CINXE.COM
England Facts | Britannica
<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="facts-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="England, predominant constituent unit of the United Kingdom, occupying more than half of the island of Great Britain." /> <meta name="keywords" content="geography travel,political geography" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/facts/England" /> <meta name="robots" content="noindex" /><title>England Facts | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","DEFAULT_S3_REGION": "US_EAST_1","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "Facts", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/facts/England", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/[url]?v=3.130.14", "date": 20241124, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "-8233232843509366143" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "B" ,"adsTestVersion": "B" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,25,25]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":0,"currentDate":20241124}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,topicId: 700965 }, "GA": {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Facts","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="England, predominant constituent unit of the United Kingdom, occupying more than half of the island of Great Britain."/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="England Facts | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="England, predominant constituent unit of the United Kingdom, occupying more than half of the island of Great Britain."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/factsEngland"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"ARTICLE","title":"England Facts","description":"England, predominant constituent unit of the United Kingdom, occupying more than half of the island of Great Britain.","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/factsEngland"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/facts-page.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } // if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/at.js?v=3.130.14" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> </head> <body data-leg="B" class="facts-page user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-bb-ie"> <!--- assertive yield ---> <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" ></script><div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","selected":true,"navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"Geography-Travel","description":"Explore geography and travel; geographic regions; historical places; people of the world; countries, states, provinces, cities, and towns; languages; deserts, islands, mountains, plateaus; lakes, oceans, seas, rivers; national parks, tourist attractions","keywords":"geographic regions; historical places; people of the world; countries, states, provinces, cities, and towns; languages; deserts, islands, mountains, plateaus; lakes, oceans, seas, rivers; national parks, tourist attractions ","classId":"GEOGRAPHY","sortOrder":5},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","selected":true,"navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-outline-white-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange-dark p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> Subscribe <span class="d-none d-md-inline"> Now</span> </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY " href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE " href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY selected selected" href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled 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="grid gx-0 container-lg px-0 py-lg-20 mx-auto"> <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 selected" 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 d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-004-494CC2E8/Flag-England.jpg" alt="England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/129461-050-9B25BF2C/England-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/126710" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/129461-004-89EC27D2/England-map.jpg" alt="England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/195467-050-B37F8D12/Locator-map-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/224306" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/195467-004-02FBD1CD/Locator-map-England.jpg" alt="England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/130024-050-43573E8D/England-features-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/126711" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/130024-004-A9D1FEEE/England-features-map.jpg" alt="England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/13001-004-792B431F/Cathedral-of-Saint-Mary-Chelmsford-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/9369" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/13001-004-792B431F/Cathedral-of-Saint-Mary-Chelmsford-England.jpg" alt="Cathedral of Saint Mary" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/95117-050-43D7C392/Village-Hambleden-Buckinghamshire-Eng.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/100177" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/95117-004-B39041E5/Village-Hambleden-Buckinghamshire-Eng.jpg" alt="Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-050-16A9EDCE/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/96655" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-004-7E890139/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg" alt="Stonehenge" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/14556" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg" alt="Royal Shakespeare Theatre" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/59037-050-D15B46D2/Esthwaite-Water-Lake-District-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/1466" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/59037-004-3D8307B0/Esthwaite-Water-Lake-District-England.jpg" alt="Esthwaite Water in the Lake District, England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/4826-050-915ED74D/United-Kingdom.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/3806" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/4826-004-4994700F/United-Kingdom.jpg" alt="United Kingdom" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled 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 class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/summary/England"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/31/91731-050-503D355A/Big-Ben-Houses-of-Parliament-London-England.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Big Ben, London." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/summary/England" >England summary</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/another-great-british-vocabulary-quiz-innit"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/254320-131-65DA7509/English-language-school-promotion.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="English language school promotion illustration. Silhouette of a man advertises or sells shouts in a megaphone and emerging from the flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack)." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/another-great-british-vocabulary-quiz-innit" >Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit?</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/a-visit-to-europe"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/129522-131-07EA6EB9/bullet-train-Front-station-High-speed-Switzerland-2009.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Front of a bullet train in the station in Zurich, Switzerland. High speed train. Hompepage blog 2009, geography and travel, science and technology passenger train transportation railroad" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/a-visit-to-europe" >A Visit to Europe</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/know-your-uk-geography-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/171722-131-E03A7DB5/Union-Jack-British-Flag-of-Great-Britain.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Union Jack, British flag, Flag of Great Britain, British Culture, British Empire, England, English Culture, English Flag" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/know-your-uk-geography-quiz" >Know Your UK Geography Quiz</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/where-in-the-british-isles"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/170709-131-ABCDE081/Giants-Causeway-coast-rock-formation-columns-Northern.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Giant's Causeway, Antrim, Northern Ireland. Basalt columns, UNESCO World Heritage Site" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/where-in-the-british-isles" >Where in the British Isles?</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-questions"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 pb-0 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-15"> Related Questions </div> <ul> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/What-was-Henry-VIIIs-childhood-like">What was Henry VIII’s childhood like? </a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/When-did-Henry-VIII-get-married">When did Henry VIII get married? </a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/Who-were-Henry-VIIIs-children">Who were Henry VIII’s children? </a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/How-was-Henry-VIII-influential">How was Henry VIII influential? </a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/Why-did-Henry-VIII-kill-his-wives">Why did Henry VIII kill his wives?</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/193443-131-17ABE1C9/Union-Jack-flag-Great-Britain-united-kingdom.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom" >What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/british-royal-line-of-succession"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/243624-131-B9802941/King-Charles-III-Queen-Camilla-wave-balcony-Buckingham-Palace-Coronation-May-6-2023.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Camilla, Queen Consort) wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles in London, England on May 6, 2023" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/british-royal-line-of-succession" >British Royal Line of Succession</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/5-fascinating-british-coronation-objects"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/86/241086-131-6D0AE2E6/Elizabeth-II-Coronation-1953.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day (June 2, 1953) holding the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in her right hand the Orb in her left, in an embroidered and beaded dress by Norman Hartnell, a crimson velvet mantle edged with ermine fur, with the Coronation ring, the Coronation necklace, and the Imperial State Crown. The backdrop depicts the interior of Westminster Abbey; photograph by Cecil Beaton. (British royals)" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/5-fascinating-british-coronation-objects" >5 Fascinating British Coronation Objects</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/behind-the-scenes-12-historical-figures-in-wolf-hall"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/182391-131-6334E18C/Mark-Rylance-Thomas-Cromwell-Wolf-Hall.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall a 2015 BBC TV Mini Series. drama, television, England in the 1520s, Henry VIII" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/behind-the-scenes-12-historical-figures-in-wolf-hall" >Behind the Scenes: 12 Historical Figures in <em>Wolf Hall</em></a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/12-influencers-throughout-history"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/115140-131-CD7510ED/Currier-costume-Ives-Amelia-Jenks-Bloomer.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Currier & Ives, the Bloomer costume influenced by Amelia Bloomer who began appearing in public wearing full-cut pantaloons, or "Turkish trousers," under a short skirt nicknamed "bloomers."" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/12-influencers-throughout-history" >12 Influencers Throughout History</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-discover"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Discover </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/196952-131-0665E4EE/Egyptians-hieroglyphics-carvings.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses" >11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/timeline-of-the-american-civil-rights-movement"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/177117-131-A08C82B6/African-Americans-front-voting-rights-White-House-1965.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/timeline-of-the-american-civil-rights-movement" >Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/why-is-ireland-two-countries"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/148643-131-2B2237A6/example-landscape-Irish-Ireland-Sligo.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/why-is-ireland-two-countries" >Why Is Ireland Two Countries?</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/7-banned-books-through-time"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/166534-131-FEA58963/Cheshire-Cat-Lewis-Carroll-Alices-Adventures-in.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="The Cheshire Cat is a fictional cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (Alice in Wonderland)" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/7-banned-books-through-time" >11 Banned Books Through Time</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/americas-5-most-notorious-cold-cases-including-one-you-may-have-thought-was-already-solved"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/196471-131-8FEA8DDD/Daily-Police-Bulletin-Elizabeth-Short-Black-Dahlia-January-1947.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Los Angeles Police Department wanted flyer on Elizabeth Short, aka the "Black Dahlia," who was brutally murdered in January 1947. The FBI supported the Los Angeles Police Department in the case, including by identifying Short through her fingerprints that" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/americas-5-most-notorious-cold-cases-including-one-you-may-have-thought-was-already-solved" >America’s 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One You May Have Thought Was Already Solved)</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/218073-131-D8DF29B6/Macys-Herald-Square-New-York-Black-Friday-Thanksgiving-2018.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday" >Why Is It Called Black Friday?</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/inventors-and-inventions-of-the-industrial-revolution"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/193634-131-F5FF783D/factories-Industrial-Revolution-workers-house-machines.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="A Factory Interior, watercolor, pen and gray ink, graphite, and white goache on wove paper by unknown artist, c. 1871-91; in the Yale Center for British Art. Industrial Revolution England" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/inventors-and-inventions-of-the-industrial-revolution" >Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button class="drawerToggle btn position-sticky border btn-xs btn-white btn-circle rounded-sm d-none d-lg-flex " type="button" aria-label="Toggle Drawer"> <em class="material-icons font-18 text-blue" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="col" id="facts-content"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ ] } </script> <div class="ml-0 pr-sm-10 pr-lg-0 "> <div class="grid gx-0 gx-sm-20 facts-container"> <div class="col-sm d-flex flex-column"> <div class="toc-sticky-header d-none d-lg-none bg-gray-50 px-10 px-sm-30 position-sticky w-100 "> <div class="toc-sticky-header-inner-container align-items-center d-flex mx-auto h-100 w-100"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-sm btn-white text-blue border-2 border-gray-100 gtm-mobile-toc-header-button js-sections-button d-lg-none p-10"> <em class="material-icons my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Contents </button> <div class="header-ai-ask-button-placeholder"></div> <div class="header-ai-summarize-button-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <div id="facts-England" class="facts-page facts-content"> <div class="grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle"> <div class="grey-box-content mx-auto w-100"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel", "name": "Geography & Travel" } } , { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 2, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/States-Other-Subdivisions", "name": "States & Other Subdivisions" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb mt-20 mb-30"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="/" class="link-gray-600">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/browse/States-Other-Subdivisions">States & Other Subdivisions</a> </span> </nav> <h1> England: Facts & Stats</h1> <div class="mt-15 mb-15 qa-action-buttons"> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".facts-content .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-title="England" data-published-date="24 Nov. 2024" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/facts/England" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="England" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/facts/England" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/facts/England">https://www.britannica.com/facts/England</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-byline font-14 font-serif"> <span class="written-by font-12 text-gray-700">Written and fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Information-Architects-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/12365882" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black"><p>The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of <em>Encyclopædia Britannica</em>, and create and manage the relationships between them.</p></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 byline-contributor "> The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20" /> <h3 class="qa-facts">Facts</h3> <table class="quick-facts-table table font-14"> <tbody> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Population</th> <td class="POP" > (2011) 53,012,456</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Form Of Government<Sup>1</Sup></th> <td class="" > </td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Official Language</th> <td class="OF" > none</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> National Religion</th> <td class="NR" > Church of England</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Total Area (Sq Km)</th> <td class="TA" > 130,278</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Total Area (Sq Mi)</th> <td class="TA" > 50,301</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Monetary Unit</th> <td class="MU" > pound sterling (£)</td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="col-30"> Leading City</th> <td class="LC" > London</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="footnote" colspan="2" > <sup>1</sup>England does not have a formal government or constitution, and a specifically English role in contemporary government and politics is hard to identify in any formal sense, for these operate on a nationwide British basis.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20"/> <h3 class="qa-media">Photos and Videos</h3> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 facts-page-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex "> <div class="rw-track"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/61159" class=" media-overlay-link pl-20 " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="England" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/129461-004-89EC27D2/England-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/126710" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/61/129461-004-89EC27D2/England-map.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="England" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/195467-004-02FBD1CD/Locator-map-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/224306" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/195467-004-02FBD1CD/Locator-map-England.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="England" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/130024-004-A9D1FEEE/England-features-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/126711" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/130024-004-A9D1FEEE/England-features-map.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="England" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/13001-004-792B431F/Cathedral-of-Saint-Mary-Chelmsford-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/9369" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/13001-004-792B431F/Cathedral-of-Saint-Mary-Chelmsford-England.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Cathedral of Saint Mary" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/95117-004-B39041E5/Village-Hambleden-Buckinghamshire-Eng.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/100177" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/17/95117-004-B39041E5/Village-Hambleden-Buckinghamshire-Eng.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, England" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-004-7E890139/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/96655" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-004-7E890139/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Stonehenge" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/14556" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Royal Shakespeare Theatre" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/59037-004-3D8307B0/Esthwaite-Water-Lake-District-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/1466" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/59037-004-3D8307B0/Esthwaite-Water-Lake-District-England.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Esthwaite Water in the Lake District, England" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/4826-004-4994700F/United-Kingdom.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/3806" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/4826-004-4994700F/United-Kingdom.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="United Kingdom" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/187569-138-2CC6507D/England-Act-of-Union-with-Scotland-Articles.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/210014" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/187569-138-2CC6507D/England-Act-of-Union-with-Scotland-Articles.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Take a look into the rolls featuring the Act of Union with Scotland (1707) and the Articles of Union with Scotland (1706)" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/179960-138-F49C2B32/Overview-Francis-Drake-life.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/191957" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/179960-138-F49C2B32/Overview-Francis-Drake-life.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Sir Francis Drake: Admiral, pirate, and explorer" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/187568-138-9CDE43ED/Declaration-of-Rights-Bill-Parliamentary-Archives-London.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/210012" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/187568-138-9CDE43ED/Declaration-of-Rights-Bill-Parliamentary-Archives-London.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="See the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Draft Declaration of Rights (1689) kept in the United Kingdom Parliamentary Archives Search Room" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/195120-138-7E92BF6E/American-Revolution-War-of-1812-Great-Britain-1812.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/225127" class=" media-overlay-link " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/195120-138-7E92BF6E/American-Revolution-War-of-1812-Great-Britain-1812.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="Uncover how the new United States fought with the British over naval impressment and their history of conflict" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/180043-138-8F5BA212/Overview-Henry-VIII-reign.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/192049" class=" media-overlay-link pr-20 " > <div class="image-container position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/180043-138-8F5BA212/Overview-Henry-VIII-reign.jpg?h=150&q=80" alt="The conflicting legacies of King Henry VIII" /> <em class="material-icons zoom-icon position-absolute text-white d-flex" data-icon="play_arrow"></em> </div> </a> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-yellow " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-yellow " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> <div class="alert font-serif my-20"> <a class="" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/images-videos">See All Videos and Images →</a> </div> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20" /> <h3 class="qa-related-topics">Related Topics and References</h3> <div class="label mb-10 mt-20">Topics</div> <div> <a href="/topic/house-of-Plantagenet" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">house of Plantagenet</a><a href="/topic/House-of-Tudor" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">House of Tudor</a><a href="/topic/Protectorate-English-government" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">Protectorate</a><a href="/topic/First-Fleet" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">First Fleet</a><a href="/topic/list-of-cities-and-towns-in-the-United-Kingdom-2034188" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">list of cities and towns in the United Kingdom</a><a href="/event/Battle-of-Hastings" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">Battle of Hastings</a><a href="/event/Norman-Conquest" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">Norman Conquest</a><a href="/event/Hundred-Years-War" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">Hundred Years’ War</a><a href="/event/War-of-the-Grand-Alliance" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">War of the Grand Alliance</a><a href="/event/War-of-the-Spanish-Succession" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border-gray-200 mb-5 mr-5">War of the Spanish Succession</a></div> <div class="alert my-20"> <div class="label mb-10">Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic</div> <ul class="list-column column-md-2"> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/education/National-education-under-enlightened-rulers#ref47586">education: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/art/Western-architecture/The-Christian-West#ref47319">Western architecture: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/art/Western-architecture/Portugal#ref47356">Western architecture: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/art/Western-architecture/England">Western architecture: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/art/Western-painting/England-and-Ireland-c-650-850">Western painting: England and Ireland, c. 650–850</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/publishing/The-first-newspapers#ref229627">history of publishing: Britain</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/publishing/The-flourishing-book-trade-1550-1800#ref28627">history of publishing: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/publishing/The-age-of-early-printing-1450-1550#ref28618">history of publishing: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/art/Western-sculpture/Baroque-and-Rococo-outside-Italy#ref30397">Western sculpture: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/art/interior-design/England">interior design: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/historiography/Romantic-historiography#ref284252">historiography: Historiography in England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/Native-American/Colonial-goals-and-geographic-claims-the-16th-and-17th-centuries#ref273141">Native American: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/metalwork/England">metalwork: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/topic/agriculture/Agricultural-recession#ref10575">origins of agriculture: England</a> </li> <li> <a class="" href="/technology/furniture/Middle-Ages#ref73726">furniture: England</a> </li> </ul> </div> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20" /> <h3 id="related-biographies-700965" class="qa-related-bio scroll-offset"> Related People </h3> <div class="grid g-20"> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/195567-050-B679E84C/John-Milton-engraving-Jacob-Houbraken-1741.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Poet John Milton" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/John-Milton">John Milton</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English poet</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/58715-050-5BA24064/Francis-Bacon-oil-painting-artist-National-Portrait.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Francis Bacon" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Francis-Bacon-Viscount-Saint-Alban">Francis Bacon</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">British author, philosopher, and statesman</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/285-050-EB9954ED/Elizabeth-I-oil-panel-George-Gower-1588.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Elizabeth I" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Elizabeth-I">Elizabeth I</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">queen of England</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/200562-050-8A0515AA/Oliver-Cromwell.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Oliver Cromwell" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Oliver-Cromwell">Oliver Cromwell</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English statesman</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/86/126286-050-AE7F8DB4/William-I.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="William I" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/William-I-king-of-England">William I</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of England</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/75/192075-050-0C3D74AC/oil-Henry-VIII-wood-Hans-Holbein-the.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Henry VIII of England" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Henry-VIII-king-of-England">Henry VIII</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of England</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default " /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/St-Gregory-the-Great">St. Gregory the Great</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">pope</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/11/12611-050-98560CE7/Thomas-Cranmer-detail-oil-painting-Gerlach-Flicke.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Thomas Cranmer" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Thomas-Cranmer-archbishop-of-Canterbury">Thomas Cranmer</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">archbishop of Canterbury</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/19638-004-0AAA05F4/John-Bunyan-pencil-drawing-vellum-Robert-White.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="John Bunyan, pencil drawing on vellum by Robert White; in the British Museum" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/John-Bunyan">John Bunyan</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English author</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/68/2968-004-F39980D1/Nelson-detail-oil-painting-JF-Rigaud-Eng.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Lord Nelson, detail of an oil painting by J.F. Rigaud; in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Eng." /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Horatio-Nelson">Horatio Nelson</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">British naval commander</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/7314-050-35BAFB76/Charles-I-Great-Britain-and-Ireland.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Charles I" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Charles-I-king-of-Great-Britain-and-Ireland">Charles I</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of Great Britain and Ireland</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/8619-050-717CD1B8/Thomas-More-detail-oil-panel-Hans-Holbein-1527.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Hans Holbein the Younger: Sir Thomas More" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Thomas-More-English-humanist-and-statesman">Thomas More</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English humanist and statesman</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/9672-050-BC7B3610/Samuel-Pepys-oil-painting-John-Hayls-National.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Diarist Samuel Pepys" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Samuel-Pepys">Samuel Pepys</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English diarist and naval administrator</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/92/1192-004-021B7150/Henry-II-miniature-Thomas-Becket-manuscript-British.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Henry II and Thomas Becket" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Henry-II-king-of-England">Henry II</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of England</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/182247-050-644E75E2/Richard-III-panel-artist.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Richard III" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Richard-III-king-of-England">Richard III</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of England</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/63/163-004-3732ED5E/Edward-I-watercolour-British-Library.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Edward I" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Edward-I-king-of-England">Edward I</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of England</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/126288-050-BF68638F/William-Cecil-1st-Baron-Burghley.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/William-Cecil-1st-Baron-Burghley">William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English statesman</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/5183-050-89F1B26E/William-III-painting-W-Wissing-National-Portrait.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="William III" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/William-III-king-of-England-Scotland-and-Ireland">William III</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of England, Scotland, and Ireland</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/40624-050-5AC5514C/Francis-Walsingham-detail-panel-painting-John-de.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Sir Francis Walsingham, detail of a panel painting attributed to John de Critz the Elder, last quarter of the 16th century; in the National Portrait Gallery, London." /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Francis-Walsingham">Sir Francis Walsingham</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">English statesman</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-20"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 3/4"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/149359-050-7C3450D7/Charles-II-engraving-William-Holl.jpg?h=400&w=300&c=crop" alt="Charles II, 19th-century engraving by William Holl." /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/biography/Charles-II-king-of-Great-Britain-and-Ireland">Charles II</a> <div class="caption mt-5 text-hyphenate">king of Great Britain and Ireland</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20" /> <h3 class="qa-related-places">Related Places</h3> <div class="grid g-20"> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/4825-050-977D8C5E/Flag-United-Kingdom.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="United Kingdom" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/United-Kingdom"> United Kingdom</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/19694-050-1DAF09F3/World-Heritage-locator-London-United-Kingdom.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="London" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/London"> London</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> national capital, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/115901-050-3D507AE3/Skyline-Manchester-England.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Manchester" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Manchester-England"> Manchester</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/78/94478-050-7780CD8B/Ruins-Whitby-Abbey-North-Yorkshire-Eng.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Whitby Abbey" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Yorkshire-former-county-England"> Yorkshire</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> former county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/146322-050-97D36F8F/field-background-Cheviot-Hills-England-Northumberland.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Cheviot Hills" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Northumberland-county-England"> Northumberland</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/4159-004-D677A72D/shoreline-Lyme-Bay-Devon-Sidmouth-England-Peak.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Devon: Lyme Bay" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Devon"> Devon</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/139548-050-4451ECDD/City-Hall-Norman-Foster-Southwark-England-London.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Norman Foster: City Hall, London" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Southwark-London"> Southwark</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> borough, London, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/116072-050-28D4F927/Great-Malvern-Priory-Eng-Worcestershire.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Great Malvern Priory" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Worcestershire-county-England"> Worcestershire</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/20227-004-43D758E2/Queens-House-towers-rooftops-National-Maritime-Museum.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Greenwich, London" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Greenwich-borough-London"> Greenwich</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> borough, London, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/57/115657-050-46535612/St-Augustine-Canterbury-Abbey-England-Kent.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="St. Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Kent-county-England"> Kent</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/22847-050-A89CE5BE/map-London-West-End-areas-City-of.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Interactive map of the West End of London, including the City of Westminster and neighbouring areas." /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/City-of-Westminster"> City of Westminster</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> borough, London, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/18513-004-98F0980D/stalls-Sellers-Camden-Market-markets-London.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Sellers' stalls at Camden Market, one of London's numerous open-air markets." /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Camden-borough-London"> Camden</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> borough, London, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/64798-050-D9201EB6/Birmingham-England.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Birmingham, England" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Birmingham-England"> Birmingham</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/115898-050-DE6AC207/Pendle-Hill-towns-Clitheroe-Whalley-Eng-Lancashire.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Lancashire: Pendle Hill" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Lancashire-county-England"> Lancashire</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-50 col-md-33 col-lg-25"> <div class="card card-sm"> <div class="card-media" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/115647-050-D6B28F80/Castle-Stafford-Staffordshire-Eng.jpg?w=300&h=168&c=crop" alt="Stafford" /> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold text-hyphenate" href="/place/Staffordshire"> Staffordshire</a> <div class="caption text-hyphenate"> county, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20" /> <h3 class="qa-related-quizzes">Related Quizzes and Features</h3> <div class="h5 mb-10" id="Quiz-700965">Quiz</div> <div class="grid g-20 pb-20"> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/quiz/where-in-the-british-isles"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/170709-118-ABCDE082/Giants-Causeway-coast-rock-formation-columns-Northern.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="Giant's Causeway, Antrim, Northern Ireland. Basalt columns, UNESCO World Heritage Site" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="Where in the British Isles?" href="/quiz/where-in-the-british-isles"> Where in the British Isles?</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/quiz/another-great-british-vocabulary-quiz-innit"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/254320-118-31A278B3/English-language-school-promotion.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="English language school promotion illustration. Silhouette of a man advertises or sells shouts in a megaphone and emerging from the flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack)." width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit?" href="/quiz/another-great-british-vocabulary-quiz-innit"> Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit?</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/quiz/a-visit-to-europe"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/129522-118-10F78F79/bullet-train-Front-station-High-speed-Switzerland-2009.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="Front of a bullet train in the station in Zurich, Switzerland. High speed train. Hompepage blog 2009, geography and travel, science and technology passenger train transportation railroad" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="A Visit to Europe" href="/quiz/a-visit-to-europe"> A Visit to Europe</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/quiz/know-your-uk-geography-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/171722-118-68F2E6A0/Union-Jack-British-Flag-of-Great-Britain.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="Union Jack, British flag, Flag of Great Britain, British Culture, British Empire, England, English Culture, English Flag" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="Know Your UK Geography Quiz" href="/quiz/know-your-uk-geography-quiz"> Know Your UK Geography Quiz</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="h5 mb-10" id="List-700965">List</div> <div class="grid g-20 pb-20"> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/list/5-fascinating-british-coronation-objects"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/86/241086-118-1DF510F4/Elizabeth-II-Coronation-1953.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day (June 2, 1953) holding the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in her right hand the Orb in her left, in an embroidered and beaded dress by Norman Hartnell, a crimson velvet mantle edged with ermine fur, with the Coronation ring, the Coronation necklace, and the Imperial State Crown. The backdrop depicts the interior of Westminster Abbey; photograph by Cecil Beaton. (British royals)" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="5 Fascinating British Coronation Objects" href="/list/5-fascinating-british-coronation-objects"> 5 Fascinating British Coronation Objects</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/list/british-royal-line-of-succession"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/243624-118-65ABF4B4/King-Charles-III-Queen-Camilla-wave-balcony-Buckingham-Palace-Coronation-May-6-2023.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Camilla, Queen Consort) wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles in London, England on May 6, 2023" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="British Royal Line of Succession" href="/list/british-royal-line-of-succession"> British Royal Line of Succession</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="h5 mb-10" id="Demystified-700965">Demystified</div> <div class="grid g-20 pb-20"> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/193443-118-AA8D830E/Union-Jack-flag-Great-Britain-united-kingdom.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?" href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom"> What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-100 col-lg-50 col-xl-33"> <div class="card card-sm d-flex flex-row"> <div class="card-media col-auto"> <a href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/193443-118-AA8D830E/Union-Jack-flag-Great-Britain-united-kingdom.jpg?h=150&w=150&c=crop" alt="Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom" width="80" height="80" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body"> <a class="font-weight-bold line-clamp clamp-3" title="What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?" href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom"> What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="grey-box-line my-20" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <footer class="md-footer footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <DIV class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"><div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"> <strong>History at your fingertips –</strong> Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid d-flex justify-content-center"> <div class="col-sm-50 col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="enter-your-email">Enter your email</label> <input id="enter-your-email" type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto col-100 mt-5 mt-sm-0"> <button type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-white" style="width: 100%; height:100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="link-white text-decoration-underline" href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. </div> <input type="hidden" name="source" value="Footer" /><input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Mendel" /><input type="hidden" name="medium" value="Box" /></form> <div class="md-subscribed hidden text-white"> <div class="my-10">Thank you for subscribing!</div> <div>Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div></DIV> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex justify-content-center colored" data-value="connect" > <div class="share-label text-uppercase hidden-xs">Stay Connected</div> <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> <a class="social-icon youtube justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/encyclopaediabritannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>YouTube</span></a> <a class="social-icon instagram justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Instagram</span></a> <a class="social-icon pinterest justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="pinterest" href="https://www.pinterest.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg height="30" width="30" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="" role="img"><path d="M0 12c0 5.123 3.211 9.497 7.73 11.218-.11-.937-.227-2.482.025-3.566.217-.932 1.401-5.938 1.401-5.938s-.357-.715-.357-1.774c0-1.66.962-2.9 2.161-2.9 1.02 0 1.512.765 1.512 1.682 0 1.025-.653 2.557-.99 3.978-.281 1.189.597 2.159 1.769 2.159 2.123 0 3.756-2.239 3.756-5.471 0-2.861-2.056-4.86-4.991-4.86-3.398 0-5.393 2.549-5.393 5.184 0 1.027.395 2.127.889 2.726a.36.36 0 0 1 .083.343c-.091.378-.293 1.189-.332 1.355-.053.218-.173.265-.4.159-1.492-.694-2.424-2.875-2.424-4.627 0-3.769 2.737-7.229 7.892-7.229 4.144 0 7.365 2.953 7.365 6.899 0 4.117-2.595 7.431-6.199 7.431-1.211 0-2.348-.63-2.738-1.373 0 0-.599 2.282-.744 2.84-.282 1.084-1.064 2.456-1.549 3.235C9.584 23.815 10.77 24 12 24c6.627 0 12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0 0 5.373 0 12"></path></svg> </a> </div> <br/> <div class="container"> <ul class="list-unstyled legal-links"> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">About Us & Legal Info</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="https://corporate.britannica.com/diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Diversity</a></li> </ul> <div class="mt-20">©2024 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</div> </div> </div> </footer> <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> <!-- Ortto ebmwprod capture code --> <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":"Facts","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":null,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":true} </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/facts-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Facts","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"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>