Great Britain is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea. The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel.
United Kingdom - a parliamentary monarchy, headed by the queen.
Legislature - bicameral parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords). Parliament is the supreme authority throughout the territory, despite the presence in Scotland, Wales and Northern Irelands own management of administrative structures. The government is headed by the Prime Minister.
The distinguishing characteristic is the absence of any single document that could be called the fundamental law of the country, there is no written Constitution, moreover, there is even an accurate list of documents that would relate to the Constitution. The relationship between the people and government are regulated by laws, unwritten laws and conventions.
The British tend to be attributed with certain characteristics, which are supposedly typical. One example is that most tourist brochures claim that Britain is the land of traditions: the annual ceremony of the state opening of Parliament, for instance, carefully follows customs which are centuries old.
Another example is the stereotyped image of London “city gent” includes the wearing of a bowler hat. In fact, this type of hat not been commonly worn for a long time. Two – thirds have cut out the fry-up and just have the cereal, tea and toast. The vast majority of British people have “continental” breakfast. The image of the British as a nation of tea-drinkers is another stereotype which is somewhat out of date. It is true that is still prepared in a distinctive way, but more coffee then tea in now bought in the country’s shops. Another opinion that Britain is a very conservative country. The British have few living folk traditions and are too innodividualistic to have the same everyday habits as each other.