England

England is a country that is part of the state of Great Britain along with Wales and Scotland. The UK (United Kingdom) is comprised of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and other colonies such as the channel isles. England can be a bewildering place for the first-time visitor, it encompasses an impressive assortment of historic towns, picturesque villages, and busy cities. An endless list of extraordinary castles, cathedrals and stately homes along with beautiful national parks, mountains and moors make England a must see for visitor with an interest in nature and history. England's climate is damp and mild. In summer, temperatures seldom breach 30°C and temperatures rarely fall below 0°C in winter.

A visit to England gives the opportunity to experience the bygone eras of ancient castles and wonder at the towering spires of grand churches. You can dine at a world-class restaurant or a friendly local cafe, or enjoy a drink in a traditional pub. Stroll through picturesque villages, or trek over wild moors and mountains. Shop in fine stores, or dance the night away in first class venues. There's always something to do or see in England and so much from such a small country.

England has a rich historic legacy, dating back thousands of years, with hundreds of castles and everything from Stonehenge to Hadrian's Wall. Britain has an extensive and rich architectural heritage of over 5000 years. An impressive architectural legacy was left behind by the Roman occupation of Britain including numerous Roman baths including the perfect example that gave name to the town of Bath. Substantial religious architecture survives from Saxon times and the following 15 centuries including cathedrals, minsters, monasteries and abbeys. over 12,000 parish churches in Britain have historical significance. The mysterious stone circle of Stonehenge dating from around 3500 BC is Europe's most famous historical landmark and can be found in southwest England.

In AD 43 the Romans led a well-planned invasion on England, and in AD 122 the Emperor Hadrian built his Wall across northern England rather than conquer the wild tribes of Scotland. The Romans brought stability and wealth and built castles and roads linking important regions and centres throughout the country. The country deteriorated as Roman power faded leading to the centuries known as the Dark Ages. In this time during the 5th century, Teutonic tribes called the Angles and Saxons invaded from northern Europe making almost all of England Anglo-Saxon by the end of the 6th century.

The Act of Union was passed in 1707 linking England, Wales and Scotland to one London based parliament establishing Britain as a single state nation. The grand political entity that was the British Empire at one time ruled half of the population of the Earth and from 1721, the British Empire expanded into America, Canada and India. When the War of Independence (1776-83) was won by the American colonies, Napoleon threatened invasion of England, until his objective was prevented by Nelson and Wellington at the legendary battles of Trafalgar in 1805 and Waterloo in 1815.

England has a long and well established theatrical history and many theatres can be found throughout the country. First class performances and world famous stars can be found throughout the country with the Capital London being the world centre for theatrical arts. In 1576 on the northern outskirts of the Capital the first theatre was built, leading to the construction of more including the famous Globe staging plays by William Shakespeare. In the 18th century saw theatres built in the English cities and many still stand today.
England has been firmly on the main stage in the world of pop and rock music from the 60s with major exports including Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Black Sabbath.