I Didn't Know That - Fun Facts About Great Britain

Britain is the only country in the world that does not have the country's name on its postage stamp.

The Tube system, despite being the first and the largest underground system in the world, is also the most ununreliable and the costliest.

Did you know that Windsor Castle is the oldest royal residence in the world that is still being used by the royal family.

Buckingham Palace was built in 1702 on the site of an infamous brothel.

The English are tea addicts: they drink more tea than any person of any other nation(over twenty times more than Americans).

Contrary to popular belief that Big Ben refers to the world famous clock, it is actually the name of the thirteen ton bell.

The London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the world and each rotatoin takes about 30 minutes.

In the Great Fire of London that wreaked havoc on the city and necessitated massive reconstruction work, the casualty count was only eight.

Nowhere in Britain is more than 74.5 miles from the sea.

About 25% of Londoners were born outside of the UK and can speak over 300 different languages.

England is the second largest economy in Europe. It is the fifth largest economy in the world.

Tourism is the sixth largest industry in the United Kingdom.

London's Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world.

Red Lion is the most popular name of a pub in Britain.

The world's oldest public zoo was opened in London in 1828.

A Birds Eye View of Britian by Jason Hawkes

This collection of aerial photographs giving a spectacular bird's eye view of Britain from above has been released to mark the Queen's Jubilee year. Bustling cities contrast with serene stretches of glorious countryside as sites that might seem ubiquitous from the ground are transformed into unique and wonderful images when viewed from above. The heart-stopping shots are the work of aerial photographer Jason Hawkes who developed a love of Britain 's varied landscape since taking his first flying lesson 20 years ago. Perfect location: The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland featured in the Harry Potter films. Jubilee year: Buckingham Palace dominates the landscape in this aerial view of London Jolly hockey pics: Pictured from above these sports pitches and the ant like people playing take on a strange geometrical beauty Field of dreams: The Oval cricket pitch in South London at night Fun land: A rollercoaster track twists and turns to form an incredible colourful image at this amusement park in Southend-on-Sea . Looking down on an angel: A rarely seen view of Anthony Gormley's Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead Brighton Pier: Hanging out with Nelson: A view looking down on Nelson's Column in London 's Trafalgar Square Ace view: Centre Court at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club London suburbs: Heritage site: A quiet moment at Stonehenge Nooks and crannies: A lighthouse looks out over a rugged stretch of coast near East Prawle in Devon Myth and legend: Some believe Glastonbury Tor in Somerset is the final resting place of King Arthur Bluegrass: A field of Flax in Buckinghamshire takes on magical properties Longleat maze is the largest in Britain

Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

Royal diamonds go on display to mark Queen's Jubilee

More than 10,000 diamonds owned by six British monarchs will go on display at Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The special exhibition, Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration, will include a number of the Queen's personal jewels and pieces from the Royal Collection.

Some of the items included will be shown in public for the first time.

The exhibition forms part of the summer opening of the palace and runs until 8 July and from 31 July to 7 October.

Many of the jewels being put on show have been used and worn on state occasions by different British monarchs over the last three centuries.

The collection includes pieces made from the Cullinan Diamond - the world's largest - which weighed 3,106 carats as an uncut stone.

Jewellery containing seven of the nine principal stones cut from the diamond are reunited for the first time.

They include the Cullinan III and IV Brooch, worn by the Queen at the National Service of Thanksgiving for her 60 year reign, at St Paul's Cathedral, in June.

Several of the jewels on display have not been exhibited to the public before, such as the Delhi Durbar Tiara and the Kokoshnik Tiara.

Jewellery commissioned by Queen Victoria - the only other monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee - will also be on show during the exhibition, including her coronation necklace.

The necklace was also worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth II at their coronations.

State occasion

The collection includes a number of other pieces used by British monarchs for state and ceremonial occasions, including the Diamond Diadem - a type of crown - made for the coronation of George IV in 1821.

Curator Caroline de Guitaut shows Jenny Hill some of the highlights of the exhibition

The diadem has been worn by the current Queen to and from the State Opening of Parliament since the start of her reign, and appears on stamps and certain banknotes and coinage.

Jewels marking important events in the Queen's life will also be displayed, including the South Africa Necklace presented to the then Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday in 1947.

The exhibition's curator Caroline de Guitaut said: "Over the past three centuries monarchs have used diamonds to display magnificence, whether in personal adornment or as a statement of power.