There are many interesting facts about England that everyone knows. But you may not be aware of many of them. Today we will check your erudition by telling you the most interesting of them. You might even be able to tell us more. interesting information about this country.

The famous hero from the books and films, Robin Hood, really lived. No one knows in detail what his real life was like. Maybe in films they are even more interesting than the real ones. And yet there are many doubts that this hero took only from the rich and gave everything to the poor.

In the middle of the seventeenth century, Oliver Cromwell ordered the banning of Christmas in England. He was convinced that the custom of going from house to house in search of food and shelter, as well as raising glasses for the owners of the dwelling, contradicted the canons of religion. Christmas was returned only after he was removed from power.

The very first zoo on the planet appeared in London in 1826. The most popular animal in it was an elephant named Jumbo. Then the elephant was sold to the circus and sent to the United States. Rumor has it that Darwin regularly visited the zoo. An orangutan also lived there.

England has two flags - white with the cross of St. George and the State of the United Kingdom, in which the flags of Scotland, England and Ireland were combined. A more popular second option, but the first can be seen in sports.

England is the largest and the richest country of Great Britain. The capital of England is London but there are other large industrial cities, such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and other famous and interesting cities such as York, Chester, Oxford and Cambridge. Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric places in the world. This ancient circle of stones stands in Southwest England. It measures 80 meters across and made with massive blocks of stone up to four meters high. Why it was built is a mystery.

Not far from Stonehenge stands Salisbury Cathedral. It is a splendid example of an English Gothic Cathedral; inside there is one of four copies of Magna Charta and the oldest clock in England. Chester is very important town in the north-west of England. In the past it used to be a Roman fort; its name comes from the Latin word castra, meaning "fortified camp". In Chester there is a famous museum which contains over 5000 ancient and modern toys.

Oxford is the home of the oldest university of England. The most famous college is Christ Church. It has a great hall which was built during the reign of Henry VIII and its chapel has become the Cathedral of Oxford. Cambridge is the home of Britain "s second oldest university. York was the capital of Northern England. It is one of the best preserved medieval cities of Europe. It was built by Romans, conquered by Anglo-Saxons and ruled by the Vikings. Birmingham is often called the "City of 1,500 trades" because of the great variety of its industries.

Text translation: England - England

England is the largest and richest country in Great Britain. The capital of England is London; but there are other important cities, such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester and other famous and interesting cities such as York, Chester, Oxford and Cambridge. Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. It is an ancient stone circle located in the southeast of England. Its diameter is 30 meters, and it is made of massive stone blocks up to four meters high. Why it was built is a mystery.

Not far from Stonehenge is Salisbury Cathedral. This is a fine example of an English Gothic cathedral; it contains one of four copies of the Magna Carta and the oldest clock in England. Chester is a very important city in the northwest of England. In the past, it was a Roman fort; its name comes from the Latin word "castra", which means "fortified camp". In Chester there is a famous museum, which contains more than 5,000 ancient and modern toys.

Oxford is home to England's oldest university. The most famous college is Christ Church. It retains a hall built during the reign of Henry VIII, and its chapel became Oxford Cathedral. Cambridge is home to the second oldest British university. York was the capital of Northern England. Now it is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. It was built by the Romans, conquered by the Anglo-Saxons and ruled by the Vikings. Birmingham is often referred to as the "city of 1,500 crafts" due to its large number of industries.

References:
1.100 Topics of Oral English (Kaverina V., Boyko V., Zhidkikh N.) 2002
2. English for schoolchildren and university applicants. Oral exam. Topics. Reading texts. Exam questions. (Tsvetkova I.V., Klepalchenko I.A., Myltseva N.A.)
3. English, 120 Topics. English language, 120 conversational topics. (Sergeev S.P.)

Great britain
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consists of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and above five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 315,000 square kilometers. The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast respectively.

The British isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles varies very much. The north of Scotland is mountainous and is called Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called Lowlands. The north and west of England are mountainous, but all the rest - east, center and southeast - is a vast plain. Mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain. (1343 m.)

There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.

The UK is one of the world’s smallest countries. The population of the country is over 87 million and about 80% of it is urban. The UK is highly developed industrial country. It’s known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. The UK is constitutional monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen, but in practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

There are three main political parties in Great Britain: the Labor, the Conservative and the Liberal parties. The Liberal party is the ruling party nowadays.

[ translation ]

United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located in the British Isles. The British Isles are made up of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and over five thousand small islands. Their total area is over 315,000 square kilometers. The UK is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, respectively.

The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The west coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The surface of the British Isles is very diverse. The north of Scotland is mountainous and called the Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England is mountainous, but everything else - east, center and southeast - is a vast plain. The mountains are not very high. Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain. (1343 m)

There are many rivers in the UK, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the deepest and most important.

Great Britain is one of the smallest countries in the world. The population of the country is over 87 million people and approximately 80% of them live in cities. Great Britain is a highly industrialized country. It is known as one of the world's largest manufacturers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textiles, aircraft and navigation equipment. Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. By law, the head of state is the Queen, but in practice, the Queen rules, but does not rule. The country is governed by an elected government headed by a prime minister. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Despite its conservatism, Great Britain is extremely interesting country with a rich history. It includes countries such as England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most of the territory is occupied by England. The busiest cities in England are considered to be Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. Each of these cities has its own attractions, so there has never been a shortage of tourists here.

The educational institutions of Oxford and Cambridge are considered the most popular among students. It is considered prestigious to be educated at one of these universities. There is an opinion that the British are somewhat prim people, but this is not entirely true. The British are very polite and calm people. Punctuality and modesty are another hallmark of the Englishman.

The official language of Great Britain is English. Despite the fact that the Catholic religion prevails in Great Britain, there are many other religions here: there are many Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Baptists.

Traffic in the UK is left-hand, and the least expensive way to travel around the country is the intercity bus. The inhabitants of the country use a voltage of 240 volts. To use the usual technique, you will have to use a special adapter.

The most inexpensive view telephone communication is a pay phone, for the use of which telephone cards, or coins, with a face value of 10 pence are used. In local shops, you can often get on a sale of some product.

Great Britain is widely known for the abundance of various museums. Most of them are located in London, the capital of Great Britain. When visiting London museums, it is better to use the services of a guide. You can distinguish it by the presence of a special blue badge on the jacket.

The climate in Great Britain is predominantly humid, with frequent rains. When visiting this country, it is recommended to get an umbrella, waterproof shoes, jacket or raincoat.

In Great Britain, it is customary to leave a tip for service in restaurants and cafes. On average, the tip is about 10-15% of the order. For taxi services, a tip is 10% of the meter reading. It is not customary to leave a tip in the theater or at a gas station.

You can take a break from the bustle of the city in the incredibly picturesque countryside. Vast pastures, magnificent forested valleys, slow rivers and coasts will leave no one indifferent.

For those who study English, it is useful to learn more about the culture, traditions, values ​​of the UK. This will allow you to better understand the people who live there.

It doesn't matter whether you are visiting the country for business, on a tourist trip, for study, or simply found an interlocutor for practice via the Internet, these tips and facts will show you the way to more effective communication.

1. French has been the official language in the UK for 300 years.
2. 25% of people living in London were not born in the UK.
3. More than 30,000 people living in England are named John Smith.
4. The form of government on the island is a parliamentary monarchy. This means that the government is elected by the citizens and has more power than the monarch, whose role is more representative. The head of government is the prime minister.
5. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also have a local government that is responsible for domestic policy and business in the spheres of health, education, culture, transport, environment.
6. The United Kingdom is gradually leaving the European Union.
7. England gave the world rugby and polo.
8. Windsor Castle is the largest royal residence in the world.
9. - the first city in which the metro appeared.
10. Notable UK musicians: The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Radiohead, Coldplay, Pink Floyd.

1. Great Britain is an island state that includes 4 countries: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
2. On English language is spoken by over 70% of the inhabitants of the United Kingdom. Other languages ​​are also spoken on the island: Welsh (Wales), Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (Scotland), Irish and Ulster-Scottish (Ireland).
3. The Irish, Scots and Welsh are very proud of their countries and roots and do not like being called British. And still less make the mistake of calling them English.
4. , a complex of stone structures in the Salisbury Plain, built around 3000 BC.
5. Big Ben is not actually a clock, but the largest bell inside the tower of Westminster Palace.
6. London was founded by the Romans after their invasion in 43. Then the city was called Londinium.
7. The first hot chocolate shop opens in London.
8. More than 300 people are spoken in England.
9. The population of Great Britain is more than 63 million people, of which 53 million live in England.
10. The British are a reserved people who love privacy. Even friends don't ask questions about relationships or finances.

1. The capital of England and Great Britain is London, the capital of Wales is Cardiff, Scotland is Edinburgh, Northern Ireland is Belfast.
2. The monetary currency is the pound sterling.
3. The most widespread religion is Christianity. Although people of completely different religions live throughout the UK.
4. The United Kingdom covers about 245,000 square kilometers, stretching from the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland down to the southwest of England and across the sea to Northern Ireland.
5. The geography of Great Britain ranges from verdant meadows and forests to moorlands and mountains. The highest mountain Ben Nevis is located in Scotland, its height is 1344 meters.
6. Great Britain has an incredible history dating back to 6500 BC. All over Britain you will find monuments of history, from Stonehenge to Buckingham Palace.
7. The UK is home to nearly 30 cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among these cities: Edinburgh, Canterbury, Chester, Oxford, York.
8. The UK is one of the leading countries in the world in starting and doing business.
9. The United Kingdom is one of the world's top manufacturers, ranked first in information technology, science, and the creative industry.
10. In the 18th century, the British Empire occupied 20% of the world's surface and had a quarter of the world's population.

1. In Britain, children start their studies at 4-5 years old, attending primary school(Primary School). Then they go through several stages of education until the age of 16-18
2. Until 1832, there were only 2 universities in England - Oxford and Cambridge.
3. The British city of York is considered the most haunted city in Europe and one of several in the world. About 500 cases of ghosts have been registered in the city.
4. The Queen of England is the only British citizen who travels without a passport.
5. Golf is the national Scottish game. The earliest mention of him is 1457.
6. Robin Hood was not a real person. This is a collective image based on real criminals of medieval England, whose stories were woven together by storytellers and minstrels.
7. The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Each circle takes 30 minutes.
8. Until 1877, lecturers at Oxford University were not allowed to marry, and women only from 1920 were able to obtain university degrees.
9. J.K. Rowling, author of books about, the world's first billionaire writer. The series has sold 400 million copies in England and around the world. The books have been published in 55 languages, including Ancient Greek and Latin.
10. The world's first record store opened in 1894 in Cardiff, Wales.

1. Cheshire is the name of one of the oldest videos of English cheeses. It has been on the menu since Roman times.
2. is one of many traditions that has its roots in pagan Scottish traditions. October 31st was an important date in the Celtic calendar. On this day, the day of all saints was celebrated, when the spirits returned to persecute the living.
3. About 30 million Americans believe they are of Scottish descent. Among them: Theodore Roosevelt, Presidents Bush, Marilyn Monroe.
4. Scottish (Gaelic) is one of the Celtic languages ​​that has survived to this day. The other three are Welsh, Irish, Cornish (located), Breton (in France).
5. Famous English scientists - Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking.
6. British inventor and scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
7. One of the most influential and famous poets in England is William Shakespeare. During his lifetime, not a single portrait of him was written.
8. The official home of the British monarch in London is Buckingham Palace. Until now, there is a changing of the guard ceremony every other day (every day - from April to July), which attracts tourists.
9. The Olympic Summer Games were held in London 3 times - in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
10. Football (soccer), rugby and cricket are the most popular sports in England.

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