Student Guide to Exploring the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, or the UK, consists of four nations: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. It offers various cities, green spaces, and a rich cultural heritage. Although diverse, the UK is not a large country, and therefore, getting around is easy, with good rail and road links.
We have put the following information together to help you get a taste of places to explore should you study in the UK. Please bear in mind that the information we have collected is only a fraction of the sights, cities and places to explore here.
England
England is a fertile land with rich soils and abundant rivers and streams. It was once the centre of the worldwide Industrial Revolution and was, for many years, the most industrialized country in the world. London, England's capital, is a thriving cultural melting pot and political, cultural, and economic wealth hub.
The country is a popular tourist destination, is well known for its leading education system, and boasts some of the most reputable universities in the world.
England is an island protected by seas that form a natural barrier, which has prevented the country from being successfully invaded for the last 1,000 years.
Interesting facts about England:
- Sparkling wine was first invented in England. When Frenchman Dom Perignon started making Champagne, the process already existed in England, making the English the inventors of sparkling wine.
- Nearly 1 billion people worldwide speak English. It is the world's most popular second language and the "lingua franca" of business.
- An English scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, invented the internet as we know it today. Berners-Less invented the “WWW”, known as the World Wide Web.
- Queue jumping can be illegal in England. We all know that English people love to queue, but did you know that jumping the queue at London Transport ticket machines can result in a fine of up to £1000?
- Birmingham is the UK's second-largest city, and over 30 places worldwide are named after it. There is also a crater named Birmingham on the Moon!
These four most popular UK destinations offer a mix of urban excitement, historical depth, and natural beauty, making them popular with a wide range of tourists.
Wales
Wales is part of the United Kingdom and has just over three million people. With over 2,700 km of coastline, Wales is mainly mountainous, with Snowdon its highest peak.
Two-thirds of the Welsh people live in the south of Wales; Cardiff and Swansea are larger urban centres. Although most people speak English, Wales has its language (Welsh).
Wales is renowned for Its choirs and is known as the "land of song." Rugby is considered an essential part of Welsh culture.
Weird Fact: Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch is the name of a town in Wales and is the longest name of any city in the world.
Scotland
Scotland is a country and one of the four nations of the United Kingdom. Located in the northern third of Great Britain, Scotland shares a border with England to the south and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Scotland has over 790 islands that can be found off the coast.
Edinburgh and Glasgow are the two biggest cities in Scotland. Scottish people make up just under 10% of the UK population. Scotland has its own legal and education systems, which differ from those of England. The Scottish people are fiercely proud of their identity and have a reputation for having a great sense of humour.
Fun Fact: The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn!
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is a rolling green country known for its rich history and myths. It is home to the Giant's Causeway, a coastal spot where volcanic activity has shaped uniquely hexagonal rocks. Northern Ireland's people are friendly and welcoming. The capital is Belfast, which is famous for constructing the RMS Titanic ship.
Northern Ireland has a population of only 3% of the UK's, making it the least populated country after Scotland.
Fun Fact: The popular TV show Game of Thrones was primarily filmed in Northern Ireland.
UK Cities to Visit
Please take advantage of your stay with us by taking the time out from your studies to explore some of Britain's famous cities.
For more information, please get in touch with us!
