Country Overview
The United Kingdom of Great Britain is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isles of Scilly, the Isle of Wight, and the Isle of Man. Each of these political divisions maintains a separate and distinct identity. The term 'Great Britain' refers to the largest island, which contains England, Scotland, and Wales.

The chief unit of currency is the Pound Sterling. There are 100 pence to a pound.

The capital of the United Kingdom is London, which has a population of over 7 million and is the largest city in Europe.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. The Royal Family, led by Queen Elizabeth II, holds a position that is more ceremonial than powerful. The true head of state is the Prime Minister, currently Tony Blair.

In the UK, a general election is held every five years during which citizens elect a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons. When a majority is reached in the House of Commons, the Queen invites the leader of the majority party to form a government, and that leader becomes the Prime Minister. The leader of the second-largest party is known as the Leader of the Opposition. When no majority is reached in the House of Commons, a coalition government is formed.

The House of Lords is the upper house of government, and is primarily made up of nobility and ex-MPs who have been granted lifetime peerships. The House of Lords cannot stop bills from being passed, but can send them back to the House of Commons. This provides the 'checks and balances' system that was used as a base for creating the government of the United States.

The United Kingdom has several active political parties. The three major parties are the Labour Party, the Conservative and Unionist Party (also known as the Tories), and the Liberal Democrat Party.

Britain's position in the North Atlantic helped it to become one of the most powerful nations in the world, with many ports and a powerful Navy fleet.

Since World War II, however, Britain has experienced a rash of unemployment and economic decline. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most powerful nations in Europe, and its citizens enjoy a high standard of living, health care, and social welfare.

The British landscape is surrounded by rugged coastline. There are mountains to the north, plains in the center, marshes to the east, and moors to the south. The seas that surround Great Britain keep temperatures moderate year-round. Skies are often gray and overcast. Rain is common, but is more likely to be a drizzle than a downpour.

The typical British diet consists mostly of meat and potatoes. In recent years, vegetarianism has become quite popular, and many vegetarian alternatives are available in restaurants and grocery stores.

A traditional 'full English breakfast' includes fried eggs, toast, sausages, rashers (bacon), baked beans, and grilled tomato and mushrooms. Hot tea with milk is consumed with nearly every meal and usually several more times throughout the day.

Lunch is often a sandwich and soup with tea.

Dinner, also called 'tea', usually consists of meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. Traditional dishes include fish and chips (french fries) served with mushy peas, baked beans on toast, shepherd's pie, bubble and squeak (cabbage and potatoes), and bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes).

Due to years of British colonialism in India, and a significant Indian and Pakistani community in Britain, a strong Indian influence prevails in British cooking. Most British restaurants will offer at least one curry dish, and Indian restaurants and curry houses are prevalent throughout the United Kingdom.

Dessert is called 'pudding' or 'afters'. A traditional British dessert is 'trifle', a layer of custard topped with cake, jelly (Jell-O), and whipped cream.

England
England is usually the first place that comes to mind when people think of the United Kingdom.

England is covers 50,363 square miles and is home to over 46 million people, giving it one of the highest population densities in the world.

People from England are English, or British. Most belong to the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church. In America, it is called the Episcopalian Church.

England is known for Shakespeare, Stonehenge, Big Ben, the Tower of London, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Westminster Abbey, double-decker busses, the Tube, the Beatles, Mary Quant, Monty Python, and many, many more.

Scotland
Scotland covers 30,414 square miles, and takes up the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland has a population of roughly 5 million. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh.

People from Scotland are Scots, or Scottish. They are never called 'Scotch', that is a type of whisky. Although they are also British, most Scots do not like to be referred to as such. NEVER call a Scot 'English'.

After centuries of fighting with the Anglo-Saxons to the south, the Celtic Scots joined the United Kingdom in 1707.

Scotland has 72 members in the House of Commons, and 16 peers in the House of Lords. Scotland also has a separate Secretary of State, as well as a Scottish Development Department.

A fierce rivalry still exists between Scotland and England, and many Scots still hope for independence. Traditional Scottish dress and the Gaelic language were outlawed by the English for many years, and are now popular symbols of national pride. Most Scots belong to the Church of Scotland, also known as the Presbyterian Church.

Scottish people speak with a beautiful, lilting accent, which can be very difficult for the untrained ear to understand.

Scotland's landscape is considered more wild and rugged than England's to the south. Deep indentations in the landscape create many sea lochs and firths.

Scotland is known for bagpipes, tartan, kilts, golf, Scotch whiskey, and the Loch Ness Monster. Famous Scots include the poet Robert Burns, the architect Charles Rennie Macintosh, modern writer Irvine Welsh, and actor Ewan McGregor.

Wales
Wales occupies 8,019 square miles to the northeast of England on the island of Great Britain. It is almost entirely mountainous, except for its coastline. The population of Wales is 2.8 million.

Wales, like Scotland, is a Celtic country. It is arguably the oldest country to be continuously inhabited in the world. Evidence of human life in Wales dates back over 200,000 years.

Wales originally joined forces with England to guard against Viking invasions, and in 1536 was officially incorporated into England. People from Wales are Welsh.

During the Industrial Revolution, Wales found itself the center of Britain's coal mining industry, which has since declined. Wales is still adjusting to the collapse.

Attempts by the English government to diminish the Celtic culture of Wales have failed. In 1925 the Welsh National Party, Plaid Cymru, was formed and currently holds several seats in the House of Commons.

Welsh was named an official language in 1942, and in 1955 Cardiff became the capital of Wales. In 1982, the first Welsh-language TV station went on the air.

The Welsh language is one of the oldest and most complex Celtic languages. Wales is called Cymru in Welsh. Wales has the distinction of being home to the town with the longest name -- Llanfairpwllgwygyllgogeryschwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Wales is also known for the poet Dylan Thomas, and for singer/heartthrob Tom Jones.

Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland occupies 8,766 square miles of the northernmost tip of Ireland, and is also known as the Irish province of Ulster.

Centuries ago, the British seized control of the profitable port city of Belfast, and sent English and Scottish citizens to colonize Ulster. These citizens and their descendents maintained their loyalty to the British crown, even during Ireland's fight for independence.

When the predominately Catholic Republic of Ireland was formed in 1921, Ulster elected to remain a part of the United Kingdom.

Since then, conflict has plagued Northern Ireland. Violence between the Loyalist Protestant majority and the sizable Catholic minority escalated in the 1960's and 70's.

Today, major steps are being taken to bring peace to Northern Ireland. In 1998, a historic peace agreement was signed which will allow the region a degree of self-government.

Northern Ireland is home to 1.6 million people, 60 of them are Protestant (Church of Ireland), and 40 are Catholic. Belfast is the capital and largest city. People from Northern Ireland are Irish. Most Catholics would prefer not to be called 'British'.

Northern Ireland has a beautiful, rugged, coastal landscape. The poet Seamus Heaney and singer Van Morrison are both from Northern Ireland, and several U.S. Presidents can trace their ancestry there.

British English
It's been said that Britain and the United States are 'separated by a common language,' and there is much truth to that statement. You may find yourself having more trouble understanding and being understood with a British person than you would with someone from a non-English speaking country.

There are literally thousands of words for things that are different in British and American English. To make matters worse, what may seem like a perfectly innocent word in one country can be considered vulgar in the other. This can make for some embarrassing misunderstandings.

A few examples:

British people often have an easier time understanding American English, as they have been inundated with American culture since the end of World War II.

Despite a flood of American movies, TV shows, music, and pop culture, Britons have retained their traditional pronunciations, spellings, and slang. British English is a matter of national pride, and most Britons are quick to point out that American English is merely a deviation from correct, British English.

The British are masters of the language. A quick wit and the ability to play with words are highly regarded in British culture.

The British sense of humor is also very different, and can lead to further misunderstandings with Americans. British humor is often dry, subtle, and very sarcastic. A well-worded insult among friends is to be taken with humor, not offense.

School
Some British children attend pre-school. Compulsory education begins at age 5 and lasts until age 16. Exams are very important in the British school system, and students spend two years preparing for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Exam they will take when they are 16. This exam was called the 'O' Level exam until 1986, and many people still refer to it as such.

Most students continue their education beyond the 'O' Level. Post-16 students spend another two years studying more specialized subjects, then take the GCEA or 'A' Level exam when they are 18.

Scotland has its own version of these exams.

The 'A' Level exam is crucial for university entrance. Admission is based 80 on the exam results, and only 20 on school coursework.

University tuition is generally inexpensive, and most students receive government grants, regardless of economic status.

Dormitory space is very limited, so it is more common for students to live with their families and attend a college close to home.

Teenagers
British teenagers enjoy the same forms of recreation as most American teens -- sports, movies, meeting with friends, going to movies, shopping, and concerts. Going to dance clubs or 'teen discos' is probably more prevalent among British than American teens.

Clothing styles are the same as for teens in most countries -- jeans, T-shirts, sweaters, and sneakers are popular.

Teens start dating when they are 14 to 15 years old. Often they will go out in groups.

AIDS, sex, and birth control are discussed fairly openly at home, school, and on TV.

Teenagers rarely have their own cars. Driver's tests in Britain are very difficult, and it's not unusual to fail once or twice. Most teens rely on Britain's excellent public transportation system to get them from place to place.

Curfew times and rules vary from family to family, but in general, British parents allow their children more freedom than American parents do.

In the UK, the drinking age is 18. Anyone over 16 may legally order beer, wine, or cider to consume with a meal. Many teens begin drinking before they reach the legal age.

Drinking and driving laws are very strict in the UK, and punishments can be severe.

Community
There are five national television stations in Britain. These are virtually commercial-free, and movies are shown unedited.
Although not as prevalent as in the U.S., many people subscribe to cable (Sky TV). With Sky TV, homes receive MTV, CNN, and others.

TV watching varies among individuals, but it is generally thought that American teens watch more television.

In Britain, home telephones are charged for local calls, so British teens are not accustomed to spending as much time on the phone as American teens.

Most stores stay open until 6pm, and stay open later (usually until 9pm) one day a week. Britain is in the process of revising its 'Sunday trading laws', but most shops are still closed on Sundays. All pubs close at 11pm; nightclubs may sell alcohol until 2am.

The pub is often the center of British life. Especially in smaller towns, the pub is where people gather to meet their neighbors, catch up on local news, watch soccer matches, and, of course, eat and drink. It is not uncommon to see entire families, including young children, in the pub on a Sunday afternoon. Most people stop in for a pint of lager or ale, but non- drinkers are welcomed with a range of non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic drinks.

Despite the excellent transportation system and high cost of fuel, most families own at least one car.

Recycling is about as common as it is in United States.

The Family
It is fairly common for both parents to work, but many mothers choose to stay with their children when they are small.

Families have an average of two children. Dogs and cats are popular pets.

Most families own their own homes. Maids are not common.

Elderly people tend to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. It is not common for the elderly to live with their grown children.

Customs
The British tend to be a bit reserved when meeting people for the first time. Greetings are the same as in the U.S., but handshakes are less aggressive. It is considered rude to talk loudly or shout, especially in public places.

Britons eat 'continental style', with the fork in the left a hand and the knife in the right. Both hands are kept on the table.

It is generally considered rude to eat with your hands, and many Americans are shocked to see British people eat pizza and even burgers with a knife and fork. Some fish and chip shops provide 'chip forks', little wooden forks used for eating french fries. There are many exceptions to this rule, of course.

Most families in the United Kingdom are Protestant, but there are many Catholics, and significant Jewish, Hindu, and Moslem populations. In general, church attendance is less frequent than in the United States.

Major holidays are Christmas, Boxing Day (Dec. 26), New Year's Day, May Day, the Queen's Birthday, Remembrance Day, and Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes Day celebrates the capture of a revolutionary who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament (and almost succeeded). Weeks before, British children make a dummy called a 'Guy', which they display and ask passers-by for a 'penny for the Guy'. On Guy Fawkes Day (Nov. 5), they are allowed to use the coins they've collected to buy candy and fireworks. Many cities put on fireworks displays, much like an American Fourth of July.

Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year, and nearly everything shuts down, including pubs and public transportation. The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is a day for relaxing and visiting.

back to top