If you have been learning English since childhood, firmly remember that London is the capital of Great Britain. You have watched many British TV shows, but this does not mean that you know everything about England. This country still has something to surprise you with!

 

Best facts about England

 

We have collected 50 interesting facts about England, many of which will be unexpected. It will be fantastic to know about this if you live and study in England or are interested in foggy Albion.

 

 

1) Until 1832, only two universities in England were Oxford and Cambridge.

 

2) England is one of the most student countries in the world. With 106 universities and five university colleges, England is among the world's top countries in terms of educational institutions. It is one of the leaders in the number of universities annually included in international rankings.

 

3) About 500,000 foreigners come to study in England every year. According to this indicator, the country is second only to America.

 

4) According to statistics, international students often come to England to study business, engineering, computer science, biomedicine, and law.

 

5) From year to year, London is recognized as the best student city globally according to the authoritative QS Best Student Cities ranking.

 

6) School uniforms still exist in England. It is believed that she disciplines students and maintains a sense of equality in them.

 

7) The English language that we learn from school is nothing more than a mixture of German, Dutch, Danish, French, Latin, and Celtic. And this quite capaciously reflects the influence of all these peoples on the history of the British Isles.

 

8) In total, the inhabitants of England speak 300+ languages.

 

9) And that's not all! Get ready for the fact that you will encounter a variety of English accents in England - Cockney, Liverpool, Scottish, American, Welsh, and even aristocratic English.

 

10) No matter where you go in England, you will never be more than 115 km from the ocean.

 

 

Facts about London

11) Traveling from England to the continent and back is more accessible. An underwater tunnel connects England and France for cars and trains.

 

12) London is a very international city. 25% of its residents are ex-pats born outside the UK.

 

13) The London Underground is known as the oldest in the world. And yet, it is the most expensive to maintain and, at the same time, one of the most unreliable.

 

14) By the way, the London Underground has unique venues for musicians to perform.

 

15) About 80,000 umbrellas are lost on the London Underground every year. Given the changeable weather, this is the most characteristic English accessory!

 

16) By the way, the raincoat was invented by an Englishman, and it was the British were the first to use an umbrella to protect themselves from the rain. Before that, it served mainly for protection from the sun.

 

17) But heavy London rains are more of a myth. The weather here is changeable, but, statistically, more precipitation falls, for example, in Rome and Sydney.

 

18) The City of London is nothing more than a ceremonial county in the center of the British capital. It has its mayor, coat of arms and anthem, and fire and police departments.

 

19) In England, the monarchy is respected. Even a stamp with a portrait of the queen cannot be pasted upside down, which would never occur to anyone!

 

More facts about Queen Elizabeth 

 

20) Also, the Queen of England cannot be sued, and she never had her passport.

 

21) Queen Elizabeth II personally sends every Englishman who turns 100 a greeting card.

 

22) All swans living on the River Thames belong to Queen Elizabeth. The royal family established ownership of all the swans on the river back in the 19th century when they were served at the royal table. Although swans are not eaten in England today, the law has remained unchanged.

 

23) In addition, Queen Elizabeth is the owner of whales, dolphins, and all sturgeon, located in the country's territorial waters.

 

24) Windsor Palace is a special pride of the British crown and nation. It is the oldest and largest castle where people still live.

 

25) By the way, Queen Elizabeth can rightfully be considered the most advanced grandmother globally. The Queen of England sent her first email back in 1976!

 

Facts you didn’t know about England

 

26) Have you heard the English like to line up everywhere? So there is a profession of "standing in line in England." A person will defend any queue for you. His services cost, on average, £20 per hour.

 

27) The British value privacy highly. It is not customary to come to visit without an invitation or ask too personal questions.

 

28) A melody from an advertisement or a movie that gets stuck in the head for a long time is called “earworm” in England.

 

29) The British take 1st place in the world regarding the amount of tea they drink. More than 165 million cups of tea are drunk every day across the UK.

 

30) Great Britain is the only country on the stamps in which the state's name is not indicated. This happened because Great Britain was the first to start using postage stamps.

 

31) In England, they don't believe in omens. More precisely, they believe, but vice versa. For example, a black cat running across the road is considered a good omen here.

 

Facts about animals in England

 

32) The British love the theater, and in particular - musicals. The Theater Royal, Bristol, has been playing Cats since 1766!

 

33) In England, they give birth to pets in agreement with exceptional services, and homeless animals in the country are a rarity.

 

34) The first zoo in the world was opened in England.

 

35) And the fabulous bear cub Winnie the Pooh got his name thanks to a real bear from the London Zoo.

 

36) England is a country with a rich sports history. Here, football, the equestrian field, and rugby got their start.

 

37) The British have a peculiar idea of ​​​​hygiene. Here they can wash all the dirty dishes in one basin (all because of saving water!), And not take off their street shoes in the house or put things on the floor in a public place - in the order of things.

 

Food in England

 

38) Traditional English cuisine is quite rough and straightforward. It has been repeatedly recognized as one of the most tasteless globally.

 

39) For breakfast, many English people eat eggs with sausages, beans, mushrooms, bacon, and not oatmeal.

 

40) There are a lot of Indian restaurants and fast foods in England, and the British already call the Indian "chicken tikka masala" their national dish.

 

41) The British assure that only they can fully understand English humor. It is so subtle, ironic, and specific. Indeed, many foreigners have a problem due to insufficient language knowledge.

 

42) The British love pubs. Most of the country's inhabitants visit the pub several times a week, and some - every day after work.

 

43) A British pub is a place where everyone knows each other. People come here not only to drink but also to chat and learn the latest news. The establishment's owner often stands behind the bar himself, and the regulars treat him with drinks instead of tips at their own expense.

 

Rules in England

 

44) But you can’t get drunk in English pubs. The laws of the country officially prohibit it. We do not advise you to check whether these laws work in practice!

 

45) In England, it is customary to be polite. In a conversation with an Englishman, a lot of "thank you," "please," and "excuse me" do not happen.

 

46) Be prepared because almost nowhere in England there are electrical outlets in the bathrooms. The reason for this is the security measures taken in the country.

 

47) Farming is developed in England, and there are more chickens in the country than inhabitants.

 

48) There are many fantastic festivals and events in England every year - from the Coopershill Cheese Race and the Weird Arts Festival to The Good Life Experience, a return to simple pleasures, and the nostalgic Goodwood Festival for lovers of the 60s.

 

49) All English TV channels have ads, except for the BBC. This is because the viewers themselves pay for the work of this channel. If a family in England decides to get a TV broadcast, they must pay around £145 a year for a license.

 

50) William Shakespeare is known not only for his literary works but also for adding more than 1,700 words to his English dictionary. Among the words that first appear in English in the works of Shakespeare are "gossip," "bedroom," "fashionable," and "alligator." And you thought they were always in English?