England, the birthplace of Shakespeare and the Beatles, is a country in the British Isles, bordering Scotland and Wales. London, its capital city on the River Thames, is home to the Parliament, Big Ben, and the Tower of London, which dates back to the 11th century. It is also a modern multicultural hub for arts and commerce. Other major cities include Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, and the university centers of Oxford and Cambridgeshire.