England

Historically England proper is divided into the following economic regions: the South Industrial and Agricultural region (the South of England), Central England or the Midlands, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Northen England.The South of England is the most important region in the country in terms of industry, agriculture and population. This includes both the South East and the South West. London is Britain’s and England’s capital and main communication centre, one of the world’s most important financial centres, one of the world’s three largest cities (with Tokyo and New York), and one of the largest ports (with New York and Rotterdam). London is the main centre in Britain of printing, cinema film production and of manufacture of clothing, food and drink, furniture, materials of arts, precision instruments and many other specialized products. London is also important for light engineering, chemicals and consumer goods. There are heavy –engineering plants and a number of leading research establishments in this area. Some of the aircraft plants are near London and factories manufacturing motor vehicles – lorries – are also situated here. The first metro (underground ) in the world was built in London.In the estuaries of the Thames and other rivers of the region there are large oil refineries as well as shipyards.Major motor vehicles manufacturing plants are some 50 miles from north-west of London, near Oxford. Oxford and Cambridge are famous university centres, Oxford being also a car-manufacturing centre, while Cambridge includes industries which have depended to a considerable extent on university connections and orders, as diverse as instrument making, printing, electronics.The South-West is known for its extensive grassland which is three times as extensive as the area under cultivation. The grouth of grass is promoted by frequent rains and mild warm climate. The principal activity here is farming. Although there are some big farms, most are small family farms with a mixture of cows, sheep and cereal crops. Butter, cheese and cream are the chief products. In the eastern part of the region there are many pigs and the production of bacon and other products, including pork sausages, is prominent.Industry is centered on three large ports: Bristol in the North and Portsmouth and Southampton in the south-east. In Bristol aircrafts are designed and built. In Portsmouth and Southampton, the main industries are shipbuilding and oil-refining.