INFORMATION• LOCATION : WEST EUROPE• CAPITAL : LONDON• AREA : 243,610 sq. Km• LANGUAGE : ENGLISH• MAIN RELIGION : CHRISTIANITY• CURRENCY : POUND STERLING• LITERACY RATE : 99%• LIFE EXPECTANCY : 80.2 YEARS• TIME ZONE : 0• TYPE OF GOVT. : CONTITUTIONAL MONARCHY &

PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACy• HEAD OF STATE : QUEEN ELIZABETH 2• HEAD OF GOVT. : PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON• GDP PER CAPITA : $ 35,900• POPULATION : 63,047,162• ISD CODE : 44• INTERENET TLD : .uk

CLIMATEClimate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

THE UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom is comprised of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The terms 'English' and 'British' do not mean the same thing. 'British' denotes someone who is from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. 'English' refers to people from England. People from Scotland are 'Scots', from Wales ‘Welsh’ and from Northern Ireland ‘Irish’. Be sure not to call someone Welsh, Scots, or Northern Irish ‘English’.

THE CLASS SYSTEM

• Although in the past few decades, people from varied backgrounds have had greater access to higher education, wealth distribution is changing and more upward/downward mobility is occurring, the British class system is still very much intact although in a more subconscious way. The playing field is levelling but the British still seem to pigeon-hole people according to class.

Class is no longer simply about wealth or where one lives; the British are able to suss out someone’s class through a number of complex variables including demeanour, accent, manners and comportment.

THE BUSINESS CULTUREBusiness culture in the UK is characterised by business communication, business etiquette, business meeting etiquette, internship and student placements, cost of living, work-life-balance and social media guide.

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

• The UK’s Higher Education System is one of the most developed in the world with some of the leading universities educating business leaders in Business and Management Schools. Due to the highly developed private school education system, comparisons between schools are usually made, especially as to whether someone went to a private or public school (fee paying) or a State school (free of charge). These decisions are made by parents, and in the majority of cases are based on financial factors (private education in elite schools such as Eton, Harrow and Marlborough is very expensive), and often shape the destiny of their pupils. Overall, quality indicators of the educational system, in reading literacy, maths and science, as part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), are currently slightly above the OECD average.

TRANSPORTATION• Travelling By Public Transport Major cities in the UK have an integrated transport system

combining a rail network, tram or metro system with buses and taxis. Outlying and rural areas are predominantly served by bus services, where frequency and reliability often depend on the profitability of an individual route.

• Travelling By Train The UK has a comprehensive national rail network, which is privatised and

different routes are operated by a number of private companies. It is normal for tickets for intercity routes to be purchased in advance for specific journey times, often with reserved seating. Tickets for short journeys using a regional network are typically purchased as Day Returns at the time of travel and are available from machines or ticket offices at the departure station or from a conductor on board the train.

• Travelling by Taxi The traditional British taxi is also referred to as a hackney carriage, London

Taxi or Black Cab. These are different from private hire vehicles, also referred to as minicabs or private hire, which are licensed to carry people. Hackney carriages have special dispensation to be able to be hailed on the street or hired from a taxi rank. However, minicabs may not be hailed on the street and some can only be used if pre-booked. A tip of 10% is normally given on top of the fare.

LITERATUREAt its formation, the United Kingdom inherited the literary traditions of England, Scotland and Wales, including the earliest existing native literature written in the Celtic languages, Old English literature and more recent English literature including the works of Geoffrey Chaucer ,William Shakespeare and John Milton.

THEATREFrom its formation in 1707, the United Kingdom has had a vibrant tradition of theatre, much of it inherited from England and Scotland. The West End is the main theatre district in the UK, which is located in the West End of London.The West End's Theatre Royal in Covent Garden in the City of Westminster dates back to the mid 17th century, making it the oldest London theatre.

ARCHITECTURE ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

The architecture of the United Kingdom includes many features that precede the creation of the United Kingdom in 1707, from as early as Skara Brae and Stonehenge to the Giant's Ring, Avebury and Roman ruins. In most towns and villages the parish church is an indication of the age of the settlement. Many castles remain from the medieval period such as; Windsor Castle (longest-occupied castle in Europe),]Stirling Castle (one of the largest and most important in Scotland), Bodiam Castle (moated castle), and Warwick Castle. Over the two centuries following the Norman conquest of England of 1066, and the building of the Tower of London, castles such as Caernarfon Castle in Wales and Carrickfergus Castle in Ireland were built.

SPORTS WEMBLEY STADIUM,LONDONMost of the major sports have separate administrative structures and national teams for each of the countries of the United Kingdom. Though each country is also represented individually at the Commonwealth Games, there is a single 'Team GB’ (for Great Britain) that represents the UK at the Olympic Games. With the rules and codes of many modern sports invented and codified in late 19th century Victorian Britain, in 2012, IOC President Jacques Rogge stated; "This great, sports-loving country is widely recognized as the birthplace of modern sport. It was here that the concepts of sportsmanship and fair play were first codified into clear rules and regulations. It was here that sport was included as an educational tool in the school curriculum".

NATIONAL COSTUME AND DRESSAs a multi-national state,[the UK has no single national costume. However, different countries within the United Kingdom have national costumes or at least are associated with styles of dress. Scotland has the kilt and Tam o'shanter, and tartan clothing – pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours – is a notable aspect of Gaelic culture. A traditional Welsh costume with Welsh hat is worn by some women during Eisteddfodau. In England certain military uniforms such as the Beefeater or the Queen's Guard are considered to be symbolic of Englishness, though they are not official national costumes. Morris dancers or the costumes for the traditional English May dance are sometimes cited as examples of traditional English costume, but are only worn by participants in those events.

FOOD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

British cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with the United Kingdom. Historically, British cuisine means "unfussy dishes made with quality local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate flavour, rather than disguise it."British cuisine has traditionally been limited in its international recognition to the full breakfast and the Christmas dinner. However, Celtic agriculture and animal breeding produced a wide variety of foodstuffs for indigenous Celts. Anglo-Saxon England developed meat and savoury herb stewing techniques before the practice became common in Europe. The Norman conquest introduced exotic spices into Great Britain in the Middle Ages.] The British Empire facilitated a knowledge of India's elaborate food tradition of "strong, penetrating spices and herbs"

Each country within the United Kingdom has its own specialities. Traditional examples of English cuisine include the Sunday roast; featuring a roasted joint, usually beef, lamb or chicken, served with assorted boiled vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.Other prominent meals include fish and chips and the full English breakfast—consisting of bacon, grilled tomatoes, fried bread ,black pudding, baked beans, fried mushrooms, sausages and eggs. The first chips fried in Britain were at Oldham's Tommyfield Market in 1860, and on the site a blue plaque marks the origin of the fish and chip shop and fast food industries in Britain. Various meat pies are consumed such as steak and kidney pie, shepherd's pie, cottage pie, Cornish pastry and pork pie, the later of which is consumed cold.

DRINKS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

• The most popular drink in England is undoubtedly tea, and you can't leave the British Isles without experiencing the genuine five o'clock. Most of the traditional English drinks however are alcoholic; starting with apple cider, which contains only a little bit of alcohol, to all the kinds of beer produced in the country. The most famous English beers are ale, cask ale (unfiltered and unpasteurised) and stout or porter beer. A visit to a pub and a pint of beer is an absolute must when visiting England. If you'd rather drink something stronger, you can order a glass of grog, a beer cocktail such as Black Velvet or Freddie Batholomew, or a glass of Cup, a traditional British punch.

FESTIVALS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

31st – Chinese New Year. Outside Asia, the world’s biggest celebration of Chinese New Year is in London – there is a parade through Chinatown in the West End, with music, acrobatics and dance performances, a feast of food and fireworks – but there are many more events around the UK. Cities including Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool and Birmingham usually host big street parties.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHDAYApril 23 is also known as William Shakespeare’s birthday, when events take place to honour the playwright. The best place to experience Shakespeare Day is in his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, where a festival will be held over the weekend (April 26 and 27, 2014). You can expect some big celebrations in 2014 – it will be Shakespeare’s 450th birthday.

BELTANE1st – Beltane. Beltane (or Beltain) is the Celtic festival of fire, which celebrates fertility and marks the start of summer. With its roots in ancient Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man, modern versions of the event are becoming more popular – some of the largest are in Edinburgh, Thornborough in Yorkshire andButser Ancient Farm in Hampshire, where the traditional 30-foot Wicker Man is burned at sunset.

EISTEDDFOD1st–9th – Eisteddfod. The National Eisteddfod is Wales’ biggest artistic event and one of Europe's oldest cultural festivals. This is a chance to hear Welsh music and literature, as well as see dance and theatre performances, shop for books and crafts, and much more.

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL25th – Notting Hill Carnival. Held in west London over a bank holiday weekend, Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street festival. Around 1 million people go to see colourful floats and dancers in flamboyant costumes, hear music from salsa to reggae, and taste Caribbean food from street stalls. Bring your party spirit, enough cash and a lot of patience – it can be very crowded.

REMEMBRANCE DAY11th – Remembrance Day. Every year, November 11 is a memorial day to honour members of the armed forces – the aim is to remember those who lost their lives in battle, so many peace campaigners also support the event. The symbol of Remembrance Day is a poppy, and each year the Royal British Legion charity sells paper poppies to raise funds for veterans and their families. It is customary to observe a two-minute silence at 11am.

BEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

SHAKESPEAR’S BIRTHPLACE• Shakespeare's Birthplace is a fascinating house that offers a tantalising glimpse into

Shakespeare's early world. It's a special place that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

CADBURY WORLD• Cadbury World is a one-way self-guided tour.• Cadbury World opened on 14 August 1990, on Cadbury's Bournville manufacturing site, and has expanded

and developed its content through 'continuous improvement'.• Cadbury World has gone on to become one of Birmingham's largest leisure attractions - welcoming over

500,000 visitors each year, and delivering a respected education programme (linking back directly to the educational advancements and interests of the company's original founding fathers).

• Whilst not a factory tour, Cadbury World offers its visitors the opportunity to explore and discover chocolate's history, to learn about the origins and story of the Cadbury business - one of the world's largest confectionery manufacturers.

DARTMOUTH CASTLE• One of the most beautifully located fortresses in England. For over 600 years

Dartmouth Castle has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary and the busy, vibrant port of Dartmouth. It offers stunning views of the estuary and out to sea and offers a great family day out, whatever the weather.

THE EDEN PROJECT• Dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World by some, the Eden Project is a

dramatic global garden housed in tropical biomes that nestle in a crater the size of 30 football pitches.

EDF ENERGY LONDON EYE• The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River

Thames in London. Also known as the Millennium Wheel, its official name was originally the British Airways London Eye, then the Merlin Entertainments London Eye, and since January 2011, the EDF Energy London Eye.

LONDON EYE CRUISE• Escape the crowds and discover London from the river Thames on a relaxing river cruise.• With its rich history and iconic landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament and Tower

Bridge, it’s a great way to see London from a different perspective.

WINDSOR CASTLEWindsor Castle is situated above the River Thames on a hill and has a royal history that dates back over 900 years. Monarchs have continuously made Windsor Castle their home right back to William the Conqueror up to the present day with Queen Elizabeth II. At Windsor Castle, the largest continuously occupied castle in the world, you will be able to view the famous Queen Marys Doll House, the state apartments, view the royal collections, and St. George's Chapel. Windsor is also famous for its traditional shops, market and pubs. If you do not wish to visit the castle Eton College is just a walk away across the bridge, which has had many famous students including Prince William, Prince Harry and many others including David Cameron. You can also wander around the town, view the castle from the outside and take the leisurely river cruise.

HARRY POTTER WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR

Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the most successful film series of all time and has been enchanting people for over a decade. Now you can see where it all began and how it all happened. Here you will discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and the tour will takes you behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films.

LIVING COASTLiving Coasts is an innovative coastal zoo and discovery centre where you can take a journey around the coasts of the world and see amazing animals and plants in specially-designed naturalistic habitats.

MADAME TUSSAUDS LONDONMadame Tussauds is a museum that contains wax models of famous people. There are numerous galleries such as Pirates of the Caribbean, World leaders, Warhol's women The Royal Family, Sports Stars, the Culture zone and the History of London.

THE NATIONAL GALLERYThe National Gallery in London is home to one of the greatest collections of western European painting in the world. More than 2300 paintings embrace the years between 1250 and 1900. The entire collection is on display in four wings on the main floor where they are arranged by period: 1250-1500, 1500-1600, 1600-1700, and 1700-1900. In addition paintings are displayed on a lower floor. To help the visitor manage the large number of paintings and galleries, various trails and audio guides are provided.

THE 02 ARENAA world class entertainment venue under one iconic roof that’s split into 5 areas; The O2 arena, indigO2, the British Music Experience, Live Quarter & London Piazza. Within you’ll find the best in live entertainment, from music & comedy, to family shows & sports for a diverse day out with the kids, family or friends. The O2 also hosts shows outside the tent in Meridian Gardens & the uniquely designed Peninsular Square.

SCOTNEY CASTLEScotney Castle is an English country house with formal gardens south-east of Lamberhurst in the valley of the River Bewl in Kent, England. It belongs to the National Trust.

THE OXFORD UNIVERSITYThis tour will have you visiting Britain's most famous universities, acknowledged worldwide for its infamous standards set for their students and for the exceptional skill level which their students leave with when they graduate. During your tour in oxford you will generally gravitate to the universities and spend the majority of our time around the universities.

BIG BENAt the Houses of Parliament, London. A famous landmark. The clock tower was completed in 1859. The clock mechanism weighs 5 tons, and the dials are 23-ft (7m) in diameter.

THE STONEHEDGEThe most famous prehistoric monument in the world and a World Heritage site dated back to nearly 5,000 years ago. This monument has remained a mystery since its construction thousands of years ago.To this day we are not sure how Stonehenge was built or what it was used for. It could be a temple of the Druids of Celtic religion, a cemetery from the Bronze Age, an observatory of the moon or even an astronomical clock.

BLENHEIM PALACE

Blenheim Palace Famous as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, it houses an exhibition on his life. The home was built between 1705-1722 in the baroque style. There’s a Great Hall, staterooms, Long Library, and a collection of paintings, furniture, and tapestries. Extensive grounds landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown. Restaurants, cafeterias.

THE BATH TOUROn arrival at Bath, you will be enthrauled by two eras in England's past, the Roman and Georgian periods.Here you will be able to see the Roman Baths with their natural hot springs, the Pump House, Abbey and beautiful Pulteney Bridge. Today Bath is a thriving city, and a haven for shoppers, with shops ranging from Antique shops to designer shops. Other places of interest are the Jane Austin Center and the elegant Assembly Rooms built in 1771.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and principal workplace of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality.

YORK MINISTERYork Minster is a cathedral in York, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.

THE CANTERBURY CATHEDRALA Cathedral inspired by English Gothic architecture, Canterbury Cathedral is a big attraction. The wealth of Canterbury Cathedral was bought in by the visiting pilgrims, who were made famous by Chaucer in his book Canterbury Tales. The Cathedral still dominates the sky line of Canterbury today. Medieval pilgrims used to visit Canterbury to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket, The Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170 and historians still debate the involvement of Henry II. There are many tombs of famous people that you will be able to see such as Henry IV and The Black Prince (Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales). Step back in history as you walk around the Cathedral.

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGEThe University of Cambridge (informally known as "Cambridge University" or simply "Cambridge"; abbreviated as"Cantab" in post-nominals) is a collegiate public research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's third-oldest surviving university. It grew out of an association formed by scholars leaving the University of Oxford after a dispute with townsfolk; the two "ancient universities" have many common features and are often jointly referred to as "Oxbridge".