England - Resources, Power, Economy

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class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="700965"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England">England</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/England">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref44500"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England#ref44500">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44501"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England#ref44501">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44502"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44503"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44503">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44504"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44504">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44505"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44505">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44507"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44508"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref44508">Ethnic groups and languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44518"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref44518">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225309"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref225309">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44509"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions">Traditional regions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44510"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44510">The South West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44511"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44511">The South East</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44512"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44512">The West Midlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44513"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands">The East Midlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44514"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44514">East Anglia</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44515"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44515">The North West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44516"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44516">Yorkshire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44517"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44517">The North East</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44519"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44519">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44520"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44522"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44522">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44523"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44523">Major crops</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44525"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44525">Livestock</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44526"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44526">Forestry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44527"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44527">Fishing</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44521"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44528"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref44528">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225310"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref225310">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215125"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref215125">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44529"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref44529">Transportation</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44530"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225311"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref225311">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215126"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref215126">Local government</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215127"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref215127">Historic counties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215128"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties">Geographic counties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215129"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215129">Administrative counties and districts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215130"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215130">Unitary authorities</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215131"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215131">Metropolitan counties and districts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215132"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215132">Greater London</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215133"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215133">Parishes and towns</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44532"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225312"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice#ref225312">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44534"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice#ref44534">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225313"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Housing">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44533"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Housing#ref44533">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44535"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225314"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-life#ref225314">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225315"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-arts">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44536"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-arts#ref44536">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44537"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Architecture">Architecture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44538" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts">Visual arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44539"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts#ref44539">Sculpture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts#ref44540">Painting</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44541" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts">Performing arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts#ref44542">Theatre</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts#ref44543">Film</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44544"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Music">Music</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Music#ref44545">Dance</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions#ref44547">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225316"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions#ref225316">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref215134"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/England">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/61159" class="media-overlay-link 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">English Heritage - Story of England</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/kingdom-wessex-0017010" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ancient Origins - The Kingdom of Wessex and the Birth of England</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/England/353101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/England/274182" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/William-Harford-Thomas/2950" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">William Harford Thomas</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Journalist. Former Deputy Editor, <i>The Guardian, </i>London. Author of <i>Crisis in the British Press.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> William Harford Thomas</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Peter-Kellner/5078" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Peter Kellner</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Peter Kellner is the former president of YouGov PLC and the author of <em>Democracy: 1,000 Years in Pursuit of British Liberty</em> and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Peter Kellner</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-23T00:00:00CST" >Nov 23, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/b2598adb141d529df1ed0a1beec0a450" rel="nofollow">Man City's statistics hit new low after Tottenham humiliation</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 3:31 PM ET (AP) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/18dd0af292ca9aa705366c52de8f2585" rel="nofollow">Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Man City and eyes 'more trophies'</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 6:38 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/dc3fd3640acb1628cd85d43b8413fad0" rel="nofollow">Thousands of UK farmers descend on Parliament to protest a tax they say will ruin family farms</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 19, 2024, 11:46 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/dce7600e0dba5de59b68bf379307ef9c" rel="nofollow">Poultry infected with bird flu found on commercial farm in England</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 17, 2024, 6:17 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/79b3a833485e0dd5c9ab4314a112d01f" rel="nofollow">Man and four teenagers convicted of murdering two boys in mistaken identity case</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 15, 2024, 11:51 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1"><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="2" id="ref44521"> <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">For most of the 19th and 20th centuries, <span id="ref483726"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coal</a> was England’s richest <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/natural-resource" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">natural resource</a>, meeting most of the nation’s requirement for energy. However, international competition, rising domestic costs, the growth of cheaper domestic <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="alternatives" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternatives" data-type="MW">alternatives</a> (such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/natural-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">natural gas</a>), and mounting environmental concerns combined to cripple the coal industry in the 1980s and ’90s. Coal production is now only one-fifth of its mid-20th-century level. New technologies and the discovery of huge reserves of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/petroleum" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">petroleum</a> and natural gas in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Sea" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">North Sea</a> have further transformed the pattern of energy production. Natural gas supplies the largest proportion of England’s energy needs, followed by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/petroleum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oil</a>, coal, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/nuclear-power" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nuclear power</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref44528"><h2 class="h2">Manufacturing</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Sand, gravel, and crushed rock are widely available and provide raw materials for the construction industry. Clay and salt are found in northwestern England, and kaolin (china clay) is available in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cornwall-unitary-authority-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Cornwall</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">About one-fifth of England’s workers are employed in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/manufacturing" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">manufacturing</a>. Major industries located in the northern counties include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/food-processing" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">food processing</a>, brewing, and the manufacture of chemicals, textiles, computers, automobiles, aircraft, clothing, glass, and paper and paper products. Leading industries in southeastern England are <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="pharmaceuticals" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/pharmaceuticals" data-type="EB">pharmaceuticals</a>, computers, microelectronics, aircraft parts, and automobiles.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref225310"><h2 class="h2">Finance</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Financial services are central to England’s economy, especially in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">London</a> and the South East. A major world centre for finance, banking, and insurance, London—especially the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/City-of-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">City of London</a>—hosts such centuries-old bodies as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Bank-of-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bank of England</a> (1694), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/Lloyds" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lloyd’s</a> (1688), and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/London-Stock-Exchange" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London Stock Exchange</a> (1773), as well as more recent arrivals. Although London dominates the sector, financial services are also important in other cities, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Leeds-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Leeds</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Liverpool-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Liverpool</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Manchester-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Manchester</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref215125"><h2 class="h2">Services</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Service activities account for more than two-thirds of employment in England, largely because of the primacy of London and the importance of the financial services sector. As the national capital and a prominent cultural mecca, London also provides a vast number of jobs in government and education, as well as at its many cultural institutions. The cities of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambridge-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Cambridge</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ipswich-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Ipswich</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Norwich-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Norwich</a> are important service and high-technology centres, as is the “M4 corridor”—a series of towns, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Reading-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Reading</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Swindon" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Swindon</a>, near the M4 motorway between London and South <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Wales</a>. Retailing is strong throughout the country, from <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="ubiquitous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ubiquitous" data-type="MW">ubiquitous</a> local supermarkets to the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="exclusive" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exclusive" data-type="MW">exclusive</a> boutiques of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mayfair-neighborhood-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mayfair</a> in London’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/West-End" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">West End</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Tourism also plays a significant role in England’s economy. The country’s attractions appeal to a wide variety of interests, ranging from its rich architecture, archaeology, arts, and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> to its horticulture and scenic landscape. A large number of England’s domestic vacationers opt for seaside spots such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Blackpool" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Blackpool</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bournemouth" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bournemouth</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Yarmouth-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Great Yarmouth</a>. The southwestern counties, with their extensive coastline and national parks, also attract a large number of tourists. However, the seasonal and low-paid nature of many service and tourist-related jobs has kept the average income lower in the southwest than in most other parts of England. Millions of British and international tourists annually visit London attractions such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/British-Museum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British Museum</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Gallery-museum-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">National Gallery</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Westminster-Abbey" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Westminster Abbey</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Pauls-Cathedral-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Saint Paul’s Cathedral</a>, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tower-of-London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tower of London</a>; still others travel beyond the capital to take in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Canterbury-Cathedral" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Canterbury Cathedral</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/York-Minster" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">York Minster</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref44529"><h2 class="h2">Transportation</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">England is well served by roads, railways, ports, and airports. During the 1980s and ’90s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain’s</a> trade with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a> increased sharply, and the ports in southern and southeastern England now handle significantly higher traffic than the ports of Liverpool and Manchester. Leading ports for container traffic are <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Felixstowe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Felixstowe</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tilbury" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Tilbury</a>, Thamesport (Medway), Liverpool, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Southampton-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Southampton</a>. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dover-district-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Dover</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Grimsby" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Grimsby</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Harwich-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Harwich</a> chiefly handle roll-on traffic. Major airports in and around London are Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted, which together serve more than 40 million passengers annually. Airports at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Birmingham-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Birmingham</a>, Manchester, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Newcastle-upon-Tyne-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Newcastle upon Tyne</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Luton" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Luton</a> also handle significant amounts of traffic. The feasibility of a tunnel under the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/English-Channel" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">English Channel</a> between England and France was first explored in the late 19th century. After lengthy debate and numerous <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="delays" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/delays" data-type="EB">delays</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Channel-Tunnel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Channel Tunnel</a> rail link opened in 1994 between <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Folkestone" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Folkestone</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-historical-kingdom-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kent</a> and the French town of Sangatte near Calais.</p><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Highways radiate from London in all directions, and the increase in traffic is visible in the congested highways. London, other large cities, and towns are linked by an efficient network of trains. Several high-speed freight trains serve the major industrial centres. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/London-Underground" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">London’s Underground</a> train system, the “Tube,” covers some 250 route miles (400 km). Inland waterways were developed during the 17th and 18th centuries, mainly to carry bulky raw materials such as coal, iron ore, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/limestone" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">limestone</a> between the industrial centres of Manchester, Leeds, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sheffield-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sheffield</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kingston-upon-Hull" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kingston upon Hull</a>, Birmingham, and London. By the end of the 18th century, a “cross” system of canals connected the Thames, Humber, Mersey, and Severn estuaries. Most canals are now in disuse.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">For further discussion of the economy of England, see the economy sections of the article <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom/Economy#ref44689" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Kingdom</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span></section></section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":7,"pagesTotal":19,"pageId":700965,"pageLength":820,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"STATE_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":7,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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England - Resources, Power, Economy | Britannica