England, we repeat, is the historical core of the United Kingdom, and its population accounts for 84% of all residents of Great Britain.

"Born" here English language, and from here the formation of a powerful state began. This began with the Angles and Saxons, who conquered this territory at the beginning of the ninth century, displacing the Britons who inhabited it. In 825, King Egbert of Wessex united most of the smaller kingdoms into one, giving it the name England (this translates as “Land of the Angles”).

But when Scotland became part of the state in 1707 and the United Kingdom was formed, it was decided to call it Great Britain so as not to infringe on anyone’s pride. After all, the name, for example, Great England (Great England) would be absolutely unacceptable for the Scots.

Some features of the British government

While the meaning of the word “England” in our minds is closely intertwined with the meaning of the word “Great Britain”, and even some explanatory dictionaries list these names as synonymous, a cultured person should still understand what their internal difference is.

Of course, the role of England for the whole state cannot be overestimated. After all, its legal, legal and constitutional innovations were adopted by many states of the world. And it was this part of the United Kingdom that became the cradle of the Industrial Revolution, making Great Britain the world's first industrialized country.

In fact, the United Kingdom has quite a complex state structure, which, however, does not prevent it from being an example in maintaining democratic relations within the country.

Interestingly, Great Britain does not have a single constitution. It is to some extent replaced by a set of acts of a different nature, norms of common law, which include many judicial precedents, and some constitutional customs. The most important of them include (signed back in 1215), as well as the Act of Succession to the Throne.

Why does England not have its own parliament?

Because England is the only component Great Britain, which does not have its own parliament and government, has formed a movement in the country in support of its creation. After all, if decisions concerning Scotland alone can be made by the Scottish legislative bodies, then decisions regarding England are made by Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish deputies who are members of the national parliament.

But in response to this, representatives argue that if largest part Great Britain will receive independent authorities, this will lead to the fact that the remaining small territories will sharply lose their significance, and this, in turn, may lead to the collapse of the Kingdom.

Revisiting the differences between England and Great Britain

We hope the article helped to finally understand how England differs from Great Britain. And in order to finally systematize the information, let us once again recall their main differences:

  • Great Britain is an independent state, which includes England as an administrative unit;
  • England has no foreign policy relations, and Great Britain is an indispensable member of international organizations (UN, NATO, European Union, OSCE, etc.) and the “arbiter of destinies” for the countries dependent on it;
  • England doesn't have its own monetary unit, the armed forces and parliament;
  • The territory of England is only a small part of the whole of Great Britain.

The article talks about territorial division United Kingdom. Contains information about the political structure of the country. Explains the differences between the parts that make up Great Britain.

General information about Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of four national-historical regions:

  • England;
  • Wales;
  • Scotland;
  • Northern Ireland.

During the Middle Ages, three main ethnic communities emerged in Great Britain: English, Scots and Welsh. Relations between indigenous peoples have always had a special role in the political life of the country.

Great Britain is geographically localized in the northwestern part of Europe, on British Isles.

The island of Great Britain is the largest of all.

Rice. 1. Great Britain on the map.

It consists of large islands: Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the north-eastern tip of Ireland, as well as small ones: the Hebrides, Shetland, Orkney Islands.

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The state is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline is heavily dotted with bays and fjords, where the large peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall are formed.

Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The government consists of the reigning monarch (queen) and parliament. The throne is inherited by seniority. The eldest son or eldest daughter is recognized as the ruler.

Geographically, Great Britain is a complex system of regions, counties, districts and districts. Each of the four historical and geographical regions of Britain is divided into counties. There are 39 historic counties in England.

total area The territory of England is 244.9 thousand square meters. km. It has land borders with only one country - Ireland.

The capital of Great Britain, London, is rightly recognized as a global metropolis that can easily compete with New York in the financial field.

Rice. 2. Big Ben.

A metro was built in the city, which is now the oldest in the world. In addition to its industrial leadership among European cities, London has a significant cultural and historical heritage. There are over four dozen universities operating here, some of which have a rich history.

Which countries are included in the UK?

Great Britain consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Rice. 3. States that make up Great Britain on the map of the country.

England is often called Foggy Albion due to the constant rain. It is also the largest of the parts that make up Great Britain. Its lands cover more than half of the kingdom's territory.

Scotland was once a sovereign state in northern Europe. Today it is an autonomous power that is part of the United Kingdom. Scotland occupies a third of the island of Great Britain.

Wales is the formal name of the country "Principality of Wales", which is almost never used. This part of Great Britain has never had sovereignty.

Local laws were not supplanted by English ones until 1542. It was only in 1955 that the Queen of Great Britain documented the status of Cardiff as the capital of Wales.

Northern Ireland and the Scottish coast are separated by only 21 kilometers. In 1921, Ireland was partitioned. One part belongs to Great Britain, and the other is called the Irish Republic.

But most of the country's population lives in rural areas, because Northern Ireland is recognized as an agricultural sector.

Each region of Great Britain has its own flag and differs in its national composition, as well as specific geographical characteristics. The main state borders of the United Kingdom pass by sea. The only exception is the border with Ireland.. Total ratings received: 249.

brief information

Great Britain, which is surrounded on all sides by sea and ocean, still jealously guards its traditions and customs, which may seem eccentric to many foreigners. However, it is precisely this careful attitude to traditions that has made Great Britain one of the most famous and influential countries in the world, which also has amazing nature and even seaside resorts. At the same time, Foggy Albion still remains a mystery to many of us...

Geography

Great Britain is located in northwestern Europe in the British Isles. In the north, Great Britain borders on Ireland; in the southeast, the English Channel (“English Channel”), whose width is 35 km, separates this country from France. The total area of ​​Great Britain is 244,820 km. sq. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean as well as the North Sea. The most high peak Great Britain - Mount Ben Nevis in Scotland (its height is 1343 meters).

The capital of Great Britain

The capital of Great Britain is London, whose population now numbers more than 8.2 million people. London was founded by the Romans in 43 AD.

Official language

The official language of Great Britain is English, which is spoken by more than 95% of the population. Minority languages ​​include Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Gaelic and Cornish.

Religion

State religion in Great Britain – Anglican Christian church, formed in 1534 under the influence of Protestantism. More than 10% of the UK population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, there are many Presbyterians and Muslims in the country.

UK government

Great Britain has been a constitutional monarchy for many centuries. The country consists of four provinces - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The head of state is the Queen, power is inherited. The head of government is the Prime Minister (he becomes the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons).

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the House of Lords (1200 seats) and the House of Commons (659 seats). The main political parties are the Conservative Party, the Labor Party and the Liberal Democrats.

Climate and weather

The climate in Great Britain is temperate maritime with big amount precipitation. The determining influence on the climate of Great Britain is the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Gulf Stream. average temperature in winter it is 0C, and in summer – +25C. The warmest months are July and August, and the coldest is February.

Note that although July and August are considered the warmest months in the UK, they are also the wettest, with the most rainfall.

Seas and oceans in Great Britain

Great Britain is washed by waters Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. General coastline is 12,429 km. The English Crown Lands include the islands of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel, as well as the Isle of Man (located in the Irish Sea).

Rivers and lakes

There are more than 20 in the UK big rivers and more than 380 lakes (many of them artificial). The largest rivers are the Severn (354 km), Thames (346 km), Trent (297 km), Great Ouse (230 km), Wye (215 km) and Tay (188 km).

Note that in Great Britain there is an extensive network of canals, most of which were built in the Victorian era.

British history

Archaeologists have found evidence that people lived on the territory of modern Britain back in the Neolithic era. Many historical artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age have also been found.

In 43 AD Britain, after stubborn resistance from local tribes, was captured by the Roman Empire and became its province. Power Ancient Rome over Britain lasted until 410 AD, after which the island was alternately invaded by tribes of Angles and Saxons from Germany, and then by Vikings from Scandinavia. The spread of Christianity in the British Isles began at the end of the 6th century.

In 1066, the famous Battle of Hastings took place, cementing the Norman victory in the conquest of Britain. William of Normandy (better known as William the Conqueror) became king of England on December 25, 1066.

In the Middle Ages, on the territory of modern Great Britain, numerous wars took place between the English, Scots, Irish and Welsh. In 1337, the Hundred Years' War began between England and France for French provinces Guienne, Normandy and Anjou, which eventually ended in French victory in 1453.

Immediately after this, in 1455, a bloody internecine 30-year War of the Roses began in England between two branches of the royal seven (Yorks and Lancasters).

In 1534, King Henry III became head of the Church of England, which led to the English Reformation and the dissolution of many monasteries. The mid-17th century was marked by the overthrow of the monarchy, the reign of Oliver Cromwell, and then the restoration of monarchical power.

In 1707, England and Scotland signed an Act of Union, thus forming the Kingdom of Great Britain.

In the 18th century, Great Britain became the largest colonial power with a huge fleet. Trade and banking developed rapidly in the country. At this time, revolutionary changes took place in English industry and agriculture.

The development of Great Britain continued in the 19th century, during the so-called “Victorian era.”

Great Britain played a big role during the world wars of the 20th century. In 1921, the Irish Rebellion broke out, leading to the formation of an independent Ireland. As for Northern Ireland, it is still part of Great Britain. Now Great Britain is an active member of the NATO military bloc and is also part of the EU.

Culture

Since Great Britain consists of several “provinces” (England, Scotland, Wales and, of course, Northern Ireland), which were previously independent countries, it is clear that its culture is multi-ethnic.

Traditional English folk legends about the semi-mystical King Arthur and his knights, as well as semi-historical legends about Robin Hood, are known all over the world. Many historians claim that such individuals actually existed in Medieval England, however, we know about them only from folk legends.

In general, it should be noted that in Great Britain traditions play a greater role than in many other countries of the world. Residents of Foggy Albion are proud of their traditions, many of which seem strange and eccentric to us. Thus, in Great Britain, theaters have been closed on Sundays for more than 300 years.

Another English tradition is that, according to the decree of King Charles II, 6 crows must permanently live in the Tower of London. The British are confident that as long as these birds live there, nothing threatens the royal power.

Some of you may know that in the House of Lords of the British Parliament the Chancellor sits on a sack of wool. This custom dates back to the times when sheep's wool made England a rich and powerful country.

Old English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish traditions may seem strange to modern Europeans, Asians or Americans, but the inhabitants of Foggy Albion adhere to them with enviable tenacity.

The Canterbury Tales by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, published in 1476, had a decisive influence on the development of literature in Great Britain. In the Middle Ages, England gave the world such talented poets, writers and playwrights as Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Wyatt, John Milton and, of course, William Shakespeare.

Subsequently, Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, John Keats, William Blake, George Byron, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Hardy, Virginia Woolf, Wodehouse, Eliot, Graham Greene, Iris Murdoch and Iain Banks appeared.

However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can also boast “big” literary names. The most famous of them, perhaps, are the Scottish poets William Dunbar and Robert Burns.

The most famous artists in Great Britain are George Gower, Samuel Cooper, Joshua Reynolds, George Stubbs, John Constable, Joseph William Turner and David Hockney.

If we talk about music, then, of course, in the UK there were quite talented classical composers, however, this country, first of all, gave the world the legendary “Liverpool Four” - the rock group “The Beatles”.

UK cuisine

Each region of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) has its own traditional cuisine. In general, it can be said that British food is based on meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken), fish, eggs and flour. Meat and fish are usually served with potatoes or some other vegetable.

English cuisine has traditionally been "bland", without seasoning. However, after Great Britain captured numerous colonies (we are, of course, talking about India), various Indian seasonings began to be used more in English cuisine.

Traditional English dishes - Yorkshire pudding, Christmas pudding, roast beef, Cornish paste, pudding and Battenberg cake.

Traditional Scottish dishes include haggis, oatmeal, pickled herring and Cranachan dessert.

Traditional Welsh dishes include bara brith yeast bread, sorrel soup, beef in beer and Welsh flatbreads.

Traditional Irish dishes include Irish stew, coddle (sausage, bacon, potatoes and onions), barmbrack and potato pancakes called boxties.

We advise tourists in the UK to try the famous English cheeses. In general, more than 400 varieties of cheese are now produced in England. The most popular of these is cheddar (a hard cheese with a strong nutty flavor). In addition, we note such varieties of English cheese as Stilton, Red Leicester and Cheshire.

Traditional British drinks are beer, cider, tea, gin and Pimm (made from gin with the addition of lemonade, fruit and mint).

Sights of Great Britain

There are so many attractions in the UK that we will highlight only the 10 most interesting of them (in our opinion):

Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle built several thousand years ago. This monument is located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. Historians do not know exactly for what purposes it was intended, although they are inclined to the version of a religious cult.

Tower Bridge in London
The Tower Bridge in London was built in 1894. It is considered one of the symbols of London.

Chatsworth House
This mansion was built in the English county of Devonshire in the middle of the 16th century. Considered one of the finest country houses in the UK. It was here that the film “Pride and Prejudice” was filmed in 2005.

Lake Windermere
This lake is the largest in England. It is located in Cumbria. Beautiful landscapes attract thousands of tourists to Lake Windermere every year.

Portmeirion village
Located on the coast North Wales. Construction of this amazing village began in 1925. Portmeirion may now be the most eccentric village in all of Britain.

Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is located in Northern Ireland, it consists of approximately 40 thousand basalt columns that appeared as a result of a volcanic eruption. According to legend, this Path was created in ancient times by the Giants who previously inhabited the Earth...

Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh - old City, which preserved great amount historical and architectural monuments, among which the “star” is Edinburgh Castle.

Tresco Abbey Gardens
These gardens are located on the Isle of Scilly and were planted in the 19th century. On this moment Tresco Abbey Gardens contain flowers and trees from 80 countries, including, for example, Burma and New Zealand. Even in winter, more than 300 plants bloom here.

York Minster
Construction of York Minster in York (Northern England) began in 1230 and continued until 1472. York Minster is considered one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in all of Western Europe.

Project "Eden"
The Eden Project is a modern botanical garden in the UK. It is located in the county of Cornwall. Now in this botanical garden grows under two huge transparent domes with more than 100 thousand flowers and trees from different countries peace.

Cities and resorts

The most big cities Great Britain - London (more than 8.2 million people), Birmingham (more than 1.1 million people), Glasgow (about 600 thousand people), Belfast (more than 600 thousand people), Manchester (more than 500 thousand people) , Edinburgh (more than 500 thousand people) and Liverpool (about 500 thousand people).

Most of us associate Great Britain with constant rain and fog. However, this country turns out to have excellent seaside resorts. Moreover, the UK even has the English Riviera (Torbay). The most famous seaside resorts of Foggy Albion are Newport, Eastbourne and Brighton. There are approximately 760 beaches in the UK that are tested annually to meet European standards.

 

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