Loch Ness

Interesting Fact about the UK:

Loch Ness is the largest body of fresh water in the United Kingdom. It is deeper than the North Sea and it never freezes. 

Its most famous resident - the Loch Ness monster or Nessie - may be a plesiosaur. 

There have been over 1,000 reported sightings of Nessie with the last sighting being on 2nd November 2011.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness Monster - Nessie 

Anglo-Portuguese Treaty

Interesting Fact about the UK:

The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty was signed on 13 June 1373. This marked the earliest formal recognition of an alliance that already had roots more than 200 years old and has remained in effect with only a brief hiatus ever since.  

Anglo-Portuguese Treaty

That makes the relationship by far the oldest in force alliance in the world.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch

Interesting Fact about the UK:

Wales is actually home to a town called 
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch - which translates as 
“St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the cave.” 

It is commonly shortened to Llanfairpwill.

Welsh Flag 

The Tower of London

Interesting Fact about the UK:


The Tower of London: the full official name of the Tower of London is “Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of London.” 

The Tower of London 

It is home to the Crown jewels. Among the 25,578 gems is the 530-carat Cullinan diamond at the top of the Royal Sceptre - the largest part of what was (until 1985) the largest diamond ever found.

The Crown Jewels 

The Cullinan diamond 

Londoners

Interesting Fact about the UK 

About 30% of today’s Londoners were born outside the United Kingdom



The 2011 census found that 36.7% of London's population was foreign born (including 24.5% who were born outside of Europe). 

With 3,082,000 residents born abroad in 2014 - London has the largest population number (not percentage) of foreign-born.

The British Empire

Interesting Fact about the UK:

At its zenith in the 18th century the British Empire stretched 20% of the world’s surface and contained a quarter of the world’s population.

British Empire at its territorial peak in 1921

For loads more information about the British Empire check out this website: 
http://www.britishempire.co.uk/

William Burke and William Hare

Interesting Fact about the UK:

William Burke and William Hare are the world’s most notorious body snatchers. 

Over a 12-month period during 1827–1828 they murdered over a dozen people in Edinburgh - Scotland and sold the corpses of their 16 victims to a local anatomy school desperate for fresh bodies to dissect and namely Dr Robert Knox.

Burke and Hare's alleged accomplices were Burke's mistress - Helen McDougal and Hare's wife - Margaret Laird.

For more information check out the following website: http://burkeandhare.com/

William Burke and William Hare

Stonehenge

Interesting Fact about the UK:
Probably built around 3000 B.C. - Stonehenge has stood on England’s Salisbury Plain for more than 5,000 years and is older than the famous Great Pyramids of Egypt.

Stonehenge 

Stonehenge and its surrounding area is a World Heritage Site (added in 1986) and is a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and is managed by English Heritage with the surrounding land owned by the National Trust.

For more details about Stonehenge check out their website: 

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/

Gretna Green

Interesting Fact about the UK:
Gretna Green is a Scottish village in the south of Scotland - very close to the English border and was famous for runaway weddings as many young couples from England choose to dash across the border to get married at Gretna Green.


Why? Because under Scottish law minors do not need to get their parents’ consent at the age of 16 whereas in England parental consent is required until the minor is 18.

Gretna Green 

Today Gretna Green is still one of the world's most popular wedding destinations, hosting over 5,000 weddings each year in the Gretna/Gretna Green area and one of every six Scottish weddings.

Gretna Green - Marriage Anvil 

London Underground

Interesting Fact about the UK:

The London Underground is the oldest in the world. 

The London Underground first opened as an "underground railway" in 1863 and is now part of the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. The first electrified underground line opened in 1890 making the London Underground the world's first Metro system.

Tube Map 

The 409 escalators in the Tube cover a distance every week which is approximately equivalent to several trips around the globe.

Fish and Chips

Interesting Fact about the UK:

The first fish and chips restaurant was opened in 1860 in London by a Jewish immigrant named Joseph Malin.

Malin's Plaque

For a more in depth history of fish and chips check out the Historic UK website: 

http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Fish-Chips/

Fish & Chips 

England

Interesting Facts about the UK: 


The word “England” comes from “Englaland” meaning land of the Angli or Angles. The
Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Britain during the early Middle
Ages. 

Map of where the Angles settled

German Tribe 

German Warrior

The French name for England Angleterre literally translates into “Land of the Angles."

French/British Flag 

Windsor Castle

Interesting Facts about the UK:

Windsor Castle is the largest royal home in the world having been built by William the Conqueror around A.D. 1080

William the Conqueror

It is also the oldest continually inhabited royal residence in Britain

Inside Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle