Reign Duration

Age at
Rank Portrait Monarch
accession
Years,
From To Days
days

Elizabeth II of the 25 years, 6 February 8 September 70 years

1 25,782
United Kingdom 291 days 1952 2022 214 days

Victoria of the 18 years, 22 January 63 years

2 20 June 1837 23,226
United Kingdom 27 days 1901 216 days

George III of the 22 years, 25 October 29 January 59 years

3 21,644
United Kingdom 143 days 1760 1820 96 days

James VI of 1 year, 27 March 57 years

4 24 July 1567 21,066
Scotland 35 days 1625 246 days

Henry III of 9 years, 28 October 16 November 56 years

5 20,473
England 27 days 1216 1272 19 days
 Edward III of 14 years, 25 January 50 years
6 20 June 1377 18,410
England 73 days 1327 147 days

William I of 9 December 4 December 48 years

7 ca. 24 years 17,892
Scotland 1165 1214 360 days

Llywelyn of 11 April 16,173– c. 44–46

8 ca. 22 years 1195
Gwynedd 1240 16,902 years

Elizabeth I of 25 years, 17 November 24 March 44 years

9 16,198
England 71 days 1558 1603 127 days

David II of 5 years, 22 February 41 years

10 7 June 1329 15,235
Scotland 94 days 1371 260 days

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness

Thatcher, LG, OM, DStJ, PC, FRS, HonFRSC (née Roberts; 13 October 1925 – 8 April
2013), was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the
Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the first female British prime minister and the
longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. As prime minister, she implemented
economic policies that became known as Thatcherism. A Soviet journalist dubbed her the "Iron
Lady", a nickname that became associated with her uncompromising politics and leadership
style.
Roundheads were the supporters of the Parliament of England during the English Civil
War (1642–1651). Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I of
England and his supporters, known as the Cavaliers or Royalists, who claimed rule by absolute
monarchy and the principle of the divine right of kings.[1] The goal of the Roundheads was to
give to Parliament the supreme control over executive administration of the country/kingdom.[2]

Regional languages and statistics[edit]

Distribution of languages of the
United Kingdom

English   98%

Scots   2.5%

Welsh   1%

Scottish
  0.1%
Gaelic

Irish   0.1%

Cornish   0.01%

English language proficiency in England and Wales in 2011. The 'English' category included
Welsh for usual residents of Wales.
English[edit]
In the 2011 UK census, 98% of people over the age of three were reported as speaking English.
English is a West Germanic language brought around the 5th century CE to the east coast of
what is now England by Germanic-speaking immigrants from around present-day northern
Germany, who came to be known as the Anglo-Saxons. The fusion of these settlers' dialects
became what is now termed Old English: the word English is derived from the name of
the Angles. English soon displaced the previously predominant British Celtic and British
Latin throughout most of England. It spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under
the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria. Following the economic,
political, military, scientific, cultural, and colonial influence of Great Britain and the United
Kingdom from the 18th century, via the British Empire, and of the United States since the mid-
20th century, it has been widely dispersed around the world, and become the leading language of
international discourse. Many English words are based on roots from Latin, because Latin in
some form was the lingua franca of the Christian Church and of European intellectual life. The
language was further influenced by the Old Norse language, with Viking invasions in the 8th and
9th centuries. The Norman conquest of England in the 11th century gave rise to heavy
borrowings from Norman French, and vocabulary and spelling conventions began to give what
had now become Middle English the superficial appearance of a close relationship with
Romance languages. The Great Vowel Shift that began in the south of England in the 15th
century is one of the historical events marking the separation of Middle and Modern English.
Wales[edit]
Bilingual road markings near Cardiff Airport, Vale of Glamorgan
Welsh (Cymraeg) emerged in the 6th century from Brittonic, the common ancestor of
Welsh, Breton, Cornish, and the extinct language known as Cumbric. Welsh is thus a member of
the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages, and is spoken natively in Wales. There are also
Welsh speakers in Y Wladfa (The Colony),[35] a Welsh settlement in Argentina, which began in
1865 and is situated mainly along the coast of Chubut Province in the south of Patagonia. Chubut
estimates the number of Patagonian Welsh speakers to be about 1,500. [36]
Both the English and Welsh languages have official, but not always equal, status in Wales.
English has de facto official status everywhere, whereas Welsh has limited, but still considerable,
official, de jure, status in only the public service, the judiciary, and elsewhere as prescribed in
legislation. The Welsh language is protected by the Welsh Language Act 1993 and
the Government of Wales Act 1998, and since 1998 it has been common, for example, for almost
all British Government Departments to provide both printed documentation and official websites
in both English and Welsh. On 7 December 2010, the National Assembly for Wales unanimously
approved a set of measures to develop the use of the Welsh language within Wales.[37][38] On 9
February 2011, this measure received Royal Assent and was passed, thus making the Welsh
language an officially recognised language within Wales.[39]
The Welsh Language Board[40] indicated in 2004 that 553,000 people (19.7% of the population of
Wales in households or communal establishments) were able to speak Welsh. Based on an
alternative definition, there has been a 0.9 percentage point increase when compared with the
2001 census, and an increase of approximately 35,000 in absolute numbers within Wales. Welsh
is therefore a growing language within Wales.[40] Of those 553,000 Welsh speakers, 57%
(315,000) were considered by others to be fluent, and 477,000 people consider themselves fluent
or "fair" speakers. 62% of speakers (340,000) claimed to speak the language daily, including
88% of fluent speakers.[40]
However, there is some controversy over the actual number who speak Welsh: some statistics
include people who have studied Welsh to GCSE standard, many of whom could not be regarded
as fluent speakers of the language. Conversely, some first-language speakers may choose not to
report themselves as such. These phenomena, also seen with other minority languages outside
the UK, make it harder to establish an accurate and unbiased figure for how many people speak it
fluently. Furthermore, no question about Welsh language ability was asked in the 2001 census
outside Wales, thereby ignoring a considerable population of Welsh speakers – particularly
concentrated in neighbouring English counties and in London and other large cities. It is
estimated that 110,000 to 150,000 people in England speak Welsh.[24][41]
Nevertheless, the 2011 census recorded an overall reduction in Welsh speakers, from 582,000 in
2001 to 562,000 in 2011, despite an increase in the size of the population—a 2% drop (from 21%
to 19%) in the proportion of Welsh speakers.[42]
Scotland[edit]
Bilingual sign (Scottish Gaelic and English) at Partick railway station, Glasgow
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the
Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish,
and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish. Outside Scotland, a dialect of the language
known as Canadian Gaelic exists in Canada on Cape Breton Island and isolated areas of
the Nova Scotia mainland. This variety has around 2000 speakers, amounting to 1.3% of the
population of Cape Breton Island.
The 2011 census of Scotland showed that a total of 57,375 people (1.1% of the Scottish
population aged over three years old) in Scotland could speak Gaelic at that time, with the Outer
Hebrides being the main stronghold of the language. The census results indicate a decline of
1,275 Gaelic speakers from 2001. A total of 87,056 people in 2011 reported having some facility
with Gaelic compared to 93,282 people in 2001, a decline of 6,226.[43][44] Despite this decline,
revival efforts exist and the number of speakers of the language under age 20 has increased.[45]
The Gaelic language was given official recognition for the first time in Scotland in 2005, by
the Scottish Parliament's Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, which aims to promote the
Gaelic language to a status "commanding equal respect" with English. However, this wording
has no clear meaning in law, and was chosen to prevent the assumption that the Gaelic language
is in any way considered to have "equal validity or parity of esteem with English".[46] A major
limitation of the act, though, is that it does not constitute any form of recognition for the Gaelic
language by the UK government, and UK public bodies operating in Scotland, as reserved
bodies, are explicitly exempted from its provisions.[47]
Scots[edit]
Main article: Scots language

The Scots language originated from Northumbrian Old English. The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of

Northumbria stretched from south Yorkshire to the Firth of Forth from where the Scottish elite
continued the language shift northwards. Since there are no universally accepted criteria for
distinguishing languages from dialects, scholars and other interested parties often disagree about
the linguistic, historical and social status of Scots. Although a number of paradigms for
distinguishing between languages and dialects do exist, these often render contradictory results.
Focused broad Scots is at one end of a bipolar linguistic continuum, with Scottish Standard
English at the other. Consequently, Scots is often regarded as one of the ancient varieties of
English, but with its own distinct dialects. Alternatively Scots is sometimes treated as a distinct
Germanic language, in the way Norwegian is closely linked to, yet distinct from, Danish.
The 2011 UK census was the first to ask residents of Scotland about Scots. A campaign called
Aye Can was set up to help individuals answer the question.[48][49] The specific wording used was
"Which of these can you do? Tick all that apply" with options for 'Understand', 'Speak', 'Read'
and 'Write' in three columns: English, Scottish Gaelic and Scots.[50] Of approximately 5.1 million
respondents, about 1.2 million (24%) could speak, read and write Scots, 3.2 million (62%) had
no skills in Scots and the remainder had some degree of skill, such as understanding Scots (0.27
million, 5.2%) or being able to speak it but not read or write it (0.18 million, 3.5%).[51] There
were also small numbers of Scots speakers recorded in England and Wales on the 2011 Census,
with the largest numbers being either in bordering areas (e.g. Carlisle) or in areas that had
recruited large numbers of Scottish workers in the past (e.g. Corby or the former mining areas
of Kent).[52]
Northern Ireland[edit]
2% speak Ulster Scots, seen by some as a language distinct from English and by some as a
dialect of English, according to the 1999 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (around 30,000
speakers). Some definitions of Ulster Scots may also include Standard English spoken with an
Ulster Scots accent. The language was brought to Ireland by Scottish planters from the 16th
Century.
Irish (Gaeilge)[edit]
Irish was the predominant language of the Irish people for most of their recorded history, and
they brought their Gaelic speech with them to other countries, notably Scotland and the Isle of
Man where it gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx.
It has been estimated that the active Irish-language scene probably comprises 5 to 10 per cent
of Ireland's population.[53] In the 2011 census, 11% of the population of Northern Ireland claimed
"some knowledge of Irish"[54] and 3.7% reported being able to "speak, read, write and
understand" Irish.[54] In another survey, from 1999, 1% of respondents said they spoke it as their
main language at home.[55]
Cornwall[edit]
Cornish, a Brythonic Celtic language related to Welsh, was spoken in Cornwall throughout the
Middle Ages. Its use began to decline from the 14th century, especially after the Prayer Book
Rebellion in 1549. The language continued to function as a first language in Penwith in the far
west of Cornwall until the late 18th century, with the last native speaker thought to have died in
1777.[56]
A revival initiated by Henry Jenner began in 1903. In 2002, the Cornish language was named as
a historical regional language under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
[33][57]
 The UN classes it as a critically endangered language.[58]
Albion is an alternative name for Great Britain. The oldest attestation of the toponym comes
from the Greek language. It is sometimes used poetically and generally to refer to the island, but
is less common than 'Britain' today. The name for Scotland in most of the Celtic languages is
related to Albion: Alba in Scottish Gaelic, Albain (genitive Alban)
in Irish, Nalbin in Manx and Alban in Welsh and Cornish. These names were
later Latinised as Albania and Anglicised as Albany, which were once alternative names for
Scotland.
 Britannia (/brɪˈtæniə/) is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior
holding a trident and shield.[1] An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin Britannia was
the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great Britain, and the Roman province of
Britain during the Roman Empire.[2][3][4] Typically depicted reclining or seated with spear and
shield since appearing thus on Roman coins of the 2nd century AD, the classical national
allegory was revived in the early modern period.[3] On coins of the pound sterling issued
by Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Britannia appears with her shield bearing
the Union Flag.[3] To symbolise the Royal Navy's victories, Britannia's spear became the
characteristic trident in 1797, and a helmet was added to the coinage in 1825.[3]

Brighton (/ˈbraɪtən/) is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton
and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located 47 miles (76 km) south of London.
[1]

UK là cách viết sai ngữ pháp

Cách viết đúng trong tiếng Anh là The United Kingdom hay The UK. Tuy nhiên, một số báo nước ngoài
thường xuyên viết là UK, ví dụ UK Prime Minister (Thủ tướng Anh).
The UK

The UK (hay nước Anh thống nhất) là một quốc gia độc lập và London và thủ đô. Tên đầy đủ là The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (nước Anh thống nhất và Bắc Ai-Len). The UK bao gồm 4
tiểu vùng là England (nước Anh), Wales (xứ Wale), Scotland và Northern Ireland (Bắc Ai-Len).

Nước Anh thống nhất được thành lập năm 1801 khi Great Britain (Vương quốc Anh) và Vương quốc Ai-
Len hợp lại làm một quốc gia độc lập. Vào những năm 1920, Nam Ai-Len đã giành được độc lập, vì vậy tên
chính thức chỉ còn lại là nước Anh thống nhất và Bắc Ai-Len.

England

England (gọi đơn giản là nước Anh) không phải một quốc gia độc lập mà là một tiểu vùng hay một trong 4
phần của The UK. Đối với nhiều người Mỹ, để đơn giản hóa, họ coi The UK bằng nghĩa với The USA, trong
khi England, Wales, Scotland và Northern Ireland là các bang.
Trên bản đồ, England là phần phía nam của nước Anh thống nhất. Một số thành phố nổi tiếng của England
như London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol. Trong khi đó một số thành phố nổi tiếng của xứ
Wale bao gồm Cardiff, Swansea, Newport và địa danh nổi tiếng của Scotland như Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Perth.

Great Britain

Great Britain thường được gọi tắt là Britain và đều không phải tên một quốc gia, mà là tên một hòn đảo.
Great Britain là hòn đảo lớn nhất của nước Anh, bao gồm England, Scotland và Wales. Trên bản đồ, Great
Britain nằm ở Tây Bắc của Pháp và phía Đông Ai-Len.

Diện tích của hòn đảo Great Britain khoảng 209.000 km2. Scotland và xứ Wale không phải là các quốc gia
độc lập nhưng có quyền tự chủ về chính trị.
 Ai-Len

Northern Ireland (chiếm một phần sáu lãnh thổ về phía bắc của quần đảo Ai-Len) thuộc quyền quản lý của
nước Anh thống nhất. Còn năm phần sáu lãnh thổ về phía nam là một quốc gia độc lập, có tên Cộng hòa Ai-
Len (The Republic of Ireland).

The UK is made up of four nations:

 Britain.  On this island combine three nations:

 Scotland.  It is located in the northern part of the island of Great Britain and covers a third of its surface. It
also has almost 800 islands. Its capital is Edinburgh.
 Welsh.  It occupies a peninsula that is located in the western part of the island. It has two
official languages : English and Welsh. Its capital is Cardiff.
 England .  It occupies the southern and central part of the island and almost 100 small islands. It is
aunified State since the year 927.
 North Ireland.  It occupies the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and makes up only 30% of the
island’s territory. It was founded as a nation in 1921. It is divided into six counties.

London
 London has a total population of almost 9 million inhabitants.

London, the capital of the United Kingdom and England , is the largest city in Great Britain
and Europe . It was founded by the Romans almost two thousand years ago, on both banks of
the River Thames. Between 1831 and 1925 it was the largest city in the world.

It is currently governed by a mayor and a local assembly .

Although its official language is English, this city is home to citizens from so many different parts of the
world that more than three hundred different languages are spoken here .

Its surface is 1,572 km2 and its total population is almost 9 million inhabitants .

Form of Government Parliament meets in the Palace of Westminster and has two chambers:

 House of Commons. Its members are chosen through suffrage (they are chosen by the people).
 House of Lords. It is made up of Lords Spiritual (26 bishops) and Lords Temporal (appointed by the Queen
on the advice of the Prime Minister).

All laws passed by parliament require the queen’s consent to take effect.

The head of government is the Prime Minister – the member of parliament who gets the most votes in the
House of Commons.
Economy The United Kingdom is the fifth largest economy in the world and the second largest
in Europe , after Germany .

British Empire

 World War II weakened the United Kingdom economically and militarily.

From the 16th century to 1949, the United Kingdom expanded through colonization and treaties ,
eventually occupying more than 29 million km2.

The subjects of the British crown numbered more than 450 million people , that is, a quarter of the world
population at that time. It was the largest empire in history.

However, since the beginning of the 20th century , anti- colonial processes began in various dominated
territories. World War II weakened the United Kingdom economically and militarily, speeding up the
decolonization process.

Currently the United Kingdom has only 14 Overseas Territories , the vast majority of which are small
islands with sparse populations.

1) Easy to get around

At a modest 229,848 km², roughly the same size as the US State of Minnesota, Britain’s small land mass
means that you can get around to many different places with relative ease.  For example you can get
from London to Edinburgh in under 5 hours by train.

2) 30 UNESCO world heritage sites

Sunset over Stonehenge30 of the world’s most recognised sites can be found across England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland, including Giant’s Causeway, Stonehenge, Tower of London and Hadrian’s
Wall. You can find the whole list here.

3) 15 National Parks
Bowermans Nose, Dartmoor National Park, England
As part of Great Britain’s varied landscape, there are 15 National Parks including Cairngorms in Scotland,
the largest of the 15 parks, the beautiful New Forest in Hampshire, and the famous Lake District in northern
England.  In addition to these, there are also 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) dotted
across England and Wales.

4) Stunning Coastlines
Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall, England
The Great British coastline measures 19,491 miles long with a multitude of beauty spots along the way. 
Another great advantage of Britain’s size is that you are never more than a 2 hour drive away from the
nearest beach!

5) Quaint Villages
Great Britain is full of hidden gems, many of which come in the form of quaint villages, some within easy
reach of major towns and cities like, Tewkesbury in The beautiful Cotswolds, Polperro in Cornwall and
Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire.

6) Picturesque countryside
Drive a little way out of any city in Britain and it won’t take long to find yourself amongst rolling hills, open
farmlands, and picture postcard spaces.  Rural Britain provides a slower pace to contrast its bustling and
lively cities.

7) Seaside Towns
Seaside towns and their resident donkeys have long been a British holiday favourite.  There are 900
donkeys on UK beaches, with those in Weston Super Mare famously present since 1886.

8) Beautiful gardens
As well as the natural countryside, Britain is home to some of the world’s most beautifully manicured
gardens, particularly those adjoined to British palaces and stately homes.  There are also a wide range of
botanic gardens to be explored across the UK, as well as the Eden Project in Cornwall – home to the largest
indoor rainforest in the world.

9) Diverse Cities
There’s something for everyone in Britain’s buzzing cities.  From London to Glasgow, Manchester to
Cardiff, every UK city has a personality of its own.  There are 66 official cities throughout the UK, with
many additional towns big enough to be considered cities too.

Great History and Heritage

10) A rich and fascinating history

There are over 374,000 listed buildings in the UK, as well as 1,500 castles and 2,500 museums, so you’re
spoiled for choice when it comes to exploring Britain’s fascinating past.

11) The British Royal Family

The British Monarchy dates back to 1603, although before then England and Scotland each had their own
monarchs as far back as 757AD.  As such a fascinating history remains with Royal Collections, Royal
Residences and Royal Attractions around the country today.  British Royals have long been an obsession for
the world’s media, but even if you don’t get to catch a glimpse of them yourself, you can still enjoy some of
the pomp and ceremony that surrounds Royal celebrations.

12) Iconic Landmarks

There are plenty of iconic sights to see first-hand in Britain, including Big Ben – the name most commonly
used to refer to the clock tower attached to the Houses of Parliament, although the name actually refers to
the bell inside!  Other notable sights include Blackpool Tower, the London Eye and Brighton Pier.

13) Eclectic architecture

Ancient and modern architecture stand side by side, thousands of years of history intermingled in every
corner of the country. From the ancient Roman baths in Bath, dating back 2000 years, to the Uber modern
Shard in London, this varied mix gives the landscape a wonderfully diverse appearance.

14) The world’s oldest department store (maybe!)

There has been much debate around who is the rightful owner of the title of The world’s Oldest Department
Store, and many believe it to be Austins in Derry, Northern Ireland which was established in 1830.

15) Beautiful Cathedrals and Churches

Contributing to the UK's varied architecture, many of Britain’s churches and cathedrals have become must-
see sights for any visitor.  York Minster, Liverpool Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are among some of
the most well-known, the latter the famous location of Royal coronations, weddings and funerals.

16) The London Underground

Responsible for the ease of getting around one of the worlds’ busiest cities, the London Underground was
the first underground railway station, opened in 1863.  It sees 1.265 billion passengers every year and it's
network is 402km long! The tube stops themselves have become iconic for London. Visitors can learn about
its fascinating history at the London Transport Museum.

17) Myths and Legends

With an ancient history comes a torrent of myths and legends, merging reality with fable.  Decide for
yourself if there really is a monster lurking beneath the waters of Loch Ness; unlock the mystery of King
Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table; and visit Nottingham for tales of Robin Hood.

18) Castles and Palaces

With 1,500 castles around the UK, visitors can not only get a glimpse into the life of British Royalty, past
and present, but also explore another era in time.

19) Educational Institutes

Producing some of history's top scientists, literary greats, and inventors, Britain’s educational institutions
are both makings of history, and beautiful buildings in themselves.  Many have their own libraries,
museums and galleries attached, which are open to the public.

Great for Arts, Culture & Sport

 20) London’s West End

 By Steve Collis from Melbourne, Australia (West End Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY 2.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsBy Steve Collis from Melbourne,
Australia (West End Uploaded by russavia) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via
Wikimedia Commons
London’s west end theatres are recognised internationally as harbouring some of the world’s best
performers.  Spectacular shows, glittering costumes, emotional dramas and uplifting dance can be found in
this popular London district.

 21) Manchester’s Music Scene

Not a night goes by in Manchester when you can’t find a live music set to suit your tastes.  Whatever tunes
are harmonious to your ear, whether it be Classical, Indie, Rock, Pop or Bossa Nova, Manchester’s music
scene is ready to delight the senses.

 22) A good night out

Cities across the UK jostle for the title of ‘Best Night Out’, and a couple of standouts are Newcastle and
Liverpool.  With thriving nightlife scenes, cosmopolitan vibes and student-friendly venues, these two cities
are sure to see you have a good time.

 23) Unique Street Art

A global phenomenon, Britain too has its own examples of great, expressive street art.  From famous
Banksy pieces in Bristol and London to unknown artists in towns and cities across the UK.

24) Famous Filming locations

Great Britain has many times made an appearance on the silver screen, with a range of unique filming
locations all over the country.  Britain’s grand regency homes are ideal for classics like Pride and Prejudice,
which saw Chatsworth House become the home of the dashing Mr Darcy.  Its dramatic landscapes have also
been recognised with Game of Thrones choosing to shoot much of season 3 in Northern Ireland.
 25) Variety of events and festivals
It’s no secret that the Brits love any excuse to celebrate and no matter what time of year you find yourself in
the UK, they’ll always be something notable going on.  A few of our top picks are Glastonbury, the famous
musical festival which sees international acts and muddy campers; The Chelsea Flower Show which brings
horticultural excellence to light; Edinburgh Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world, and the Grand
National, the world's most famous steeple chase.

26) Music Legends

Producing some of the world’s finest musicians, Great Britain has born great legends like The Beatles from
Liverpool - biggest selling artists of all time with over 260 million record sales.  Elton John, Led Zepplin
and Pink Floyd also feature as some of the best-selling artists of all time. Today the country continues to
produce world class musicians, with live music available to enjoy in every town and city across the UK.

27) Coronation Street

The longest running soap in TV history, Coronation Street began in 1960.  Visitors can walk the Cobbled
street of Weatherfield and find out more about life on set.

28) Wimbledon
So this could well have been considered along with ‘events and festivals’ but given that over 1 billion
people tune in and watch the tennis championships in over 200 territories across the globe, plus the
strawberries and cream culture it has produced, we felt Wimbledon is a great reason all on its own!

29) British Football

The British Premier League is one of the most watched in the world and is broadcast in 212 territories.
Premier League games have a TV audience of 4.7 billion viewers!  British football brought us George Best,
Bobby Charlton and David Beckham.

Great Locals 

30) Sense of humour

Although vastly diverse, the general British sense of humour is thought to be made up of dry wit, sarcasm
and satirical comedy. There are comedy festivals held at various points throughout the year, with open mic
and comedy clubs in most British towns and cities.

31) A friendly welcome

There are a number of British cities in particular that are known for their friendly, welcoming locals, with
Newcastle and Glasgow being amongst them. Visitors are made to feel right at home with this British
hospitality.  Even the resident wildlife are friendly!
32) Accents and dialects
It’s not just the Queen’s English that comes from the mouths of Brits, and even if you can understand the
accents, some of the words and phrases may take a little more getting used to.  Any idea what “Answer the
dog and bone at the bottom of the apple and pears” means?!

33) Proper Queuing

If there’s one thing the British are good at, it’s forming an orderly queue.  Whether it’s waiting for a bus, in
the line for a cheeky kebab in the early hours, or even waiting to speak to friends at a busy get together, the
single file format keeps chaos to a minimum.

Literary Greats

42) Shakespeare The world’s greatest playwright is celebrated throughout Britain, particularly in Stratford
Upon Avon, his birthplace, and London, the city in which he lived and worked.  Top attractions for
Shakespeare fans include the Globe Theatre in London, and his house in Stratford. The Royal Shakespeare
Company today hold critically acclaimed performances throughout the year at many venues including the
Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon.

43) William Wordsworth Another of Britain’s great poets, Wordsworth was famously inspired by the
beauty and drama of the Lake District.  A number of Wordsworth’s homes are today open for visitors
including Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage in Grasmere.

44) Bram Stoker’s Dracula The popular Gothic novel was famously inspired by the drama and moodiness
of Whitby, in North Yorkshire, and the seaside town even makes an appearance in a large section of the
story.  A number of related attractions are available to experience in Whitby, including the Dracula
Experience Tours.

45) JK Rowling & Harry Potter Fans of the young wizard that took the world by storm can relive the
magic with many Harry Potter attractions to explore, particularly in London.  The Warner Bros Studio Tour
will take you behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films, while many other filming locations across the UK
can be explored like the Bodleian Library in Oxford and Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

46) Ian Flemming & James Bond

The ultimate English cool guy, thought up by British Author Ian Flemming, is perhaps one of Britain’s
famous literary icons.  Bond fans can be wowed at Bond in Motion – a collection of the fictional spy’s
classic cars at the London Film Museum in Covent Garden.  James Bond bus tours are also available across
London.

47) Red Phone Boxes A traditional British icon, there are still approximately 14,000 red telephone boxes
remaining on the streets of Britain.  Although many are out of use, some have even been repurposed into
honesty libraries or ATMs.  2, 500 examples have even been granted ‘grade II listings’!
48) Funny Place Names
Ok so maybe not intentionally, and perhaps not it’s favourite claim to fame but Britain boasts some of the
most amusing place names.  For example, Fannyfield, Ramsbottom and Cockermouth have all been known
to raise a smirk or two.  Or how about Britain's longest place name:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in North Wales.

49) The Weather It might not be considered the best or even the most reliable climate in the world, but
something about the weather has the Brits obsessed.  Surveys have shown that 6 in 10 Britons talk about the
weather as a social prop.  The best thing about British weather?  A hot sunny day definitely doesn’t go
unnoticed, so if you’re lucky enough to experience one, enjoy it!

50) Black Cabs (and their drivers) Another of the UK’s most iconic sights is the Black Cab, most
commonly found in London.  There are approximately 21,000 Black Cabs in London alone.  Perhaps more
impressive is the taxi drivers’ advance knowledge.  Drivers study for 2-4 years to learn 320 London routes,
including 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks!