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Cultural Landmarks in Britain |
The countries of Wales, Scotland and England are all part of the Great Britain (the U.K.). Many students decide to study abroad and choose the U.K. as their destination of choice. This region of Europe has one of the most interesting - and oldest - histories - histories, especially in comparison to places such as the United States or Australia. Here are some prominent landmarks which add to the unique culture and beauty that is Britain.
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Stonehenge |
Stonehenge is a stone circle located in Wiltshire county, near the town of Salisbury in England. These large standing stones are actually prehistoric monuments that are believed to have existed since 2500 BC! Recent archaeological evidence has indicated that perhaps this landmark was once an ancient burial ground. There are many mysteries and theories behind this engimatic layout of stones, and thousands of tourists each year visit this attraction.
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Windsor Castle |
Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the entire world. It is one of the official residences of the British monarch. Queen Elizabeth II spends many weekends of the year here.
The castle has been occupied continuously since William the Conqueror lived there. Located in the town of Windsor in the county of Berkshire, England, the castle floor is about 45,000 square metres (484,000 square feet). I could only imagine what kind of commission the real estate agent must have made back then! ;)
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Hadrian's Wall |
This famous wall was built during the rule of the emperor named, you guessed it, Hadrian! Construction began in AD 122, and was built to prevent military offenses from Pictish tribes (ancient inhabitatnts of Scotland) from Britain, which was ruled by the Roman Empire at the time.
The wall isn't just made of stones - it's also a turf fortification, which means the landscape has been carved out to make a natural wall. The wall is still very much in tact today, and is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England. It is also known as the Roman Wall.
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Buckingham
Palace |
Buckingham Palace is one of the official residences of the British monarch. The Royal family often is seen there. Located in Westminster, this palace is used for both state affairs as well as for entertaining. Many people go to this place during times of national rejoice, reflection and crisis. Inside the palace are many opulent rooms which are intricately adored.
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White Cliffs of
Dover |
"How stands the old Lord Warden? Are Dover's cliffs still white?"
Rudyard Kipling, "The Broken Men", 1902These white cliffs form the British coastline, which face the Strait of Dover and France. The cliff face reaches up to 106 metres high. They are located along the town of Dover in Kent county - an English port which has been important since ancient times.
What makes these cliffs to unique is that their façade is made of chalk - pure white calcium carbonate - along with streaks of black flint. The cliffs are a symbolic guard for Britain because they face Continental Europe, and also because it would be the last thing UK travellers would see during travels by boat.
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Edinburgh Castle |
Edinburgh Castle is an ancient castle which is a large part of Edinburgh's skyline in the country of Scotland. This castle is located atop Castle Rock. This tourist attraction and is composed of many buildings. The fortress is still a center of military activity and still runs a number of events for tourists and students as well. The One O'Clock Gun is fired every single day (except Sunday) at 13:00.
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When you come to visit or study in the United Kingdom, make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities to see this cultural landmarks. While you may be studying in one part of Britain (such as England), the countries are in close proximity with each other, so you can easily find transportation to visit landmarks in other U.K. countries such as Wales or Scotland. History and culture are definitely important aspects of good living. Landmarks are important representations of a nation and contribute considerably unique qualities to a culture. That's why so many people choose to live and study in Britain! |
Image Credits: Danny Sullivan,Wikipedia,Wikipedia,D Baron,Darksidex,Gnaharro,http2007
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