United Kingdom

Capital of United Kingdom: London
Population of United Kingdom: 62,698,362
Total area of United Kingdom: 243,610 km2

The United Kingdom is also called the United Kingdom of Great Britain. It is an island nation located in Northwestern Europe. Its flag is a blue background with an 8 pointed design, including a red cross and a red X-shaped designed outlined in white. Its coat of arms is ornate and consists of a flanking lion and unicorn with a crown on top and a lion atop the crown.

United Kingdom population

The population of the UK is about 61 million, making it the third largest country in the European Union. It is one of the most densely populated countries in the entire world with about 383 people per square kilometer. Most people live in or near London, its capital and largest city. The fertility rate is relatively high at 1.96 children per woman. Eighty five percent of the population is white British with other whites making up another 5 percent. A small percentage of immigrants live in the UK and are Indian, Pakistani, Irish, mixed race and black. The white British people are descended from the Celts, Romans and Anglo-Saxons. The official language is English but a few people speak Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and a Cornish language. The vast majority of English are Christian but other religions make up a good minority, including Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism.  

History of United Kingdom

It was settled as early as 30,000 years ago by prehistoric tribes. It was taken over by Rome in 43 CE and ruled Britain for 400 years. It was settled then by Anglo-Saxons. It became the Kingdom of England in the 900s. Normans invaded the country and settled there in some parts in 1066. The country was under feudalism and medieval kings throughout the next few centuries. It fought with France in the Hundred Years War. Wales later became part of the Kingdom of England as was Northern Ireland. The kingdom of Great Britain came into power in 1707, uniting Scotland and England. It was a country that fueled the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. It took over India as a settlement. The two kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain united in 1801. It dominated in trade and became a world power in the 1800s and 1900s. It was part of the Allies in both WWI and WWII.

United Kingdom Tourism

Many visitors targeting continental Europe almost instantly think of the United Kingdom.  The four nations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, offers a wide range of leisure and sightseeing options. The famous British rain usually lasts no more than three hours during which visitors can happily visit museums, castles, Roman baths and cathedrals.  The rest of the day is warm and damp during summers and pleasantly cold during winters. Generally, the weather allows visiting attractions that are just too many to mention. The Stonehenge, London and Liverpool are archeological, cultural, fashion and musical meccas in England which also boasts of rough shoreline and swathes of national parkland.  Edinburgh’s art festivals and Glasgow’s music scene add excitement to hiking Scotland Highlands.   Cardiff and Birmingham and Manchester are just as exhilarating and increasingly drawing tourists. Northern Ireland's verdant and rolling countryside is as intoxicating as its pubs that are vibrant and bustling with nightlife.

Although English is spoken throughout UK, local people speak several different dialects which can be different in both pronunciation and vocabulary. Elderly people tend to have thick unintelligible accents so it’s best to ask younger people for directions. British people can be formal. They don’t talk to strangers on first-name basis. They apologize a lot and often ask indirect questions to avoid sounding rude. Personal space is also important that’s why they sometimes do not sit next to strangers if there are enough seats. Referring to the Scottish and Welsh as English can offend but not necessarily serious. At worst, visitors will just be reminded that about the differences between the nationalities.