53 Astounding UK Facts

Union Jack UK Flag

 

 Things of the Past 

 

1. In 1811 “Mary” was the most popular name for a women. Nearly a quarter of Britain’s ladies were named Mary.
2. Bearded men had to pay a special tax in the 16th century.
3. In medieval times, there was a street named “Cock Lane’’ near Holborn Viaduct. It was the only street licenced for prostitution.
4. England’s oldest ally country was and still is Portugal from 1373.
5. German soldier Josef Jakobs was the last person executed at the Tower of London in 1941.
6. French was the official language of the UK for more than 300 years.
7. The medieval English breakfast featured beer.
8. In 1662 in England scientist Christopher Merret invented champagne.
9. The old names of London were Ludenburg, Ludenwic and Londonium.
10. The shortest war ever recorded in the books of history was the Anglo-Zanzibar War which lasted about 40 minutes.
11. In 1860 a Jewish immigrant founded the first fish and chips restaurant.
12. Mount Everest was named after the Welshman Sir George Everest in 1856, who was a Surveyor General in India.

Rock Music

1. The Beatles last played a gig on the roof of their Apple Corps corporation which is now an Abercrombie & Fitch store.
2. Jimi Hendrix lived at 23 Brook Street, which is now a museum.
3. The last public performance by Jimi Hendrix was in Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club on 5th street in 1970.
4. Some of UK’s famous musicians/bands are: Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Who, The Cure, Muse, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Radiohead, Enter Shikari, Bloc Party, U2, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Gorillaz, Iron Maiden and many more.

General

1. The highest point in the UK is Ben Nevis in Scotland - 4.406ft (1.343m).
2. The longest river in the UK is Severn - 220 miles (354 km).
3. Every day people in the UK drink about 165 million cups of tea.
4. About 25% of Londoners were born outside of the UK.
5. Over 300 languages are spoken in England.
6. Average monthly time a person spends online on his laptop or PC is 36 hours and 49 minutes.
7. By 2014 93% of UK’s adults use a mobile phone, 61% use smartphones. Source: OFCOM
8. GoFantastic is the first house cleaning app that lets you book garden, office and house cleaning services from a sole company in London.
9. 95% of UK’s homes own a digital TV.
10. Britain has the highest consumption of cider per individual.
11. Scotland produces more than 250 million litres of whiskey per year.
12. England invented football, rugby and polo.
13. There are over 30.000 people with the name John Smith.
14. Highest obesity rate in Europe is recorded in England.
15. England is considered to have the worst food in the world.
16. In Knaresborough there’s a well and waterfall where the water can transform objects into stone within days because it’s very rich in minerals. Source: Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells by Robert Charles Hope (2002)

Curious

1. Big Ben in London is actually the name of the bell, not the clock tower. Its chyme is in the key of E.
2. To become a black-cab driven in London, you must pass The Knowledge exam. This geography test requires you to learn 320 basic routes, 25.000 streets and 20.000 landmarks. It normally takes up to four years to learn.
3. There’s a pet cemetery at Hyde Park.
4. From 1912 to 1948 painting was an Olympic event.
5. In 1945 a flock of birds landed on the minute hand of the clock tower and delayed it. It was fixed a few hours later.
6. Bristol is known as the “Seattle of England” for its youth culture and fashion.
7. London is home to 3 of the world’s top 10 museums and galleries. London has over 17 museums and 874 art galleries in total.
8. The Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich, Westminster Abbey and Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens are listed in UNESCO world heritage sites.
9. London has more live comedy shows than any city in the world.
10. The first shop for hot chocolate was established in England.
11. The world’s largest royal home is Windsor Castle.
12. The Queen has 30 god children.
13. She sent her first e-mail in 1976.
14. Prince William has his own postage stamp.
15. J.K.Rowling is the first writer ever to make a billion dollars.
16. London is the first city in the world that has an underground subway system.
17. London is the only city to have hosted the Olympics three times.
18. British author J.R.R.Tolkien holds the record for most published single storyline novel - “Lord of the Rings” - 150 million printed copies.
19. "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch" is the world’s longest railway station name. It’s situated in a Welsh village and the translation is “St. Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel close to the Rapid Whirlpool of Llantysilio of the Red Cave”.You can learn the word by listening to this song. Good Luck!
20. There’s a butterfly named after the British flag but comes from Australia. It’s called The Union Jack butterfly.
21. Royal Ships who enter the Port of London are still obliged by law to give a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower.