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Here follows a general introduction to this beautiful land, the UK, my home. This is for all those who have yet to set foot in the UK. Discover the beauty of Great Britain.

Rawle Austin presents...

The UK, meaning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, consists of four provinces. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It is sometimes called the British Isles and though an island nation it has always been at the heart of the European community.

Great Britain has a total population of about 57 million people and has a history stretching back to before 700B.C.

The Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings and the Normans were all early peoples living and laying the foundations of British history.

Click here to check out Great Britain: Scenic Tours - History - Resaurants - Pubs - Gardens - Castles - Hotels - National Parks - Stately Homes - Cathedrals (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide) by Michael Leapman

The capital city of England and the UK is London.

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world with all communities contributing positively to society both economically and culturally.

English is the official language of the UK and it has been transported worldwide making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

Many countries across the globe study English as their second language, including China.

My own parents came to settle in London, England from Guyana in South America in the 1950’s and 1960’s. I was born in London so that makes me English and British.

The UK is home to the world's fifth largest economy and has very healthy business investment, consumer spending and exports goods to many countries worldwide.

Click here to check out London (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide) by Michael Leapman

The Great British Pound or Pound Sterling is one of the world's strongest currencies and the Bank of England is at the heart of the British economy.

England is filled with beautiful natural scenery all the way from Northumberland National Park in the north of the country to stunning Cornwall in the south.

The coastline is filled with great beaches from Brighton to Blackpool.

Streatham, a town in the south of London, has it's own jewel in the form of the Streatham Rookery which contains an ornate flower garden.

It is one of the most magnificient sites I have ever seen and I thoroughly recommend a visit. London currently has a population of about 7 million people.

Home to many famous and historical sites and landmarks which help to fuel the tourist industry here.

These include the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the River Thames and the London Eye.

Many traditional ceremonies still take place, the most famous of which are the pomp and pageantry surrounding the Monarchy. The Royal Family (the Monarchy) can be traced back to the earliest Kings and Queens of Britain who once ruled the country.

Click here to check out The Usborne History of Britain (Usborne Internet-linked Reference)

Though the Prime Minister and the Government now govern the country, certain State Occasions showcase the full traditional royal costumes and are quite a sight to see. I love all the pomp, ceremony and pagentry. It's simply wonderful to behold.

For example, Trooping the Colour and The State Opening of Parliament.

Going past Horseguards Parade on the 159 bus and seeing the traditional guards on horseback never gets old.

The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was watched by millions of people around the world. It really showcased some of the best sights of London and the U.K.

Royal Wedding Highlights

Watching and playing sports are popular pastimes with football (soccer), cricket, rugby and tennis being particular favourites.

These sports actually originated in Britain and have been successfully exported worldwide.

The English Football Premier League is popularly followed throughout the world.

Rich in history and culture, England has always had a vibrant community of creative, artistic, business-minded and talented people.

From my own experience it's a great place to live, work and visit.

Click here to check out The Most Amazing Places to Visit in Britain (Readers Digest)

I felt proud when we were awarded the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games on July 6th 2005. I've never had the chance to experience an occasion like this, of this magnitude in my home city. It will be a great event.

I'd like to share a poem about London with you that sums up the above quite nicely. It's from the classic British television series Monty Python and the lyrics are by Hubert Gregg;

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner,

That I love London so.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner,

That I think of her,

Wherever I go.

I get a funny feeling inside of me,

Just walking up and down.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner,

That I love London Town.

So there you have it.

A brief glimpse of Great Britain.

Come and visit!