"United Kingdom" United Kingdom by Ruediger

United Kingdom Travel Guide: 103,075 reviews and 198,905 photos

Although I have never visited the UK, I think you should know some things about Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Britain, the largest of the islands, consists of three countries: Scotland, Wales and England. Ireland consists of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The "United Kingdom" is the name for Britain and Northern Ireland.

Politically, Wales and England have been one country for about 500 years. In fact, Wales has not really been an independent country since 1282 when the last Welsh prince died. Scotland and England have had the same government for about 300 years, since the 1707, in fact.
Since that time Scotland has not had an independent parliament. Finally, there is the smallest part of the UK: Northern Ireland. It has been separated from the rest of Ireland for less than 100 years.

Here you can get some good and bad informations about Northern Ireland

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Big Ben in London
It is the most famous clock on the whole world, I think. It is called like its biggest bell: Big Ben, which strikes every hour. The bell hangs in St. Stephens-Tower in the north of the Houses of Parliament.</font>
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Trafalgar Square in London
This is the Trafalgar Square, one of the most famous places in London. The place lies in the heart of the East End, Westminster. The Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament belongs to there, too. The place was build 1828 in memory of the "Battle of Trafalgar", when the English ships achieved the success against Napoleon near the Spanish coast in 1805. There is a Statue, which is 56metres high in the middle of the place that was build for the brave Admiral Horatio Nelson.

On Trafalgar Square you can find many well-known streets, for example: The Strand, The Mall, Whitehall and the Charing Cross Road. Many people come to this place all over the year to demonstrate or to have a look at the big, shining tree during Christmas time.