England Hotels and Resorts

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area
130,281 sq km (50,356 sq miles).

Population
49,561,800 (2002).

Population Density
380.4 per sq km.

Capital
London.
Population: 7,188,000 (Greater London; official estimate 2001).

Language
English. The multiplicity of local dialects throughout the country, overlaid with class, and town and country accents makes English a language of astonishing diversity – words and forms of syntax which are obsolete in the southeast may often be found elsewhere. In the larger cities, particularly London, there are many communities who do not speak English as a first language (or who have a patois – originating outside of this country – which adds yet more variety to the English language).

Note
For information on Government, time, electricity and communications, see the main United Kingdom section.

Note
Public holidays observed in England are the same as those observed in the rest of the UK (see the main United Kingdom section) with the addition of:

Aug 22 2005:    Summer Bank Holiday.
Aug 28 2006:    Summer Bank Holiday.

Special Events
For a complete list, contact the British Tourist Board. The following is a selection of special events occurring in England in 2005:

Jan 6-16:   London International Boat Show, London.
Jan 13-16:   West London Antiques and Fine Arts Fair, Kensington, London.
Jan 15-16:   Motorbike 2005 (motorbike show), Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Feb 11-20:   Comedy Festival 2005, Leicester.
Feb 13-17:   London Fashion Week.
Mar 10-13:    Crufts 2005 (dog show), Birmingham.
Mar 14-16:    London Book Fair, Hammersmith, London.
Mar 28:   Easter Egg Roll, Hampshire; Head of the River Race (Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race), London.
Apr 17:    Flora London Marathon.
May 1:    May Day Celebrations (traditional event), Lustleigh, Devon.
May 7-29:   Brighton Festival (the largest arts festival in England).
May 12-15:    Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor.
May 24-28:    Chelsea Flower Show, London.
Jun 3-4:    Keswick Beer Festival, Keswick, Cumbria.
Jun 3-5:    Dickens Festival, Rochester.
Jun 11:    Trooping the Color (official birthday parade of the Queen), London.
Jun 20-Jul 3:    Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, London.
Jun 22-26:    Glastonbury Festival (open-air music festival), Glastonbury.
Jun 27-Jul 13:    City of London Festival.
Jul 5-10:   Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Greater London.
Jul 30-Aug 6:    Cowes Week 2005 (yacht-racing regatta on The Solent), Isle of Wight.
Aug 29-Sep 1:    International Beatles Festival, Liverpool.
Aug 28-29:    Notting Hill Carnival (West Indian street carnival), London.
Nov 5:    Guy Fawkes (bonfires and fireworks), nationwide.
Nov 12:    Lord Mayor’s Show (parade), London.
Dec 3-4:    City of Durham Christmas Festival.
Dec 31:    New Year’s Eve Celebrations, nationwide.

Contact Information:

Location
Great Britain.

Visit Britain
Thames Tower, Black’s Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9EL, UK
Tel: (020) 8563 3000. Fax: (020) 8563 0302.