Great Britain

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although they form one administrative unit, they have had separate cultures, languages and political histories. Within this entity are also the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark) and the Isle of Man.

Each country has a variety to offer the tourist whether his interests lie in history, music and the arts, architecture, food and drink or the people and countryside.

The British landscape can be divided roughly into two kinds of terrain - highland and lowland. The highlands area comprises the mountainous regions of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales. The English Lake Disrict in the northwest contains lakes and fells. The lowland area is broken up by sandstone and limestone hills, long valleys and basins such as the Wash on the east coast. In the southeast, the North and South Downs culminate in the White Cliffs of Dover. The coastline includes fjord-like inlets in the northwest of Scotland, spectacular cliffs and wild sandy beaches on the east coast and, further south, beaches of rocks, shale and sand sometimes backed by dunes, and large areas of fenland in East Anglia.

The currency is still pounds sterling. The language is English. However,some Welsh is spoken in parts of Wales. Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. French and Norman French are spoken in the Channel Islands.

With two native Britons on staff, Unique Travel Concepts is uniquely qualified to help you plan your British excursions.