Revision Notes: Places of Interest

• Public Footpaths and Outdoor Activities: The UK offers a vast network of public footpaths in the countryside for various outdoor activities like mountain biking, mountaineering, and hill walking. It also features 15 national parks across England, Wales, and Scotland 🔗.

• Museums and Landmarks: The UK hosts numerous museums ranging from small community ones to large national collections. Many famous landmarks are accessible for public viewing, often for a charge 🔗.

• The National Trust: The National Trust and the National Trust for Scotland preserve important buildings, coastlines, and countryside. Founded in 1895, they support protected areas through the help of over 61,000 volunteers 🔗.

UK Landmarks

• Big Ben: Known colloquially as both the great bell and the clock at the Houses of Parliament, this iconic landmark was renamed ‘Elizabeth Tower’ in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 🔗.

• The Eden Project: Situated in Cornwall, England, this site includes biomes that house global plant life and also functions as a charity running environmental and social projects 🔗.

• Edinburgh Castle: Dominating Edinburgh's skyline, this historic site from the early Middle Ages is maintained by Historic Scotland, a government agency 🔗.

• Giant’s Causeway: Located in Northern Ireland, this natural formation of volcanic columns dates back approximately 50 million years and is surrounded by legends 🔗.

• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park: Covering 720 square miles in Scotland, it includes Loch Lomond, mainland Britain's largest body of freshwater 🔗.

• London Eye: A 443-foot Ferris wheel on the River Thames' southern bank, inaugurated for the new millennium and now a central element of New Year celebrations 🔗.

• Snowdonia National Park: Encompassing 838 square miles in North Wales, it's best known for Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales 🔗.

• The Tower of London: Built by William the Conqueror in 1066, it offers tours by Yeoman Warders and houses the Crown Jewels 🔗.

• The Lake District: England’s largest national park with famous lakes and mountains, including Windermere and Wastwater, voted as Britain’s favorite view in 2007 🔗.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the main function of the National Trust in the UK?
   a) To create new museums
   b) To maintain national parks
   c) To preserve important buildings and countryside
   d) To build new landmarks

2. Where is the Eden Project located?
   a) Scotland
   b) Wales
   c) Northern Ireland
   d) Cornwall

3. What is the London Eye's primary purpose today?
   a) A historical building
   b) Part of New Year celebrations
   c) A small museum
   d) A governmental office

4. Which national park houses Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales?
   a) The Lake District
   b) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
   c) Snowdonia
   d) None of these

5. What is significant about the Giant’s Causeway's structure?
   a) Built in the 18th century
   b) Formed from volcanic lava
   c) Located in Wales
   d) Made of limestone

Answers:

1. c - To preserve important buildings and countryside
2. d - Cornwall
3. b - Part of New Year celebrations
4. c - Snowdonia
5. b - Formed from volcanic lava