64 Interesting Facts about Great Britain
Great Britain is a country that many associate with preserving monarchy, and for centuries, people have lived in this state, proud of their royal rulers. However, despite not abandoning monarchical governance, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland remains a significant player on the global economic and political stage.
Interesting facts about Great Britain
- The capital of Great Britain is London.
- The population of Great Britain is 66 million people.
- There are numerous laundries in Great Britain because the English do not consider laundry a household chore.
- It's impossible to keep a pet without prior approval from special services in Great Britain. Therefore, there are no homeless animals on the streets of England.
- Great Britain is home to the longest place names.
- Museums in England are mostly free, but donations are accepted as payment for visiting.
- The English developed and created the national flag of the United States of America.
- Windsor Palace in Great Britain is the largest in the world.
- Foreigners do not work in British taxis, and locals undergo rigorous selection.
- The Queen of Great Britain owns whales, dolphins, and all sturgeon found in the territorial waters of the country.
- The first banking services in Great Britain were provided by jewelers and law firms.
- During World War II, the Queen of Great Britain worked as a mechanic.
- The history of zoos began in Great Britain.
- The British currency obtained its gold standards thanks to Isaac Newton, who was knighted for this achievement.
- The Queen of Great Britain is very frugal and values this quality in others.
- William Shakespeare's appearance remains unknown as no contemporary portraits have been found to this day.
- Shakespeare expanded the English language by 1,700 words.
- The most famous tower in Great Britain, Big Ben, got its name not from the clock but from the bell inside the tower.
- Shoe laces were invented in Great Britain in 1790.
- The Tower of London's most important residents are ravens.
- The Speaker of the English Parliament can only sit on wool sacks during sessions.
- During parliamentary sessions, the Speaker is not allowed to vote.
- The beloved character from children's stories, Winnie-the-Pooh, got his name from a real bear at London Zoo.
- The first case of color blindness was described by English scientist John Dalton, after whom the condition was named.
- The phrase "whipping boy" originated in England. It referred to boys who were brought up alongside royal persons and received punishment for them.
- In the 17th-19th centuries, English dentists used the teeth of fallen warriors for dental prosthetics.
- The round circus arena was invented by Englishman Philip Astley, who realized after observing horses that a circular path was most convenient for these animals.
- All acts and laws passed in Great Britain are printed on calfskin paper.
- The first speed limits for any type of transport were introduced in England in 1865.
- Tea is the most popular beverage in Great Britain.
- In Great Britain, a black cat crossing your path is a symbol of success and wealth.
- Snakes are practically non-existent in the natural environment of Great Britain.
- Great Britain does not have a formal written constitution.
- Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain for 63 years.
- London's underground has special platforms for musicians.
- During the 1916 uprising in Ireland, warring parties declared brief ceasefires each day so the park keeper could feed the ducks.
- The Queen of Great Britain has never had a passport, which doesn't prevent her from visiting various countries.
- During the Crimean War near Balaclava, English soldiers faced severe cold. As a result, deep hats with eye, nose, and mouth slits were created for them.
- All cinemas in Great Britain have their own distinct repertoire that doesn't overlap with others.
- Wearing a tuxedo is considered everyday attire for a British person.
- Sheep farming is highly developed in the suburbs of Great Britain.
- Street cleaners in Great Britain only clean public facilities, while the owners of numerous restaurants and pubs are responsible for cleaning city streets.
- There are no 24-hour grocery stores in Great Britain; all shops close around 9-10 pm.
- Supermarkets in Great Britain mainly sell semi-prepared foods with a shelf life of no more than 3 days.
- The first railway was invented in Great Britain.
- Sports such as football, polo, and rugby originated in Great Britain.
- English cuisine is considered the least tasty in the world.
- The London Underground has an extensive coverage map, and the fare depends on the distance traveled within the city.
- The raincoat was also invented in Great Britain by the famous chemist, artist, and designer Charles Macintosh. That's why raincoats in Great Britain are still called "Macs."
- The only place in Great Britain where the Queen cannot enter is the House of Commons.
- The first programmer in history was an Englishwoman named Ada Lovelace.
- In the 17th-18th centuries in Great Britain, there was a special position of bottle opener, who caught bottles in the ocean. If a person opened such a bottle independently, they were severely punished.
- In Scotland, a man had to pay a fine for refusing to marry a woman who made him such a proposal.
- Great Britain has the shortest air route in the world, lasting only one minute.
- The first fire brigade in Great Britain appeared in the city of Edinburgh.
- Scotland's national currency is not recognized in Great Britain, but it can be exchanged for British currency at any bank branch.
- Education in schools in Great Britain takes 13 years.
- British people are very resilient to cold weather, so they wear light clothing until November.
- English sailors often shout "yo-ho-ho" when working together on a difficult task.
- In the 18th-19th centuries in Great Britain, it was prohibited to sunbathe and use beaches simultaneously for men and women.
- The first hacker appeared long before the advent of computers, and it was an Englishman named Nevil Maskelyne, who was fascinated by various techniques and was an amazing magician.
- In Ireland, the last month of summer, August, is considered the beginning of autumn.
- In 1921, the British Empire occupied 1/4 of the entire land area of the Earth.
- Many islands in Great Britain have no speed restrictions for driving motor vehicles.
- The life expectancy of the British is considered one of the highest in the world.
- The English invented the use of umbrellas for rain protection, as before this, umbrellas were only used for sun protection.
