England is the largest of the four "home nations" that make up

the United Kingdom. It is also the most populous of the four with almost
52 million inhabitants (roughly 84% of the total population of the UK).
On the island of Great Britain, Scotland sits to the north of England
and Wales is to the west. Northern Ireland (also part of the UK) and the
Republic of Ireland lie across the Irish Sea to west of England (and
Wales). France and the Channel Islands are across the English Channel
to the south, and to the east is the North Sea.

England comprises two-thirds of the island of Great Britain, in addition

to a number of small islands of which the largest is the Isle of Wight.
England is bordered to the north by Scotland and to the west by Wales. It
is closer to continental Europe than any other part of mainland Britain,
divided from France only by a 33 km sea gap, the English Channel. The
50 km Channel Tunnel, near Folkestone, directly links England
to mainland Europe. The English/French border is halfway along the
tunnel.
The flag
of
England is
derived
from St
George's
Cross (heraldic blazon: Argent, a cross gules). The association of the red
cross as an emblem of England can be traced back to the Middle Ages,
and it was used as a component in the design of the Union Flag in 1606;
however, the English flag has no official status within the United
Kingdom. Since the 1990s it has been in increasingly wide use,
particularly at national sporting events.
The Tudor rose, which takes its name from the Tudor dynasty, was
adopted as a national emblem of England around the time of the Wars of
the Roses as a symbol of peace. It is a syncretic symbol in that it merged
the white rose of the Yorkists and the red rose of the Lancastrians
cadet branches of the Plantagenets who went to war over control of the
royal house. It is also known as the Rose of England.
Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 24 March 1603) was Queen
of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death.
Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of theTudor dynasty.

The strength of the English economy varies from a region to another.

GDP, and GDP per capita is highest in London. Generally the Northern
and Western areas of England are the poorest, with the Southern and
Eastern areas being the richest.
London is, by far, the largest urban area in England and one of the
largest and busiest cities in the world. Other cities, mainly in central and
northern England, are of substantial size and influence.