Portal:England

The England portal

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. England shares a land border with Scotland to the north and another land border with Wales to the west, and is otherwise surrounded by the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south, the Celtic Sea to the south-west, and the Irish Sea to the west. Continental Europe lies to the south-east, and Ireland to the west. At the 2021 census, the population was 56,490,048. London is both the largest city and the capital.

The area now called England was first inhabited by modern humans during the Upper Paleolithic. It takes its name from the Angles, a Germanic tribe who settled during the 5th and 6th centuries. England became a unified state in the 10th century and has had extensive cultural and legal impact on the wider world since the Age of Discovery, which began during the 15th century. The Kingdom of England, which included Wales after 1535, ceased to be a separate sovereign state on 1 May 1707, when the Acts of Union brought into effect a political union with the Kingdom of Scotland that created the Kingdom of Great Britain.

England is the origin of the English language, the English legal system (which served as the basis for the common law systems of many other countries), association football, and the Anglican branch of Christianity; its parliamentary system of government has been widely adopted by other nations. The Industrial Revolution began in 18th-century England, transforming its society into the world's first industrialised nation. England is home to the two oldest universities in the English-speaking world: the University of Oxford, founded in 1096, and the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209. Both universities are ranked amongst the most prestigious in the world.

England's terrain chiefly consists of low hills and plains, especially in the centre and south. Upland and mountainous terrain is mostly found in the north and west, including Dartmoor, the Lake District, the Pennines, and the Shropshire Hills. The London metropolitan area has a population of 14.2 million as of 2021, representing the United Kingdom's largest metropolitan area. England's population of 56.3 million comprises 84% of the population of the United Kingdom, largely concentrated around London, the South East, and conurbations in the Midlands, the North West, the North East, and Yorkshire, which each developed as major industrial regions during the 19th century. (Full article...)

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Darwin, c. 1854, when he was preparing On the Origin of Species

Charles Robert Darwin (/ˈdɑːrwɪn/ DAR-win; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended from a common ancestor is now generally accepted and considered a fundamental scientific concept. In a joint presentation with Alfred Russel Wallace, he introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding. Darwin has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history and was honoured by burial in Westminster Abbey.

Darwin's early interest in nature led him to neglect his medical education at the University of Edinburgh; instead, he helped to investigate marine invertebrates. His studies at the University of Cambridge's Christ's College from 1828 to 1831 encouraged his passion for natural science. However, it was his five-year voyage on HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836 that truly established Darwin as an eminent geologist. The observations and theories he developed during his voyage supported Charles Lyell's concept of gradual geological change. Publication of his journal of the voyage made Darwin famous as a popular author. (Full article...)

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The Oxford Canal viewed from Napton-on-the-Hill

The Oxford Canal is a 78-mile (126 km) narrowboat canal in southern central England linking the City of Oxford with the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury (just north of Coventry and south of Bedworth) via Banbury and Rugby. Completed in 1790, it connects to the River Thames at Oxford, and links with the Grand Union Canal, which it is combined with for 5 miles (8 km) between to the villages of Braunston and Napton-on-the-Hill.

The canal is usually divided into the North Oxford Canal (north of Napton, via Rugby to Hawkesbury Junction near Coventry) and the South Oxford Canal, south of Napton to Banbury and Oxford. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various England-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1King Alfred the Great statue in Winchester, Hampshire. The 9th-century English king encouraged education in his kingdom. (from Culture of England)
Image 2Tomb of Richard I of England and Isabella of Angoulême (from History of England)
Image 3England in 878 (from History of England)
Image 4Procession of characters from Shakespeare's plays (from Culture of England)
Image 5Durham Cathedral, dating from 1093 (from Culture of England)
Image 6Morris dancing (from Culture of England)
Image 7The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork yet found. It consists of almost 4,600 items and metal fragments. (from Culture of England)
Image 8The Lindisfarne Gospels (from Culture of England)
Image 9Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol played a major role in reviving the "spirit" of Christmas and seasonal goodwill. (from Culture of England)
Image 10King Henry VIII (from History of England)
Image 11Frontispiece of Bede's Life of St Cuthbert, showing King Æthelstan presenting a copy of the book to the saint himself. c. 930 (from History of England)
Image 12Depiction of the Battle of Hastings (1066) on the Bayeux Tapestry (from History of England)
Image 13Sir Francis Drake's voyage 1585–86 (from History of England)
Image 14Alfred Hitchcock is often regarded as the greatest British filmmaker, and was described as "a straightforward middle-class Englishman who just happened to be an artistic genius." (from Culture of England)
Image 15Edward Elgar is one of England's most celebrated classical composers. (from Culture of England)
Image 16A traditional Punch and Judy booth, at Swanage, Dorset, England (from Culture of England)
Image 17View of the ramparts of the hillfort of Maiden Castle (450 BC), as they look today (from History of England)
Image 18Durham Cathedral. The Norman cathedral was built 1093–1133 (from History of England)
Image 19Anglo-Saxon helmet from the Sutton Hoo ship burial, 625 AD (replica) (from History of England)
Image 20Gold torc from Snettisham, 70 BC (from History of England)
Image 21England playing Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground in the 2009 Ashes series. After winning the 2019 Cricket World Cup, England became the first country to win the World Cups in football, rugby union and cricket. (from Culture of England)
Image 22Chester, c. 1880 (from History of England)
Image 23Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Primate of All England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most senior bishop of the Church of England. (It was the property of the Roman Catholic Church before the English Reformation.) (from Culture of England)
Image 24Bronze coins of Cunobelin, called "King of the Britons" by Suetonius. 1–42 AD. (from History of England)
Image 25Whitehall by Francis Dodd (1920) displaying the Palace of Westminster (from Culture of England)
Image 26A pint of real ale (from Culture of England)
Image 27The Lady Chapel of Wells Cathedral (from Culture of England)
Image 28Jack In the Green, a traditional English folk custom being celebrated in Hastings Old Town, known for its many pre-Victorian buildings. (from Culture of England)
Image 29The Billingsgate Fish Market in London in the early 19th century (from History of England)
Image 30Shoulder clasp from Sutton Hoo, 625 AD (from History of England)
Image 31King Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649 (from History of England)
Image 32The Battersea Shield (detail), 350 BC. (from History of England)
Image 33The Spanish Armada and English ships in August 1588, (unknown, 16th-century, English School) (from History of England)
Image 34Francis Bacon led the advancement of both natural philosophy and the scientific method and his works remained deeply influential in the Scientific Revolution. (from Culture of England)
Image 35One of only four surviving exemplifications of the 1215 text, Cotton MS. Augustus II. 106, property of the British Library (from History of England)
Image 36King's College in Cambridge is regarded as one of the greatest examples of late English Gothic architecture. It has the world's largest fan vault, while the chapel's stained-glass windows and wooden chancel screen are considered some of the finest from their era. (from Culture of England)
Image 37Silbury Hill, c. 2400 BC (from History of England)
Image 38The Procession Picture, c. 1600, showing Elizabeth I borne along by her courtiers (from History of England)
Image 39Maps of territory held by Royalists (red) and Parliamentarians (green) during the English Civil War (1642–1645) (from History of England)
Image 40Kingdoms and tribes in Britain, c. AD 600 (from History of England)
Image 41First played in 1877, the Wimbledon Championships is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. (from Culture of England)
Image 42Interior of Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford (from Culture of England)
Image 43The White Tower of the Tower of London, built in 1078 (from History of England)
Image 44Josiah Wedgwood was a leading entrepreneur in the Industrial Revolution. (from Culture of England)
Image 45King James I of England (from History of England)
Image 46William Hogarth's depiction of a scene from Shakespeare's The Tempest is an example of how English literature influenced English painting in the 18th century. (from Culture of England)
Image 47The Mob Quad of Merton College, University of Oxford, 13th–14th century (from History of England)
Image 48Stonehenge, erected in several stages from c.3000–2500 BC (from History of England)
Image 49Anglo-Saxon king with his Witan. Biblical scene in the Old English Hexateuch (11th century) (from History of England)
Image 50Geoffrey Chaucer, c. 1340s–1400, author of The Canterbury Tales (from History of England)
Image 51Portrait of Edward VI, c. 1550 (from History of England)
Image 52Sir Isaac Newton is regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time and as a key figure in the Scientific Revolution. (from Culture of England)
Image 53Portrait of the Royal Tudors. At left, Henry VII, with Prince Arthur behind him, then Prince Henry (later Henry VIII), and Prince Edmund, who did not survive early childhood. To the right is Elizabeth of York, with Princess Margaret, then Princess Elizabeth who didn't survive childhood, Princess Mary, and Princess Katherine, who died shortly after her birth. (from History of England)
Image 54Remains of the Roman baths at Bath, England. (from History of England)
Image 55The Great Fire London, 1666. (from History of England)
Image 56The English landscape garden at Stourhead, described as a 'living work of art' when first opened in the 1750s (from Culture of England)
Image 57King Charles II (from History of England)
Image 58Artefacts from Bush Barrow at Stonehenge. Wessex culture, Early Bronze Age, c. 1900 BC (from History of England)
Image 59The Royal College of Music is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, established by royal charter in 1882. (from Culture of England)
Image 60Canterbury Cathedral nave, 1377 (from History of England)
Image 61Christopher Lee (seen here as Dracula in 1958) starred in many of Hammer's British horror films. (from Culture of England)
Image 62The first general laws against child labour, the Factory Acts, were passed in Britain in the first half of the 19th century. Children younger than nine were not allowed to work and the work day of youth under the age of 18 was limited to twelve hours. (from History of England)
Image 63First English Civil War at the Battle of Marston Moor, 1644 (from History of England)
Image 64The epic poem Beowulf, set in 6th century Scandinavia, composed c. 700–1000 AD. (from History of England)
Image 65Stinking Bishop cheese (from Culture of England)
Image 66King Charles II, a patron of the arts and sciences, supported the Royal Society, a scientific group whose early members included Robert Hooke, Robert Boyle and Sir Isaac Newton. (from Culture of England)
Image 67The Roman Baths in Bath; a temple was constructed on the site between 60–70CE in the first few decades of Roman Britain. (from Culture of England)
Image 68The Alfred Jewel, late 9th century (from History of England)
Image 69Flatford Mill ('Scene on a Navigable River') by John Constable, c. 1816 (from Culture of England)
Image 70The wizard Merlin features as a character in many works of fiction, including the BBC series Merlin. (from Culture of England)
Image 71The Ruthwell Cross, 8th century AD (from History of England)
Image 72The Fairy Ring by William Holmes Sullivan, c.1908 (from Culture of England)
Image 73Victory in Europe Day celebrations in London, 8 May 1945 (from History of England)
Image 74Remains of Hadrian's Wall (from History of England)
Image 75National performing arts are held annually at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as The Proms during the summer. (from Culture of England)
Image 76Countries where English is natively spoken or has official status (from Culture of England)
Image 77Elizabeth I (from History of England)
Image 78Folio 27r from the Lindisfarne Gospels, c. 720 AD (from History of England)
Image 79Dover Castle, 12th–13th century (from History of England)

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Crawley (^ⓘ) is a town and borough in West Sussex, England. It is 28 miles (45 km) south of London, 18 miles (29 km) north of Brighton and Hove, and 32 miles (51 km) north-east of the county town of Chichester. Crawley covers an area of 17.36 square miles (44.96 km²) and had a population of 118,493 at the time of the 2021 Census. Southern parts of the borough lie immediately next to the High Weald National Landscape.

The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age, and was a centre of ironworking in the Iron Age and Roman times. The area was probably used by the kings of Sussex for hunting. Initially a clearing in the vast forest of the Weald, Crawley began as a settlement on the boundary of two of the sub-regions particular to Sussex, known as Rapes, the Rape of Bramber and the Rape of Lewes. Becoming a market town in 1202, Crawley developed slowly, serving the surrounding villages in the Weald. In the medieval period, its location on the main road from London to the port of Shoreham helped the town to grow; and when Brighton became a fashionable seaside town in the 18th century, the passing trade encouraged the development of coaching inns. A rail link to London and Brighton opened in 1841, encouraging further development. (Full article...)

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Did you know?

...that the Mendip Hills (commonly called The Mendips) are a range of limestone hills situated to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset?
...the England and Wales Cricket Board was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB), the National Cricket Association (NCA) and the Cricket Council?
...that the Flag of England is the St George's Cross?
...that the Tudor rose (pictured) is a traditional heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the Tudor dynasty?

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In the news

10 August 2025 – Gaza war protests in the United Kingdom: More than 500 people are detained by the Metropolitan Police in London, United Kingdom, under the Terrorism Act 2000 for attending a protest in support of the now proscribed organisation Palestine Action. (Sky News)
9 August 2025 –: Metropolitan Police carry out the largest mass detainments in London's history, detaining at least 466 people for peacefully protesting the UK's ban on the pro-Palestine activist network Palestine Action. Protesters gathered in Parliament Square to denounce the Israeli invasion of Gaza and the criminalisation of support for Palestine Action, with many holding signs reading "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" before being forcibly removed by police. (Al Jazeera)
7 August 2025 –: British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness Rushanara Ali resigns amid controversy over increasing the rent at a property she owns in east London by £700 in order to force the tenants to move. (BBC News)
6 August 2025 –: A month-long legionnaires' disease outbreak that started on July 8 in London, Ontario, Canada, ends after 70 cases and three deaths. (CFPL-DT)
31 July 2025 – Canonisation of John Henry Newman: Pope Leo XIV declares Saint John Henry Newman, a 19th-century Anglican convert who became a prominent English Catholic theologian, as a Doctor of the Church. (AP) (Vatican News)
28 July 2025 –: Two people are killed and two others are injured, including the perpetrator, in a mass stabbing on business premises on Long Lane in Southwark, London, United Kingdom. (Sky News)

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“

England... is a nation of shopkeepers

”

— Napoleon

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Related WikiProjects

England • Bedfordshire • Brighton • Cheshire • Cornwall • Derbyshire • Dorset • Greater Manchester • Hampshire • Lincolnshire • London • Merseyside • Northamptonshire • North East England • Sheffield • Surrey. Warwickshire • West Midlands • Worcestershire • Yorkshire

Topics

Cities and major towns: Blackpool • Birmingham • Bristol • Chelmsford • Leeds • Liverpool • London • Manchester • Newcastle • Nottingham • Oxford • Portsmouth • Sheffield • Southampton • Stoke-on-Trent

Culture: The Football Association • Rugby Football Union • England and Wales Cricket Board • English inventions and discoveries

Geography: Geology • Climate • Mountains and hills • Islands • Rivers

Economy: Bank of England • London Stock Exchange • Chancellor of the Exchequer • Monetary Policy Committee • HM Treasury

History: Timeline of English history • Prehistoric Britain • Roman Britain • Anglo-Saxon England • Norman England • Plantagenet England • House of Lancaster • House of York • House of Tudor • House of Stuart

Governance: Kingdom of England • Prime Minister of the United Kingdom • Parliament of the United Kingdom • Home Secretary • Local Government Boundary Commission for England • Administrative divisions of England • English law

Symbols: Flags • Flag of England • St George's Cross • Tudor rose • Coat of arms of England

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