Quick Facts About England
- Official name: England – part of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Independence date: No official independence day, as the UK never gained independence from a foreign power. England celebrates St George’s Day on April 23rd.
- Member of the EU?: No
- Capital: London
- Currency: British Pound
- Power Adapter: Type G
- Population: 59 million (2024 est.)
- Yearly tourist visits: 40 million (2024 est.)
- Best known for: Rich history, Royal monarchs, culture, literary history, science, etc.
A very short history of England:
English history is much too interesting and important to cover in just a few paragraphs, but we’ll do our best here. England has been continuously inhabited since before history was recorded, though its peoples were mostly isolated to the British Isles. However, that all changed with Julius Caesar’s invasions in 55 and 54 BC. Though he was unable to establish a province at that time, trade with England became a focus for Rome and a later invasion seemed inevitable.
That invasion came in 43AD, and for the next 100 years the Romans gradually pushed the borders further north, building fortification lines across the whole of the island. The Romans ruled England for the next 300 years before the breakdown of the Empire forced their withdrawal, opening the door for Germanic tribes to migrate and set up control.
The largest and longest lasting migration came from the Anglo-Saxon groups who ultimately formed the basis for the future country of England. During this period Christianity flourished across the disparate kingdoms. In 1066, William the Conqueror, a Norman king, invaded Britain and conquered the existing kingdoms. He went on to subdue both Scotland and Wales, and was proclaimed King of England.
In 1215, one of the most momentous documents in history, the Magna Carta, was passed by English barons. This document established limits on the powers of the king. The next 300 years of English history were characterized by different uprisings and wars, ultimately culminating with the Wars of the Roses in which different strong English houses fought for control of the throne. These wars ended with the ascension of Henry VII, the first Tudor king.
His successor, Henry VIII, was one of the most transformative kings in English history. Due to his desire, and the Pope’s unwillingness to certify, his divorce from his first wife, Henry withdrew from the Catholic Church and established the Church of England with himself as its head in the English Reformation.
Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, ushered in what has become known as the “golden age of English history” during her reign. During the Elizabethan age England flourished, as it was a period of relative internal stability and international peace. England became wealthier compared to its contemporaries, and culture, most notably the theatre with William Shakespeare, thrived.
After Elizabeth died, James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots (who Elizabeth had executed), assumed the English throne and in him personally united the Scottish and English crowns. During his reign the English set up their first permanent settlement at Jamestown in North America, setting the basis for the North American colonies.
During the English Civil War, the royals were temporarily defeated and a new government under Oliver Cromwell was established. Ongoing disillusion led to the reestablishment of the monarchy in 1660, though with less power than before. In 1707 England and Scotland were formally united via both parliaments to establish the Kingdom of Great Britain. Later, in 1800, another Act of Union added Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Industrial Revolution in the late 18th Century became the basis for a truly global Empire, despite the loss of the United States colonies. At it’s peak in the early 20th Century, the British Empire managed to control more than 25% of the world, and the sun truly never set on it. Due to their naval power, the British were instrumental in ending the global slave trade after they had abolished the barbaric practice at home.
The First World War was devastating for British young men, though the country never suffered any damage and the British emerged from the war in a stronger relative position than they had entered it. World War II saw the British stand alone as the beacon of freedom and light after the fall of France in 1940 until the US joined the war at the end of 1941. Despite being on the winning side, the British suffered immensely during the war and were in a much weaker position afterwards.
In the post war period the British granted freedom to various parts of the empire, including, most notably, India. England has remained a global power during the past 80 years and is still well respected around the world. England remains a top destination for tourism and is one of our favorite countries to visit.
Check out our 4 day trip to London for Thanksgiving, or our 12 day trip to Ireland and Scotland,to help you plan your next trip!
