United Kingdom - overview
The United Kingdom is comprised of two large
and several tiny islands just off the north-west
coast of the European Continent. The UK has
been a major player in world history and
once oversaw a vast empire that stretched
throughout virtually the entire globe. The
British liking for cultural diversity is
somewhat at odds with the UK itself. United
in name only England, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and Wales are geographically individual
and each has their own distinct cultures.
Even within the countries themselves, regional
traditions, dialects and attitudes vary widely.
The landscape is varied, from cultural cities
to the rugged Shetlands, lochs and windswept
moors of Scotland in the far North to the
tranquil crystal clear waters of the Isles
of Scilly off the South Coast; from England's
green rolling hills and hedgerows in the
East to the dramatic beauty of the mountains,
valleys and lakes of Wales in the West. Whichever
direction visitors travel, they will find
a wide variety of landscapes and diverse
cultures to explore.
London, the capital city of England, is energetic,
cosmopolitan, hectic, diverse and thrilling.
It is the largest city in Europe, and is
a mixture of wealth and poverty, of glitz
and grime, of imposing buildings and elegant
shops, of world-class theatre and incredible
nightclubs. Sights not to be missed include
the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the
British Museum, Buckingham Palace, Westminster
Abbey, the Tower of London, and Covent Garden.
Scotland's capital Edinburgh, is perhaps
the country's most alluring city, it is a
fascinating place with many historical and
artistic treasures, a fantastic pub scene
and scenery as beautiful as the Scottish
highlands. Edinburgh Castle is a good place
to start your exploration of the Scottish
capital. The castle is beautiful, mysterious,
romantic and a reminder of the city's bloody
past. The magnificent panorama from the battlements
will give visitors a splendid idea of the
city and the surrounding terrain. Edinburgh’s
Royal Mile is one of the world’s most captivating
streets. Running from the castle to Holyrood
Palace, it affords breathtaking views over
the Firth of Forth and of Arthur’s Seat,
the extinct volcano south-west of the city
centre.
Cardiff, a lively university city, and the
capital of Wales, boasts a striking city-centre
castle, an important national museum and
art gallery, redeveloped dock area and beautiful
architecture. The Welsh people are a cultured
race with a great love of poetry, drama,
music, and Rugby. Situated among the shops
in Cardiff city centre, the Millennium Stadium
or Cardiff Arms Park as it is known throughout
the rugby world is the home of the national
side. |
