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| Country |
| The United Kingdom consists of 04 countries, namely – England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. The capital city is London. |
| Population |
Total population of about 61 million. (England 50,714,000; Wales 2,977,000; Scotland 5,108,000; Northern Ireland 1,733,000).
Indians are about 1.8% of total UK population. 560,000 Hindus, 340,000 Sikhs with about 150,000 practicing Buddhism. Leicester houses one of the world's few Jain temples that are outside of India. |
| Languages |
| The two official languages in Britain are English and Welsh. But English is widely spoken. |
| Government and monarchy |
| The UK is a constitutional monarchy - in which Queen Elizabeth II is recognised as the head of state - and the elected Prime Minister, currently Gordon Brown, is the head of government. The ability to make and pass legislation lies with the elected Parliament. |
| Economic profile |
| The UK is a leading trading power and a financial centre. Agriculture is an important industry and highly efficient. Primary energy, like coal and oil, are major contributors to the economy, but services like banking and insurance are the greatest contributors. |
| Climate |
| Britain has a fairly temperate climate and is sometimes overcast. The weather can vary greatly from day to day, but generally summer (June-August) is a warm 14-25 °C, and winter (December-February) is a cool 1-4 °C. |
| Currency |
| Britain uses the pound sterling. The sign for the Great British Pound (GBP) is £. |
| European Union |
| The UK is a member of the European Union (EU). UK is still using GBP as their currency. |
| Food & Entertainment |
The rage of restaurants is wide from traditional to international cuisine. Tea is still the traditional British hot drink and is usually taken with milk several times a day. You’ll still find the famous English breakfast and Fish and Chips
It’s the city of culture. Wide range of museum, galleries, theatre and opera are heritage. It's now better known for vibrant cities with great nightlife and attractions, contrasted with green and pleasant countryside. |
| Water & Electricity |
Water from the tap is safe for drinking in UK.
Appliances in the UK usually use standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets.
Voltage is 240 volts AC at 50HZ. |
| Healthcare |
| All international students on full-time UK courses that last more than six months can take advantage of the UK's National Health Service, including free consultation with doctors and free hospital care for you and your family |
| Sports |
| Football (Soccer), Rugby league, Cricket, Snooker, Tennis |
| Transportation |
| The UK is truly a hub of the global community with many air, sea, road and rail links connecting it to every country in the world. Flights from all the major cities in the world arrive at one or more UK airports every day. And all the major towns and cities in the UK are linked by a wide-ranging system of motorways, allowing easy travel by car, motorbike or coach to all parts of the country. |
| Religion |
| Most people are Christian (71%), although all other religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism are freely practiced. About 23% of Britain follows no particular religion. |
| People |
| The majority of the population is English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. However, Britain is an extremely diverse nation with a strong culture of racial integration and unity. |
| EMERGENCY |
| A common number – 999 (Police - Fire Services - Ambulance service) |
| Special Student Discounts |
| Many shops, theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries offer special reductions for students and special student fares are often available on buses and trains. To take advantage of these, you will usually need to prove membership of the National Union of Students (NUS), an organisation that represents the interests of all students in the UK, which can be arranged by your institution. |
| Check online at SOP& www.nusonline.co.uk |
