About the United Kingdom - Expat introduction on United Kingdom history, main cities, British food, an overview of the UK tax system and much more

An introduction to the United Kingdom

Expats moving to the United Kingdom

This overview of the UK includes all the information you require if you are an international expat moving or living in the UK. You'll discover information about British history and heritage, the country's current operations, healthcare, finances and economy, along with specifics on UK’s major cities, the best of British cuisine, a rundown of the UK tax system and much more.

British history and heritage

England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland comprise the United Kingdom. Each of these countries has its own culture, and its people are proud of their heritage. This is reflected in many historical buildings and sites throughout the UK, such as Buckingham Palace, which is home to the King, many castles, famous sites such as Stonehenge, and areas of natural beauty such as the South Downs.

Finances & The Economy

The United Kingdom is one of the largest economies in the world, with a strong and diverse range of industries driving its financial success. Understanding the UK's finances and economy can be complex, but it is important to have a basic understanding of how it works in order to understand the economic conditions of the country.

UK Visas and Immigration

UK Visas and Immigration is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country, with a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of customer satisfaction for people who come to the United Kingdom legally. From obtaining a work visa to applying for citizenship, our professional guides cover all you need to know about visas and immigration in the UK.

Culture, Community & Relationships

When you arrive in the United Kingdom, you may be surprised at how easy it is to find international cuisine. There are numerous international supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find everything from traditional Italian pizza to Vietnamese banh mi, American-style burgers and Chinese dim sum.

Traditional British cuisine is also available, including:

  • ‘toad in the hole' a dish made of Yorkshire pudding and sausage

  • the Sunday roast dinner which is usually served with fish and chips

  • outdoor-bred traditional pork sausages and mashed potatoes

  • afternoon tea which consists of a variety of cakes, sandwiches and desserts served with tea

  • cornish pasties and potato pastries from Cornwall

  • haggis, a traditional Scottish meat dish

Where We Live

From the Scottish capital of Edinburgh in the north to the coastal city of Southampton on the south coast and everywhere in between, there are a variety of places that offer a good quality of life in the UK, each with its own distinct personality, history and culture.

Let's look at some of the top places to live and work in the UK and what they have to offer, whether you are looking for the greatest town, village or city in the UK for families, expats, property sellers or students.

What We Do

When you arrive in the United Kingdom, you may be surprised at how easy it is to find international cuisine. There are numerous international supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find everything from traditional Italian pizza to Vietnamese banh mi, American-style burgers and Chinese dim sum.

Traditional British cuisine is also available, including:

  • ‘toad in the hole' a dish made of Yorkshire pudding and sausage

  • the Sunday roast dinner which is usually served with fish and chips

  • outdoor-bred traditional pork sausages and mashed potatoes

  • afternoon tea which consists of a variety of cakes, sandwiches and desserts served with tea

  • cornish pasties and potato pastries from Cornwall

  • haggis, a traditional Scottish meat dish

When you arrive in the United Kingdom, you may be surprised at how easy it is to find international cuisine. There are numerous international supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find everything from traditional Italian pizza to Vietnamese banh mi, American-style burgers and Chinese dim sum.

Traditional British cuisine is also available, including:

  • ‘toad in the hole' a dish made of Yorkshire pudding and sausage

  • the Sunday roast dinner which is usually served with fish and chips

  • outdoor-bred traditional pork sausages and mashed potatoes

  • afternoon tea which consists of a variety of cakes, sandwiches and desserts served with tea

  • cornish pasties and potato pastries from Cornwall

  • haggis, a traditional Scottish meat dish

The best of British food

Education & Skills

When you arrive in the United Kingdom, you may be surprised at how easy it is to find international cuisine. There are numerous international supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find everything from traditional Italian pizza to Vietnamese banh mi, American-style burgers and Chinese dim sum.

Traditional British cuisine is also available, including:

  • ‘toad in the hole' a dish made of Yorkshire pudding and sausage

  • the Sunday roast dinner which is usually served with fish and chips

  • outdoor-bred traditional pork sausages and mashed potatoes

  • afternoon tea which consists of a variety of cakes, sandwiches and desserts served with tea

  • cornish pasties and potato pastries from Cornwall

  • haggis, a traditional Scottish meat dish

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National & Personal Well-Being

Environment

When you arrive in the United Kingdom, you may be surprised at how easy it is to find international cuisine. There are numerous international supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés where you can find everything from traditional Italian pizza to Vietnamese banh mi, American-style burgers and Chinese dim sum.

Traditional British cuisine is also available, including:

  • ‘toad in the hole' a dish made of Yorkshire pudding and sausage

  • the Sunday roast dinner which is usually served with fish and chips

  • outdoor-bred traditional pork sausages and mashed potatoes

  • afternoon tea which consists of a variety of cakes, sandwiches and desserts served with tea

  • cornish pasties and potato pastries from Cornwall

  • haggis, a traditional Scottish meat dish

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. London, the country's main metropolis and capital, is a major international financial hub with a metro population of over 14 million people. Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Leeds are some further significant cities.

Over the course of several hundred years, the constituent nations of the United Kingdom underwent a number of annexations, unions, and separations. The Kingdom of Great Britain was established in 1707 as a result of the Treaty of Union between the Kingdom of England (which included Wales, which had been annexed in 1542) and the Kingdom of Scotland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was founded in 1801 after its union with the Kingdom of Ireland. In 1922, the majority of Ireland broke away from the United Kingdom, forming what is now known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which took on that name formally in 1927. [m] During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the UK was the world's leading power and the first industrialized nation. [24] The UK continues to exert significant political, economic, cultural, military, scientific, and technical influence in the twenty-first century. [25]

The United Kingdom as we know it now is the outcome of numerous centuries-old alliances and conquests. .