THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Basic information 4 parts –the largest islands are Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales), and Ireland (Northern Ireland + Irish republic- it isn´t a part of UK) another islands – the Isle of Wight, the Isles of Scilly, the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, the Orkneys area - 244, 755 square miles capital cities – London – the capital of GB and Northern Ireland Cardiff – Wales Edinburgh – Scotland Belfast – Northern Ireland the currency- pounds - £ (one pound is divided into 100 pence) the highest peak (mountain) – Ben Nevis (1,343m) many lakes – (lochs) – Scotland is famous for its lochs (lakes), the longest is Loch Fynne, the most famous is LochNess because of its Loch Ness Monster, the biggest is Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland rivers – the longest river – the Thames (354km) , others – the Tyne, the Trent, the Clyde, the Tweed weather and climate – mild winters, in Scotland there is snow, not very hot summers and rain all the year main industries – coal, textile, wool, iron, steel, shipbuilding, engineering, chemical , electrical agriculture – dairy farms, sheep farms, poultry farms, production of potatoes, sugar beet, fruit, vegetables

newspapers – there are about 120 dailies and Sunday newspapers, over 1,000 weekly papers (The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent…) television – national channels – BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV Channel 4 and Channel 5

LONDON -

it was founded around AD 43 there are two parts – the City of London (financial and business centre) the City of Westminster (government and shopping centre)

The Tower – it was a royal residence, zoo, museum - there are the Crown Jewels, a prison guides are Yeoman Warders or Beefeaters Tower Bridge – it was built between 1886 and 1894– the most famous bridge on the river Thames, it can be opened The Big Ben and Houses of Parliament – Big Ben is the name of the bell in the tower – it´s a part of the Palace of Westminster St. Paul´s Cathedral – it´s the seat of the Bishop of London, it was rebuilt after the fire by sir Christopher Wren Buckingham Palace - the home of the queen Downing Street – number 10 -the home of British Prime Ministers Oxford Street – shopping centre Trafalgar Square – it´s the most famous sguare, in the middle there is Nelson´s column, there are fountains and a lot of pigeons Piccadelly Circus – five main roads meet there – centre of theatres London Eye – it was finished in the end of millenium, there is a beautiful view from the top Greenwich Village – the Old Royal Observatory, Millenium Dome Madame Tussaud´s- museum of wax figures Hyde Park – there is a famous speaking conner, place for relaxing too

Harrod´s – the biggest department store Other famous places and cities in the UK

BRIGHTON -

seaside resort there is fantastic seaside palace – the Royal Pavilion

CAMBRIDGE OXFORD -

famous university towns

LIVERPOOL -

on the river Mersey pop group Beatles – now there´s a museum important port (plans for Titanic were prepared there) football clubs

CARDIFF -

the official capital of Wales one of Britain´s major civic universities

GLASGOW -

this word means – beautiful green place

BATH -

medieval town with the old Roman baths, spa centre of art and culture

STONEHENGE -

Britain´s greatest national icon – symbol of mystery and power

Vocabulary list currency- měna pound - libra (1 libra = 100 pencí) pence – pence (drobné) capital – hlavní město island – ostrov mountain, peak – hora, vrchol lake – jezero river- řeka mild winter – mírná zima industry – průmysl coal – uhlí wool – vlna shipbuilding – stavba lodí iron – železo steel - ocel agriculture – zemědělství poultry farm – drůběží farma dairy farm – mléčná farma sheep farm – ovčí farma sugar beet – cukrová řepa dailies – deníky weekly papers – týdenníky AD – našeho letopočtu it was founded – bylo založeno financial centre – finanční centrum business centre – obchodní centrum government centre – vládní centrum wax figures – voskové figuríny column – sloup millenium – tisíciletí bishop – biskup department store – obchodní dům port – přístav medieval town – středověké město spa – lázně old Roman baths – staré románské koupele mystery – tajemno power – síla, moc