Britain in Focus

Travel Facts

Official name: The United Kingdom of Great Britain
Total land area: 94,249 square miles (244,103 square kilometers)
Languages: English is the official language, but Welsh and Gaelic are also spoken.
Currency: British pound (GBP)
Capital city: London
Time: London is +0 GMT (+5 EST)
Population: 57 million
Major cities: London (6.7 million), Birmingham (1 million).
Principal airlines: British Airways (BA), British Midland (BD), Virgin Atlantic (VS)
Gateways: Heathrow Airport (LHR), 12 miles west of London, and Gatwick Airport (LGW), 25 miles south of the city, handle most international flights. Stansted (STN) is located 35 miles north of the city. Heathrow is a major European hub and serves as the point of entry for the majority of international flights. American, Delta, United, Air Canada, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and several European carriers provide direct flights from points in the continental U.S. Depending on the carrier, numerous U.S. gateways can be used, including any of the New York area airports, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Transportation: The Piccadilly line provides underground train service between Heathrow and the city. The InterCity network connects London to other major towns and cities. When railworkers are not on strike, the Britrail system is fast, safe, and comfortable. Reservations are not usually necessary. Bus service is efficient and inexpensive. Good, high-speed, multi-lane motorways emanate from London throughout the British Isles. Taxicabs and rental cars are widely available at the airports and in the cities. Driving is on the left.
Accommodations: British hotels vary significantly in price and quality, ranging from luxury hotels to bed and breakfast inns. Most lodging establishments include a breakfast of tea and toast. Bed and breakfast inns are common and inexpensive.
Climate: The British Isles have a temperate but unpredictable climate. Consistent levels of rainfall occur throughout the year, with an average of 11 to 18 days of rain per month. London is famous for fog--justifiably--and winters are usually cold and damp.

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 Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park districts are bustling tourism areas. 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.

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. The Astronomical Clock, made by Nicholas Oursian in 1540 to increase the accuracy of navigational calculations, is also displayed inside the palace.

Dover, on the southeastern coast, is best known for its white cliffs, but it is also the principal gateway to Europe by ferry boat. 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.

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. The Royal Mile leads from Edinburgh Castle through the heart of Old Edinburgh to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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.