Old Blighty or the United Kingdom of Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with population of about 60.6 million and lays claim to inventing football (we call it soccer), rugby, cricket and horse racing so Britain is a sporting nation even though they have not been much good at most sports in recent years - BUT they did win the last Ashes series!

Ever wondered what it would feel like to stand at the gates of Buckingham Palace looking up that magnificent white facade, listening to the rhythmic march of the palace guards?  The most famous female in the world, Queen Elizabeth does live here and is directly descended from King Egbert, who united England under his rule in 829. The Queen's title in Britain is 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith' - try saying that after a few pints of ale in the local pub.

Britain is full of contrasts; whichever direction you travel you will find a wide variety of landscapes and diverse cultures to explore. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all unique countries with their own customs, cultures and traditions. Whatever the season, the weather is liable to change from day to day and yes it does rain a lot for most of the year so make sure you are prepared.

Glastonbury to Britpop and Madchester to Abbey Road, find out what was hot and what is still hot today with music in Britain with a visit to the Beatles Museum in Liverpool a must on your way to Scotland.
A cultural revolution led the shortening of skirts everywhere in the sixties; find out the designers that made it happen to modern day shopping in Britain and London is still the place to be to be seen as hip!

Great Britain was the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century and played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science.  At its peak, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy.

The UK has faced a number of economic crises, but survives today as one of the world’s leading trade and financial centres, with advanced public services and a thriving economy. As a base to travel the world, London is the centre of the world as a lot of the world's best destinations are under 8 hours flight - no wonder so many young Aussies are living here at the moment (estimated over half a million so that is 1 in 16 Aussies to Londoners - quite amazing hey).