United Kingdom

1. TheThe UnitedUnited Kingdom of Great BritainKingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland

2. TheThe UnitedUnited Kingdom of Great BritainKingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The British Isles are aThe British Isles are a
groupgroup
of islands on the north-of islands on the north-
west coast of thewest coast of the
continentcontinent
of Europe.of Europe.
The largest islands areThe largest islands are
Great Britain andGreat Britain and
IrelandIreland

3. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
England, Wales andEngland, Wales and
Scotland are inScotland are in
the Great Britain.the Great Britain.
Northern Ireland isNorthern Ireland is
in the north-easternin the north-eastern
part of Ireland.part of Ireland.
The larger partThe larger part
of Ireland isof Ireland is
the Irish Republic.the Irish Republic.

4. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The British IslesThe British Isles
have many rivers,have many rivers,
butbut
they are not very long:they are not very long:
- the Severnthe Severn
- the Thamesthe Thames
- and so on.and so on.

5. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
There are many beautifulThere are many beautiful
lakeslakes
in Scotland and north-westin Scotland and north-west
England.England.
As a rule, there is no iceAs a rule, there is no ice
on the lakeson the lakes
andand
rivers in winter.rivers in winter.

6. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
There are noThere are no
high mountains onhigh mountains on
these islands.these islands.
The highest mountain inThe highest mountain in
Scotland – Ben NevisScotland – Ben Nevis
(1,343 meters high)(1,343 meters high)
The highest mountain inThe highest mountain in
Wales – SnowdonWales – Snowdon
(1,085 meters high)(1,085 meters high)

7. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The climate ofThe climate of
the British Isles isthe British Isles is
not very cold in winternot very cold in winter
and neverand never
very hot in summer. Allvery hot in summer. All
parts ofparts of
the British Islesthe British Isles
get a lot of rainget a lot of rain
in all seasons.in all seasons.

8. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
There are four nationalities whichThere are four nationalities which
have their ownhave their own
language and culture:language and culture:
the English, the Irish, the Welsh,the English, the Irish, the Welsh,
the Scottish.the Scottish.
The population of theThe population of the
the United Kingdom of Great Britainthe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
is almost 56 mln.is almost 56 mln.

9. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
London, the capital, is one ofLondon, the capital, is one of
many important industrial centers.many important industrial centers.
Clothes, food, planes, cars areClothes, food, planes, cars are
made in and around London. It ismade in and around London. It is
2000 years old.2000 years old.
Many years agoMany years ago
London was a smallLondon was a small
town on thetown on the
Thames. NowThames. Now
London isLondon is
a beautiful city.a beautiful city.

10. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
The oldest part of the capital is the “City of London”, itThe oldest part of the capital is the “City of London”, it
makes about 1 square mile.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.

11. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
In London there are many historical placesIn London there are many historical places
which are the most interesting and popularwhich are the most interesting and popular
among the Londoners andamong the Londoners and
foreign tourists from different countries.foreign tourists from different countries.

12. The United Kingdom of Great BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Irelandand Northern Ireland
Before railways wereBefore railways were
built in Britain, canalsbuilt in Britain, canals
had been made tohad been made to
join one river tojoin one river to
another, and canalanother, and canal
boat carried goodsboat carried goods
between the industrialbetween the industrial
centers and thecenters and the
seaports.seaports.

13. StonehengeStonehenge
Stonehenge is the mostStonehenge is the most
mysterious structure in themysterious structure in the
world. It is situated in theworld. It is situated in the
South of England. TheSouth of England. The
largest of its stones weighlargest of its stones weigh
50 tons, and the smallest –50 tons, and the smallest –
5 tons. It had been building5 tons. It had been building
during 6 hundred years.during 6 hundred years.
The sun and the stones atThe sun and the stones at
Stonehenge let DruidsStonehenge let Druids
know when the months andknow when the months and
seasons start.seasons start.

14. The Tower of LondonThe Tower of London
The Tower of London is theThe Tower of London is the
most famous of all themost famous of all the
historical buildings in London.historical buildings in London.
It stands today almostIt stands today almost
unchanged since it was builtunchanged since it was built
in the 11in the 11thth
century. It was acentury. It was a
fortress, a royal palace andfortress, a royal palace and
later a prison. But today it islater a prison. But today it is
a museum. There are a lot ofa museum. There are a lot of
interesting collections in theinteresting collections in the
Tower of London.Tower of London.

15. The Tower of LondonThe Tower of London
The black ravens that live in theThe black ravens that live in the
gardens of the Tower now aregardens of the Tower now are
another famous sight. Theanother famous sight. The
legend says that without themlegend says that without them
the Tower will fall. The Raventhe Tower will fall. The Raven
Master is the person who givesMaster is the person who gives
them food.them food.
Many people from other countriesMany people from other countries
come to see the Tower. Theycome to see the Tower. They
see the dark stone halls withsee the dark stone halls with
small windows and thick doors.small windows and thick doors.
The walls of the Tower are fiveThe walls of the Tower are five
metres thick. In the museummetres thick. In the museum
they can see many old guns.they can see many old guns.

16. St. Paul’s CathedralSt. Paul’s Cathedral
It is the second famous church.It is the second famous church.
St. Paul’s Cathedral is theSt. Paul’s Cathedral is the
greatest work of England’sgreatest work of England’s
greatest architect, Christophergreatest architect, Christopher
Wren. The Cathedral wasWren. The Cathedral was
begun in 1675.begun in 1675.
It was opened in 1697 butIt was opened in 1697 but
was finished only in 1710, when Wrenwas finished only in 1710, when Wren
was almost 80 years old. There are memorialswas 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.

17. Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is inTrafalgar Square is in
the centre of the West End ofthe centre of the West End of
London. In the centre there isLondon. In the centre there is
Nelson’s Column with theNelson’s Column with the
figure of the great seamanfigure of the great seaman
who defeated the French atwho defeated the French at
the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Trafalgar Square is the placeTrafalgar Square is the place
where mass meetings andwhere mass meetings and
demonstrations take place.demonstrations take place.

18. Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is aPiccadilly Circus is a
square in the centralsquare in the central
part of London. It ispart of London. It is
the meeting point ofthe meeting point of
six streets. London’ssix streets. London’s
best-known theatresbest-known theatres
and cinemasand cinemas
and most famous restaurants are on Piccadillyand most famous restaurants are on Piccadilly
Circus. In the square you can see people ofCircus. In the square you can see people of
many nationalities and hear a lot of differentmany nationalities and hear a lot of different
languages.languages.

19. The Houses of ParliamentThe Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament inThe Houses of Parliament in
London, known also asLondon, known also as
the Palace of Westminster, isthe Palace of Westminster, is
the place wherethe place where
members ofmembers of
Parliament gatherParliament gather
to make laws.to make laws.
The Houses of Parliament isThe Houses of Parliament is
a very large building whicha very large building which

20. Big BenBig Ben
The bell weights 13 tons. TheThe bell weights 13 tons. The
man in charge of the buildingman in charge of the building
was Sir Benjamin Hall. Hewas Sir Benjamin Hall. He
was very tall, so the workerswas very tall, so the workers
called him Big Ben. It strikescalled him Big Ben. It strikes
every hour.every hour.
There are two tall towersThere are two tall towers
at the corners of theat the corners of the
building and one ofbuilding and one of
them is the Clockthem is the Clock
Tower. It was built inTower. It was built in
1858 by the English1858 by the English
people.people.

21. Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey
It is a royal church. WestminsterIt is a royal church. Westminster
Abbey is the historic building inAbbey is the historic building in
London to which every visitorLondon to which every visitor
sooner or later goes.sooner or later goes.
The Abbey was founded inThe Abbey was founded in
the 11the 11thth
century. Many ofcentury. Many of
Great Britain’s famousGreat Britain’s famous
men are buried inmen are buried in
Westminster Abbey.Westminster Abbey.