Geography, sights, national parks and

other places of interest

Martin PolákOndřej Veselý

Sights in England

The Tower of London

The Tower of London

• By William the Conqueror• Building started in 1076• Served as an armoury,

treasury, menagerie, home of the Royal Mint, and the home of the Crown Jewels• Since 1988 in the

UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge

• Suspension bridge over the River Thames• Connects Tower

Hamlets and Southwark• Open in 1894• Length: 244 metres• Height: 65 metres

The Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster

• A.k.a. The Houses of Parliament• Built in the 11th

century, demolished in 1834, rebuilt in 1840 – 1870• In UNESCO along with

Westminster Abbey• Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

• Anglican• Mainly Gothic• Traditional place of

coronation and royal burial site• Original church dates

back to the 10th century, the building of the present church started in the 13th century

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

• The residence and primary workplace of British monarchs• Originally bulit for the

Duke of Buckingham in 1703, the royal palace since 1837 (Queen Victoria)

St Paul‘s Cathedral

St Paul‘s Cathedral

• Anglican• English Baroque• The original church was

built in the 7th century, rebuilt by Normans in the 10th century, ruined by the Great Fire of London, the building of today‘s cathedral dates back to 1675 – 1720

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace

• Royal palace in London• Originally built for

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1514• King William III rebuilt it

massively. • It has not been

inhabited by the British Royal Family since the 18th century.

Notable museums in London

• National Gallery• Natural History

Museum• Madame Tussauds

Royal Pavilion, Brighton

Royal Pavilion, Brighton

• Former royal residence• Built in 1787 for

George, Prince of Wales• Blend of British and

oriental architecture (Indo-Saracenic)

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

• Built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror• One of 3 currently

official royal residences• The second largest

inhabited castle in the world (54,835 m2)

Roman Baths, Bath

Roman Baths, Bath

• Natural thermal water baths• Used for more than

2000 years• The water in the centre

is unsafe for bathing or drinking, but there are places with clean spa water for drinking

Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal Park

Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal Park

• Ruins of a Cistercian monastery• Built in the 12th

century, dissolved in 1539 by Henry VIII• In the UNESCO list since

1986

Churches in Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral

• The cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury• Mainly Gothic• Founded in 597,

destroyed by fire, rebuilt 1070 – 1077 by Normans, last major modification in 1834

St Augustine‘s Abbey

• Ruins of a Benedictine monastery• Founded in 598• Dissolved by Henry VIII

in 1538• The premises are partly

used by the nearby King‘s School

St Martin‘s Church

• Founded in the 6th century• The oldest church in

English-speaking world• In UNESCO since 1988

along with Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine‘s Abbey

Durham Castle and Cathedral

Durham Castle and Cathedral

• Anglican cathedral• Castle used by Durham

University since the 19th century• Both built by Normans

in the 11th century• In UNESCO since 1986

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace

• Principal residence of the dukes of Marlborough• One of the England‘s

largest country houses• Built beetween 1705

and 1722• Admitted to UNESCO in

1987

Sights in Scotland

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

• Built on the plug of an extinct volcano (Castle Rock) in the 12th century• The most of the original

buildings were destroyed by artillery bombardment in the 16th century and were then rebuilt

Eilean Donan

Eilean Donan Castle

• Built in the 13th century on the tidal island of the same name• Connected with the

main land by a footbridge since its restoration in the 20th century

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle

• Built on a crag in 12th century, but most buildings are from the 18th century• Before the formation of

the UK served as the coronation place for Scottish kings and queens

Sights in Wales

Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon Castle

• The original castle from the 11th century rebuilt by king Edward I in the 13th century• Until 15th century the

centre of Wales• Investitures of the

Prince of Wales take place here

Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle

• Built by Edward I in the 13th century• Destroyed in 1665,

reconstructed in the 19th century• In UNESCO along with

Caernarfon Castle

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle

• The second largest castle in the UK• Built in the 13th century

by Normans• Water defences• Partly demolished

Sights in Northern Ireland

St Patrick‘s Cathedral, Armagh

St Patrick‘s Cathedral, Armagh

• Stands where St Patrick found his cathedral in 445• Belongs to the Church

of Ireland• One of the Ireland‘s

oldest and most important churches

Belfast Castle

Belfast Castle

• The original Belfast Castle built in the late 12th century by Normans.• Another castle, made of

stone and timber. Built in 1611, burned down in 1708.• New Castle – finished in

1870.

Geography of UK

• Landscape: mountains in Scotland and Wales, lowlands in England• Lakes: Lough Neagh; Loch

Lomond, Lake District• Rivers: Severn, Thames, Trent,

Mersey

Ben Nevis –  the highest mountain in the UK, 1344

meter above sea level

Lough Neagh – the largest lake in the UK

National parks• Brecon Beacons• Broads• Cairngorms• Dartmoor• Exmoor• Lake District• Loch Lomond• New Forest• Nothumberland• Nort York Moors• Peak District• Pembrokeshire Coast• Snowdonia• South Downs• Yorkshire Dales

Jurassic Coast

Jurassic Coast

• England‘s second natural World Heritage Site.• Covering 95 miles of

coastline from East Devon to Dorset• Displaying 185 mil.

years of the Earth‘s history• Unique geological and

paleontological site.

St Michael’s Mount

St Michael’s Mount• Located on a small tidal

island• Home of St Aubyn

family since 1650.• First stone church was

built in 1144.• Winner - tripadvisor

survey 2014

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall

• Defensive fortification in the Roman province of Britannia• Construction started in

122 AD • 117.5 km long • 3 metres wide• 5-6 metres high• Made from squared

stone

Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens• World‘s largest

collection of living plants• Opened 1759• One of London‘s top

tourist attractions• Area: 121 hectares• In 2003 put on the

UNESCO list of Word Heritage Sites

Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest

• Royal forest in Nottinghamshire• Famous for its historical

association with the legend of Robin Hood• National Nature

Reserve • Area: 432 hectares

Lake District

Lake District

• Designated a national park in 1951• Most visited national

park in the UK• The largest of 13

national parks in the UK (2,292 square kilometres)• 60 glacial lakes

Peak District

Peak District• Became the first

national park in the UK in 1951• Area: 1,437 square

kilometres • Famous for its

geomorphology• Interesting gritstone

formations

Loch Ness

Loch Ness• The second largest

Scottish lake by surface area at 56 km2 • Best known for alleged

sightings of Loch Ness Monster• Became famous after

Alex Campbell‘s article was published on 2nd May 1933.• First purported photo of

the monster was published on 6th December 1933

Snowdonia

Snowdonia• The oldest national

park in Wales• Estabilished in 1951• Area: 2,130 km2

Dartmoor

Dartmoor

• Area of moorland in south Devon• Covers 954 km2

• Numerous prehistoric menhirs (longstones)• Estabilished in 1951

White Cliffs of Dover

White Cliffs of Dover• Reaches up to 110

metres• composition of chalk

accentuated by streaks of black flint• Symbolic value in

Britain, because they face towards Continental Europe• Symbolic guard of the

UK

Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge

• Limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills• Britain‘s oldest

complete human skeleton (Cheddar man, 9000 years old) was found here in 1903. • The caves contain

stalactities and stalagmites.

Stonehenge, Avebury

Giant‘s Causeway

Giant‘s Causeway

• The result of an ancient volcanic eruption• an area of about 40,000

interlocking basalt columns• Hexagonal shape• one of the most popular

tourist attractions in Northern Ireland• From 50 to 60 million

years old

Stonehenge, Avebury

• UNESCO Word Heritage Site located in Wiltshire, Englad• Covers area of 26 km2 and it

is centred on the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge(3000-2000 BC) • More than 180 separated

monument• Stonehenge could have

been a burial ground from its earlieast beginnings• Some stones weigh more

than 25 tons

Hill figures

Hill figures

• A large visual representation created by cutting into a steep hillside.• The first one dated to

the Iron Age• Human or animal forms• 19 visible, 13 lost, 3

possible figures.

Homer Simpson - Hill figure

QUIZ !!! Choose the correct answer.

What is in the picture?

A. St Patrick‘s CathedralB. St Augustine‘s AbbeyC. Buckingham PalaceD. Natural History

Museum

How is this tree called?

A. Robin Hood‘s OakB. Mayor OakC. Major OakD. St Patrick‘s Oak

Where was this boat constructed?

A. BirminghamB. LondonC. BelfastD. Dover

The highest mountain in the UK is:

A. Big BenB. Ben NevisC. Ben LevisD. Ben Elvis

Who brought Christianity to Canterbury?

A. St PatrickB. St MethodiusC. St MartinD. St Augustine

RESULTS !!! Check your answers.

What is in the picture?

A. St Patrick‘s CathedralB. St Augustine‘s AbbeyC. Buckingham PalaceD. Natural History

Museum

How is this tree called?

A. Robin Hood‘s OakB. Mayor OakC. Major OakD. St Patrick‘s Oak

Where was this boat constructed?

A. BirminghamB. LondonC. BelfastD. Dover

The highest mountain in the UK is:

A. Big BenB. Ben NevisC. Ben LevisD. Ben Elvis

Who brought Christianity to Canterbury?

A. St PatrickB. St MethodiusC. St MartinD. St Augustine

Main sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/• http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/• http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uks-top-

50-landmarks-how-2204163• http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/

customs/questions/geography.html

Thank you for your attention