- the name of the bell, not the clock.
- - the largest royal estate in the world.
- 30 godchildren.
- The Queen owns all sturgeons, dolphins and whales in the sea within 3 miles of the coast.
- Elizabeth II sent her first e-mail in 1976.
- Prince William wanted to be a cop when he was little.
- He also has his own postage stamp.
- If you stick a stamp with the image of the Queen upside down - this is treason.
- Kate Middleton is allergic to horses.
- When Kate was little, boys rated her looks 2 out of 10.
- Prince Harry once got into serious trouble for wearing a Nazi costume to a costume party.
- When Nelson Mandela met the Spice Girls, he called them "his heroes".
- J.K. Rowling was the first person to earn a million for writing a book.
- The idea for James Bond came to author Ian Fleming during a bus ride from in London.
- No portrait of William Shakespeare was painted during his lifetime.
- The play Macbeth is one of the most frequently played plays. On average, it is played every 4 hours in the world.
- David Beckham afraid of birds.
- - the highest Ferris wheel in Europe.
- 25% of people living in London were born in another country.
- There are 409 escalators in the London Underground.
- 16% of all restaurants are located in London.
- London Bridge is rumored to be haunted. People claim that sometimes at night they see a woman in black wandering aimlessly.
- London is the first city in the world to have a subway.
- If London were a country, it would be the 8th largest in Europe.
Other facts
- Around 80,000 umbrellas are lost every year.
- There are over 30,000 people in England named John Smith.
- England has the highest rate of obesity in Europe.
- England brought football, rugby and polo to the world.
- The highest temperature was recorded in Kent in 2003 - 38.5 degrees.
- The earliest railways were invented in England.
- English food is considered the worst in the world.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to Britain? Surely such words as "rain", "queen", "tea". Actually, this is the main thing that we know about Foggy Albion. Otherwise, this is a mysterious region for us. In fact, Britain is fraught with many interesting things. Here are some interesting and entertaining facts about the UK in general and London in particular.
1. There is no constitution in Great Britain.
Yes, this state lives not only without a constitution, but also without a residence permit - this is truly a surprise for our compatriots! But life in the country is judged here by payments from a bank card, so every Briton has a huge number of bills, receipts and reports.
Almost all parliamentary democracies have a constitution, but the UK does not. The reason is simple and it lies in the age of the country: the evolution of statehood here took place over a long one and a half thousand years. Therefore, there were no founding fathers or a key moment of writing. The constitution here develops gradually.
2. The Queen does not have a British passport.
The passport of every British citizen is formally issued in the name of the Queen, so she does not need to have a passport at all. That is why Her Majesty Elizabeth II does not have a passport - she does not need it.
When she goes somewhere on a visit, she does not go on vacation, but on a diplomatic mission, so customs control and baggage inspection do not apply to her. True, the rest of the members of the royal family were not so lucky: they have a passport. Therefore, they need to go through formalities to travel, but Elizabeth II does not.
3. In the possession of Elizabeth II - a sixth of the land.
As you know, the English queen has no real power. Nevertheless, at her disposal is a sixth of the land. Really, madness? In the possession of Queen Elizabeth II formally there are more than 30 countries and states, except for Great Britain.
Among them are Canada, the second largest in the world, as well as Jamaica and Australia. Formally, it can exclusively own these states - not rule them. Such an association is called the Commonwealth of Nations, which enjoys exceptional authority throughout the world.
4. The shortest war - 38 minutes.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896 lasted only 38 minutes. The invasion of the imperial troops entered the Guinness Book of Records: it is indeed the shortest war in the history of mankind. Great Britain was dissatisfied with the new ruler of the country, who received power after the death of his cousin barat, and demanded that powers be transferred to his protégé. Quite logically, the refusal followed. After that, on the morning of August 27, 1896, the British squadron headed for the shores of Zanzibar and froze in anticipation.
Britain's ultimatum expired at 9:00 a.m.: either surrender by the Zanzibar authorities or shelling the palace. The refusal of the usurper provoked the shelling at exactly 9.01. As a result, the only ship that made up the entire fleet of Zanzibar was sunk, and the palace turned into burning ruins in an instant: only the flag of the country remained, as the newly-minted sultan fled. According to international standards, the fall of the flag is recognized as a surrender. Exactly 38 minutes had passed before the flag was overturned.
For the history of Africa, this is not so much a comical moment (as the British consider it to be), but a tragic one. In this war, 570 citizens of Zanzibar lost their lives in just 38 minutes. That is, the duration of the war did not become proportional to the bloodshed: war is, in any case, a tragedy that leaves a mark on culture, and not just a mark, but an unhealed scar.
5. In the royal family - a supporter of the Nazis.
The uncle of the current reigning Queen Elizabeth II - Edward VIII, it turns out, was glad that the Nazis came to power. This was before the start of World War II. This fact was well known to members of the royal family.
But the general public also found out about this: a photograph of a young smiling prince was leaked to the press along with the German Nazis. Around the same time, an interesting archival filming of 1933 appeared, where the future queen (then she was only 7 years old) and her sister raise their hands in a Nazi salute - they zigue.
6. The most mysterious mixers.
In order to wash your face with warm water in London, you will have to sweat a lot. Instead of a classic faucet, there are two separate taps for cold and hot water. Therefore, you need to plug the sink, open both taps, adjusting the required temperature, then fill the sink and after that splash around for fun.
7. Duchess Kate replenishes the British treasury.
The British Duchess Kate (Kate Middleton) is very popular. She is very loved and appreciated. Women - including. That is why they try to copy her style: mannerisms, hairstyle, clothes.
Sociologists have noted that on average, each fan of the future queen spends about 250 pounds in order to look like Kate. Outfits similar to those in which the Duchess comes out are scattered from the shelves! As soon as her new photo appears in the media, outfits are sold out, hairdressers and stylists sign up, and jewelry “like Kate’s” is ordered. This is how the future queen helps the economy of her country.
8. The Queen of Great Britain has no real power.
The Royal Family of Great Britain has hundreds of years of truly exciting history. However, the real power of the monarch today is completely lost. The Queen today is a tool for the majestic reception of the delegation, nothing more.
Of course, you can’t say that the monarch in the UK is not useful at all: it is the queen who has the right to appoint ministers and dismiss them, to issue or not issue passports. Even the queen can declare war. However, if Her Majesty still wants to declare war, then it is unlikely that she will succeed, because the last word is still for the prime ministers.
9. A Brit can legally kill a Scot.
Surely everyone knows that the British and the Scots have a very difficult relationship. Relations with neighbors are so complicated that it turns out that, legally, an Englishman can kill a Scot. Such a zaon has existed in York for a long time.
However, there are conditions: you can only kill the hated "skirt-bearer" if he has arrows and a bow in his hands. Laws in the UK are not accepted to be canceled - they evolve. This one has not been canceled either. So if an Englishman does not like the loss of his favorite football team, and at this time a man in a kilt with a bow and arrow appears on his horizon, anger can be vented legally.
10. Brits can have three parents.
In 2015, the UK passed a bill that allows the DNA of three parents to be used to conceive a child, that is, one man and two women. The British legalized this method of artificial insemination for the first time in the world.
The method is truly unique and is aimed at minimizing or even avoiding the development of genetic diseases transmitted to the child from the mother. Of course, there were a lot of protests. The UK is a believing country, so there were many dissatisfied people who believed that the government was playing God. However, the law was passed and is considered one of the most important steps in the development of technology.
What else to see:
London. Eagle and Reshka. | Reboot. ENG.
Great Britain is one of the most powerful countries in the world. Many people tend to visit the Kingdom to see the life and life of the inhabitants and to see the sights. Interesting information and facts will help create a brief overview about the UK.
Interesting facts about the UK allow you to get to know the culture and traditions of this country better:
Features of the population and mentality
The population of Great Britain is multinational. Residents have their own British mentality, which is not always clear to other people, but for the British, this is all in the order of things.
- The people of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are very proud of their origins and roots. And if they are called British or English, it is a great insult to them.
- England has the highest percentage of obesity among the population in Europe. This was due to the rapid proliferation of a large number of eateries throughout the country and sweet machines in establishments. The Kingdom began the fight against this disease by imposing a tax on products containing a lot of sugar.
- The British do not like invasion of their personal space. Only the closest they allow hugs and kisses. With strangers or unfamiliar people, they exchange greetings and sometimes shake hands.
- Very often on the street you can meet a Briton who wears warm clothes in the warm season. And vice versa, in winter, residents can safely wear a T-shirt and shorts.
- Residents of the UK go to the pub very often. There they can not only sit with a mug of ale, but also enjoy the atmosphere of the institution and communication with friends. Their pubs are small, but they are always crowded.
Geography
The UK is located in the British Isles. It includes 4 countries that are united in one Kingdom: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 
- Great Britain is washed by 4 seas (Northern and Irish, Celtic and Hebrides) and the Atlantic Ocean.
- The climate of the Kingdom is greatly influenced by the warm current of the Gulf Stream.
- The highest mountains in the UK are in Scotland.
- The Greenwich Observatory is located in London, which is the place where the prime meridian passes and the reference point for time zones.
- On land, Great Britain borders only on Ireland, all other borders pass through the seas and the strait.
culture
Interesting facts about the UK can be found on the Internet. The culture of the country was influenced by many peoples.
Story
Great Britain with its history is rich in interesting facts that allow you to delve deeper into the essence of the country and learn about historical events:
Little Known Facts
There are some features in the UK that distinguish it from other countries:
The Second World War
The British armed forces participated in the war from its beginning to the very end. World War II was a decisive factor in the collapse of the empire.
Facts about the royal family
The royal family in the UK has its own characteristics. They must follow certain rules and behave with dignity in society.
- The Queen does not have a passport, but this does not prevent her from traveling without a document. She visits other countries as a diplomatic mission.
- The Queen owns the lands not only of Great Britain, but also of other states that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. This is about 1/6 of the entire territory.
- Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 2nd birthday. She was born in April, but celebrations are usually held in June.
- In the royal dynasty, parents are forbidden to travel with their children. This was created so that in the event of a disaster, the Kingdom would have heirs.
- Members of the royal family are prohibited from signing autographs and taking selfies.
Unusual interesting facts
Interesting facts about the UK create the first impression of the country and help to learn all the nuances and features.
Funny UK Laws
In the UK, as in many other countries, a lot of laws have been invented. They are rarely changed and even more rarely cancelled. Many of the laws are really good, others are just ridiculous.
Here is a list of some of the funniest laws still in place in the UK:
Interesting facts about the culture, history and places of interest provide more comprehensive information about the UK. This allows tourists to create an individual travel route and fully enjoy their holidays in this wonderful country.
Article formatting: Vladimir the Great
Great Britain facts video
Interesting facts about England:
Note to Englishmen
50 Interesting FACTS ABOUT ENGLAND
1. In the 17-18 centuries in England there was a position of the royal opener of ocean bottles with letters
2. Christ Church College is one of the richest and most beautiful colleges in Oxford. In its famous Dining Hall (Dining Hall) scenes of the film about Harry Potter were filmed.
3. There is one famous pub in Oxford. It's called Eagle and Child. It has existed since the 16th century. Here for 23 years, from 1939 to 1962, meetings of the Inklings literary circle took place every Tuesday from half past eleven to one in the afternoon. Members of the circle were John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, Professor of English Language and Literature at Merton College and author of The Lord of the Rings, and his close friend Clive Staples Lewis, teacher at Magdalen College and author of the famous Chronicles of Narnia.
4. Table tennis emerged as a form of entertainment for English high society in the 1880s. The role of the grid was first performed by books arranged in a row, champagne corks served as a ball, and cigarette cases served as rackets. The name of this game of those times was "wiff-waff".
5. The only place in Great Britain where the king or queen cannot enter is the House of Commons.
6. In 2005 in the UK, a public opinion poll on the greatest technical invention since 1800, the winner was the bicycle. Not only did it outperform inventions like the internet and the internal combustion engine, it also won more votes than all other inventions combined.
7. Winnie the Pooh got his name from one of the real toys of Christopher Robin, son of the writer Milne. The toy was named after a London Zoo bear named Winnipeg, who got there from Canada.
8. Any postage stamp must bear the name of the country that issued it in Latin letters. If the name is not found, this is a UK stamp. It is exempt from such obligation as the first country in history to use stamps.
9. Winston Churchill was very fond of Armenian cognac and daily drank a bottle of 50-degree brandy "Dvin". One day, the prime minister discovered that Dvin had lost its former taste. He expressed his dissatisfaction with Stalin. It turned out that the master Margar Sedrakyan, who was engaged in the blending of Dvin, was exiled to Siberia. He was returned, reinstated in the party. Churchill began to receive his favorite cognac again, and Sedrakyan was subsequently awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
10. The official birthday of the Queen is celebrated in the UK and Commonwealth countries in June, although in fact she was born on April 21st.
11. The largest lake by volume of water is Loch Ness in Scotland. Legend has it that a huge sea monster lives in the depths of Loch Ness.
12. To this day, the song "Yesterday" by the Beatles holds the lead in the number of reworks - which is officially recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.
13. According to the 1909 census, the Scots were the tallest race in Europe.
14. The City is still a city within the city of London - for example, it has its own mayor and its own police.
15. The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn.
16. A mug of draft Guinness has fewer calories than a glass of orange juice.
17. There is no written constitution in the UK.
18. Windsor Castle. Inside the castle is the famous Doll House, donated to the royal family in 1924. The house has everything you need, including plumbing and electricity, on a scale of one to twelve, doll things are on display. It has light bulbs the size of dewdrops and miniature cars that can drive almost 150,000 km on one liter of gasoline!
19. London is located on the zero meridian, which is called Greenwich.
20. In 1826, the world's first zoo opened in London. At the time of the opening of the zoo, the most famous event was the African Elephant.
21. Being anywhere in England, you will never be too far from the sea! It doesn't matter where you stand - you will never be more than 80 miles from the sea.
22. Big Ben is not just a tower with a huge clock. There are cells in the decorative ornament of the tower walls. They have not been used since 1880, but nevertheless they are still ready to imprison any member of parliament who dares to violate parliamentary privilege.
23. The most famous paper manufacturer in England was called ... Whatman.
24. Only in 1947 in England was the position of a person who was supposed to fire a cannon fired when Napoleon Bonaparte (!) entered England.
25. The first book printed in England was devoted to chess.
26. The Queen owns sturgeons, whales and dolphins in British territorial waters; by decree of 1324 they are recognized as "royal fish".
27. Readers of Time magazine named the Queen Man of the Year in 1952.
28. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms.
30. An unusual visitor - a whale - was seen several times in the River Thames in central London. According to experts, it could be the Northern Bottle-nosed whale. When the mammal emerges from the water, its muzzle is clearly visible, which really resembles the bottom of a bottle. This species of whale lives in the North and Irish Seas, rising in summer to high northern latitudes.
31. In England, ghosts are taken care of. For example, the first official club of ghost seekers was organized in this country in 1665. This society was founded not by insane or psychopaths, but by quite respectable scientists of that time, among whom was the famous physicist Robert Boyle, known to every schoolchild according to the Boyle-Mariotte law. And the only task of this interest club was precisely the study of the phenomenon of ghosts.
32. The first settlement of the Romans in the area of the modern City of London appeared about 2,000 years ago.
33. Stonehenge, according to scientists, is not only a solar and lunar calendar, as previously assumed, but also an accurate cross-sectional model of the solar system.
34. The speaker who opens the meeting of the English Parliament, as you know, still traditionally sits on a wool sack. This custom dates back to the Middle Ages, when England was the main exporter of wool and woolen products to Europe and was considered the leading producer in terms of both quality and quantity of material. Symbolizing the country's national treasure, the Lord Chancellor sat and still sits on a sack stuffed with wool. The only change in tradition is that the bag is stuffed with wool not only from Great Britain, but also from other Commonwealth countries, which symbolizes the unity of these countries.
35. During the construction of the Cathedral of St. Paul, a stone was found with a symbolic inscription "Resurgam" ("I will rise again"), it was laid in the foundation of the cathedral.
36. In London, there is one tradition that is not directly related to the Queen, but a very attractive tradition for tourists - the Ceremony of the Keys. For 700 years in a row, every night the chief jailer of the Tower of London, better known as the beefeater (dressed exactly like the character on the bottle of the famous gin), has been performing the rite of locking the gates of the Tower of London. All gates must be locked at exactly 21:53. After that, the staff trumpeter of the Tower blows the all-clear and the ceremony ends.
37. The famous English maze Longleat Hedge Maze consists of 16,000 English yew trees and is the longest in the world. It was formed in 1975 by designer Greg Bright, the area of the labyrinth is 0.6 hectares (60 acres), the length of all passages is 2.7 kilometers. Unlike most similar structures, this labyrinth is three-dimensional, since inside it there are six wooden bridges from which you can see and evaluate the route. In the center of the labyrinth there is an observation tower, which is its end point, from where you can once again view the entire complex in detail.
38. The famous hats of the guardsmen are made from the fur of the North American grizzly bear. The officers' caps are taller and more shiny. The fact is that they are made from the fur of a male, and the caps of privates and non-commissioned officers are made from the fur of a female grizzly (it does not look so impressive). This hat weighs about three kilograms.
40. Next to the Sherlock Holmes pub there is a royal post office. It was not installed by chance in this place. Letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes are often omitted into it.
41. In the restaurant on the second floor of the Sherlock Holmes pub, there is always the shadow of Sherlock Holmes with you.
42. To wash your hands before eating, the administrator of the Sherlock Holmes restaurant gives you a keychain with a magnifying glass and a master key from the toilet room.
43. The Whisper Gallery in St. Paul's Cathedral owes its name to a peculiarity of its acoustics not provided by the architects: a word, even spoken in a whisper, at one end of the gallery, is repeatedly reflected by its walls, as a result of which this whisper may well be heard by a person located at the other end of the gallery . It consists of 432 steps.
44. Big Ben is not a tower, but a 14-ton bell.
45. It is believed that in England they speak English. If only... Everywhere there is a language. In Cornwall they speak Cornish, in Wales they speak Walsh, and in Scotland they speak Gallic. It is impossible to understand anything, but it is terribly interesting. The most interesting is Wales. There are words half a kilometer long, in the spelling of which there is not a single vowel, but many of the consonants come in two in a row.
46. It can be said without exaggeration that London is the greenest city in the world. Parks and squares occupy 11% of the city's area, and there are more than 1700 of them in total. We can get around the entire city center without leaving the park. And there is nothing to be surprised here, because the gardens are one of the "fads" of the British.
47. The famous Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland is the hero of an old proverb. “Smiling like a Cheshire cat,” the English used to say back in the Middle Ages. Some scholars believed that this proverb comes from signs at the entrance to the old Cheshire taverns. From time immemorial, they have depicted a leopard baring its teeth with a shield in its paws, and since homegrown sign artists have never seen leopards, it looked like a smiling cat.
48. Volumes could be written about each of Carroll's characters in Alice in Wonderland. For example, the rivalry between the Lion and the Unicorn lasted for many centuries: the Lion was depicted on the old coat of arms of England, and the Unicorn was depicted in Scotland. At the beginning of the 17th century, after the unification of England with Scotland, both beasts appear in the royal coat of arms.
49. The fashion for shorts came from England, it was introduced by Cambridge students, who first used heavily cropped pants for sports on the water.
50. Queen Elizabeth I Tudor once rejected a marriage proposal from Ivan the Terrible. But in the 19th century, marriages between the royal houses of Russia and England were in vogue.
Greetings, my dear readers.
I don’t know what and in what quantities we lose during the year, wandering around the city, but the British annually say goodbye to 800 umbrellas in the subway! Do you already imagine this dump of small cane umbrellas? I can see them clearly.
In this regard, today our topic is - Great Britain: interesting facts. You will learn only about the most interesting, and at the end, for especially inquisitive minds, I will give you a mini-summary of everything said in English! If this is not enough, then you can additionally find out what this country is so famous for.
Of course, we know almost more about the country of origin of the English language than our own. But now, do you know the most interesting facts about her - now let's check.
- If you managed to live to be 100 years old, expect a personalized postcard from the queen as a gift.
- In our country - and in neighboring countries too - there is a strict ban for children: drinking alcohol is allowed only from the age of 16, but in the UK it is officially allowed to do this at home with - attention! - 5 years!
- All horses, donkeys and ponies are required to have a passport. If you accidentally take a walk with your horse in the evening, and you do not have a supporting document, you will receive a fine of 5,000 pounds.
- You have to be very careful with mail. Stick a stamp with the image of any official upside down - that's it: you're a traitor.
- Surprisingly, England has the highest rate of obese population. True, there is a small note here - among the countries of Europe.
- Getting a gold medal at the Olympics is an honor. But at the last Olympics, gold medals were 93% silver and only 1.3% gold.
- London is the capital. And that explains why 16% of the UK is there.
- The inhabitants of the country are incredibly tolerant of the cold. If in November, walking around the city, you see a man in a T-shirt - do not be surprised, everything is in order.
- Taxi fares are unbelievable. But you can stop the car as in any movie - anywhere and anytime just by waving your hand.
- You can travel from London to Paris by train in 2 hours. But at the same time, a significant part of the population either was in Paris once, or was not at all.
- Everyone! Under this slogan, I will reveal to you the fact that the entrance to all the main museums of the country is absolutely free. You just have to decide how much you want donate museum for its development.
- In the subway car, passengers leave read newspapers for the next readers. Thus, a newspaper passes through a hundred hands a day. What are we? We don't read newspapers!
- On the streets of cities you will not see homeless animals, and a black cat will never cross your path - they are all kept in specialized nurseries.
- very few sushi bars but incredibly many Indian restaurants.
- Every weekend, homemade and farm food fairs open at many venues in the city. And after 13.00 - look for fistulas - you will not find them anywhere.
- Washing clothes at home is not accepted. There are laundry facilities in every area.
- From the life of an ordinary Englishman: after 9-10 pm you will not be able to go to the store - everything is already closed. I wonder how lovers of food at night live?
- There are legends all over the world about the boarding houses of the country. Surprisingly, children are required to unlearn there for 13 years. After that, you either go to university or go to work.
- Fact about Christmas: The British try to spend this holiday with their families. But the new year for them is not a particularly important event.
- Snow in England is an event. If at least 1 centimeter of snow falls in the morning, the whole city stands still: transport does not run, planes do not fly - nothing can work normally!
O the royal family of England there are more facts than about any other family in the world. For example:
- The law establishes that the monarch is the owner of all whales and dolphins in the coastal waters of the country. Well, isn't it a strange law?
- Princess Diana worked as a kindergarten teacher and dress.
- Fact from history: took courses and worked as a driver in World War II.
- By the way, about the queen: the actual and state dates of birth of the monarch are different. Elizabeth celebrates her birthday on April 21, but the whole country - in early June.
I think I promised you some little hints in English? Well, catch:
Great Britain is the country we know almost everything about. But there are some facts we don't know. For example: if you are 100 years old you will get a personal post-card from the Queen. You can travel from the center of London to the center of Paris for 2 hours. There are no homeless cats or dogs on the streets. People in England don't usually do the laundry themselves. There are lots of washing houses in the district. What about the Queen, the celebration of the Queen's birthday takes place in June. An interesting fact is that the Queen was born on the 21st of April. The Queen used to work as a driver during the Second World War. The English people can bear any temperature: there are people walking on the streets in T-shirts in November. And the last but not the least: there are about 800 umbrellas lost in the underground every year.
Useful expressions:
to get a post-card from -get postcard from
to travel from place to place- travel from place to place
to do the laundrywash things
to take place in June -take place in June
to bear the temperatureendure temperature
the last but not the least- last but not least
Well, stocked up with new knowledge? Hope so. I am sure that for the 3rd grade, whose students have to read about the UK more than once, these facts will be very useful, and for any adult - perhaps unexpected. Now, when you look at the photos of Great Britain, you will immediately remember these facts.
Do you want to know even more interesting things? - subscribe to my blog newsletter.
And for today, one more inevitable fact - I say goodbye to you for a while;). Wait for news!
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