|  United Kingdom
- Accession to the EU: 1973
- Accession to the Council of Europe: 1949
- Surface area: 243 305 km2
- Population: 61,6 million
- Capital city: London (7,6 Million inhabitants)
- Official languages: English
- Listen to
- Main religion: Anglicanism
- Currency: Pound Sterling
- Political system: Constitutional Monarchy
- Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)
- Head of government: David Cameron (prime minister, since 2010) Conservative Party
- International code: + 44
- National holiday: 14 June (official anniversary of the queen)
 The Tower Bridge, London
©Britain on view.com The Hundred Years War against France during the 14th century was a major event in British history. This led to a civil war, referred to as the Wars of the Roses, which saw the House of York fighting against the House of Lancaster, and which weakened the power of the English aristocracy. - 1801 Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland: creation of the United Kingdom.
- 1837 Queen Victoria becomes queen at the age of just 18.
- 1854 The United Kingdom participates in the Crimean War along with the France of Napoleon III.
- 1901 Edward VII becomes king.
- 1904 Signature of the “Entente Cordiale” with France.
- 1907 Signature of the Triple Entente with France and Russia.
- 1914 The United Kingdom declares war on Germany.
- 1922 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- 1931 Official creation of the Commonwealth, which is based on free co-operation between the countries of the former British Empire. All of the Member States acknowledge allegiance to the monarch of the United Kingdom.
- 1937 Crowning of King George VI.
- 1939 The United Kingdom enters the Second World War alongside France and Poland.
- 1949 The United Kingdom is a founder member of NATO.
- 1952 Elizabeth II becomes Queen, following the death of her father George VI.
- 1973 The United Kingdom joins the EEC.
- 1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigns and is replaced by John Major.
- 1997 Tony Blair’s Labour party wins the general elections.
- 2007 Gordon Brown, member of the labour party won against his rival Tony Blair, head of the government and also labour member.
 "Big Ben", the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, London
©Britain on view.com Located in the south-east of England, London remains a popular destination for travellers from the world over. With its 1500 km2 and 33 districts, the capital offers a huge range of activities including the cinema, concerts and museums. A stylish, cultural city, London has been the scene of numerous artistic experiments. The English capital is also a gigantic administrative centre, and its business district, “The City”, attracts some of the world’s largest groups and has ensured that the capital enjoys an impressive international reputation. London contains numerous architectural masterpieces including the Palace of Westminster, the headquarters of the British Parliament, with its famous clock tower (98 metres in height) and its bells (Big Ben), Whitehall (the headquarters of the British government), Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace (the official residence of the royal family), the Law Courts, the National Gallery and the Tate Britain. London is also a communications hub, accessible by river via the Thames, by rail with the Eurostar line running through the Channel Tunnel or by air with its Heathrow Airport, currently the largest airport in Europe.  Joanne Kathleen Rowling ©RichardYoung During recent years, Joanne Kathleen Rowling (J.K. Rowling), has succeeded in capturing the hearts and imagination not only of children but also of adults. As the creator of the character Harry Potter, an apprentice sorcerer at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the magical world surrounding him, the author has become known the world over,
leading to an upsurge of “Pottermania” which so far remains unabated. The adaptation of the story of Harry Potter as a series of cinema films with Potter played on screen by Daniel Radcliffe, has significantly boosted this phenomenon. The work of J.K. Rowling, which is supposed to tell the story of the hero’s adventures over seven novels, has been translated into 61 languages with 300 million copies being sold in 200 countries. The adventure still continues today, and millions of fans are waiting with bated breath for the publication of the last two volumes... which are said to be well hidden in a secret place known only to the writer!  Rugby match
©Britain on view.com Everyone is familiar with the game of rugby but do you know anything about its history? According to legend, the game of rugby started life one day back in 1823 during a football match organised in the town of Rugby. William Webb Ellis took the ball in his hands and ran with it into the goal. This was the start of rugby’s illustrious history. From thereon, rugby began to distinguish itself from football, defining its own rules and creating its own institutions. Very quickly, the new game became popular in the other British nations and in France. The first international rugby match was held in 1871 in Edinburgh between England and Scotland, and the first Four Nations Tournament (between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales) was held in 1884. Since then, the tournament has expanded to take in two other countries (France and Italy), and is today known as the Six Nations Tournament. Since 1987, a Rugby World Cup has been organised every four years. Traditionally this is won by countries from the southern hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia or South Africa) but in 2003 the world cup was won for the first time by a European nation: England. The first traffic lights were set up in London in 1868. At the time, this took the form of a gas lamp fitted with a lever to change the colours. The device still required a little work, as just one month after it was installed, it exploded and injured the policeman who was operating it. England, Wales and Scotland form Great Britain. If you add Northern Ireland you have the United Kingdom (of which Ireland is not a part!).  Le Routemaster
©Britain on view.com London’s famous imperial red bus the Routemaster has become one of the most enduring symbols of the British capital. In 2004, the bus celebrated its 50th anniversary, which will probably be its last. Indeed, London’s council has decided to gradually withdraw the Routemaster from regular bus routes. Only around 30 will remain, to continue operating on tourist routes in the heart of the city. | |
