The first things that come to mind when the United Kingdom is mentioned may be tea, Queen Elizabeth, London, and maybe sometimes Sherlock Holmes, but even more and more interesting ones cannot be ignored.
There is a lot to learn about this kingdom, which has such a long history and has hosted many nations and continues to do so.
That’s why we have prepared a thought-provoking and entertaining article for you with the top 15 fun facts about the United Kingdom.
Planning your next trip? Read our other articles for inspiration:
- Get British Passport Photos in the US [Your Ultimate Guide]
- Can You Go to the UK With a Felony Conviction – A Quick Guide
- Top 15 Interesting Facts About Switzerland
- Top 15 Fun and Interesting Facts about Spain
- Top 15 Fun Facts About Germany
- 15 Fun Facts About France
- How to Renew Your Expired British Passport in the US
1. Queen Elizabeth does not need a passport to travel
Knowing that Queen Elizabeth has traveled to dozens of countries without a passport is enough to make anyone jealous, but this is because passports are issued on her authority and her name as Her Majesty. What is even more interesting is that everyone else in the Royal Family family travels with a passport.
2. The real name of Big Ben is Elizabeth Tower
Big Ben, also known as Clock Tower, which is one of the beautiful remarks of London, was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 and the reason why the monument, which everyone knows very well, was changed to Elizabeth Tower is very clear. The first is the British respect for Queen Elizabeth. The second is Queen Elizabeth’s completion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
3. The world’s longest name among the countries belongs to the UK
The country with the longest name among other countries is the United Kingdom itself, due to the fact that it hosts many different nations in and around it.
The name of Britain, which holds many places under its protection due to wars or agreements made in culture, nation, or history, is called The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
4. Buckingham Palace in London has 775 rooms and 78 bathrooms
If you are in a Royal Family, the house or palace must also be more Royal than other places.
Although it is not a rule that a royal palace should be extravagant, this can be considered as a rule for Buckingham Palace because as far as is known, the palace has a total of 775 rooms and 78 toilets.
This is just what is known. In addition, we can say that there are many more rooms according to the room types and usage purposes.
5. 65 percent of the UK is covered with farmlands
Did you know that more than half of the people in England are engaged in agriculture?
Approximately 20 million hectares of England are agricultural areas, which can be considered as a very fertile area. Therefore, it is quite natural that the British are mainly engaged in agriculture as their occupation.
In addition, the fact that England is a country that receives a lot of precipitation makes these agricultural areas even more fertile.
6. Queen Elizabeth has two birthdays
One birthday party alone would not have been enough for Queen Elizabeth, as there are two separate birthdays for a second birthday ceremony to be organized for her every year.
The day she was truly and biologically born is April 21. Another is the second day of June. The reason, of course, is to have more fun at the birthday party when the weather gets warmer.
7. You can come across a fox in your garden
It can be thought that foxes are a kind of animal belonging to the wild world. However, this is not the case for the UK.
The fox population is so high that one day when you open your door and go out into the garden, it is very likely that you will come across tiny foxes. The fact that the number of foxes is so high can cause people to target foxes while hunting. So, unfortunately, the number of foxes in England has decreased recently.
8. You must have a driver’s license when you’re applying for a job
If you want to apply for a job in the UK, you must first know how to drive. You can apply for a job in any field, but strangely, no matter what department you want to work in, you must first be a person who can drive.
9. There are a lot of crime rates in Wales
Crime rates in the country gradually increased from the beginning to the end of the 20th century.
In general, crime rates in Wales are recorded as higher. Although the exact reason is not known, it may be a matter of debate whether all the reported crimes are true or not, but we can say that at the beginning of the 21st century, the crime rate exceeded 6 million.
10. Bats in Britain eat insects
The bat population rate is quite high in England. It is also quite possible that in most parts of it, very close contact with bats can be made. The pipistrelles are considered the smallest of the bat species that can be seen in England.
In addition, English bats can eat up to 3,000 insects in one night, although the larger, considered tropical bat species may consume more fruit.
11. 26th of September is the commonest date for birthdays
Did you know that the day with the most baby births in the UK is September 26? Approximately, or perhaps more than 2000 babies are born in England on September 26 each year, and this list includes poet T.S. Eliot and tennis player Serena Williams.
12. Visiting Brits without invitation is rude
It can be said that the British do not like fait accompli things very much. Even if they are not known as an organized or loyal nation, what you are doing may even be considered a crime to the British if you are not notified or invited on your way to someone’s home.
13. If a melody keeps going in your head it is called earworm
The word earworm is borrowed from the German word Ohrwurm and was first used in the 1980s. The reason why the British use this word is that when they hear a song, a melody, something on TV or a video, it is stuck in their mouth or the rhythm is kept in their brains. As the name suggests, it gives the meaning of a worm circling in the ear.
14. The first subway was in London
The establishment of the world’s first tube line in London is not at all interesting because it is clear to anyone that the UK or even London’s tube line has a reputation of its own. The London subway line, which opened for the first time in 1863, made its mark in history as the best development of its time at that time.
15. British people use indirect speech when they ask for something
We know that the British are a little different from other people when it comes to their accent when communicating. But do we know how they use English? For example, a British person prefers to act with the other person’s opinion by using sentences such as “I am hungry, shall we eat?” when asking for something directly, instead of using sentences like “Are you hungry?” in a more viral way.
If you enjoyed reading the 15 fun facts about the UK and…
The fact that this kingdom, which extends to such old and wide geography, still preserves its ancient roots and the attention of the British, who are very meticulous while preserving this, makes this culture more interesting.
It is time to apply for a visa to the United Kingdom, where you can find traces of modern life both by learning its ancient history and today and to see this experience with your own eyes!
If you are planning your trip to the UK, remember to get your visa in advance! Our UK Visa Photo App will help you get the right photo in just a couple seconds!
Michal Jonca is an experienced author of articles concerning biometric photography. He is a travel, food, and trail running passionate who visited 40+ countries on four continents. He is a Travel Leader for the adventurous travel company Solisci and the Community Manager at Passport-Photo.Online. Only this year, he enjoyed his workation in Thailand, Turkey, and the Caucasus mountains.
