England

England => is by far the largest of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (together with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) - both in terms of surface area and population (about 50 million inhabitants out of about 60 million Britons).

Regions

Owing to its large size, the regions of England are several, diverse, and further sub-divided practically into a number of historic counties (as well as a patchwork of modern local administrative areas =>). The main recognised regions are (roughly south to north from London):

• London - a vast and diverse metropolitan region to itself, the capital city of both England and the United Kingdom, and a global capital of finance, fashion and culture
• the South East - broadly speaking, the area surrounding London
• the West Country - the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Avon, Devon, Wiltshire, and the Duchy of Cornwall
• East Anglia - the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire
• The Midlands - the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the cities of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry
• the East Midlands
• the West Midlands
• Yorkshire
• North West - including Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire
• the Lake District
• the North East

Cities

England has a large number of cities, towns and villages. Listed below are nine of the greatest interest to travelers:

• London - the capital city of both England and the United Kingdom, a vast metropolitan area, and a global capital of finance, fashion and culture

• Bath - historical city, stunning Georgian architecture and Roman thermal baths.
• Birmingham - the UK's second largest city is located in the Industrial heartland and many attractions for the traveller, considered Britain's "second city". Once tagged as ugly, the city has been regenerated, becoming a multi-cultural, diverse city.
• Bristol - largest city in South England (after London), vibrant music scene, historic buildings
• Cambridge - a very green city (lots of parkland), home to the ancient university, close to Stansted Airport
• Manchester - Considered England's second city by many, a cultural, sporting, entertainment, shopping and media hub.
• Newcastle upon Tyne - the major city in the North East has re-invented itself: great for clubbing and makes the most of its river
• Oxford - historical city, location of the world renowned University of Oxford and the "Dreaming Spires"
• York - historic city with Roman and Viking remains

Other destinations

• Isle of Wight
• Isles of Scilly
• Isle of Lundy
• Isle of Portland
• Canvey Island
• Golf in England

Understand

England is part of the United Kingdom, which is a constitutional monarchy, with a Queen (or King) as the head of state, and a Prime Minister as the democratically elected head of government. The Prime Minister is not elected as an individual. Instead the leader of the largest party in Parliament is invited to form a government, of which the leader typically becomes the Prime Minister.

Avoid confusing the terms England, UK, Britain and British Isles. Great Britain is the collective name for England, Scotland and Wales.

The British Isles is the collective term for the islands that include Great Britain, Ireland and many other small adjacent islands.

The UK refers to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (but not, of course, the Republic of Ireland).

The government in London contains elected representatives from throughout the UK. Following recent devolution, Scotland and Wales have their own elected parliaments with some law-making and tax-setting powers. England has no national government though and is directly governed by the UK government.

Climate

Get in

By plane

England has numerous airports:

The South

• London Gatwick
• London Heathrow - Largest airport in the UK
• London Stansted
• London Luton
• Southampton

The North

• Manchester International - Largest UK airport outside London
• Liverpool John Lennon
• Newcastle International
• Humberside International

The Midlands

• Birmingham International
• Nottingham East Midlands
• Coventry Airport

By train

The Eurostar links mainland Europe to England. Trains run from Paris and Brussels (via Lille, Calais and Ashford) to Waterloo Station in London.

By boat

With so much coastline and so many ports, England has extensive shipping links with many countries worldwide. Major ports are Dover, Folkestone, Harwich, Hull, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Liverpool, Ipswich and Newcastle.

Get around

England is well serviced by domestic air, land and sea routes.

There are taxi firms everywhere (many are by booking only - find the phone number of the local company and phone ahead), and every town has a bus service.

England has one of the highest densities of railway lines per square mile in the world. There has been much improvement and investment in recent years to the railway network and rolling stock but delays and cancellations do occasionally occur. Overcrowding can be a problem in large cities, especially at 'rush-hour' times (7am - 9am & 5pm - 7pm, Monday to Friday) so it is best to avoid these times when tickets can be expensive as well.

Buses are numerous, frequent and reliable in most of the larger towns and cities and an ideal way of getting around. Rural areas are less well served and hiring a car is the best option to explore the countryside and villages.

The speed limit, unless otherwise stated, is 60 mph (approx 95 kmph) on single carriageways and 70 mph (approx. 110 kmph) on dual carriageways. The traditional British 'reserve' and politeness may occasionally dissolve under the stress of congestion on the major routes, especially with the traffic problems in some of England's larger cities, but generally driving around Britain is an enjoyable experience and it is polite to acknowledge the courtesy of another driver with a nod or the raising of the hand as a form of thankyou.

Brown and white roadsigns indicate nearby tourist attractions, and the blue i sign denotes Tourist Information.

See

England has a huge and diverse range of attractions.

A number of 'umbrella' organisations are devoted to the preservation and public access of both natural and cultural heritage. Membership with them, even on a temporary basis, means priority free access to their properties thereafter - travellers to England seeking to see a large number of sights would do well to join one or more of them:

• English Heritage=>
• the National Trust =>

Eat

Although English food is much derided the world over, the country has produced some notable dishes, such as Beef Wellington and the sandwich (named after the Earl of Sandwich who invented the portable meal so he didn't have to leave the gambling table). Above all, the English are great adopters of other countries' cuisines, to the frequent exclusion of "native" options - as an example of this phenomenon, English opinion is currently divided as to whether the most popular dish is lasagna or chicken tikka masala (with the latter probably edging out the competition)....

Typical / traditional English food:

• Fish and chips - deep-fried, battered fish with French fried potatoes, often served with "mushy peas", tartare sauce, lashings of malt vinegar and a slice of lemon. Traditionally, it's wrapped in a newspaper when it is bought in a fish and chip shop to be transported home or eaten in the street.
• Yorkshire Pudding - a batter pudding served with a roast (usually beef); originally used instead of a plate and eaten with the meal
• Toad in the Hole - sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter
• Black Pudding - a sausage made from blood, oats and spices, can be eaten fried or raw.
• Steak and Kidney Pudding - a suet pudding made with beef steak and kidneys
• Lancashire Hotpot - a hearty vegetable and meat stew from Lancashire
• Cornish Pasty - beef and vegetables in a pastry case

Pubs are probably the best place to get reasonably priced food, though beware that they usually stop serving food at around 9-9:30pm. Pub food has become quite sophisticated in recent years and as well as serving the more traditional English food, more exotic dishes are now prepared in the majority of the larger pubs.

English food has recently undergone a revolution with many larger cities having award winning restaurants run by the many 'famous' and numerous TV chefs which have now become part of the recently acquired English obsession with food. Be prepared to pay for the experience!

If good quality and cheaply priced food is more your choice then try one of the many ethnic restaurants such as Chinese, Asian or Mexican. Eating a curry or balti in an Indian or Pakistani restaurant is tantamount to an English obsession. These restaurants are found everywhere, even the larger villages have them, and usually the food is of good quality and they will cater for most tastes though the emphasis is often on the spicy side. In the towns and cities these restaurants are usually open late (especially on a Friday and Saturday night) to cater for people eating after the pubs have closed. It is at this time that they can get very busy and lively, so if you want to avoid the crowds then visit the restaurants before the local pubs shut.

Unlike many other European countries, vegetarian and vegan food is widely available and appreciated in pubs and restaurants with several dishes usually appearing on the menu alongside the more normal meat and fish options.

Drink

England is home to a huge variety of alcoholic drinks. As well as wines and spirits (mainly imported, but some local), there is lager (light and fizzy), bitter (darker and bitter-tasting), ale (somewhat dark and aromatic) and stout (thick and dark) - local or imported.

Bitters and ales are the more "traditional" English drinks and come in a wide range of types, strengths and flavours. There are regional variations with each area having its own distinctive recipe. Traditional ale is not generally served warm as many people believe, but served at 'cool' cellar temperatures (8-12C).

There are pubs and bars everywhere. You would be hard pressed to find even a village that does not have at least one pub.

Licencing laws have recently been changed in England (November 2005) that now allow pubs more flexible opening hours, though as a general rule pubs close between 23:00 and midnight. However in most cities and many towns, centrally located pubs and bars will stay open later (until 1:00 or 2:00), especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Also, at public holiday times, many pubs extend their closing times - especially New Year's Eve.

Tea is widely drunk throughout the country, with milk and, depending on the individual's taste, sugar. There are many popular brands, including PG Tips and Tetley. In tea-rooms, less frequently seen these days, tea is traditionally accompanied by scones and jam or cake or biscuits.

Sleep

England offers the usual Western assortment of sleeping options including

• Hostels Both private institutions and those part of a hosteling networking (which may require membership so check ahead) usually offer dorm style accommodations, sometimes with a simple breakfast included (think toast and tea). Many hostels in popular destination cities fill up during the busy summer season, so try to book ahead or at least call before you arrive.
• Bed and Breakfasts can range from a single room in a private home to large historical buildings with dozens of rooms. In many towns the tourist office has a list of rooms available and can help you call around.

Buy

Currency is Pounds Sterling (GBP). Euros are sometimes accepted as well (particularly in larger stores), but it is best to assume otherwise.

Credit cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants. Visa and Mastercard signs are the most widely accepted, though debit cards with the Maestro logo are also taken. American Express cards are taken in fewer establishments, but most restaurants will accept it. Since 14th February 2006, Chip and PIN has become near-on compulsory, with only some companies still accepting signatures when paying by credit or debit cards.

Learn

England has many options for foreign students including language, history, and cultural programmes as well as advanced degrees at such well-known universities as Cambridge and Oxford. Students from countries within the European Union do not require a visa to study in England. Most cities have at least one institute of higher learning. Studying at a university in England will cost around £2,000 per year, whereas in Scotland and Wales, universities require no additional costs.

Work

Options for short-term employment include bar tending and waiting tables as well as more specialised work such as in the high tech / computer industry. Visitors from Commonwealth countries will have a much easier time getting a work permit, especially those under 30 as there are several programs.

Citizens of countries belonging to the European Union, plus other European countries such as Norway do not require a permit and are free to live and work in England.

Stay safe

England is generally a very safe place in which to live and visit, especially away from the major inner city areas where petty and alcohol-fuelled crime does occur - but if you use your common sense it will be highly unlikely that you will experience any of these.

Stay healthy

The local emergency telephone number is 999 and is without charge, however the EU-wide 112 can also be used. For advice on non-emergency medical problems, you can ring the 24 hour NHS Direct service on 0845 4647.

Emergencies can be dealt with under the NHS (National Health Service) at any hospital with a Casualty or A & E (Accident & Emergency) department. At A&E departments, be prepared to wait for up to 2-3 hours during busy periods before being given treament if your medical complaint is not too serious. Obviously, more serious ailments are usually treated immediately.

For advice on minor ailments and non-prescription drugs, you can ask a pharmacist (there are many high-street chemists).

Talk

Unsurprisingly, most people in England speak English, though with a surprisingly wide variety of regional accents and dialects which can make it hard for even native speakers to understand somebody from another part of the country.

Few (indigenous) English people speak a second language fluently. Most younger people are taught second languages such as French, German and Spanish whilst they were at school and because of this they usually will be able have at least a rudimentary grasp of one of these languages. But be prepared to have to use English to make yourself understood.

There are many foreign languages such as Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Greek, Turkish and Arabic spoken in some of the major cities such as London, Birmingham & Manchester due to the large ethnic populations that live there.

Respect

The English are in general a very polite and reserved people, and it is considered very bad manners not to say "please" or "thank you". The English say "please" and "thank you" (or "cheers") seemingly all the time. If in doubt, be polite. Unlike in many other European countries and in North America, a "thank you" will not often be greeted with a "you're welcome".

Holding doors (and countryside gates) open for people coming in the opposite direction or from behind is expected, though of course if they are nearer, they will open the door for you! If this happens then a "thank you" or "cheers" is an appropriate response.

It is customary to acknowledge other walkers when hiking in the countryside. This can be in the form of a "hello" or "Hi" or even a simple nod and smile.

It is said that the English invented queueing, and they become very annoyed if anyone jumps the line - although being reserved, some will do nothing more than glare and mutter under their breath.

Contact

See Contact entry under United Kingdom for national information on telephone, internet and postal services.

See Contact entries under individual cities for local information.

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