Culture and heritage The UK has an extraordinarily rich and diverse artistic heritage, with British poets, playwrights,

musicians, sculptors, painters and filmmakers enjoyed and admired all over the world. The UK's contribution to the visual arts is immense and there are treats to be found around the country, from striking architecture to paintings, ceramics and sculptures which can be found in our many art galleries and museums. The performing arts are also thriving. Music, theatre, filmmaking, dance and opera are all performed enthusiastically in theatres, concert halls and studios all over the country every night of the year. The richness of our cultural life is largely down to our diverse history. For many 100s of years different races and cultures have had an influence on the UK and consequently played a role in creating the society we live in today. There is much to see and enjoy, from the history of the Royal Family to the striking skyscrapers of the City of London, from Guy Fawkes night celebrations to Hadrian's Wall on England's northern borders. Science and technology The UK has one of the most creative and productive scientific and research communities in the world. From 17th century mathematician, Isaac Newton, who discovered gravity, to Watson and Crick, who unravelled the structure of DNA in the 20th century, British scientists have always been up there with the world's best. The UK Government sees science and innovation as a key export in today's highly competitive global economy. Because of this, its investment in research and development (R&D) has increased substantially over the past decade. People and politics There are nearly 61 million people living in multicultural Britain and about 5 per cent are from a minority ethnic group. You can find out here about the UK's amazing diversity and how our cultural life here has been affected and enriched by people who have settled here. The UK government believes that each UK citizen should enjoy basic human rights. The Human Rights Act 1998 sets out peoples social and economic rights. We can help you find out what this means in everyday life. The UK Government also works to promote human rights in countries around the world. The UK has a long history of working to reduce poverty in the underdeveloped world by promoting international development. Our aim is to bring people in poorer countries out of poverty by making them less dependent on overseas aid by, for instance increasing trade and improving health and education. Charities and voluntary bodies play a big part in UK life. Around 500,000 people are employed in a range of organisations - from self-help groups to multimillion pound global organisations. Some run specific campaigns to help raise public awareness of an issue, while others provide practical help to people in need. The UK is made up of 4 countries. You can see how different parliaments and assemblies operate both nationally and locally. You can also find out about law and order and the legal system, how the political parties operate, the way we work with Europe and the European Union and how the Royal Family and the monarchy functions. Sport Sport - both watching and playing - has always been high on the list of things we enjoy doing in our spare time. And there are plenty of sports to choose from. Walking is by far the most popular for men and women of all ages, followed by fishing, cycling and swimming. The biggest event on the horizon is the 2012 London Olympics. This promises to be a spectacular sporting, social and cultural occasion. Youngsters are being encouraged to take up sport and train hard for the chance to take part - and maybe win a medal in front of their homecrowd. The UK's most popular team sports are football, cricket and rugby. Football in particular is an obsession for many people in the UK. You can also take part in many other sports - such as surfing, snowboarding, hockey and martial arts. Although these sports don't have a mass following, they do have a growing band of supporters. London 2012 Olympics As the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, the eyes of the world are turning to the UK. The Games offer a unique chance to invite people everywhere to take a fresh look at modern Britain. A Britain that we think is open, connected, dynamic and creative.