There is an insurance policy issued against alien abduction. Around 50,000 policies have been sold, mainly to residents of the U.S. and England.
100 Mind-Blowing England Facts
The longest unbroken alliance in world history is between England and Portugal. It has lasted since 1386 and still stands today.
The longest Cricket Test match lasted over 12 days between England and South Africa. It only ended because the English team would have missed their boat home.
In 18th Century England, having a pineapple was a symbol of wealth because of high import fees. They would be used as displays instead of being eaten.
Extreme ironing is a sport in which people take ironing boards to remote locations and iron items of clothing. It originated in England.
King Henry VIII of England had servants called “Grooms of Stool”, who wiped him clean after he visited the toilet. Gross.
Ancient Egyptians used dead mice to ease toothaches. In Ancient Egypt, people put a dead mouse in their mouth if they had a toothache, according to Nathan Belofsky’s book Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages. Mice were also used as a warts remedy in Elizabethan England.
The word “aquarium” means “watering place for cattle” in Latin. Of course, today’s aquariums aren’t for cows. The first aquarium that looks like what you’d imagine was created in 1921 and opened in 1924 in England.
A woman called the police when her ice cream didn’t have enough sprinkles. The West Midlands police in England released a recording of a woman who called 999 (the U.K. version of 911) because there were “bits on one side and none on the other,” she says in the recording. She was even more upset when the ice cream truck man did not want to give her money back.
The shortest railways in the world take less than a minute. The shortest funicular railway is Fisherman’s Walk Cliff Railway located in Bournemouth, England and Angels Flight, located in Los Angeles, advertises on its website that it’s the shortest railway in the world.
Queen Elizabeth II owns the swans in England. Not only does she own generations of corgis, but this monarch also co-owns most of the geese in England. Why? Swans are the British royal family’s symbol. As of the 12th century, legislation was passed stating that all mute swans were owned by the Crown. In the 15th century, two other entities were entitled to the swans in the River Thames.
The Speaker of the House isn’t allowed to speak in England. Okay, not literally. Instead, the Speaker of the House acts as a mediator for debates. They are not allowed to speak their own opinion on an issue.
In Elizabethan England, the spoon was so novel and prized that people carried their folding spoons to banquets. In the 13th century, the coronation of every British king was preceded by a ritual where the new king would be anointed with a ceremonial spoon.
Flyting was the original rap battle. Way before flip-top and rap battles, there was “flyting”: the artful exchange of witty, insulting lines. Flyting was popular in the 5th to 16th century England and Scotland.
A U.K. woman has called 911 because of ice cream. The West Midlands police in England once released a recording of a woman who dialled 999 (the U.K. equivalent of 911) because her ice cream didn’t have enough sprinkles.
Monty Python is one of the most requested songs for funerals in England. ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ is a common favourite during funeral services. This song was originally from the comedy classic Life of Brian.
England and Portugal still maintain their alliance until today. This is also known as the longest unbroken alliance in world history. This treaty began in 1386 between the two countries and they remain strong allies today.
All swans in England belong to the Queen. Any unclaimed swans that are found swimming in the open waters of England and Wales are automatically hers. This was a law established and originated in medieval times when swans were a delicacy for the wealthy.
A Poison Garden in England is filled with venomous plants. The Alnwick Garden is a garden complex by Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. These historic gardens were revived at some point, and a Poison Garden was added in 2005.
In England, a newborn’s head is washed in rum for good luck. This was a common occurrence in certain parts of Europe. To wish a child great fortune in the future, butter and sugar would be given to the infant.
The word ‘pants’ was once considered to be a dirty word. This was considered a vulgar statement during the 1880s in England. Any topic regarding the word was also frowned upon.
Apple pie is not American. This delicacy is said to originate from Medieval England. Variations of the original recipe were made popular by the Dutch which became the known favorite of today.
Spotted dick is a dish. We know what you’re thinking, but spotted dick is a British dessert popularized in 19th century England. It is a pudding made traditionally with suet and dried fruit, often served with custard. “Spotted” referred to the dried fruit pieces, while “dick” and “dog” were terms widely used for pudding at the time.
A 155-year-old mouse trap successfully caught a mouse in 2016. In the mid-1800s, inventor Colin Pullinger revealed his “perpetual mousetrap,” claiming that it would last a lifetime. Over a century later, his claim was proven true. In 2016, the 155-year-old device was on display at England’s Museum of English Rural Life when it caught a mouse that snuck into it.
People in New England thought tuberculosis was vampirism. The 19th century was the height of the “New England Vampire Panic.” during this time, people thought that “consumption” (what they called Tuberculosis) was spread by vampires. People would even dig up Tuberculosis victims and stake them through the heart. Not a fan of Twilight, it seems.
In 16th-century England, pies were filled with surprises. Celebratory pies served in 16th century England contained live animals that were released when the pie was cut. Such animals were frogs, squirrels, and blackbirds.
The first ever King of England was called Athelstan, ruling from 925-939AD.
The England v Scotland football match in 1872 was the world’s first international match.
In the 16th century, it was fashionable to have black teeth. As the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I set the trends of the 1500s. She was known for her sweet tooth, but years of sugary treats took its toll on her teeth. Incredibly, her mouth full of rotting teeth inspired other women to blacken their teeth to match!
The Queen of England has two birthdays.
French was the official language of England for over 600 years.
Buckingham Palace in London, England, has 775 rooms, including 78 bathrooms.
People started wearing pyjamas, originally spelt “pyjamas,” instead of nightgowns so they’d be prepared to run outside in public during World War I air raids in England.
Banksy is the most popular graffiti artist, known for his stencil art with political and anti-war themes. They remain anonymous and are based in Bristol, England, but their work can be seen worldwide.
Absent monarch. Richard the Lionheart only spent six months of his ten-year reign in England.
Doggy defence. King Henry VIII of England had a suit of armour made for his dog.
Quick! In England, in 1800, almost 40% of brides came to the altar pregnant.
Take your time. Homosexuality has been legal in Italy since 1870, England in 1967, Scotland in 1980, Northern Ireland in 1982, the Isle of Man in 1992 and Tasmania in 1997. It has now been legal in 14 US states since 2003.
Hitler’s half-nephew’s service in the US Navy. The son of Adolf Hitler’s half-brother, Alois, William Patrick Hitler was born in England in 1911 but moved to Germany in the 1930s. He was something of a problem for the German Führer, and in July 1939 he published an article in Look magazine titled ‘Why I hate my uncle. . .’ He moved to America in 1939. It has been reported that in 1944 he appealed directly to President Roosevelt to join the fight against his uncle and the FBI deemed it sincere. Though he never saw combat, Hitler served until 1947. He changed his name to William Stuart-Houston and died in 1987.
After an engineer named Sandford Fleming missed a train in 1876, he set out to change the way time worked. Fleming originally proposed a concept he called “Cosmic Time,” in which the world would run off an imaginary clock located at the planet’s centre, essentially a line from the centre of the planet to the sun. He then suggested splitting the world into 24 time zones labelled with a letter of the alphabet, with each zone spanning 15 degrees of longitude. His original plan to create a standard “Cosmic Time” was rejected, but it did lay the groundwork for a similar standardisation, so-called Universal Time. Nations present at the 1884 International Meridian Conference laid the groundwork for dividing the world into 24 time zones, with the Prime Meridian, also known as Longitude 0°, running through Greenwich, England.
Winchester was the first capital of England: We’re beginning this collection of interesting facts about England by uncovering some insights into the country’s history. It’s a well-known fact that the bustling city of London is the country’s capital, however, it hasn’t always had this status! Over 1,150 years ago, in 871, the Hampshire city of Winchester was the country’s capital. This came to be when King Alfred began his reign as King of Wessex and chose the city to be his capital. During the 10th century, all seven of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, including Wessex, merged to become England. This led to London becoming the capital and the new base for the government, thanks to its fantastic trading opportunities.
French was the official language of England for over 300 years: After William the Conqueror of France completed the Norman Conquest of 1066, French became the official language of England. However, the language was mainly spoken by noblemen, whilst lower classes spoke English. French continued to be the official language of England until 1362. Historians believe that the country reverted to being English-speaking due to King John’s loss of the French region of Normandy in 1294. This was encouraged further by the 100-year War against France, which started in 1337. Despite this, French names were popular throughout England, with Richard, Robert and William still being common names to this day!
A handful of world-renowned scientists were born in England: Another intriguing fact about England is that it’s been the birthplace of several iconic scientists! Sir Isaac Newton, a household name, was born in Lincolnshire in 1643 and went on to write the laws of motion, gravity and the theory of colour. More recently, Stephen Hawking was born in 1942 in Cambridgeshire. The professor is best known for his theory of exploding black holes which has revolutionised the field of astronomy. These English scientists’ findings are still very relevant for science to this day, with their works being used frequently in education and the industry.
The World Wide Web (WWW) was invented in England: The World Wide Web came to be in 1989 when it was discovered by Tim Berners-Lee, an English scientist. Berners-Lee began the project whilst working at CERN, The European Organisation for Nuclear Research, and its main use was for scientists to share information and institutes across the globe. The WWW was used privately until 1993 when CERN released it to the public. It’s flourished since then, and you’re using it to view this blog right now!
You’re not allowed to get drunk in English pubs: We’re starting the Culture section of this list of facts about England with this surprising by-law: It is illegal to be drunk in a pub. The Licensing Act took effect in 1872 and essentially bans anyone in England from being drunk anywhere that isn’t their private property. It’s certainly an odd by-law to have in place when the country hosts more than 35,000 pubs, all of which have the main purpose of drinking. Even so, it’s a well-intentioned act that aims to reduce drinking levels to keep people safe!
There is an annual cheese rolling competition: The unusual sport of cheese rolling was guaranteed to make this list of facts about England. A unique event, the annual cheese rolling takes place on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucester and has been done since 1826. The event involves a 9-lb, round Double Gloucester cheese rolled down a hill, with competitors chasing after it to the bottom. The first person to reach the finish line wins the cheese. Contestants are often locals from the area, however, the event attractions competitors from all over the world. If you’re up for a challenge, why not sign up for the race? Please keep in mind that due to the fast pace of the race, the event can be quite dangerous.
The two most common baby names are Olivia and Oliver: According to the Office for National Statistics, the top baby names across England and Wales in 2020 were Oliver and Olivia. Oliver has held the top position for over eight years, whilst Olivia has been at the top for five years in a row. Regionally, babies named Oliver were mostly concentrated in the North East of England and Herefordshire, whilst babies named Olivia were mostly born in the North East, especially in Craven, and along the South Coast of England.
English is the most spoken language across the globe: Another interesting fact about England is that the English language is the most spoken worldwide in 2022. Statista reports that there are 1.5 billion English native speakers around the globe. The language is also the language of the sky, with pilots being required to speak English on board.
The national dish features Indian cuisine: Commencing the Food section of this array of facts about England is the country’s national dish, Chicken Tikka Masala. According to NATO, the dish is England’s favourite, while Wales‘ national dish is Welsh Cawl, Scotland‘s is Haggis and Ireland‘s is Irish Stew. It’s believed that Chicken Tikka came over from India and was first introduced in Glasgow. The Masala sauce part of the dish was added during the 1970s when a Bangladeshi chef wanted to match the British tradition of serving meat in gravy. Indian cuisine has massively influenced the country’s dining scene, with CurryCulture.co.uk estimating there to be around 10,000 curry houses in the UK.
Sparkling wine was invented in England: It’s widely thought that Dom Perignon, a French monk, invented sparkling wine in the form of champagne in 1697. The BBC states that this isn’t entirely true and that an English scientist discovered and documented how to add fizz to sparkling wine 30 years prior. The scientist in question was Christopher Merrett, who lived in the Cotswolds. If you ever happen to be in the area, you can head to the village of Winchcombe and uncover a plaque dedicated to Merrett and his wine documentation on Mill Lane. Additionally, in the 17th century Sir Kenelm Digby, an English diplomat, was known to make the most ‘superior’ wine bottles of the time, with millions of his sturdy bottles being shipped throughout Europe each year.
Liverpool is England’s tea capital: Typhoo revealed in a Facebook post that a key finding from their recent survey was that people living in Liverpool drink more cups of tea than anyone else in the country! On average, Liverpudlians sip nine brews per day. When it comes to the bigger picture, Statista shows that coffee is tied with tea as the nation’s favourite drink. So, who knows, perhaps Liverpudlians will favour an espresso over a brew this time next year?
The top 5 dishes in England are… Whilst Chicken Tikka Masala may be the national dish, England’s top five most popular dishes include: 1. Full English Breakfast – The ultimate, fried classic that is bursting with a mixture of flavours. Including those from tomatoes, eggs, sausages and bacon. 2. Black Pudding – A blood sausage that consists of a mixture of pork or beef blood, cereal and fat. The English county of Lancashire is often associated with savoury pudding. 3. Devilled Kidneys – This dish has ties to the Victorian period, originating from gentlemen’s clubs in London. It comprises lamb kidneys simmered in a spiced sauce. 4. Eggy Bread – Inspired by French toast and believed to date back to the medieval period, eggy bread comes as it’s described! You can enjoy this as a sweet or savoury dish for breakfast/brunch. 5. Kedgeree – This meal is the English take on an Indian dish, khichdi. It is packed with different flavours, including spiced rice, eggs and fish.
The largest county in England is… Yorkshire: We’re continuing this guide on facts about England with a dive into the country’s geography. Taking up 11% of England’s land mass at 14,859 km², Yorkshire hails the title of being England’s largest county! Due to its large size, it’s no surprise that Yorkshire boasts a large variety of landscapes. From the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and Moors to the flat greenery of the Vale of York; there’s so much to explore here. The county is also home to a wealth of history, including two UNESCO World Heritage sites, Saltair & Salts Mill and Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal.
The South East of England is mostly flat: England’s topography is quite varied, with the Lake District National Park being a great example of the country’s high elevation. If you venture towards the South East, you’ll find the opposite. This part of the country is mostly low-lying, offering flat countryside with uninterrupted views. Some of the best places to experience these views are the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Cotswolds and Chiltern Hills. The glorious South Downs National Park offers a stunning mixture of coastal and countryside sights, including the Seven Sisters cliffs. It’s well worth checking out!
England is very close to Europe’s mainland: The Channel Tunnel, also playfully known as the ‘Chunnel’, connects Folkestone to Calais. The tunnel offers easy access between England and France and stretches over 31.5 miles. The tunnel was built in 1993, with the Eurostar’s handy services beginning in 1994. It’s the longest undersea tunnel in the world, with 23.5 miles of tunnel stretching 75 metres below the surface of the English Channel. Thanks to the Chunnel, you can get to Paris from London in just over two and a half hours!
Wherever you are in England, you’ll always be within reach of the sea: Last but not least on this list of interesting facts about England is this intriguing fact about the English coast. No matter where you venture to in England, you’ll always be within 115 km of the ocean. The location that’s furthest away from the sea is the village of Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire. The Guardian states that the quaint village rests 113 km from the nearest coastal point. The seaside’s proximity is great for those who live in cities, with London being a car journey away from many beaches.
Chicken Tikka Masala is England’s national dish: You probably think of roast dinner, fish and chips or a steak and kidney pie when you hear someone saying, ‘British food’. Nevertheless, the UK residents voted the chicken tikka masala as the country’s national dish. Its popularity can be explained by its former colony and still strong ties with India. The dish was popularised by British-Asian cooks in the 1960s, but who came up with the recipe for this Indian mild curry is not known.
The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
There is an underwater tunnel called the Channel Tunnel linking Southern England and Northern France.
There are supposedly more chickens in England than people!
The inventor of the World Wide Web, Timothy John Berners-Lee was from England.
London is considered the most culturally diverse land in the world with 25% of its entire population born outside of England.
According to some glitch in declarations of war, Berwick-upon-Tweed, a town in England is supposedly still in war with Russia.
Barengaria of Navaree, the queen to King Richard of England is the only English queen who has never set foot in the country.
In Gravesend, England, there is a strategically built fake town used by police to imitate dangerous situations and formulate defence mechanisms against them.
The queen is officially appointed as the swan keeper of England. It means that the queen owns all the swans in England.
In the pubs and bars of England, it’s legal to drink but illegal to get drunk.
In 1535, King Henry VIII of England introduced a tax on beards and the tax amount depends on the person’s social position.
Populous England: England is the most populated nation in the United Kingdom, accounting for more than 80% of the total population.
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.
National Symbols: The lion represents England, the unicorn represents Scotland, the dragon represents Wales, and the flax flower represents Northern Ireland.
Big Ben Is Not a Clock: One of the interesting facts about England is that, despite what the general public believes, Big Ben is 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.
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.
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.
The Bank of England has been issuing banknotes since 1694, the pound (£) symbol originates from the Latin word ‘libra’, and the Royal Mint, responsible for producing all the country’s coins, was established over 1,100 years ago.
The British pound is the oldest surviving currency in the world, it was once made of sterling silver which is how it got its name ‘pound sterling’, and the Bank of England was the first institution to begin regular issuance of banknotes in 1695.