The UK does most of its trading within the European Union. Natural resources include oil, natural gas, iron ore, and salt. Crude oil manufactured goods, and consumer items make up big exports. The service sector is now more dominant than manufacturing, and London is one of the world's most important financial centers. Agriculture employs less than 2 percent of the labor force but provides much of the UK's food needs because it is highly efficient. When major British banks were hurt by the 2008 global financial crisis, the government responded with a $64 billion rescue package among other measures. The government is implementing a series of decisions to lower the country's budget. Public debt is an increasing problem.

Many people in England belong to other Protestant churches which are called Free Churches. The largest Free Churches include the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and United Reformed churches. About 9 percent of England's population is Roman Catholic. The Catholic Church is headed by the archbishop of Westminster. About 5 percent of England's population is Muslim. Most Muslims live in London and other large cities. England also has large Hindu, Jewish, and Sikh populations.

Architects have developed a lot of different styles over time. The Norman style began after the Norman Conquest. Buildings designed in the Norman style have heavy columns and semi-circle arches. The Tudor style was popular for house designs in the 1500’s in the midst of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Tudor was the family name of the queen. Characteristics of the Tudor style had flat arches, a lot of windows, gables, and chimneys, and frames filled in with brick, and plaster. During the 1600's, two of England's greatest architects were Inigo Jones and Sir Christopher Wren. Jones designed the Queen's House in Greenwich and remodeled St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Wren rebuilt St. Paul's and many other churches after they were destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Georgian architecture, which began during the 1700's, uses much brick and stone and has a simple design. For centuries English painters followed the styles of other European artists. But during the 1700's  painters like Thomas Gainsborough, William Hogarth, and Sir Joshua Reynolds began to make their own styles. During the 1800's John Constable and Joseph Turner produced beautiful landscapes. Important English painters of the 1900's included Duncan Grant, David Hockney, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, John Piper, and Graham Sutherland.