The United Kingdom consists of four distinct nations: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The word “UK” refers to all four of these nations, each with a different degree of autonomy. With a lengthy and fascinating history, the United Kingdom is one of the most visited countries in Europe. Although everyone knows a certain amount about the UK, we’ve looked at some lesser-known interesting facts of United Kingdom. Here is our compilation of the most fun facts of United Kingdom. Ideal for those wondering why the UK is one of the most intriguing destinations to visit globally.
30 Interesting Facts of United Kingdom: Quick View
- Populous England: England is the most populated nation in the United Kingdom, accounting for more than 80% of the total population.
- Atheist Demographics: Atheists account for 24% of the UK population.
- Towering Structure: London’s The Shard is the tallest object on the European continent, standing 1,107 feet (350 meters).
- Underwater Link: The Channel Tunnel connects European continental with the U.K.. It links Calais with Dover. This 21-mile route is the second-longest underground tunnel.
- Tourism Triumph: Tourism, the UK’s fastest-growing sector, is predicted to be worth £257 billion by 2025.
- Steam Engine Pioneer: In 1712, Thomas Newcomen invented the Newcomen Engine, which revolutionized the steam engine industry.
- Princess Trendsetter: Princess Charlotte’s wardrobe choices frequently cause a shopping frenzy, known as “the Princess Charlotte effect.”
- Multilingual Metropolis: London has more than 8 million residents who converse in a variety of languages. It is estimated that around 300 languages are spoken in the city.
- Tiny Tribute: Two mice fighting over a slice of cheese is London’s smallest statue. The tale behind this small artwork is rather heartbreaking. During the construction, two of the monument’s constructors fought over a sandwich that was later discovered to have been consumed by a mouse.
- Trash Can Removal: London has few trash cans. The city had several terrorist assaults, and trash was the most common dropping place. Therefore, they were eliminated.
- Independence Village: In 1977, East Sussex, a small community on the Welsh-English border, declared independence from the UK and needed visas for foreigners.
- Indian Invasion: One of the fun facts about England is related to Indian restaurants. The number of Indian restaurants in London is thought to be higher than in Indian cities like New Delhi or Mumbai, however they are a random phenomenon.
- Royal Stamp: Food products with the royal stamp have been purchased by the royal family for at least five years, indicating high quality.
- Friday Tradition: Fish and chips were commonly consumed on Fridays, reflecting a cultural tradition.
- Banging Bangers: The term “bangers and mash” originated during World War I, when sausages that had been soaked in water due to a lack of food would explode (“bang”) when they were cooked.
- Structure: The Parliament is divided into two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords, both of which have unique roles and memberships.
- Seating Distinction: The House of Commons and the House of Lords are distinguished by the colour of their seats: green for the Commons and red for the Lords.
- Busy Hub: Heathrow Airport in London is the UK’s busiest airport, with over 78 million passengers in 2017.
- Tea Tradition: Tea is the most popular beverage in the UK, with the average Briton drinking 884 cups per year, adding to a remarkable 165 million cups drank daily nationwide.
- Ancient London: London was known as Londinium in ancient times.
- Longest-Running Show: Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, running at London’s St. Martin’s Theatre since 1952, is the world’s longest continuous performance.
- Queen Did Not Possess a Passport: In 70 years as queen, Elizabeth II has visited over 100 countries for official business. Her name is on every UK passport, thus she doesn’t require one.
- Iconic Structure: Big Ben, housed in the Elizabeth Clock Tower, is a notable landmark of the Houses of Parliament.
- Ancient Monument: Stonehenge is said to be one of the world’s oldest structures, with geologists estimating that it was created around 3,000 BCE.
- National Symbols:The lion represents England, the unicorn represents Scotland, the dragon represents Wales, and the flax flower represents Northern Ireland.
- Longest Town Name: It seems like all you saw was a random series of letters, right? But there is actually a town in Wales with the same name. It’s the world’s longest name for a town.
- National Twist: Although roast beef and Yorkshire beef are popular foods in the United Kingdom, chicken tikka has been declared as the country’s national dish. In fact, chicken tikka is an Indian dish.
- Parliamentary Prohibition: No British royal has entered the House of Commons since Charles the First barged in with guards to prosecute MPs, which eventually caused civil war.
- Cheese-Chasing Tradition: Coopers Hill in Gloucestershire hosts a unique cheese-rolling festival in which participants follow a rolling wheel of cheese.
- Stamp Inception: The first postal stamp was produced in the United Kingdom. It was designed in May 1840 and portrayed Queen Victoria.
Top 12 Cool Facts About the United Kingdom
1. Brits Consume Over 100 Million Cups of Tea Daily
The first interesting fact about UK that comes to mind may be that the Brits love drinking tea. This fun fact about UK directly confirms the idea that people from Britain drink a lot of tea. They consume between 100 and 160 million cups of tea daily, or around 36 billion annually. The UK differs from most other countries in the world in that a whopping 98% of tea drinkers add milk to their brew.
2. London Has Had Numerous Names
One of the interesting facts about London, United Kingdom is that London has had numerous names in the past. Ludenwic in Saxon times, Ludenburg during Alfred the Great’s reign, and Londonium during the Roman invasion. These were all its previous names.
3. The Longest-Running Show in the World Is in London
The longest-running performance in the world is being performed at St. Martins Theatre in London’s West End. Considering that Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap debuted in 1952, the show has been airing for over 70 years to this day. The plot of the show, which began as a radio play named Three Blind Mice, centres on seven strangers who become stuck at a rural house due to snowfall.
4. The Queen Did Not Possess a Passport
In her 70 years as queen, Queen Elizabeth II has travelled to more than 100 nations for official business. Despite the fact that everyone on the planet requires an identity card, she can travel without a British passport. This is so because the Queen’s name appears on every passport.
5. Big Ben Is Actually Not a Clock
One of the interesting facts on England is that, despite what the general public believes, Big Ben is actually the name of the thirteen-ton bell, not the iconic clock. And Big Ben is often associated with the entire tower. The tower was officially known as St. Stephen’s Tower until 2012 when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, which marked 60 years on the British throne.
6. Stonehenge Is More Ancient Than the Pyramids
Few people are aware that Stonehenge, one of the most well-known prehistoric monuments in the world, predates the pyramids by even longer. Another interesting information about England is that Stonehenge was constructed during the Bronze Age as a cemetery. The remarkable stone circle was created in the late Neolithic era, roughly 2500 BC, and the initial stones were part of an early Henge monument, which dates back to 3000 BC. Meanwhile, the construction of the pyramids took place between 2500 and 2400 BC. Therefore, we can conclude that both of these ancient sites are well worth seeing!
Not only as a sightseeing spot for tourists all over the globe, but Stonehenge is also a site of interest for students in related fields as well. For learners studying this prehistoric monument, uhomes.com provides a list of accommodation options in the area.
7. The Unicorn Is the National Animal of Scotland
Next on the cool facts about the United Kingdom, Scotland’s national animal is a mythical species, which is not surprising given the country’s reputation for loving myths and stories. The unicorn was first used as a national emblem in the twelfth century. Throughout Scotland, unicorns can be seen, frequently adorned with a golden chain. It represents strength, masculinity, purity, and innocence. It was once thought that unicorns were among the strongest creatures. The chain might represent the idea that the Scottish Kings were so strong and powerful that they could subdue even unicorns.
8. Europe’s Longest Town Name Belongs to a Welsh Town
Among the longest town names in the world, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the longest name of a town in Europe. The more palatable translation of Llanfairpwll, which is frequently printed in both Welsh and English, is “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel, near a rapid whirlpool, and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave”. This one should fit as the top 10 interesting facts about the UK, right?
9. The National Dish of Britain Is Chicken Tikka Masala
Let’s be honest: when someone says “British food”, you generally picture roast dinner, fish and chips, or steak and kidney pie. As a matter of fact, chicken tikka masala was chosen by citizens living in UK as the national cuisine. Its strong ties to India and history as a colony may account for its appeal. Although British-Asian chefs popularized the dish in the 1960s, it is unknown who created the recipe for this mild Indian curry.
10. The Queen May Not Enter the House of Commons
Despite her majesty and glory, the Queen of England, who formerly held great power and influence over nearly the whole world, is not permitted to visit the House of Commons since she is not a member of it.
11. Cheese Rolling Is Considered a Sport
It’s true what they say: cheese rolling is a sport. The sport is thought to have originated in the fifteenth century. At Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, competitors engage in a cheese-rolling contest once a year. In these contests, competitors race down a steep slope after a 3.2-kg (7-pound) wheel of Double Gloucester cheese. Though it is undoubtedly a dangerous sport, the local custom is one not to be missed. The wheel of cheese is the prize awarded to the winner, who is the first to cross the finish line.
If you’re a student in the English culture department, you may want to witness the cheese rolling sport with your own eyes. In this case, you can choose student accommodation near Gloucestershire College with uhomes.com. Book a room of your choice in accordance with your preference, and then enjoy a cheese-rolling contest in the United Kingdom!
12. The United Kingdom First Invented Stamps
Prior to the introduction of postage stamps, mail delivery was expensive. The first stamp ever released in the United Kingdom was called “the Penny Black”, and it showed Queen Victoria. It was released in May 1840. With the invention of the postage stamp, sending letters, postcards, and Christmas cards became more affordable.
Conclusion
As shown above, there are interesting facts of United Kingdom that you may not have known before. Although we enjoyed learning about these UK funny facts, there is still much more to this island nation. The United Kingdom has something for everyone, including the most well-known royal family in the world, stunning cities, and historical and natural attractions. As a matter of fact, these interesting facts of Great Britain and Northern Ireland mentioned before are just a tiny bit of the richness and depth that you may still not have known. There is still a lot to learn about the United Kingdom. Whether it’s to see Stonehenge or to observe the cheese rolling contest, or any other UK cultural values, tourists and students all over the world come to the United Kingdom to study its fascinating and rich history.
FAQs About Interesting Facts of United Kingdom
What Is the Story Behind “London Bridge Is Falling Down”?
The nursery rhyme “London Bridge is falling down” may not be new to you. One example of interesting facts about London, UK, is that this rhyme may be over a thousand years old. Using boats and ropes, the Saxons demolished London Bridge. Many believe that it is the rhyme’s original source.
What Are a Few Cultural Interesting Facts of UK?
Below are a number of great facts about England’s culture.
- The unique British sense of humour is renowned for its wit and sarcasm.
- The typical British family consists of the parents and one or two kids.
- The United Kingdom is home to some of the oldest languages still in use today, including Cornish, Welsh, Manx, Irish, and Scottish Gaelic, which are called the “Celtic Languages.”
What Are Some Unusual Facts About Britain?
The following are a few fun facts about the UK that may make you smile.
- It is still forbidden by law in the UK to enter the parliament while wearing armour. In 1313, the “Bearing of Armour Act” was established.
- The driver of a double-decker bus who bravely leapt three feet when the tower bridge opened in 1952 won £10 for his actions.
- The Salmon Act 1986, which declares it “illegal to handle a salmon in suspicious circumstances”, is one of the strangest laws in the United Kingdom.
