England

The country's history

England -Britain and Great Britain

England or Britain, or even the United Kingdom are all names that can be used when we refer to those countries in the area of the British Isles. This of course needs some clarification, so let's go back in time and see how the different names came about.

The celtic tribes that were living in that province at the moment, which is 40 b.c., of the roman invasion were called Britons, so the name the Romans gave “England” was Britannia , after a Roman Goddess; who carries a trident and a shield. 
After the Romans the Anglo-Saxons occupied the land and we get the name ANGE-Land, land of the Angles, which became England.

So in 1536 with the signing of the act of the Union, Wales and England, became the kingdom of England or Britain, not yet great, just Britain. The Welsh language was no longer to be used in courts in Wales and Welsh speaking public officials could not hold office in England.

Great Britain, now including Scotland, came about in 1707 with the union of parliament act. Previously both countries had already been ruled under one crown by King James VI in 1603, but had still been separate states, each with their own legislature.

The United Kingdom

So on to Ireland the last kingdom or state to be included into the United Kingdom of England and Ireland, by the act of union of 1801, up until 1922 when only Northern Ireland remained part of the UK.

If these all these unions were or still are desired by many or just a few, is a topic for further discussion.

As we can see the name England evokes many possibilities, and as we learn from history, a geographical correct “England” denotes different countries at any given point in history. But there is, present in us, an idea of what England means to each and everyone.

London

Londinium to Romans or London as it is know today, capital of England, is the cultural, political an economical centre of the country. Landmarks like the Big Ben, London bridge, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace are just a few of the

The Big Ben

most famous buildings to be visited. 

London is located in the South East of England along the river Thames. More than 7 million people live and work in the city, traveling the “tube” as the underground metro is called; or the famed double decker buses. There are over a 100 theaters, so if you like plays or shows, you've come to the right place. Here you can experience the magic of “the Rose” the original theater were Shakespeare's plays still are preformed.

Food and drinks

Japanese tourists drinking tea.

British traditions such a tea drinking at fixed periods of during the day, afternoon tea or high tea, have not lost their charm, and there are many tea rooms offering this service. Visitors can sample several scones, buns, tea breads and cucumber sandwiches while enjoying the many options of tea available for them.

Other typical English dishes are fish and ships, shepherd's pie or black pudding to name a few. Nowadays, people can also choose from a wide variety of Asian food, especially Indian and Pakistani, offering there excellent curries and naan.

Sports

A game of cricket

England has many traditional sports such a football, called soccer in England, rugby and tennis. The Wimbledon tournament is one of the mayor tennis events in the world. The national soccer team last won the word cup, on English ground in the Wembley stadium  in 1966. 
But one sport that is can be called typically British is cricket. It is played by teams of 11 players, who have batters who try to protect the wicket, by hitting the ball, then they have to attempt to make as many runs as possible.

Special places to visit in outside of London

prehistoric Stonehenge

When traveling in England one should not forget to visit Stonehenge, near Wiltshire. Stonehenge is a prehistoric circular construction of huge stones built, for what many believe it to be, an ancient star observatory.

Why not visit Robin Hood country and discover Sherwood forest, where the Hooded Freedom Fighter and his band of merry men used to hide. Each summer there is a Robin Hood Festival, recreating the medieval times with jousters and fire eaters. You could also walk the many trails and marvel at the ancient oaks and birch trees.

Cambridge and the river Cam

One should not forget Cambridge and its prominent university, founded in 1209, an stands as an example of what higher education is capable of. Like in Venice, there is a river called the Cam, from which Cambridge obviously has its name, to go for a boat ride and appreciate the city from a different viewpoint.

Weather

Being part of the British Isles, England's weather is very varied and unpredictable. Generally speaking the summers are not too hot and the winters are not too cold. That being said, the best months to visit are July and August, when sunny days can be expected although rain showers could pop up unannounced.

Dressed for sun and no way to go

Music

The cultural and musical world scene, have been influenced by 2 popular British bands coming from this small island, The Rolling Stones and the Beatles. There was even talk of a British invasion of the american music charts because of huge popularity of bands such as the Who, the Yardbirds and Herman's Hermits, just to name a few.

I believe in yesterday

Other iconic band were Led Zeppelin an later on Oasis, that took the lead. At the current time band such as One Direction, The Wanted or Coldplay are still proof that English bands are front runners.

For many people acquiring English as a second language, the music from these bands is their first gateway into the language. 

Furthermore England is the country where the language originated, so for English learners and teachers, it will always be a place of special interest for those who want to know more about its language, culture and history. So cheerio and bottoms up, by George, England will live on!

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge

http://projectbritain.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_United_Kingdom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherwood_Forest