The United Kingdom

Robert Burns - the National Poet of Scotland.

James Watt - a mechanical engineer, who created an efficient steam engine

Winston Churchill - a British politician, army officer, and writer, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.&nbsp;

Margaret Thatcher - a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, nicknamed "The Iron Lady".

Stephen Hawking - an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. Famous for his work on black holes and his most notable book " A Brief History of Time".

David Attenborough - an English broadcaster and naturalist. He is best known for writing and presenting with the BBC Natural History Unit, natural history documentary series

WINDSOR is the royal family name and they are sometimes called "the Windsors". But that was not their family name earlier in history. George V, Elisabeth's grandfather changed the family name from "Saxe-Coburg-Gotha" to "Windsor". The reason? During World War I they thought it was better NOT to have a German -like name!

ROLE AND POWER

The Queen's role is the personal representation of the government of the country. She performs ceremonial duties which heads of state often have to spend their time on and in this way the real government has the time to do its job. - The Queen has the power to suspend and to summon Parliament -&nbsp;Her Majesty also has the power to appoint and remove Ministers of the Crown -&nbsp;The Queen is responsible for appointing the Prime Minister after a general election or a resignation, in a General Election The Queen will appoint the candidate who is likely to have the most support of the House of Commons. In the event of a resignation, The Queen listens to advice on who should be appointed as their successor -&nbsp;the power to declare war against other nations, though in practice this is done by the Prime Minister and Parliament -&nbsp;Under British law, The Queen is above the law and cannot be prosecuted – she is also free from civil action - The Royal Pardon was originally used to withdraw death sentences against those wrongly convicted. It is now used to correct errors in sentencing

The Queen is shown almost all of her correspondence on a daily basis by one of her Private Secretaries. How to write to The Queen You can write to Her Majesty at the following address: Her Majesty The Queen Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1AA&nbsp; If you wish to write a formal letter, you can open with 'Madam' and close the letter with the form 'I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Majesty's humble and obedient servant'.&nbsp;

The Royal Etiquette are the rules of behaviour the members of the Royal Family have to follow.

How to greet the Queen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHetv-1DooM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHetv-1DooM</a>

Things you should NEVER do when meeting the Queen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGceVctWsbg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGceVctWsbg</a>

Belfast International Arts Festival -&nbsp;October. Celebrating contemporary arts with an international theme. Diwali -&nbsp;October / November. The Festival of Lights for Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities is celebrated in several UK cities ( Manchester, London, Leicester). Leicester’s extravagant street party with traditional food, music, dancing and fireworks is one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Hanukkah - November / December Jewish communities across the UK celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. In London a giant menorah is lit up with candles for the Menorah lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square. It is the largest event of its kind in Europe.&nbsp;

Diwali lights in Leicester

Pubs

A "Pub" is the shortened form for "public house". Pubs are specific for the UK and are not the typical cafes or bars you see in other countries. It's a place where the average person can meet other people, even complete strangers and have a conversation with them. It has a very homely, private and traditional atmosphere. There is no waiter service. If you want something, you have to go and ask for it at the bar. Almost all pubs are owned by a brewery and the person who runs the pub is called a "landlord". Closing time A few minutes before the official closing time the landlord or barman shouts "Last orders, please". So, if you want another drink, you should order one right away. When closing time arrives, the barman shouts: "Time, ladies and gentlemen, please", which is usually also accompanied by a bell.

Orkney Vole, seen off the north coast of Scotland

Minke Whale - Scottish coast

Ghost Slug - These elusive, unique creatures&nbsp;are &nbsp;widespread in south-east Wales

Polecat - an ancestor of the Ferret. Most of them can be found in Wales.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) is NOT THE SAME AS Great Britain or England. The UK is made up of 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain: it is an island that consists of three countries: England, Scotland&nbsp;and Wales. England: is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. England is&nbsp;the largest and most populous nation in the UK.&nbsp; The Commonwealth of Nations: are the 52 states or countries that were former British colonies or territories. Members of the Commonwealth of Nations recognize the United Kingdom's Monarch as their own king or queen, but remain politically independent.

So, let's say you wanted to tell a British person how tall you are and how much you weigh. If you said 1, 73 m and 70 kg they most likely couldn't figure out what you look like. Instead, you would have to say 5 foot 7 inches tall and a weight of 154 pounds.

DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE AND LANGUAGES

Because of its history of large colonialism and slave trade, there are a number of ethnic groups living in the UK today. There are many people from Afro-Caribbean descent and there is also the oldest Chinese community in Europe. People from Africa and Asia ( India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) as well as more and more people from Eastern Europe make up today's population.

Although English is the official language, there are many other languages spoken in the UK, like South Asian languages ( Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali and Gujarati). &nbsp;Polish has become the second-largest language spoken in England. Four Celtic languages are spoken in the UK: Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Cornish. All are recognised as regional or minority languages.

Bilingual road markings near Cardiff Airport

In Northern Ireland, the department responsible for culture displays official administrative identity in English, Irish and Ulster Scots

Sign in English and Punjabi at Southall railway station, London

NORTHERN IRELAND

Giant's Causeway; Legend has it that a giant built it as a bridge between Ireland and Scotland.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a famous rope bridge

The Titanic, Belfast, a museum

The Dark Hedges, featured as The King’s Road in HBO’s Game of Thrones

The Old Bushmills Distillery, Ireland's oldest working distillery

her grandson and his wife, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, second wife of Prince Charles

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, the Queen's daughter

the Duke of York, the Queen's son, Prince Andrew

Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son, Earl of Wessex, and his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Countess of Wessex

There are a few immediate family members using no royal style. This means that they don't use a royal title although they are members of the royal family.

The content of this digital booklet was created with the help of my 5th grade students ( 5.A) in the school year of 2017 / 2018 as part of the Erasmus + project " Going the extra mile" in my primary school "Đuro Ester" in Koprivnica, Croatia. Andreja Kerovec Letica, English language teacher at Primary school "Đuro Ester" in Koprivnica, Croatia, August 2018

WALES

Conwy is a walled market town and community

Bodnant Garden is huge and has plants from all around the world

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct

13. The most celebrated residents of the Tower of London today are the ravens. There must be six ravens in residence at any one time by a Royal Decree put in place by Charles II. According to an old legend, if the birds should leave, the British Monarchy and the White Tower will crumble and fall. To be on the safe side, the Tower usually keeps eight birds at all times. 14. More languages (300) are spoken in London than in any other country in the world. 15. The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square is presented every year by the people of Oslo in gratitude for London’s assistance during World War II. 16. Britain is the only country in the world which doesn’t have its name on its postage stamps. 17. Until 1877, lecturers at Oxford University were not allowed to marry, and women were not granted degrees until 1920. 18. Wales is actually home to a town called Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch, which translates as “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the cave.” 19. Probably built around 3000 B.C., Stonehenge has stood on England’s Salisbury Plain for more than 5,000 years and is older than the famous Great Pyramids of Egypt. 20. In the UK, accents change noticeably about every 40 km! 21.&nbsp;One of the most bizarre cultural facts about England is that it's actually illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament. 22. The British consume more than 165 million cups of tea every day - that’s 20 times the number drunk by Americans. 23. Queen Elizabeth II has visited over 100 countries on official duties - but she doesn’t need to have a passport herself. This is because British passports are issued in the name of the Queen.

- The Queen is commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and all members swear an oath of allegiance to The Queen when they join; they are Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. - The Queen’s powers include the commissioning of officers into the Armed Forces and also removing commissions - the crown technically controls how the Armed Forces are used. - All British passports are issued in The Queen’s name - a ship can be commandeered in Her Majesty’s name for service to the realm - One of the main prerogative powers that are still used personally by The Queen these days is the power to grant honours. As all honours derive from the Crown, The Queen has the final say on knighthoods, peerages and the like.

GREETING OR ADDRESSING A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY

If you are lucky enough to meet a member of the Royal family, there are some things to consider: For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) and women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way. On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and 'Ma'am' thereafter, pronounced with a short 'a,' as in 'jam'. For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being 'Your Royal Highness' and 'Sir' thereafter. For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally 'Your Royal Highness' and 'Ma'am' subsequently.

Quite a number of famous sports actually originate from the UK, like football, tennis, rugby union, rugby league, golf, boxing, netball, rowing and cricket. Football is the most popular sport in the UK, followed by tennis, Formula 1, golf, rugby, horse racing and cricket. In Northern Ireland Gaelic football and hurling are popular team sports and Shinty (or camanachd) is popular in the Scottish Highlands. Highland games are held in spring and summer in Scotland, celebrating Scottish and celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands.

What is netball? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBuxsRnU50A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBuxsRnU50A</a>

Exams and qualifications

GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education ( SCE in Scotland). These are exams that most of the 15-16 year olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland take. Grades are given from A - G ( A, B and C are considered to be good grades).

A-levels = Advanced levels are exams usually taken by students around the age of 18 who wish to study at a university. ( SCE Highers in Scotland).

GNVQ = General National Vocational Qualification are courses and exams in job-related subjects. Usually they are studied at colleges, but more and more schools are also offering them.

Degree - a qualification from a university Bachelor's degree - the name for a first degree ( BA = Bachelor of Arts or BSc= Bachelor of Science) Master's degree - the name for a second degree ( postgraduate). MA ( Master of Arts) or MSc ( Master of Science) Doctorate - the highest academic qualification ( PhD = Doctor of Philosophy)

THE MIDLANDS

Birmingham is Britain's second largest city. It is the country's major engineering centre. Other big city in this area are Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham. Nottingham is famous for its Robin Hood legend, and Stratford-upon-Avon, a town 35km south-east of Birmingham is famous for being Shakespeare's birthplace.

NORTHERN ENGLAND

This area was leading the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. There are large amounts of coal and iron ore used for power and making machinery. In the 19th century Manchester was the world's leading producer of cotton and Bradford and Leeds became the world's leading producers of woolen goods. Sheffield was known for steel goods and Newcastle was a major shipbuilding centre. Further away in the north, there are not many people living there. In the north-west is the so-called Lake District. It is the favourite destination of people who enjoy walking holidays and the whole area is a national park.

Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace

Northern Ireland ( Hibernia - the Roman name for Ireland)

Flax Flower or Shamrock

St Patrick ( 17th March)

Reputation: great talkers and singers

Gary Oldman - English actor and filmmaker, known for his roles as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series, James Gordon in The Dark Knight Trilogy and many more

Alan Rickman - actor with a huge variety of roles, but to younger generations best known as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series.

Benedict Cumberbatch - English actor, best known as as Sherlock Holmes in the series Sherlock since 2010.

Emma Watson - &nbsp;English actress, model, and activist. Best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series.

Kate Winslet - English actress. She played in many critically acclaimed films, but reached her global fame with her leading role in the epic romance Titanic

Millie Bobby Brown -&nbsp;British actress and model. She became famous for her role as Eleven in the science fiction drama series Stranger Things. She is also the youngest person ever to feature on TIME 100 list of the 100 most influential people.&nbsp;

National animals: lion and bulldog

Motto: Dieu et mon droit - (French) - "God and my right" (as used in England, Northern Ireland &amp; Wales) In Defens - (Scots) - "In Defence" (as used in Scotland)

National Personification: Brittania

Driving: on the left side

National anthem: "God save the Queen" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk</a>

Parliament: Upper house: House of Lords Lower house: House of Commons

Queen Elisabeth II - the monarch since 1952

her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip

her son, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles

the late Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, the queen's daughter-in-law and Prince Charles's first wife

her grandson and his wife, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Katherine Middleton

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Cambridge, the Queen's grandchildren

The UK is in the north-west of Europe. The total area is approximately 243,610 square kilometres .&nbsp;It lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea with the south-east coast coming within 35&nbsp;km of the coast of northern France, from which it is separated by the English Channel.

General Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; rolling plains in east and southeast Geographical Low Point: The Fens -4 m Geographical High Point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Major Cities: LONDON (capital) 8.615 million; Birmingham 2.296 million; Manchester 2.247 million; West Yorkshire 1.541 million; Glasgow 1.166 million Major Bodies of Water: Thames River, Severn River, Humber River, Lough Neagh (lake), Loch Lomond, Windermere, Bala Lake, English Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, Atlantic Ocean&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year long, The temperature varies with the seasons rarely going below −11&nbsp;°C or rising above 35&nbsp;°C.

Wales ( Cambria - the Roman name for Wales)

Leek or Daffodil

Reputation: great singers

The south-east of the country is the area in Wales where most people live. Cardiff if the capital and has a population of around 250 000. Most of the rest of Wales has many mountains. The interesting thing is that because of these mountains, people living in Wales have closer contact with its neighbouring part of England than with the other parts of Wales: the north of Wales with Liverpool and mid-Wales with the English west midlands. Mount Snowdon in the north-west is the largest national park in Britain.

Tea - is an evening meal for a lot of working people as soon as they get home. ( at around 6 o'clock). For other, usually richer people, it means a cup of tea and a snack at around 4 o'clock. Supper - is the usual word for the evening meal for those who don't call it "tea". It's usually a light snack, especially if you had lunch as your main meal that day. Dinner - is also a word used for an evening meal, but it's different from supper. If you have a light lunch during the day, then dinner is your main meal. It's larger and usually later in the evening than supper.

Typical British food

Black Pudding - a mixture of onions, pork fat, oatmeal and blood

Jane Goodall - an English primatologist and anthropologist. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees

J.K. Rowling - a British novelist, philanthropist, film and television producer and screenwriter best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series.&nbsp;

The Beatles - an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became regarded as the most influential music band in history.

John Lennon - ex-Beatle member. Singer, songwriter, and peace activist&nbsp;

Freddie Mercury - a British singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen

Mick Jagger -English singer-songwriter, musician, composer who gained fame as the lead singer and one of the founder members of the Rolling Stones

Slow worm - is often mistaken for a snake when it is really a legless lizard

Scottish Wildcat - the only native cat species in Britain

Golden Eagle - the national bird of Scotland

Mountain Hare - Scotland’s native hare

Madame Tussauds, the famous wax museum

Piccadilly Circus, a major traffic junction close to major shopping and entertainment areas.

Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament&nbsp;

Kensington Palace, currently the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and other royals.

The London Dungeon, a mixture of live actors, special effects and rides.

Warner Bros Studio Tour: be Harry Potter and walk in his footsteps!

- in 1666 the Great Fire of London destroys most of the city's old buildings, but also the bubonic plague. - By the 1800s, Britain was one of the most powerful nations in the world. - through trade, Britain came to wealth, and the country built a huge overseas empire which gave them huge confidence, even arrogance about their culture and civilization. - Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 - 1901 was very popular. As a hard-working, religious mother of 9 children she was an example to the people. - the Industrial Revolution forced many people to live and work in some of the worst conditions. Many writers described these horrors in their books, especially Charles Dickens ( Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol)

the Great Fire of London

Children in front of a workhouse: the smallest ones were often used as chimney sweeps

ENGLAND

Cambridge, a famous university city

Oxford, another famous and prestigious university

Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument dated to about 3100 BC

The Roman Baths in Bath, &nbsp;a well-preserved Roman site for public bathing.&nbsp;

William Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon

Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Shakespeare's birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon

Eden Project, Cornwall, Inside the two biomes are plants that are collected from many diverse climates and environments

Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England.

SCOTLAND

LONDON

In London there are the headquarters of the government, the Parliament, the major legal institutions and the Royal Family. It is the country's business and banking centre. It is about 7 times bigger than any other city in the UK. Famous areas in London are the West End and the East End. West End is known for many theatres, cinemas and expensive shops. East End is known as the poorer residential area of central London. The majority of people live in the suburbs, millions of them travelling to the centre each day to work.

SOUTHERN ENGLAND

The county of Kent is known as the "garden of England", because of the many kinds of fruit and vegetables people grow there. You pass it when you are travelling from Dover or the Channel tunnel to London. The south-west is the most popular holiday area in Britain because of its rocky coast, many bays and wild moorlands. It is also called "the English Riviera". The west and the east country are mostly rural areas. It is the main area for growing wheat and other crops.

Official Coat of Arms of the British Monarch, currently Elisabeth II. 

Monarch: Queen Elisabeth II, full name: Elisabeth Alexandra Mary from house Windsor

Current Prime Minister: Theresa May

Albion: the original Roman name for Britain, sometimes still used in poetical contexts

Briton: a citizen of the UK, an expression used in official and formal contexts

Christmas pudding - or plum pudding. It's boiled pudding with a lot of dried fruit and spices. The pudding is usually aged for a month or more; the high alcohol content of the pudding prevents it from spoiling during this time.&nbsp;

Eccles cake - filled with currants and made from flaky pastry with butter

Mince pie - a mixture of dried fruits and spices&nbsp;

Scones - typical Scottish sweet dish

Westminster Abbey, a Gothic abbey church and the traditional place of coronation of British monarchs

The Tower of London, the Queen's Crown Jewels are kept here.

Tower Bridge which crosses the River Thames

Trafalgar Square, in memory of the battle of Trafalgar where the British defeated Napoleon.

St Paul's Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London

Royal Albert Hall, one of the most famous concert halls in the world.

EDUCATION

The countries in the UK have separate school systems under separate governments. In each country there are five stages of education: early years, primary, secondary, further education and higher education .The law says that full time education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and 16. Compulsory education is free of charge.

Confusing names: Schools funded by the government are called "state schools" and therefore the education there is called "state education". Some independent schools are called "public schools" which is confusing because they are actually private schools. In the USA public schools are state schools, so you have to be careful with the terminology! The most famous public ( private ) schools in England are Eton, Harrow, Rugby and Winchester. Boarding schools are schools where pupils not only get their education, but where there also live.

Schools usually divide their year into three "terms", starting at the beginning of September.

Belfast is its capital city and famous for the production of linen, as well as being a shipbuilding city. The rest of Ireland is mostly rural with a lot of agriculture. Northern Ireland is divided into six counties: County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone.&nbsp; Northern Ireland shares both the culture of Ireland and the culture of the United Kingdom. Those of Catholic background tend to identity more with Irish culture, and those of Protestant background more with British culture.&nbsp;

FOOD AND DRINK

When you think of the UK you don't really think of good food. British people simply don't seem to care about food. One quote maybe best describes their attitude: "On the Continent people have good food; in England people have good table manners." George Mikes, British author

Meals: when people eat ( and what)

Breakfast is usually a cereal or toast and marmelade. A traditional English breakfast consists of: eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, bread, toast, butter, marmelade and lots of tea. But not very many people really eat so much food for breakfast. Elevenses - a cup of tea or coffee and some biscuits, usually around 11 o'clock. Brunch- is a combination of breakfast and lunch, eaten usually during the late morning to early afternoon Lunch - usually at one o'clock

Remembrance Sunday - the 2nd Sunday in November. This day commemorates the dead of both World Wars and of more recent wars. On and before this day, money is collected in the street for charity for ex-service-men and women. St Andrew’s Day (Scotland) - 30th November St Andrew’s day is&nbsp;Scotland’s official&nbsp;national day. In Scotland and many countries with Scottish connections, St Andrew’s Day is marked with a celebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music and dance. Christmas Eve - 24th December - the day before Christmas Christmas Day - 25th December Boxing Day - 26th December. There are a few theories as to why it’s called ‘Boxing Day’ but no one is completely sure. In Britain ‘Christmas Box’ is a name for a Christmas present. Boxing Day was a day off for servants and when they received a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. ‘Boxing day’ could have been named after the ‘Christmas box’ of money or gifts which employers used to give to servants and tradesmen. A box to collect money for the poor was placed in Churches on Christmas day. The money would be distributed the day after. ‘Boxing day’ could have been named after this custom. New Year's Eve - 31st December. The last day of the year.

Because London is such a big city, it is no surprise that most attractions are there. LONDON

Buckingham Palace, the Queen's home

Big Ben, the most famous clock tower in the world

The London Eye is Europe's tallest Ferris wheel

Capital city and biggest city: London

Official language: English

Recognised regional or minority languages: Scots, Ulster Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish

Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP; ₤)

The Union Jack or the Union Flag consists of the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England), the Cross of St Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), the cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland). Wales is not represented in the Union Flag , because at the time the flag was designed Wales was part of the Kingdom of England.&nbsp;

DID YOU KNOW? FUN FACTS ABOUT THE UK

1. Nowhere in England is more than 75 miles (121 km) from the sea. 2. London is one of only two cities above the 50th parallel with a population of more than five million. Moscow is the other. 3. Windsor Castle is the largest royal home in the world which is still being used. 4. The first fish and chips restaurant was opened in 1860 in London by a Jewish immigrant named Joseph Malin. 5. About 30% of today’s Londoners were born outside the United Kingdom. 6. There is only a 21-mile (34-km) gap between England and France, and the countries are connected by the Channel Tunnel, which opened in 1994. It is the world’s second longest underground tunnel. 7. Big Ben does not refer to the famous clock, but actually to the bell. 8. It is illegal to import haggis from the UK into the U.S., as the American government has declared that sheep lungs are unfit for human consumption. 9. Britain’s most remote pub is the Old Forge on Inverie, Scotland. It is 107 miles (172 km) from the nearest city, Inverness, and has no road access. 10. James Bond’s code “007” was inspired by the author Ian Fleming’s bus route from Canterbury to London. 11. The Ghost Research Foundation has determined that with 500 recorded cases of ghostly encounters, York is the most haunted city in England and one of the most haunted in the world. 12. The UK has the shortest scheduled flight in the world. The flight connecting the tiny islands of Westray and Papa Westray lasts only two minutes.

Scottish Highland cattle

BEING DIFFERENT - THE METRIC SYSTEM

1 inch 12 inches ( 1 foot) 3 feet ( 1 yard) 1760 yards ( 1 mile) 1 ounce 16 ounces ( 1 pound) 14 pounds ( 1 stone) 1 pint 2 pints ( 1 quart) 8 pints ( 1 gallon)

2.54 centimetres 30.48 centimetres 0.92 metres 1.62 kilometres 28.35 grams 0.456 kilograms 6.38 kilograms 0.58 litres 1.16 litres 4.64 litres

- the early 20th century was a time of setbacks for Britain. Because of World War I and II, Britain could no longer afford its empire, and most of its colonies became independent. - In 1922, after the Irish War of Independence most of Ireland wanted to become free from the United Kingdom to become the independent Irish Free State. After the 1937 constitution, it began to call itself Ireland. The six northeastern counties, known as Northern Ireland, remained within the United Kingdom.&nbsp; The empire on which the sun never sets This phrase has been used to describe certain global empires that were so big that there was always at least one part of their territory that was in daylight. It was also used for the British Empire, mainly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, the British Empire reached a territorial size larger than that of any other empire in history.&nbsp;&nbsp; "The Commonwealth of Nations" is an organisation of 53 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire.

The British Empire in 1919

Members of the Commonwealth

Chinese New Year - February Many cities in the UK with a large Asian population celebrate Chinese New Year. In London there is a parade through Chinatown in the West End with fireworks, music, dance and acrobatics which is the biggest in the world outside Asia. London Fashion Week - February / September There are two London Fashion Weeks each year – the first London Fashion Week is in February and the second is in September. The September fashion week is the bigger of the two. London Fashion Week events are usually reserved for industry insider only but there are usually other events going on for the general public. Summer solstice - June The Summer solstice is the longest day and shortest night of the year. Developed from a pagan tradition, many people gather at the ancient monument of Stonehenge in Wiltshire. People stand inside the monument facing northeast, toward a stone outside the circle called the Heel Stone to watch the sun rise.&nbsp; Wimbledon - June / July Wimbledon in South West London is the venue of an annual Grand Slam tennis tournament. Wimbledon is associated with unpredictable weather and strawberries and cream. While few Brits are interested in tennis for the majority of the year, during the Wimbledon season the UK goes Tennis crazy.&nbsp;

- Celts arrived from the 8th century onward - the Roman conquest began 43 AD - most of the region where the Anglo-Saxons lived became united as the Kingdom of England in the 10th century - 1066: The Norman conquest of England (in Britain, often called the Norman Conquest or the Conquest) was the invasion and occupation of England by an army of Norman, Breton, Flemish and French soldiers led by Duke William II of Normandy, later called William the Conqueror.&nbsp; - from the 900s to the 1400s, England was ruled by Viking, Danish, and Norman invaders. - In 1485 the Welsh noble Henry Tudor became King Henry VII, the first of five Tudor monarchs. Several important lines of kings and queens followed, like Henry VIII: he took 6 wives and separated England from the Roman Church so he could marry again. His daughter, Elisabeth I reigned for a long time and became famous for her diplomacy and stability. She became known as the "virgin queen" because she never married.

Scotland ( Caledonia - the Roman name for Scotland)

St Andrew ( 30th November)

Reputation: being careful with money

David Bowie - an English singer, songwriter and actor who is often considered to be one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.&nbsp;

Elton John - English singer, pianist, and composer. One of the best-selling music artists in the world.

Adele - English singer and songwriter. One of the world's best-selling music artists.

Ed Sheeran - English singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actor.&nbsp;

Cara Delevingne - English model and actress.

David Beckham - English retired professional footballer. The first English player to win league titles in four countries: England, Spain, the United States and France.

THE LOVE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE

Many British people have a romantic vision of the countryside. For them, it has no negative associations like in some other countries, but it rather means peace and quiet, beauty and good health and no crime. The highest ideal would be a "thatched cottage", but this ideal is a dream for most people, because owning a home like that is very expensive in the UK. Even if they can't get into the countryside, many British people do gardening as one of their most favourite hobbies.

May Day - the 1st Monday in May. Some villages still have the custom of dancing around the maypole. Spring Bank Holiday - the last Monday in May. Replaced the Christian feast of Pentecost ( 7 weeks after Easter). Father's Day - the 3rd Sunday in June The Queen's Official Birthday - the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in June. It is "official" because it is NOT her real one. The Queen’s real birthday is on the 21st&nbsp;of April however it has been a tradition since 1748 for the state to celebrate the king or queen’s birthday in June.&nbsp;This is because in June there is more likely to be nicer weather, so the Queen can celebrate her birthday with civilians in a more comfortable climate.&nbsp;A military parade known as Trooping the Colour is held in London and is attended by the Royal Family. Orangemen's Day - 12th July. This is a public holiday in Northern Ireland only and celebrated only by the protestant part of the population. ( The Catholic part celebrates St Patrick's Day).

Trooping the Colour - The Queen's Official Birthday

New Year's Day - 1st January Burns’ Night (Scotland) –25th&nbsp;January Burn’s night is a celebration of Robbie&nbsp;Burns, a celebrated Scottish poet. In Scotland people have a special dinner on Burns’ Night. Men wear kilts and people listen to traditional bagpipe music, they dance, read Burn’s poetry and share a meal of haggis (a traditional Scottish dish of sheep heart, liver and lungs) with neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes) St Valentine's Day ( 14th February) Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day ( 47 days before Easter) Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Pancake Day, falls the day before Lent begins.&nbsp;Lent is the traditional Christian period of fasting which begins 40 days before Easter and ends on Easter Sunday. Nowadays, not many Christians fast, instead preferring to give something up for Lent such as chocolate. Because fasting meant that lots of food would spoil during this period, traditionally people would use up their eggs, milk and sugar by making pancakes.&nbsp;Nowadays, even if people are not fasting, many people still make and eat pancakes on this day.

Laverbread - a traditional Welsh dish: boiled seaweed that is minced or pureed and sometimes rolled in oatmeal before being fried.

Haggis - a typical Scottish dish: minced sheep's heart, liver and lungs with onion, oatmeal and spices traditionally packed into the animal's stomach. Usually prepared for Burns supper.

Marmite - is made from yeast extract, a by-product of beer brewing. It is a sticky, dark brown food paste with a distinctive, powerful flavour, which is extremely salty. It is certainly an acquired taste, you either love it or hate it.

Toad in the hole - sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter

Glastonbury festival - Late June. Summer in the UK means music festival time. With its 175,000 visitors Glastonbury is the largest and most iconic one. Eisteddfod - August The&nbsp;National Eisteddfod&nbsp;is Wales’ biggest arts and culture festival. You can listen to Welsh music, watch dance and theatre performances, listen to the Welsh language, enjoy Welsh food and crafts. Edinburgh Fringe Festival - August Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. It features over 40,000 performances and more than 2,500. While any type of performance may participate (e.g. theatre, music and dance) the festival is most famous for comedy. Notting Hill Carnival - August Notting Hill Carnival is held in the streets of Notting Hill in west London over the last Summer bank holiday weekend. It’s Europe’s biggest street festival and it is completely free. Around 1 million people come to watch the colourful procession, dance to music from salsa to reggae, and taste Caribbean food from street stalls.&nbsp;

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

The London Underground, also called "the Tube". "Mind the gap" is a famous phrase that is warning people who use the underground to be cautious when crossing the gap between the train and the platform.

The red double - decker bus - do a sightseeing tour in one of the most iconic symbols of London

The black taxi - also one popular symbol of London. A bit more expensive than regular taxis.

The red telephone box - has become a British icon although it is not so much used any more.

The British Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world and has around 8 million objects.

Covent Garden - is a district in London. It is now a popular shopping and tourist site, and there is the Royal Opera House, which is also known as "Covent Garden".

Charlie Chaplin -English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer became famous in the era of silent film. Became a worldwide icon through his character "the Tramp". One of the most important figures in the history of the film industry.

Sean Connery - retired Scottish actor and producer. The first actor to portray the character James Bond in film.

Audrey Hepburn - British actress, model, dancer and humanitarian. Recognised as a film and fashion icon.