Great Britain
Territory:
244,1 thousand in sq. km the Population: 57,7 million persons.
Capital: London
The largest cities of Great Britain:
Glasgow
Leeds
Birmingham
Manchester
The state in the northeast of Europe. Consists of island Great Britain on which are England, Scotland and the Wales, and Northern Ireland occupying a part of island Ireland. Isle of Man and Channel Islands are dominions of the United Kingdom, but don't enter into its structure. The country area - 244111 sq.km.
Structure of Great Britain
The Kingdom includes 4 istoriko-geographical areas:
- England (45 counties and a special administrative unit - the Greater London)
- The Wales (8 counties)
- Northern Ireland (26 districts)
- Scotland (12 areas)
State system
Constitutional monarchy
The population:
The population of the United Kingdom (by an estimation for 1995) makes nearby 58093000 forehead of eyelids, in the largest cities: London (6803000 persons), Birmingham (935000 persons), Glasgow (654000 persons), Sheffield (500000 persons), Liverpool (450000 persons), Edinburgh (421000 persons), Manchester (398000 persons), Belfast (280000 persons), Kardif (272000 persons). Average population density nearby 238 persons on sq.km.
Ethnic groups: British (Englishmen, Scots, Irish, уэльсцы) - 94 %, Indians, Pakistanis, Chineses, Arabs, Africans.
Religion: англикане, Catholics, methodologists, baptists, Moslems.
National features:
The Englishman is polite, quiet, more or is less affable depending on region, is invariably modest and respectful to the near. Scrupulousness, property honoring, enterprise, efficiency and the main thing - independence are inherent in Englishmen also. When the person speaks much, it is regarded as bad manners or even roughness. Punctuality and accuracy in observance of all rules and traditions - one more distinctive feature of Englishmen. It is possible to rely on the word of honor of Englishmen.
Scots are known for courtesy and hospitality and try to carry by these qualities through all times. In the southwest peasants are patient and realistic, and townspeople are friendly. In Highland there live true workers. The English humour difficultly is understood by foreigners
Currency:
Pound sterling. Import and export national and foreign currency isn't limited.
Exchange: to Exchange currency for pounds sterling it is possible in any branch of bank or exchange offices. At itself it is necessary to have the passport. Bank commission fee make 0,5 % - 1 %. Banks are opened from 9.30 till at week-days. Some banks are closed later on Thursdays and work on Saturday till a dinner.
Official language:
English
Climate:
Oceanic with moderate temperatures, an abundance of the atmospheric precipitation, unstable weather of cyclonic type with frequent and strong winds. Average temperatures of January from 7°С on peninsula Cornwall to 3,5°С in east England; in the east there are frosts to-18°S. In London in a year happens till 100 days to temperature more low 0°С. In July the temperature decreases from 16-17°С around London to 11-13°С in Scotland. Deposits are distributed in regular intervals within a year, with an insignificant maximum in the autumn and in the winter, in the southeast - in the summer and in the autumn. Deposits in Scotland, Northern Ireland, mountain areas of England and the Wales (1000-1500 mm, places to 3000 mm a year) are most plentiful. Their least quantity - in southeast England (600-750 mm). Considerable overcast and fogs are characteristic.
The schedule of work of establishments:
Banks work from 9.00 till without interruption in the week-days, big banks work as well on Saturday. Shops work from 9.00 till, large - till 20.00 at week-days, from 9.00 till on Saturday. Sunday - the day off.
All goods sold in shops, are taxed on the added cost in the size of 17,5 %. If purchases are made for the sum more than 100 pounds within three months at border crossing it is possible to receive a refund in number of 11 % from the purchase price. In shop it is necessary to receive the corresponding receipt. If any department of shop arranges sale the inscription is hung out: "Buy one, get one free".
Communication:
All kinds of telecommunication - paid. Most economically to ring from a call-box. 10-pence coins or telephone cards are for this purpose used. Telephone cards stand from 2 to 10 pounds. Telephone conversation with Moscow is paid from calculation 2 pounds in a minute of conversation. At the international negotiations preferential time is established from 20.00 till. Trunk calls from the room of the hotel are paid for higher tariff. For telephone conversation from London with Russia it is necessary to type 00-7 and further a city code.
Tip:
At many restaurants, cafe the service charges are included in joint account and make 10-15 % from order cost. If isn't present - it is accepted to give tip in the sizes of this sum. To taxi drivers give tip at a rate of 10 % from the sum on the counter, services of the porter - from 70 pence and depend on a hotel category. Employee of hotel - under your discretion. At theaters, at filling stations tip isn't accepted.
Transport:
In Great Britain link sided movement. The long-distance bus - the cheapest way of moving about the country. Cards "Brit express Card" are on sale at the airports. They are valid within 30 days. The passenger with this card receives a discount of 30 %. For journey on the railways it is possible to buy the ticket "Brit-Rail". The ticket grants the right to make unlimited number of trips during certain term (4, 8, 15, 22 or 30 days).
In Great Britain link sided movement. The long-distance bus - the cheapest way of moving about the country. Cards "Brit express Card" are on sale at the airports. They are valid within 30 days. The passenger with this card receives a discount of 30 %. For journey on the railways it is possible to buy the ticket "Brit-Rail". The ticket grants the right to make unlimited number of trips during certain term (4, 8, 15, 22 or 30 days). Older persons (is more senior 60 years) and youth (from 16 till 25 years) have the right to discounts. Children (from 4 till 16 years) pay half of cost of the ticket for adults. Children till 4 years go free of charge.
The self-locking device in Great Britain isn't welcomed.
The fastest and convenient type of transport in a city is the underground. Trains go each 3-5 minutes. Cost of tickets depends on a zone (80 pence - for 1 zone). The cheapest transport - in a city buses (the one-day ticket in zones 1-2 will manage to you 2,5 pounds of the item).
If you have hired the car, avoid to drive or leave London in rush hours (8.00-8.30 and 17.30-19.00), especially if badly know a city. The approximate prices in London - from $54 a day and $176 a week for the car of a class "house-keeper". The conditioner and unlimited run are given at rent of the car of enough big size with automatic transmission. The approximate prices in Edinburgh - from $24 a day and $99 a week for the car of a class "house-keeper", run isn't limited. The sum doesn't include the tax into 17,5 %. Parkings in London the expensive. For example, on Pikkadilli the parking will manage to you in 30 pounds of the item for a night! Having arrived to London, follow in a direction of West End (center), therefrom all directions are accurately specified. We recommend to rent the car only if you are going to travel on countryside: in a city it will be faster a burden. A condition of automobile lines in Great Britain the excellent. In cities and their vicinities of road are often loaded. Punishments for drunk driving in Great Britain very strict.
Customs rules
Duty-free import 200 pieces of cigarets or 50 pieces of cigars or 250 г tobacco is resolved. Transportation of strong spirits of 1 l (by a fortress more than 22 `) or 2 l a fortress less than 22 ', souvenirs and gifts - for the sum no more than 28 foots is resolved. Import of all kinds of live birds and their eggs, and also plants and animals is forbidden. On available medicines it is desirable to take the recipe of the doctor confirming necessity for medicines. At the airport, having received luggage, it is necessary to ship it on the manual cart and to go to customs control. For using carts the payment isn't raised.
Pressure in a network:
220 CENTURY
Holidays in Great Britain
On January, 1st - New year
On January, 2nd - a holiday in Scotland
On March, 17th - Day of St. Patrick in Northern Ireland
On March, 28th - Passionate Friday
On March, 31st - Easter Monday
On May, 5th - May bank vacation (1st Monday of May)
On May, 26th - spring bank vacation (last Monday May)
On July, 14th - Day of Orangemen (in Northern Ireland)
On August, 25th - August bank vacation (last Monday August)
On December, 25th - Christmas
On December, 26th - Day of Gifts
London
Tower - the most ancient construction of London. Till XI century the lock served as royal residence, then - the main state prison. Now here regalia of the royalty and heraldic relics are stored.
Buckingham palace
From a XIX-th century - royal residence. Since recent time the palace is opened for public visiting. Royal gallery - meeting of products of the arts belonging to a family of Windsors. One of the richest collections of the world.
Royal Mews - an exhibition of royal carriages, crews and attributes of smart royal departures.
Westminster abbey.
Constructed in XIII century, it became Issaka Newton, Charles Darvina, Charles Dickens's last haven and others.
St. Paul's Cathedral. (1675-1708).
Having united lines of classicism and baroque, the splendor the cathedral quite corresponded to imperial ambitions of Britain. Here many great British are buried: admirals Nelson and Wellington, captain Scott. Here there is a monument to George Vashingtonu.
The British museum.
The most known not only among numerous London museums, but also the world. Here (since Henry V), the best letters of English kings are stored in the world an antique collection, Assyrian sculptures. Pride of a museum - huge library. National gallery. Masterpieces of the German and Italian, Spanish and Flemish, French and English schools are presented.
Gallery Courtauld Institute.
Along with products of masters of the Renaissance and baroque pictures of impressionists here are exposed.
Madame Tussauds wax museum.
In 1802 madame Tussauds, the sculptor on wax, has brought the first collection of masks of victims of the French revolution to London. Since then it regularly replenishes with figures of known politicians, including from Russia.
Millenium Dome - a hymn to achievements of human thought in various areas of a science. Huge construction with a large quantity of pavilions (a total area of 80 000 sq. m.) - one of the basic places of visiting by numerous tourists.
London Dungeon. Tools of tortures and executions, guillotine theater, a panorama of the London fire... Definitely, this museum for people with strong nerves.
London Toy and Model Museum - a remarkable collection of models of machines and trains since 1850 to this day. In a garden at a museum various children's attractions work.
Entertainments
To go across Thames on a river tram, to sweep on a boat on channels Regent's and Grand Union, to have supper at small floating restaurant. To drive on English racers. To visit a hippodrome. The big horse jumps rather curious show. In addition, tribunes of the London hippodromes turn to a podium for demonstration of novelties haute couture the London beau monde.
In Great Britain so it is accepted:
First of all at transition of the London streets don't forget to look at first to the right, then on the left
As everywhere in Europe, in London it is not necessary to appear in fur coats, a coat, jackets and other dresses from natural fur. The general quivering relation to the nature here has led to what even royal guardsmen have replaced the bear caps with headdresses from artificial fur
That who smokes, we remind that smoking in the London two-storeyed bus as is forbidden more than five years. It concerns and the London underground
In hotel you will face the socket unusual to the European with three pins: means to use the hair dryer and the electrorazor, the adapter is necessary
You can not find a shower hose as Englishmen prefer to wash in a bath in many hotels. In the same way the crane in a washstand can be located extremely inconveniently for those who has got used to wash hands in flowing, instead of in the water typed in a bowl
If you stay in the private house, be not surprised, when to you for the night will offer a hot-water bottle in bed: even in the summer in houses of Englishmen cool enough.
If you with the spouse are invited to a lunch be not surprised that you can dissolve on different premises: the lady and gentlemen there have dinner separately.
Feature of English cuisine.
English cuisine, however, as well as Japanese, differs that only natural advantages of food here aspire to underline, without deforming it to unrecognizability that is characteristic for Chinese and French cuisine. Besides Great Britain brings the regional features. Even the separate city or district can possess a unique set of local foods, for example, tea with the baked cream in the Western part of Great Britain or йоркширский a pudding, which actually not a pudding, and the snack submitted to roast beef. Great Britain is well-known for a variety of cheeses among which it is possible to find the well-known grades, such as Cheshire cheese.
