8 Things You Didn't Know about UK

In England, in pubs or bars, you can have drinks but, according to a law from 1872 that still stands, you are not officially allowed to get drunk. This applies to any public space and, while it probably won’t be acted upon, being ‘drunk and disorderly’ is an offence that might get the police involved if you’re too rowdy.

In Scotland you are on the wrong side of the law if you are drunk and in possession of a cow. This is actually an early form of drunk driving offence, from before cars existed. After all, you don’t want the local farmers steering their cattle after they’ve had a few too many.

One thing you’ve definitely heard about the Brits is how much they love to drink tea, and that’s certainly true. In 2016 a survey showed that the UK was the third highest tea consuming nation in the world, behind only Turkey and Ireland. More recently, in 2023, over 78 billion kg of tea was bought and sold in the UK.

There’s an ongoing debate in the country whether you should pour the milk in first or the tea, and the arguments can get heated. Also, note that if you hear someone talking about builder’s tea, then be warned that’s going to be one strong cup of tea.

If you’re visiting London, you’ll want to see the magnificent Gothic Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament. On the hour, you’ll hear the iconic chiming of the country’s most famous bell: Big Ben. That’s right, it’s the bell that’s called Big Ben.

The tower, previously just known as the Clock Tower, was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012, although some people confuse it with St Stephen’s Tower, a smaller tower elsewhere in the palace. The bell itself weighs 13 tons and there’s some debate over who it’s named after.

London is one of the cities with the highest cultural diversity in the world, which can be gauged from the fact that over half of Londoners in 2021 identified as being from an ethnic minority in the census. There are over 300 languages spoken in the capital, as well as a wide range of cuisines.

One of the most popular types of restaurant you’ll find in British cities is Indian, with a number of cities having streets famous for their curry houses. Chicken Tikka Masala is considered a national dish by many, often cited as one of the first widely accepted ‘fusion foods’.

You might assume The Globe is the oldest theatre in the UK, but that accolade falls to a theatre not even in London. The Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the country, having opened its doors in the 1760s. London isn’t the home of the oldest castle, either. That was built in 1067 and can be found about 40 km out of the capital, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

You might not be expecting to find that the famous St Valentine resides in the UK. His bones are interred at the Church of St Jon Duns Scotus in Glasgow. Meanwhile, in Wales they have their own saint of lovers, St Dwynwen, who is celebrated there on 25th January.

Next time you hear the nursery rhyme London Bridge is falling down, bear in mind that you could be listening to a tale from over 1000 years ago. While the modern version can be traced back to the 17th century, some people believe it describes a Saxon attack, where they tore the bridge down with ropes.

London Bridge is just one of over 200 bridges across the Thames, as well as 20 tunnels that pass beneath it, including the world oldest underwater tunnel, the Thames Tunnel. The iconic Tower Bridge makes for an excellent selfie spot, particularly at sunset as you head back to your near the Tower of London.