The The United United Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland
TheThe UnitedUnited Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
TheThe UnitedUnited Kingdom of Great Britain Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The British Isles are a group The British Isles are a group
of islands on the north-west coast of islands on the north-west coast of the continent of the continent
of Europe. of Europe.
The largest islands are The largest islands are
Great Britain and IrelandGreat Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
England, Wales and England, Wales and Scotland are in Scotland are in
the Great Britain.the Great Britain.
Northern Ireland is Northern Ireland is
in the north-eastern in the north-eastern part of Ireland.part of Ireland.
The larger part The larger part
of Ireland is of Ireland is
the Irish Republic.the Irish Republic.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The British Isles The British Isles
have many rivers, have many rivers,
but but
they are not very they are not very long:long:
- the Severnthe Severn- the Thamesthe Thames- and so on.and so on.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
There are many There are many beautiful lakes beautiful lakes
in Scotland and north-in Scotland and north-west England. west England.
As a rule, there is no ice As a rule, there is no ice
on the lakes on the lakes
and and
rivers in winter.rivers in winter.
The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britainand Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
There are no There are no
high mountains on high mountains on these islands.these islands.
The highest mountain The highest mountain in Scotland – Ben in Scotland – Ben Nevis (1,343 meters Nevis (1,343 meters high)high)
The highest mountain The highest mountain in Wales – Snowdon in Wales – Snowdon (1,085 meters high)(1,085 meters high)
The United Kingdom of Great The United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Irelandand Northern IrelandThe climate of The climate of
the British Isles is the British Isles is
not very cold in not very cold in winter and never winter and never
very hot in summer. very hot in summer. All parts of All parts of
the British Isles the British Isles
get a lot of rain get a lot of rain
in all seasons.in all seasons.
The United Kingdom of Great The United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Irelandand Northern IrelandThere are four nationalities There are four nationalities
which have their own which have their own
language and culture: language and culture:
the English, the Irish, the the English, the Irish, the Welsh, the Scottish. Welsh, the Scottish.
The population of the The population of the
the United Kingdom of Great the United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland
is almost 56 mln.is almost 56 mln.
The United Kingdom of Great The United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland London, the capital, is one of London, the capital, is one of
many important industrial many important industrial centers. Clothes, food, planes, centers. Clothes, food, planes, cars are made in and around cars are made in and around London. It is 2000 years old.London. It is 2000 years old.
Many years ago Many years ago
London was a smallLondon was a small
town on the town on the
Thames. Now Thames. Now
London is London is
a beautiful city.a beautiful city.
The United Kingdom of Great The United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The oldest part of the capital is the “City of London”, The oldest part of the capital is the “City of London”, it makes about 1 square mile. it makes about 1 square mile.
Many monuments of London’s history are in the City. Many monuments of London’s history are in the City.
London has many theatres and concert halls, London has many theatres and concert halls,
galleries and museums. galleries and museums.
The United Kingdom of Great The United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
In London there are many historical places In London there are many historical places which are the most interesting and popular which are the most interesting and popular
among the Londoners and among the Londoners and foreign tourists from different countries.foreign tourists from different countries.
The United Kingdom of Great The United Kingdom of Great BritainBritain
and Northern Irelandand Northern IrelandBefore railways were Before railways were
built in Britain, built in Britain, canals had been canals had been made to join one made to join one river to another, river to another, and canal boat and canal boat carried goods carried goods between the between the
industrial centers industrial centers and the seaports.and the seaports.
StonehengeStonehengeStonehenge is the most Stonehenge is the most mysterious structure in mysterious structure in
the world. It is situated in the world. It is situated in the South of England. The the South of England. The largest of its stones weigh largest of its stones weigh 50 tons, and the smallest 50 tons, and the smallest
– 5 tons. It had been – 5 tons. It had been building during 6 hundred building during 6 hundred
years. The sun and the years. The sun and the stones at Stonehenge let stones at Stonehenge let
Druids know when the Druids know when the months and seasons start.months and seasons start.
The Tower of LondonThe Tower of LondonThe Tower of London is the The Tower of London is the
most famous of all the most famous of all the historical buildings in historical buildings in
London. It stands today London. It stands today almost unchanged since it almost unchanged since it
was built in the 11was built in the 11thth century. It was a fortress, century. It was a fortress, a royal palace and later a a royal palace and later a prison. But today it is a prison. But today it is a
museum. There are a lot museum. There are a lot of interesting collections in of interesting collections in
the Tower of London.the Tower of London.
The Tower of LondonThe Tower of LondonThe black ravens that live in the The black ravens that live in the
gardens of the Tower now are gardens of the Tower now are another famous sight. The another famous sight. The
legend says that without them legend says that without them the Tower will fall. The Raven the Tower will fall. The Raven
Master is the person who gives Master is the person who gives them food. them food.
Many people from other Many people from other countries come to see the countries come to see the Tower. They see the dark Tower. They see the dark
stone halls with small windows stone halls with small windows and thick doors. The walls of and thick doors. The walls of
the Tower are five metres the Tower are five metres thick. In the museum they can thick. In the museum they can
see many old guns.see many old guns.
St. Paul’s CathedralSt. Paul’s CathedralIt is the second famous It is the second famous
church. St. Paul’s Cathedral church. St. Paul’s Cathedral is the greatest work of is the greatest work of
England’s greatest architect, England’s greatest architect, Christopher Wren. The Christopher Wren. The Cathedral was begun in Cathedral was begun in
1675. 1675.
It was opened in 1697 but It was opened in 1697 but was finished only in 1710, when Wren was finished only in 1710, when Wren
was almost 80 years old. There are memorials was almost 80 years old. There are memorials to many famous men of England in the Cathedral.to many famous men of England in the Cathedral.
Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is in Trafalgar Square is in
the centre of the West End the centre of the West End of London. In the centre of London. In the centre there is Nelson’s Column there is Nelson’s Column
with the figure of the with the figure of the great seaman who great seaman who
defeated the French at the defeated the French at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Trafalgar Square is the Trafalgar Square is the place where mass place where mass
meetings and meetings and demonstrations take demonstrations take
place. place.
Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus is a Piccadilly Circus is a
square in the central square in the central part of London. It is part of London. It is the meeting point of the meeting point of six streets. London’s six streets. London’s best-known theatres best-known theatres
and cinemasand cinemas
and most famous restaurants are on and most famous restaurants are on Piccadilly Circus. In the square you can see Piccadilly Circus. In the square you can see people of many nationalities and hear a lot people of many nationalities and hear a lot
of different languages.of different languages.
The Houses of ParliamentThe Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament in The Houses of Parliament in London, known also as London, known also as
the Palace of Westminster, is the Palace of Westminster, is
the place where the place where
members of members of
Parliament gather Parliament gather
to make laws. to make laws.
The Houses of Parliament is The Houses of Parliament is
a very large building which a very large building which stands near the Thames. stands near the Thames.
Big BenBig Ben
The bell weights 13 tons. The bell weights 13 tons. The man in charge of the The man in charge of the building was Sir Benjamin building was Sir Benjamin Hall. He was very tall, so Hall. He was very tall, so
the workers called him Big the workers called him Big Ben. It strikes every hour.Ben. It strikes every hour.
There are two tall There are two tall towers at the corners towers at the corners
of the building and of the building and one of them is the one of them is the Clock Tower. It was Clock Tower. It was built in 1858 by the built in 1858 by the
English people. English people.
Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey It is a royal church. It is a royal church.
Westminster Abbey is the Westminster Abbey is the historic building in London to historic building in London to which every visitor sooner or which every visitor sooner or
later goes. later goes.
The Abbey was founded The Abbey was founded in the 11in the 11thth century. century.
Many of Great Britain’s Many of Great Britain’s famous men are buried famous men are buried in Westminster Abbey.in Westminster Abbey.