With several Bank Holidays coming up, now is the perfect time to learn a few facts about England, whether you are interested in its rich history or planning to attend the annual cheese rolling festival (more about that later). And if the only fact about England you have heard so far is that it rains there 24/7, unfortunately, it's not true, and your knowledge about the country needs a software update.
You must have inevitably heard at least a few interesting facts about England that made you raise your eyebrow, question whether it really is the 21st century, or wonder whether you are being fooled or not. Although there are many misconceptions and myths surrounding British people, not all of the weird facts about England you hear are false. Quite a few are actually true! It is surprising, for example, that a country with one of the most thriving economies in the world still heavily relies on paper mail and phone calls as their preferred means of communication (yes, red phone booths are there to stay, and Brits do get an overwhelming amount of mail). However, it's these and other hallmarks that distinguish the Brits from other nations and make it one of the top travel destinations for many people. Well, it's the hallmarks AND some of the antiquated, strangest laws and rules in England that have never been revisited, and can still get one arrested if caught red-handed!
Below, we've compiled a list featuring many cool facts about England, including geographical, cultural, and historical information with some weird English laws for dessert. Were you familiar with any of these facts before? If so, let us know by giving them an upvote. Also, are there any other interesting facts that we should have mentioned? Share your knowledge about the country with fellow Pandas in the comments.
#1
6 ravens must be kept in the Tower of London at all times.
Old customs are the source of many bizarre facts about England. One legend is that the Tower of London must always have six captive raven birds, or the Tower and the Monarchy will collapse. It is believed that Charles II was the first to demand the protection of the Tower's ravens. This is taken so seriously that an extra raven is kept in the Tower just in case. Today, there are seven ravens in the Tower, named Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy, and Merlina.
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29points
#2
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning queen in British history, ruling from 1952 until 2022. Following the sad demise of her father in 1952, she was just 25 when she inherited the throne. She reigned for slightly over 70 years until passing away at the age of 96.
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26points
#3
England holds an annual cheese rolling competition.
Every year, grown adults, primarily men, congregate in a village in England around the end of May to pursue a rolling nine-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep slope. Because of the steepness and unevenness of the hill and the size and speed of the cheese itself, several people have suffered severe injuries throughout the years. As a result, the cheese spectacle lost its "official" management and organizers in 2010. However, because the locals are so proud of their longstanding tradition, the ritual still goes ahead each year, though spontaneously and without any supervision.
26points
#4
English people's obsession with tea is legit.
The obsession with tea drinking among English people is one of their best-known characteristics. The typical British drinks 884 'cuppas' annually, which is enough to fill two bathtubs, according to a YouGov poll of more than 2,000 Britons. English breakfast tea is the most popular variety, typically served with milk and sugar.
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23points
#5
In England, one is never more than 110 kilometers from the sea.
One of the sites in the United Kingdom that is the farthest from coastal seas is Coton In The Elms in Derbyshire, England, which is about 110 km from the shore. Hence, it's not surprising that British vacations by the sea are popular in the summer despite the sea being so chilly.
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23points
#6
England used to be called Britannia.
England, as we know it today, didn’t really emerge until the 10th century AD. When the Romans invaded Britain in 55 BC, they first referred to Great Britain as “Albion,” but this gradually changed to “Britannia.” The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (1BC) used the name “Pretannia” to refer to the Pretani people, who the Greeks believed lived in Britain. This is where the word “Britannia” originates from. Britanni would be the term for those who lived in Britannia.
23points
#7
The Monarch is not allowed to enter the House of Commons.
One of several strange old rules in English law states that the reigning monarch is forbidden from entering England’s House of Commons. King Charles I’s forced arrest of five MPs during a break in the English Parliament in 1642 led to the first enactment of the law. Since then, the House of Commons can only be entered by the monarch’s representative, the Black Rod. Another interesting fact is that to signify the independence of the Commons, the door is traditionally slammed in Black Rod’s face. The representative then bangs three times on the door with the rod and only then is allowed inside.
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22points
#8
One of the world's oldest manmade landmarks is Stonehenge.
One of the earliest manmade sites is Stonehenge in Wiltshire, built between 3000 and 2000 BC. The ruins comprise a circle of seven stones, each four meters tall, with rocks on top that line up with the sunrise on the summer solstice. The legally protected monument is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Britain's best-known sights.
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20points
#9
England has over 100 offshore and inshore islands.
England is made up of the main island and over 100 smaller islands. They include the Farne Islands, the Isles of Furness, the Isles of Scilly, and many others. However, most of them are very small and thus unpopulated.
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19points
#10
The first capital of England was Winchester.
In the ninth century, the ancient city of Winchester served as England’s first capital. The city, called Wintanceaster by the Saxons, served as the seat of government for the Kingdom of Wessex until King Æthelstan unified England.
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19points
#11
England is divided into 48 ceremonial counties.
The Normans established the original counties hoping it would be easier to govern the lands of England. Yet, they changed as the population grew and towns and cities grew more interconnected. Today counties are primarily used for geographical differentiation, but they also have political functions. Their names often start with the name of their largest city or town and end with the prefix "shire." Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire are a few examples.
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18points
#12
English is the most spoken language in the world.
According to data, almost 1.5 billion individuals worldwide spoke English either as a first or second language in 2022, which is slightly more than the 1.1 billion people who spoke Mandarin Chinese at the time when the survey was conducted.
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17points
#13
French was once the official language of England.
One of the lesser-known yet fascinating facts about England is that from 1066 until 1362, French was the country's official language. William the Conqueror adopted Norman French as the language of the government and upper classes after the Norman invasion of England and his coronation as king. Although it is not quite the French we are familiar with today, it has survived well throughout the British Isles.
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17points
#14
All dolphins in British waters belong to the Crown.
All dolphins in the United Kingdom and in British seas, together with sturgeons, porpoises, swans, and whales, are considered to be the property of King Charles III. All fish captured within three kilometers of the British coast are referred to as “fishes royal” and are hence the property of the monarch. This law was initially passed in 1324 and is still in effect.
17points
#15
The BBC is the oldest national broadcaster in the world.
The country's national broadcaster and the oldest in the world—founded in 1922—is the British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC doesn't air any commercials. However, to fund it and access the channels, the viewers must pay a yearly licensing fee, which (as of 1 April 2021) is £159 for a color TV license. There's also an option for a black-and-white license (£53.50) to accommodate households in England who still watch TV programs on black-and-white TV sets.
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16points
#16
The highest point in England is Scafell Pike.
The following tidbit about England may interest thrill seekers. The Lake District is home to Scafell Pike, England's tallest mountain, with a peak elevation of 978 meters. In stormy weather, the steep climb might be dangerous; thus, it's crucial to be adequately prepared before going.
16points
#17
Shakespeare contributed over 1,700 words to the English language.
William Shakespeare, the most famous playwright in the world, contributed over 1,700 words to the English language, with many still used in modern English. As the value and importance of his work increased, more people started using correct word spellings. He also turned verbs into adjectives, adverbs, and compound words and added prefixes and suffixes to many terms.
16points
#18
One of England’s national dishes is chicken tikka masala curry.
It's said that the mild tomato-cream sauce was added to chicken tikka, an Indian dish, by a Bangladeshi cook in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1970s. The masala sauce, according to former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, "was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy." Hence, we could say that chicken tikka masala is one of the earliest well-recognized examples of fusion cooking.
15points
#19
During the 18th and 19th centuries, debtors' prisons were common in England.
They were exclusive to those who ran up debt and could not repay it—they weren't considered criminals, though. Still, if they got into debt and couldn't repay it, their creditor could apply for them to be held in debtors' prison. They were detained until they—or a caring friend—paid off their debt or until they had completed their sentence. While they were free to do so, creditors very seldom forgave debts.
15points
#20
Postage stamps were invented in England.
Also, sticking a stamp upside down is technically considered treason under the alleged old law that has never been revised. However, according to the Royal Mail, placing a stamp upside-down is perfectly acceptable, and no one has ever been punished.
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14points