British Empire Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
overseas possessions of England and later the United Kingdom (1607–1997)
About British Empire
—A.C. Benson, set to music by Edward Elgar, 1901 The British Empire began in 1578 when Queen Elizabeth I started founding colonies in theCaribbeanandNorth America. It expanded in the following centuries, partly through frequent fighting with European rivals like theNetherlands,France,Portugal,SpainandRussiaover territory inAsia,Africaand the Americas. The loss of the "thirteen colonies" in North America after theAmerican War of Independencewas significant, but the zenith of the empire was only reached much later at the end of the 19th century under Queen Victoria, when the Empire covered nearly one quarter of the land in the world. During the 20th century, the British Empire was to expand even further followingWorld War I, when Britain was awarded some of the colonial possessions of the de
British Empire Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 8 sections including: