This article is on UK Facts – 80 Interesting Facts About The British. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also known as the United Kingdom (UK or U.K.) or Britain, is a sovereign country off the European mainland’s northwestern coast. The United Kingdom has a total area of 240,000 km2 (94,000 square miles).
The United Kingdom consists of the northeastern part of Ireland’s island, the island of Great Britain, and a number of smaller islands. Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland; otherwise, the Atlantic Ocean surrounds it, with the English Channel to the south, the Celtic Sea to the southwest, and the North Sea to the east, giving it the world’s twelfth-longest coastline. The Irish Sea separates the United Kingdom and Ireland. Below is a list with some of the most interesting facts and fun facts about the United Kingdom.
UK’s Interesting Facts
Here Are Some Interesting Facts About The UK
1. Tea is by far the most famous drink among the British. It is estimated that they drink 165 million cups of tea every day. The fun thing here is that in the U.S. the tea’s consumption is 20 times lower.
2. London houses more than 8 million citizens who communicate via different languages. It is estimated that more than 300 languages are spoken in the city.
3. The first postage stamp was created in the U.K. It was designed in May 1840, and it featured Queen Victoria.
4. The monument of Stonehenge is claimed to be one of the oldest monuments in the world, scientists believe that it was built over in 3,000 B.C.
5. The most interesting fact of the day (UK) – Standing at 1,107 feet or 350 meters, London’s Shard is the tallest object in the European continent.
6. Golf was invented in Scotland and is considered a national sport today. Sources claim that golf was created in 1457. It got so prevalent that James II banned it because it interrupted with army’s practice.
7. The typical food in the U.K. is roast beef and Yorkshire beef, but the Brits have voted Chicken Tikka as their national dish. The Chicken Tikka is actually an Indian recipe.
8. European continental land is linked with The U.K. through the Channel Tunnel. It connects the city of Calais (France) and Dover (England). At 21 miles this road is the second-longest underground tunnel.
9. Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning Queen in the world.
10. The British royal family still resides at The Windsor Castle making it the oldest royal residence.
11. In August 1896, the United Kingdom and the Zanzibar Sultanate fought for around 40 min; making it the shortest war ever happening in history. Only 1 British sailor was injured while casualties at the other end reached 500.
12. English is the official language of the U.K., yet there are a variety of accents throughout the country. The emphasis changes so often that within a few km, you may come across a different accent.
13. J.K. Rowling was the first writer to ever become a billionaire from her writings. In 2014, er total net worth reached $1 billion.
14. BBC’s T.V. channel programmes do not display ads, because they are a public broadcasting operator and are paid for by the citizens.
15. The British passports are issued in the name of the Queen, and as such, her excellence does not need to have one.
16. Oxford University is the oldest higher education institution in the U.K. Until 1877, it’s lecturers were not allowed to get married.
17. Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch. You only saw a meaningless string of letters, didn’t you? This happens to be the name of a town in Wales. It is the longest name of any city in the world.
18. A decree in the U.K. stated that at the moment when there are at least 6 ravens at the ground of London Tower, the monarchy must fall; this rule was put forth by King Charles II.
19. State-run facilities did not allow random citizens to die in the ancient times.
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20. Legends and Myths involving monsters and mysterious creatures are popular stories in the U.K. many people have claimed they have witnessed such beings in the past. Such accounts have also surrounded the London Bridge where some people have heard the voice of a woman roaming in the night. There are stories of the Loch Ness or shortly Nessie, based out of the lake in Scotland, it allegedly inhabits.
21. One of the funny facts in the UK is about Indian restaurants. They are a random thing and it is estimated that there are more Indian restaurants in London than in Indian urban centres like New Delhi or Mumbai.
22. Union Jack or The Union Flag is the UK’s flag, its design represents a blending of the Scottish flag, English and the flag of St Patrick (representing Ireland).
23. There is no official religion in the UK, but the majority of Brits claim a form of Christianity.
24. Atheists constitute 24% of the UK’s population.
25. There no active volcanoes in the UK.
26. The UK has only 15 National Parks, but they only cover 8% of British land.
27. No mountains in England are higher than a thousand meters.
28. Ben Nevis is the tallest point of the U.K.’s mountains at 1,345 meters above the sea level.
29. Corante was the first British newspaper. Its first-ever copy was printed in 1621.
30. Life expectancy in the UK is around 80 years.
31. Royal weddings are national holidays. The day after the ceremony, people get a day off work.
32. Taxi drivers in London have to undergo a test before they get hired for the job to estimate how well versed they are with the streets of London.
33. London has over 170 museums.
34. A royal flag waving at the top of the building where the Queen is residing is a must.
35. Before the London Eye, there was another wheel called ‘The Great Wheel’ which was constructed in the year 1895 for the Empire of India Exhibition; unfortunately, the building shattered in the year of 1907.
36. Fordwich is the smallest town in the UK, which has around 400 residents.
37. The smallest statue in London is of two mice fighting over a piece of cheese. The story behind this tiny sculpture is quite tragic. During the construction of this monument, two of its builders succumbed in a quarrel over a sandwich which turned out to be eaten by a mouse.
38. The UK has an unwritten constitution. Instead, it is largely written in different documents but has never been brought together.
39. The UK does not have a national day, although sometimes it uses the birthday of the Queen as a national holiday.
40. 27% of people in the UK are obese, the highest percentage in the world.
41. Railway system in the UK is ranked as 17th largest railway network in the world.
42. The UK is amongst the largest exporters in the world.
43. It has 394,000 kilometres of paved roads, enough to go around the world up to ten times.
44. London is the largest city in the UK and the most expensive city to live in.
45. The UK is known for its rainy weather, in 2003 a temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Kent.
46. It is illegal to sell alcohol to everybody under 18; children under this age are allowed to drink alcohol at home though.
47. Heathrow Airport in London is the busiest airport in the UK, it recorded over 78 million passengers in 2017.
48. There are more English speakers in the US, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines than in the United Kingdom.
49. There are very few trash cans in London. They were removed because the city experienced a lot of terrorist attacks in the past, and trash had been the most common dropping point.
50. Red Lion is a common name for pubs in the UK. Around 500 pubs in the UK have the same name.
51. All horses in the UK must possess a passport, which is another one of the funny facts in the UK.
52. The dragon contained on the Welsh flag is a symbol of the King of Gwynedd, it was the successive rulers of Britain’s Islands after the fall of the Romanian Empire.
53. According to a legend, the Scottish flag with a white cross over a blue background is a representation of the shape of clouds formed when Scotland was fighting with Angles, a tribe of Germanic invaders.
54. The first woman Prime Minister of the UK was Margaret Thatcher. She was the longest serving PM of the UK.
55. The EastEnders is the most-watched T.V. show in the UK, it had 30 million viewers.
56. In the undergrounds of London, scientists have discovered a unique type of mosquito. This species has evolved independently from other types of mosquitos.
57. Football is amongst the most popular games in the UK. There are over 100 football clubs across the country.
58. Sausages are famous in the UK Romans introduced sausages around 400AD. Approximately 470 UK recipes are made using sausages.
59. Zips injure 488 Brits every year.
60. French was the official language in the UK, from 1066 to 1362 for almost 300 years.
61. British Library is the 2nd largest library in the world, housing over 150 million items.
62. Shakespeare added approximately three-thousand words to the English language.
63. East Sussex, a small village at the border of Wales and England, declared its independence from the UK in 1977 and required foreigners to get a visa to enter the town.
64. Every year a person in the UK gets through 38 kilograms of newspaper on average.
65. The first speeding ticket was issued in the UK in the year 1896. The speed limit was 2mph and he was driving at the speed of 8mph.
66. Killing a swan is illegal in the UK. Killing one can get you a fine of £5,000 or a 6-month sentence.
67. There is a law from the 14th century that states it is legal to shoot a Scotsman with a crossbow upon seeing one since it was never repealed. Although, it has been superseded by other laws, which make any act of killing illegal.
68. In the past London had a different name, Londinium.
69. Adder happens to be the only venomous snake in the UK.
70. The National Health Service in the UK offers free health care coverage for its citizens and people can get private health insurance.
71. Suicide was treated as a crime during the late 19th century, if a person was caught trying to kill himself, he would be jailed and punished by hanging. Suicide was a crime in the 19th century.
72. Around thirty places in the world are named Birmingham; furthermore, there are places on the Moon that hold this name too.
73. Birmingham is the second-largest city in the U.K.
74. The UK is a vast country, but no matter where you stay, you’ll never be further than 115 km from the sea.
75. Smith Jones and Williams are some of the most common names in the UK.
76. Art was an Olympic sport in the UK. People of Art, Architecture, Music, Literature, Painting and Sculpting were recognized for their work.
77. Knap of Howar is a primordial building in the UK that was constructed around 3,700 AC.
78. During the 16th century, the king raised a tax for everyone with a beard!
79. The UK has 31 heritage sites under UNESCO protection.
80. During World War II, British soldiers were told that eating carrots would improve their vision in the dark. They were being fooled so they wouldn’t know that enemies had developed the radar system.
FAQs
1. What are some interesting facts about the UK?
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the renowned Queen’s Guard, the London Underground, and Stonehenge.
2. What is the most exciting fact about the UK?
One of the most exciting facts about the UK is that the country is known for having a constitutional monarchy, where the reigning monarch serves as the head of state while the government is run by elected officials.
3. What 3 things the UK is known for?
- Rich historical heritage like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Tower of London.
- The British Royal Family, with its global influence and traditions.
- Contributions to literature, with renowned authors like William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and J.K.
4. What is the UK most famous for?
The UK is most famous for its royal culture and many things like David Beckham, Fish and Chips, Big Ben, Red Buses, black cabs, Oasis, Blur, the Beatles, London and tea.
5. What is UK culture famous for?
UK culture is famous for its rich literary traditions, including works by renowned authors and its vibrant music scene, bands and artists across various genres.
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