Discovering the U.K.

Page 4

Discovering the U.K.

Facts About the United Kingdom

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Official Country Names:

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The

countries that make up the United Kingdom include: England, Northern Ireland,

Scotland, and Wales

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Capital City:

London, England

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Official Language:

English

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Official Religion:

Christianity, as practiced by the Anglican Church

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Currency:

Pound Sterling (GBP), £

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Weights and Measurements:

Metric System

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Electricity/Voltage:

The standardised voltage is 240 Volts; the U.K. uses three point

plugs

General Information

Business Hours

It’s important to become familiar with the hours of each individual business. Hours may vary

based on industry, location, or time of the year. Time is often expressed in the 24-hour clock

and 12-hour clock.

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Typical Office Work Hours:

Monday to Friday, 8.30/9.00 to 17.00/18.00

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Banks:

Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 16.00; Saturday 9.00 to 12.00

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Shopping Centres:

Monday to Saturday, 9.00/9.30 to 17.00, Sunday 11.00 to

16.00/17.00. Shopping malls offer extended hours during the holiday season

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Post Offices:

Monday through Friday, 7.00 to 18.30, Saturday 8.00 to 12.00

Government

Britain has one of the oldest governments in the world. In the U.K., the Prime Minister leads

the government with the support of the Cabinet and ministers. All government ministers sit in

Parliament, which functions as the primary legislator. Executive authority lies with the

Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and is only exercised when asked by the Prime Minister and

Cabinet.

Economy

The U.K. has the second-largest economy in the European Union (EU), and the fifth-largest

internationally by nominal gross domestic product (GDP). The service sector contributes to

roughly 78% of GDP in the U.K. It is also the ninth-largest economy by purchasing power

parity (PPP) in the world, with London ranked as the world’s largest financial centre.