London (London), Greater London (Greater London), the capital of Great Britain, the main economic, political and cultural center of the country. One of the largest cities in the world by population. Located in the center of the so-called London ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
- (London) the most populated city in the world, the capital of Great Britain, the center of world trade, at 51 ° 33 north. lat. and 0°1.16 rev. duty. (according to GMT), on both banks of the winding Thames, 75 km from its confluence with the sea, in a hilly, clay-sandy plain. ... ...
In 1901, residents in L. were considered: actually in the county of L. (Administrative County of L.) 4536063, in the police district. (Metropolitan and City of L. Police Districts), which includes the entire county of 6580616; thus the population of L. ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
For an explanation of the difference between terms such as England, Great Britain, Britain and the United Kingdom, or Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Free State of Ireland and the Kingdom of Ireland, see the British Isles ... ... Wikipedia
State in Western Europe, constitutional monarchy. Located on the British Isles and separated from mainland Europe by the North Sea, the Pas de Calais and the English Channel. The isolated position affected historical development countries. Its composition… Geographic Encyclopedia
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British Armed Forces British Armed Forces Coat of arms of the British Armed Forces Country ... Wikipedia
Location of the British Overseas Territories. British Overseas Territories (eng. British overseas territories) fourteen territories that are under the sovereignty of Great Britain, but are not part of it. Name "British Overseas ... Wikipedia
Books
- Walks with children. London. Travel Guide, Fullman Joseph. Joseph Fullman writes travel guides specifically for those who travel with children. And this book will help you make the trip as favorable as possible for small tourists: to settle with ...
- The VIP Guide to London 1995/96, . London - the capital of Great Britain - is one of the most interesting cities in the world. It has a long history and the latest achievements of technological progress. The book contains information...
With the English language, a double-decker red bus, Sherlock Holmes and the Queen, many associate this island nation.
How often this country is spoken of as England. It may be called Great Britain, sometimes Britain, even United Kingdom. These terms are often considered synonymous. And in the minds of many, England is perceived as a concept consonant with Great Britain, it is even believed that one country is called differently in this way. But this is a delusion, and there are considerable differences between these concepts.
England- the birthplace of Jack the Ripper, Francis Drake and Winston Churchill, known to many. It was she who had the role of the center in the formation of the state "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The Irish with the Welsh and Scots will also remind you of the differences between England and Great Britain. 
A bit of geography
The combination of realities, geographical, historical and political, has created some confusion with the names. 
Great Britain and Ireland, two huge islands, together with other small formations form the British Isles. Here are located: the first is the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and the second is the Republic of Ireland. Four regions divide the Kingdom. These are Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and, of course, England - the largest and most populous part of this Kingdom.
By the way, there are almost six thousand of these small islands in the archipelago of the British Isles. 
England
This part of Britain in our country would be called a historical-geographical region. It spread over most of the island called Great Britain, on its southern half, only Wales did not capture.
Among the ancestors of today's English are the Celts, the warriors of Great Rome, who exercised control over the entire southern part of the island, the Anglo-Saxons and the French Normans who joined later.
London is the capital of England
Actually, as a name for the state "England" the world heard when King Egbert at the beginning of the 9th century, seven counties, until then warring, were united into a monarchy. The kingdom with this name lasted until the very beginning of the 18th century. And today the monarch that rules the power is called only the successor of the Kingdom of England. The city of London is the center of this region.
Formed in England English language, the Anglican Church was born here, the world learned about the rules of behavior for gentlemen and ladies, local football was born.
A European state that is spread over several island territories, including the British, Channel Islands, Orkney, Scottish Islands and the northeast of Iceland).
This is a unitary state where the monarchy, constitutional and parliamentary, is the current form of government. Each historical-geographical region in Great Britain has enough autonomy, as well as very peculiar features.
There are four such areas:
- England.
- Northern Ireland.
- Northern Scotland.
- Former Principality of Wales.
All of them, except England, have their own parliaments. But it was around her that modern Great Britain was formed.
The year 1707 is considered to be the year of foundation of the state. It was then that the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland took place. And the Principality of Wales was absorbed by the English monarchs in the 11th century. Northern Ireland was formally annexed in 1921. It was then that the United Kingdom of Great Britain appeared. He is also in charge of the Crown Lands (Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey), overseas territories, there are 14 of them (among them the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Bermuda).
The population of the country speaks four languages: English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. It is recognized by all that under the influence of Great Britain were the judicial and political world systems, it had a direct impact on their formation.
What is the difference between England and Great Britain?
This island nation is called by many different names. Foggy Albion, the United Kingdom, just Britain, even England. But this is far from the same thing.
- England is part of the state of Great Britain, its historical and geographical region, where 83% of the total population of the country lives.
- London is the historic center of England and is also the capital of Great Britain.
- England and Great Britain have one queen, but they have different coats of arms and flags from each other.
- England cannot take any particularly important economic and political decision. The UK has this right as an independent state with the right to make any decisions.
- The state of Great Britain is much younger than England, which existed since 927, which annexed new lands as a strong power, and by 1797. formed with them the new state of Great Britain.
- England does not have its own foreign policy. Whereas, the UK acts as a permanent member of various international associations, such as NATO, the European Union, the OSCE, the UN and others, "decides" the fate of those countries that depend on it.
- England does not have its own army, it lacks its own monetary unit, parliament and government.
- It happens that Great Britain is called England. It is allowed only in colloquial speech. But even in this case, you run the risk of getting a remark.
- England is geographically smaller than Great Britain twice.
Great Britain located in northwestern Europe. Consists of the island of Great Britain, on which are located England, Scotland And Wales, and part of the island of Ireland, which occupies Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are dominions of the United Kingdom, but are not part of it. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north, the North Sea in the east. In the south it is separated from the mainland by the English Channel.
The name of the country comes from the English Great Britain. Britain - by the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.
Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Capital:
The area of the land: 244 thousand sq. km
Total population: 61.6 million people
Administrative division: It consists of four historical regions (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), which are administratively divided into numerous counties.
England: 39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London (administrative center - London).
Wales: 8 counties (administrative center - Cardiff).
Scotland: 12 regions and 186 islands (administrative center - Edinburgh).
Northern Ireland: 26 districts (administrative center - Belfast). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have a special status.
Form of government: A constitutional monarchy.
Head of State: Monarch - supreme bearer executive power, head of the judiciary, supreme commander.
Composition of the population: 83.6% - English, 8.5% - Scots, 4.9% - Welsh, 2.9% - Irish, also live 0.7% - (Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese and from African countries)
Official language: English. Accordingly, in Scotland they use Scottish, and in Wales - Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scots (Scots).
Religion: 71.6% Christian, 15.5% Atheist, 0.3% Buddhism, 2.7% Islam, 1% Hinduism, 0.6% Sikhism, 0.5% Judaism.
Internet domain: .uk
Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz
Phone country code: +44
Country barcode: 50
Climate
The climate of the United Kingdom is very mild. Although extreme temperatures above 38°C or below -18°C have been recorded, temperatures very rarely rise above 29°C on summer days or fall below -7°C on winter nights. The mildness of the climate is mainly due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current (an extension of the Gulf ), which brings warm waters to the western coast of Europe. At these latitudes, westerly winds prevail, and thus cool air comes from the Atlantic Ocean in summer and warm air in winter.
Although temperature differences are quite small, winters are warmer on the west coast of the United Kingdom than on the east. In the Isles of Scilly, the extreme southwest of Great Britain, and Holyhead in northwest Wales, the average January temperature is 7°C, in London it is only 5°C, and on most of the east coast it is below 4°C. Despite temperatures are similar, winters become less favorable as you move north along the east coast, where chilly, damp winds blow from the cold North Sea.
Frost and snow are not unusual phenomena, especially on high altitudes However, in the lowlands, in a typical winter, temperatures below 0 ° C stay only 30-60 days a year, and snow - only 10-15 days. In London, snow lies on the ground only about 5 days a year.
The highest summer temperatures are in the southeast. In London, the average July temperature is 17°C, in the Isles of Scilly 16°C, in Holyhead 15°C, and on the north coast of Scotland it is less than 13°C.
In normal years, all areas of Great Britain receive enough rainfall for agricultural work, and in some mountainous areas they are even excessive. Seasonal and annual fluctuations in precipitation are insignificant, droughts are rare.
The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the west of the United Kingdom, relatively little - in its eastern part. In London, the average annual rainfall is only 610 mm, in most of Low Britain - up to 760 mm, and in parts of High Britain - up to 1020 mm. Central Wales averages over 1525mm of rain per year, with parts of the Lake District and the western Highlands of Scotland (the wettest places in the interior of the United Kingdom) receiving over 2540mm.
Fairly cloudy weather prevails, as most of the precipitation falls in the form of constant drizzle rather than showers, and the sun does not show for many days of the year.
At these latitudes, summer days are long and winter days are very short. In January, the south coast of the UK receives an average of two hours of sunshine per day, and north of Birmingham rarely more than an hour and a half. Even on the long July days, the southern coast gets only seven hours of sunshine on average, while the northern part of the country gets less than five hours a day. The lack of sunlight depends more on overcast than on fogs.
The famous London fogs of the past enveloped the city because of the thick smoke from burning coal for space heating, and not due to meteorological conditions. However, wet, damp fog is still recorded in London on average 45 days a year, mainly in January and February, and in most ports there are from 15 to 30 foggy days each year, and the fog can paralyze all traffic for a couple of days or more. .
Geography
Great Britain is an island nation in the northwest of Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain, part of the island of Ireland and a number of smaller islands (Man, Wight, Channel Islands, Orkney, Hebrides, Shetland and others).
Great Britain consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland. The total area of the country is 244.9 thousand square meters. km. Great Britain has a land border with the only country - Ireland. In the north and west, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east and south - by the North Sea and the narrow straits of the English Channel and Pas de Calais. The entire coast is dotted with bays, bays, deltas and peninsulas, so most of the UK is located at a distance of no more than 120 km from the sea.
Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Northern England are dominated by medium-altitude mountains and uplands with deeply incised river valleys. The highest point of the country is located in Scotland - it is Mount Ben Nevis with a height of 1343 m. The southeastern and central parts of Great Britain are occupied by elevated plains and wastelands. In these areas, only a few places reach 300 m above sea level.
Great Britain has a dense network of rivers. In England and Wales the main rivers are Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames, in Scotland the Clyde, Fort and Tweed, in Northern Ireland the Bann and Logan. All of them are short, full-flowing and non-freezing in winter. There are many lakes in the mountains, mostly of glacial origin. The largest of them are Loch Neagh, Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.
The nature protection of Great Britain is carried out by a system of national parks, national nature and forest reserves and reserves for the protection of waterfowl, which occupy about 7% of the country's territory. The peculiarity of the British national parks is that these are not "deaf" areas, but areas quite close to large cities, more like huge city parks or botanical gardens. The largest national parks are the Lake District or Lake District and Snowdonia, the Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons reserves.
Flora and fauna
Vegetable world
In prehistoric times, much of the United Kingdom was densely forested with oak, birch and other hardwoods, but now, after more than 20 centuries of economic development, the area is largely deforested. Nevertheless, despite the absence of large forest areas, agricultural areas appear wooded thanks to hedgerows, protective forest belts in fields, game animal sanctuaries, and small forest plantations near farms and homesteads.
Forest plots are usually confined to areas with highly rugged topography or sandy soils that are of little use for agriculture. Enormous old trees are preserved in the royal forests, i.e. in areas such as the New Forest, which were originally set aside for royal hunting, but some of them have never been heavily forested. After 1919 and especially after 1945, the government began to encourage the creation of both public and private border forest belts from fast-growing coniferous trees. According to a 1997 estimate, forest inventory was carried out in the country on an area of approx. 2 million ha. However, Low Britain is not dominated by forests, but by fields and pastures.
The main plant formation in Great Britain is the moorhens, which prevail in High Britain at altitudes above 215 m, but are also found in other areas. In general, they account for approximately 1/3 of the area of Great Britain and most of Northern Ireland. In fact, there are four completely combined here. different types: moorland proper dominated by common heather (Calluna vulgaris), found on rather steep slopes and well-drained, usually sandy soils; grassy heathlands on well-drained soils with a predominance of bentgrass (Agrostis sp.) and fescue (Festuca sp.), and in less drained areas - blue moth (Molinia coerulea) and white-beard protruding (Nardus stricta); sedge barrens, represented by cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), reeds (Scirpus cespitosus) and rushes (Juncus sp.) in more humid lands, and sphagnum bogs in the dampest areas.
Animal world
Many large mammals, such as the bear, wild boar and Irish red deer, have long been extirpated in the British Isles as a result of intense hunting, and the wolf has been extirpated as a pest. Now there are only 56 species of mammals left. Red deer - the largest representative of mammals - lives in the uplands of Cornwall, in the Scottish Highlands. There are quite a few roe deer that are found north of Yorkshire and in the south of England.
Wild goats live in mountainous areas. Among small mammals there are hare, rabbit, marten, otter, wild cat, a large number of partridges and wild ducks. Of the small predators, the ermine and weasel are the most numerous, ferrets are found in Wales, and wild European cats and American martens are found in the mountains of Scotland.
There are a lot of salmon and trout in the rivers and lakes of Scotland. Cod, herring, haddock are caught in coastal waters. The fauna is practically the same as in England, with the exception of the black polecat, which is not found in England. Different kinds fish are found in the waters off the British Isles: in the surface layers sea waters- coal fish, herring, sprat feed in bays and estuaries of rivers, and sardines and mackerel appear off the coast of the Kirkwall Peninsula.
The most important commercial fish of far and near waters are cod, haddock and marlan. Some cod individuals weigh up to 20 kilograms. Also in rivers and lakes there are roach, chub, barbel. The famous monster of Loch Ness, which could supposedly be a relic aquatic dinosaur, is most likely a fiction invented to attract tourists and various kinds business.
The gray seal is found near the islands and coastal cliffs of Cornwall and Wales, while the common seal prefers the coasts of Scotland, the eastern coasts of Northern Ireland and the islands adjacent to them.
More than 200 species of birds can be seen in England, of which more than half come from other countries. The British Isles are home to 130 species of birds, including many songbirds. Many species are able to adapt to changing conditions, and it is believed that there are more birds in suburban gardens than in any forest. The most common sparrows, finches, starlings, crows, kingfishers, robins, tits. The national symbol of England is the red-breasted robin. Millions of birds migrate along the coast of Great Britain from south to north and back.
Attractions
The territory of Great Britain is full of natural contrasts - ancient and bleak moors, moorlands and incredible blue lakes of Scotland in the north, picturesque coastal cliffs and crystal clear calm waters off the south and west coasts, hilly cultivated Central England with parks and lawns, majestic mountains and green valleys of Wales in the West. Each region of the country has a characteristic appearance, its own distinctive traditions, culture and customs.
- Beaumaris
- York Minster
- canterbury cathedral
- Tower
- sherwood forest
- Edinburgh castle
- Westminster Abbey
- Loch Ness lake
Banks and currency
The monetary unit of Great Britain is the pound sterling (GBP). There are 100 pence in one pound. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pounds and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence and 1 pound. In the provinces, the names of old British coins are sometimes used - "guinea", "shilling", "penny" and others, but the real unit of payment is the pound.
In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, banknotes are printed slightly different from each other. Although they are valid throughout the United Kingdom, it is best to leave them in the shops of the parts of the country where you received them. If you did not have time to do this, such banknotes can be exchanged at banks, and without commission.
Banks are open from 9.00 to 15.30 without a break on weekdays, large banks also work on Saturdays.
You can change money at any bank branch (commission 0.5-1%), in the evening - at exchange offices of large department stores and in some travel agencies. Exchange offices at airports operate around the clock. A passport is required to exchange cash.
Credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express, as well as traveler's checks are widely used. Street ATMs are widespread, but there are cases of mistaken blocking of credit cards, so it is better to use ATMs in institutions.
Useful information for tourists
Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.30, although many of the department stores are open until 18.00, and on Wednesdays or Thursdays - until 19.00-20.00. Large stores can also receive customers on Sundays, but only during any six hours from 10.00 to 18.00. In smaller towns and villages, shops often close for half a day after lunch once a week, as well as for an hour-long lunch break.
Hotels in many cases have a special service charge, usually 10-12%. Where this fee is not included in the bill, the employees and maids serving you are usually given a tip of 10-15% of the bill.
Service is included in the bills of some restaurants. Where it is not taken into account, a tip of 10-15% of the bill is accepted.
Porters receive 50-75 pence per suitcase, taxi drivers - 10-15% of the fare.
One of the peculiarities of the UK that you may encounter is that until now in most hotels the water taps above the wash basin are not equipped with a faucet. The English do not wash themselves with running water, but draw a full washbasin of water, use it, then lower it.
On the day of departure, you must vacate the room before 12.00. If there is a lot of time left before the departure of the plane, things can be left in the hotel's storage room.
Very important in England good manners, the ability to stay at the table, so you must follow the basic rules of the ritual of eating. Never put your hands on the table, keep them on your knees. Cutlery is not removed from the plates, as knife stands are not used in England. Do not shift cutlery from one hand to another, the knife should always be in the right hand, the fork in the left. Since various vegetables are served at the same time as meat dishes, you should proceed as follows: you put vegetables on a small piece of meat with a knife; learn to hold them there with the back of a fork without piercing them. If you dare to prick at least one pea on a fork, then you will be considered ill-mannered.
Don't kiss ladies' hands or say compliments in public like "What a dress you have on!" or “How delicious this cake is!” - they are regarded as a big indelicacy.
It is not allowed to have separate conversations at the table. Everyone should listen to whoever speaks in this moment and, in turn, speak loudly enough to be heard by those present.
Remember that the British have their own lifestyle, and they, like no other nation, sacredly honor traditions and customs.
Going to Great Britain - the country of fogs - we advise you not to forget that the British weather is unpredictable! Winters are usually quite mild, with temperatures rarely reaching below zero. From March to May, the days can be both sunny and windy, with rain. In June-August the temperature can reach +30°C or more, but during the day, as a rule, it stays somewhere between +20-25°C. It rains 180 days a year in London, and the wettest cities are Liverpool and Manchester.
London is capital United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the largest city in the British Isles. The city occupies an area equal to 1560 km2. The conurbation (combination of municipal areas connected by economy and transport network) of Greater London forms a special administrative unit - the metropolitan county.
The capital of Great Britain located 64 km from the mouth of the River Thames Greater London, consisting of the City and its surrounding 32 municipal districts (boroughs), occupies most of the lowland between the Chiltern Hills and the North Downs. Fringing ridges, formed by chalk limestone and reaching a height of 240 m, gently descend to the Thames valley. The historic quarters of London are built on a pebble terrace, the height of which is about 15 m above the river's edge. The lowland between the mountains was formed in the trough of the Cretaceous relief due to the deposition of Tertiary clays. The bulk of London's suburbs were built in areas of these deposits. Other areas were formed on territories composed of pebbles and coarse sands, and, since these areas were suitable for grazing cattle, they remained undeveloped until our time, when they began to be used as recreational areas. London is supplied with water mainly from the Thames and its northern tributary of the River Lea, as well as due to large reservoirs in the valleys of these rivers and chalk aquifers located south of the Thames. At the end of the XX century. pollution of the main river of London by sewage has decreased due to the improvement of the treatment system. Until the middle of the last century, only eels were found in the Thames within the city, but by the beginning of the 1980s. other species of fish began to return. To protect against floods in central London, embankments were built and a barrier was erected across the Thames below the city, near Woolwich. , foggy weather and it's raining. The London summer is warmer than in the rest of England, but there is practically no heat - the average temperature in July is about + 20 ° C. Winters are quite cold, frosts remain on the soil for about 100 days a year, but even in January the temperature rarely drops below 0 ° C, and since 1814 the River Thames in London has never frozen. Spring in the English capital is the most unpredictable time of the year, when weather changes take place right before our eyes. The shape of the basin in which London is located causes frequent fogs that form in winter and autumn. For a long time, London's famous smog had a thick, dirty yellow color due to the use of coal for heating.
Pictured is the capital of England
Capital London
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the largest city in the British Isles. The area of the occupied territories of the capital is 1706.8 km², and the population is more than 8 million people, which indicates that the city ranks 17th in terms of population in the world.
The capital of England for the third time will host the Olympic Games, which this time will be held in 2012 in the summer.
One of the main features and attractions of London is the underground. It is considered the largest and oldest in the world. The London Underground began operations on January 10, 1863. The metro has more than 270 stations, some of which are currently closed.
The difference with Moscow in the summer is +1 hour, therefore, trips to the capital of Great Britain do not affect the long process of adaptation. If only to the climate - after all, the city is not in vain known as foggy Albion. There are hours of rain, fog, high humidity, windy and chilly weather, although the summer is quite warm and comfortable. But, it is recommended to take warm clothes with you when traveling.
According to the history of London, the city was founded in 43 AD. e. when the Romans invaded the area. There is an assumption that before the Romans entered the land, a settlement already existed on the territory of the future city, but the excavations did not confirm anything, although they were not carried out in the central historical part of the city. Therefore, historians do not completely exclude this idea. During the reign of the Romans, the city was called Londinium and developed quite quickly as Roman Britain.
There are many attractions in the capital of Great Britain, one of the most popular is Big Ben. The high clock tower is almost a symbol of the city. The clock on the tower went on May 31, 1859. The official name of the tower is the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster or St. Stephen's Tower. Big Ben ("Big Ben") - this is how the tower was called, according to the most probable theory, in honor of Benjamin Hall, who at the time of the construction of the tower led the process of casting a heavy bell. One of interesting facts says that a prison was located in the tower and in its entire history of existence, only one person sat in it.
The Tower of London is one of the oldest buildings in the city, located on the north coast of the Thames. For a long time, the fortress served as a defensive fortification and the residence of monarchs. Today, the Tower is a museum and an architectural monument. Tourists can visit one of the darkest dungeons of the Tower. Flocks of black crows always crowd the lawn adjacent to the fortress, which inspire a certain fear associated with various secrets and secrets. palace coups England.
About 70% of Londoners live in London (2001 census data), 60% of which identify themselves as British, i.е. Scots, English, Welsh, the rest of the population consider themselves Europeans. The rest of the percentage composition is presented in the form of immigrants from the countries of the Middle East, South Asia, the Negroid race (Caribbeans, Africans). The citizens of the capital are also considered the Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese.
