Table of Contents
Great Britain
Severn
The longest river is the Severn with a length of 220 miles. It is 5 mi longer than the Thames (215 miles). 1)
Ben Nevis
The highest peak is Ben Nevis, 4,406 feet above sea level. 2)
Born outside the UK
About 37% of Londoners were born outside the UK. They speak more than 300 different languages. 3)
No name on stamp
The United Kingdom is the only country in the world whose name does not appear on state postage stamps. 4)
Mulberry garden
Buckingham Palace was built in 1702 on the site of a mulberry garden for silkworms. 5)
Name of the bell
Contrary to popular misconception, the famous Big Ben is not the name of a clock, but a 13-ton bell. 6)
Tea nation
The English are addicted to tea. They drink approximately 100 million cups daily. 7)
The Edison Telephone Company of London
The first London telephone directory was established on 23 March 1880. It contained fewer than 300 numbers. 8)
Hot chocolate
The first hot chocolate was served in England in the early 1660s. 9)
French language
French was the dominant speech in England from 1020 to the late 1600s. 10)
Police don't carry guns
The majority of British police don't carry guns. 11)
Oxford University
Oxford University is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 12)
The home of golf
Scotland is the home of golf. 13)
First fire department
Edinburgh, Scotland was the first city in the world to have its own fire department. 14)
Welsh
Only 28% of the total population of Wales speaks the native language. 15)
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch is the name of a town in North Wales that translates as “St Mary's Church in the hollow of a white hazel by a rapid whirlpool and St Tysilio's Church by the Red Cave.” It is the longest name in Europe and one of the longest in the world. 16)