England

Official name of country: England

Population: 51 million

Capital City: London

Time Difference: England is +1GMT, so it is 6 hours ahead of the east coast and 9 hours ahead of the west coast.

National Animal: Lion

National Currency: Great British Pound (GBP)

National Flower: Rose

Sports: Whether it’s watching on the TV, cheering at the stadium, or playing themselves, the English love their sports! The national sport of the country is cricket, a pastime that dates back to the 16th century. Association football, or soccer, is the most popular sport ; and England’s greatest Association football rival is its neighbor, Scotland. The third most common sport is rugby union which tends to be played in the winter. It would be impossible to talk about England and not mention the famous Wimbledon championships, which are the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. No matter what sport you fancy, we encourage you to join the locals and go cheer on the teams during your time in England!  

Geography: England makes up two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and shares borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. The overall terrain of the country is quite hilly, but mountains like the Pennines in the north and rocky coastlines are also in the geographic make up. The climate in England is known for its rain and fog, but don’t worry, a good umbrella and a pot of tea will keep you dry and warm! Generally the north receives more rain than London and temperatures rarely dip below freezing. Nottingham will also be wet, but summers are warm, autumn is crisp, and winter brings light snowfalls.

Famous People: John Locke (philosopher), Guy Ritchie (filmmaker), Keira Knightley (actress), Sacha Baron Cohen (actor), Eric Clapton (musician), David Beckham (soccer player), and JK Rowling (author).

Great Movies: Trainspotting; The Lady Killers; Four Weddings and a Funeral; Snatch; Shakespeare in Love; The English Patient; Bridget Jones Diary.