Considered as an iconic symbol of England and Great Britain, double decker buses have dominated English transport for over a century, following its introduction in 1847 by Adams & Co of Fairfield in the UK. Miss Phyllis Thompson was the first licensed female to drive a double-decker in 1941. Transport carriages were initially drawn by horses, before the production of fuel-driven transport. Traditionally red in colour, these buses have two decks, and the earliest models did not have a roof on the second level. They were, therefore, used by travel…

The United Kingdom is known to have employed a marine force in the ninth century, during the reign of King Alfred the Great. Then, by the 14th century, sea battles between other nations and England ensued. Most of them recorded amongst which were the English, Dutch, and French Navies. The Senior Service launched in the 16th Century, was the oldest UK navy force. It provided the base for the Modern UK or the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy became the most powerful force of its kind by 1940. The USA…

The Imposing Tower Bridge in London The famous bascule bridge known as the Tower Bridge was built over the River Thames in London between 1886 and 1894 and became one of London’s greatest landmarks. Two overhanging walkways that were combined and tied to two towers constitute the Tower Bridge in London. The two towers support the suspension components of the bridge. The machinery that activates the bridge’s pivotal parts is housed in each tower. For part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee celebration, the bridge was painted red white and…

One can find hundreds of top bars in London. Many of them provide a splendid atmosphere filled with music, fun games and dancing for guests. London nightlife gets illuminated as pubs and bars open in the evening and continue to function till midnight and beyond. Tourists more often look forward to wining and dining at bars and restaurants. The list of popular London bars is very long, and some of the best are given below. John the Unicorn is a spacious bar located at Rye Lane. Even though it lies…

East Sussex in England comprises the biggest part of the beautiful Brighton city – Brighton and Hove. It is the main part of the Greater Brighton City region. One can reach this coastal resort within an hour from London by train. The beach city boasts many buildings belonging to the era of the Regency and a large covered area house many shops and amusement locations on the area’s shingle beach. The central waterfront part of the area is known as Brighton Pier which was opened in 1899. Brighton Pier is…

England boasts many international banks. Many of them are prominent players in the global finance sector and have branches almost in every country. Some of the major English banks are the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), the Barclays PLC, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Lloyds Banking Group, and Standard Chartered Bank. The topmost bank among them is the HSBC. It is one of the largest international banks established in 1860 aiming to carry out trade transactions between Europe and Asia, mainly China and India. The founder of…

People take medicines to maintain their health, prevent illness, manage chronic diseases, and get cured of diseases. Today over the counter medications are highly popular among those who want to get rid of common diseases such as coughs, fever, headache, joint pains and numerous other physical strains and aches. However, for more severe illness such as heart diseases, cancers, and many other such diseases, people consult doctors and obtain prescriptions, without which they cannot purchase over the counter without a physician’s recommendation. English medicines are available in numerous forms and…

Social, political, demographic, and religious changes caused the British society to improve in numerous aspects. Apart from these spheres, changes in many other fields like science, arts, working class, women's rights, etc., also resulted in creating a democratic society that we can observe from the Tower of London till the present-day UK. Demographic changes in England during the period between 1100 and 1300 witnessed a high increase in its population. British history reads that the population increased from two million in 1100, to five million by 1300. However, the country…

Peculiar constructions capture everyone’s attention. Britain boasts many such unusual buildings that attract tourists as well as locals in their thousands. Brighton Saltdean Lido Saltdean Lido in Brighton is one such unusual building. It was declared in 1987 a Grade II listed building. Architect Richard Jones designed Brighton Saltdean Lido, and its construction got completed in 1937. Primarily the building exhibits Art Deco features. One time, the leaseholder of the building declared that he wanted to build a flat there, and people initiated protests against his idea and later, in…

English explorers had made it possible for hundreds of other countries to embark on dangerous but enthusiastic journeys around the world and discover many lands and famous locations. Most of the British explorers died at a very young age during their expeditions. But their accomplishments continue to inspire millions of people today to engage in daring adventures and find new ways for improvements of the humankind. Mary Kingsley was born in Islington, London in 1862. In 1893, she travelled along Sierra Leone and through Angola. During this period, Mary Kingsley…

The tallest structure in England, the Shard in London, boasts 95 storeys. This skyscraper situated in Southwark in London saw the laying of its foundation in March 2009. The construction was complete in March 2012 and opened to the public on 6 July 2012, but had its observation deck only completed on the 1st of February, 2013. The pyramidal part of the skyscraper contains 72 floors, with an observation deck on the 7th floor. The Shard tower also is known as the Shard London Bridge, Shard of Glass or London…

Known under many names, the national flag or the flag of Britain represents a combination of the flags of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The "Union Flag" or the "King's Colours" and the present "Union Jack" are the names by it is popularly known. Wales, however, is not directly represented in the present "Union Jack". It is instead indirectly expressed through the flag of England. The 'King's Colours' was first introduced in 1606 by King James I who ascended the English throne in 1603 following the death of his cousin Queen…