England is one of the most visited countries in the world. Thanks to its long history and pervasive culture, it has become a popular tourist destination. Being a part of the United Kingdom, it shares land borders with Scotland and Wales. The word “England” is of Old English origin. It means “land of the Angles”. The Angles were Germanic tribes, which inhabited Britain in Early Middle Ages. Today England is an influential colonial country with the capital in London. Other major cities worth seeing are Bath, Bristol, Dover, Oxford, Liverpool, Manchester. The political system of the country is dual. It is both a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system. The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II.
Tourism plays an important part in the economy of the country. Tourists from all over the world come to see the top attractions of England, which include the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Roman Baths, Leeds Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon and some other places of historical and architectural significance. Dating back to the 11th century, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, fortress, a prison, a place of execution, a jewel house. The Queen Anne Boleyn was beheaded there in 1536 for treason against her husband, King Henry VIII. Today people visit the Tower to see the Crown Jewels and famous ravens. St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful buildings in London. It has one of the highest domes in the world and is considered to be the second largest church in the UK. St Paul is a place of important services. The funerals and weddings of many prominent Englishmen were held there.
Legendary Canterbury Cathedral, located in Kent, is one of the oldest Christian structures in the country. It was founded in 597 but completely rebuilt in the 11th-12th centuries. Its Gothic style attracts many connoisseurs of architecture. Stonehenge is one of the most prominent and earliest prehistoric sites of England. It is situated on the Salisbury plain in Wiltshire. Although there are other ancient and large monuments, none is so impressive and evocative. Stonehenge is a mysterious place. It is believed to be 5,000 years old and listed as a World Heritage Site. Bath Spa is another attractive place in England. The Roman Baths, situated there, were built in the 1st century AD. Apart from hot springs one can find lots of Gothic architecture in the streets of the resort city.Leeds Castle was the favourite residence of King Edward I. During the reign of Henry VIII it was used as the residence for his first wife Catherine of Aragon. The castle is open for public visits since 1976. Many tourists wish to visit Stratford-upon-Avon, as it’s the birthplace of a literary genius William Shakespeare. This small town receives about 800 thousand visitors a year.
