Britain in Focus

Britain in Focus

To quote the poet Robert Browning:

Oh, to be in England Now that April's there

Though the best weather occurs in Britain from April to October, winter is an important time for theatrical productions in England.

London is rich in scenic beauty and historic grandeur. The city grew up around two main areas. The City of London is the oldest area, with Roman walls, ancient buildings, and narrow streets designed for horse carts and coaches. The second area is the City of Westminster, where the royal palaces and government offices are located. The river Thames flows through the heart of the city, dividing north and south London.

One of the most popular sightseeing attractions is Buckingham Palace, the residence of the royal family, where the Royal Standard is displayed when Her Majesty is at home. The red-brick palace was built as a country house for the Duke of Buckingham and later was purchased by King George III, who had 15 children. The 600-room palace is surrounded by a 40-acre garden. Although it is closed to the public, visitors can view the palace through its majestic gates or from the edge of St. Jame's Park, which leads from Whitehall to the palace grounds. At 11:30 a.m., every day during summer and every alternate day during winter, the palace guards are relieved during the ceremony of Changing the Guard. On the first or second Tuesday in June, visitors can watch the Queen receive the Brigade of Guards in the ceremony of Trooping the Colour.

The sprawling Houses of Parliament are adorned with ornate gold-trimmed spires and guarded by the clock tower that houses Big Ben, the world's most famous bell. On specified days called "sitting days," visitors are admitted to the Strangers' Gallery in the House of Commons. Westminster Abbey, adjacent to the Parliament buildings, is London's oldest and most important church, where British kings and queens are crowned. St. Pauls' Cathedral, built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1666, is the city's largest church. Inside the cathedral, 627 steps lead up to the Golden Gallery, which offers a panoramic view of London. Lower down, inside the dome, the Whispering Gallery is known for its remarkable acoustics.

The Tower of London is actually several structures, the oldest of which is the White Tower, built by William the Conqueror in 1078. At various times, the tower complex has served as a fortress, royal palace, prison, armory, treasury, and observatory. Prisoners who had been sentenced to death, including Sir Walter Raleigh, awaited execution in the tower. The Crown Jewels of England, set in crowns, robes, swords, and scepters, are said to be stored in the Jewel House (but only replicas are displayed to the public). Tower Bridge, built between 1886 and 1894, has an enclosed glass walkway and provides views of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the Houses of Parliament. Half-day river excursions on the Thames provide a glimpse of famous London landmarks from a waterfront perspective. Motorcoach tours operate in spring, summer, and autumn, with reduced services in winter. Several companies also offer conducted walking tours focused on architectural, historical and literary sites.

The Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park districts are bustling tourism areas. Dining, sightseeing, shopping, and theatergoing are popular leisure pastimes in London. The city has a large number of museums, libraries, and public gardens. The British Museum is one of the largest in the world and has an extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts, jewelry, and mummified human remains.

In Hyde Park, a winding lake called the Serpentine is set amid immaculate landscaping of green lawns, attractive gardens, and stately shade trees. The 470-acre Regent's Park is the site of the London Zoological Gardens. In Greenwich, four miles east of London, the clipper ship Cutty Sark is now a maritime museum. Named after a witch in a poem by Robert Burns, the Cutty Sark was launched in Scotland in 1869 to carry Chinese tea and Australian wool back to England. Next to the restored clipper ship is a small sailboat, Gipsy Moth IV, in which Sir Francis Chichester circumnavigated the globe alone. Greenwich Park is located on the site of the original Naval Observatory, marking the location of the prime meridian.

Hampton Court, a Tudor palace located 13 miles west of London, was built in the 1500s for Cardinal Wolsey, the chancellor to King Henry VIII. When it was completed, the castle was occupied not by the Cardinal but by the King. Inside, the castle is adorned with interesting paintings and tapestries, and, outside, the grounds are covered by scenic gardens and a maze. The Astronomical Clock, made by Nicholas Oursian in 1540 to increase the accuracy of navigational calculations, is also displayed inside the palace.

The city of Oxford, located 57 miles northeast of London, is over one thousand years old. The two main thoroughfares, The Broad and The High, are among the most scenic in England. The spires of masjectic Oxford University, the oldest university in Britain, can be viewed from the surrounding hills. Canterbury, in the south of England, is the site of medieval architecture, including Canterbury Cathedral, the historic center of the Anglican Church.

Dover, on the southeastern coast, is best known for its white cliffs, but it is also the principal gateway to Europe by ferry boat. Travelers can cross the English Channel to Calais, France, to connect by train or motorcoach to other points on the European mainland. The New Forest, near Southampton, is a tranquil woodland preserve with moss-covered trees, stone footpaths, and a diversity of birdlife.

The area west of London, called the West Country, is rich in contrast. Bath, built as a health spa by the Romans, is a historic city with cobblestone streets, elegant fountains, and quaint Georgian houses. In the Cotswalds, travelers can visit charming old English villages with thatched-roof houses built of limestone. Stonehenge is an ancient stand of stones on Salisbury Plain. The construction method and purpose of these primitive structures have puzzled archaeologists for centuries.

Drama enthusiasts can visit Shakespeare's birthplace at Stratford-on-Avon and see his plays performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the banks of the river Avon. The property where Shakespeare was born in 1564 has been a national shrine since 1847. The Shakespeare Centre, a library and study center, was opened next door in 1964. In Cambridge, in eastern England, the University of Cambridge is the site of historic architecture, peaceful gardens, and spacious green lawns.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is a leading financial and industrial center. It is also one of the most scenic and sophisticated cities in Britain, with winding streets, Edinburgh Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland. The city was built around its castle, with natural defenses provided by a sheer cliff on three sides.

Until the late eighteenth century, the city was confined to a one- square-mile area, now known as Old Town. A low hill between the castle and the estuary of the river Forth is the site of New Town, where the city began to expand. The oldest remaining part of Edinburgh Castle is a twelfth-century chapel. Other noteworthy attractions in Edinburgh include Holyrood Park, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and the Georgian House, a replica of a late eighteenth-century manor.

The Royal Mile leads from Edinburgh Castle through the heart of Old Edinburgh to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama is held annually in late summer. St. Andrews, located across the river Forth, is a university town known as the birthplace of golf. Famous golf courses are found in St. Andrews, Gleagles, Muirfield, Troon, and Turnberry. The Botanic Gardens, with scenic walkways and secluded sitting areas, is filled with business people at lunch time.

Wales is known as a destination for outdoors enthusiasts, with opportunities for fishing, sailing, and hiking. Sightseeing in this area is focused on superb scenery and on historic castles such as Caerphilly Castle, northwest of Cardiff, and Caernarvon, the official seat of the Prince of Wales. Visitors often find the Welsh people, who have retained much of their individuality and culture, to be the most interesting aspect of the region.

Country Profile

The westernmost landmass of Western Europe, the British Isles, is formed by two countries, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of the kingdoms of England and Scotland, the principality of Wales, and Northern Ireland. Although the proper name is the United Kingdom, the country is commonly known as Great Britain.

England is the seat of the nation's government, finance, and culture. Though relatively small in size, England is densely populated. The countryside is scenic and varied. Sightseeing is docused on monuments, cathedrals, castles, and artistic treasures of one of history's great empires.

Much of the land in England is flat, forming meadowlands and pastures, and less than 10 percent of the area is covered by woodlands. The Cotswolds--high, bare hills patterned by stone walls--are located at the source of the principal river, the Thames (pronounced "Temms"). Western England is covered with high, rolling hills, whereas much of Scotland is mountainous.

Celtic peoples inhabited England before Julius Caesar invaded the island in 55 B.C. Called Britannia by the Romans, England did not become part of the Roman empire until A.D. 43. The fortified camp of Londoninium, which eventually became the city of London, was developed into a thriving seaport. After the Romans withdrew in A.D. 410, peoples called the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons conquered much of England, while Celtic peoples thrived in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Although Viking invaders established settlements in the eighth century, Britain remained largely isolated until 1066, when William the Conqueror led a successful invasion from France.

The United Kingdom has the sixth largest economy in the world. London is an important financial center of Europe and the world's largest insurance market.