Interesting Facts About England - Fun Facts About England

No other country has left a more telling mark on world history than England. A nation that existed from around 55 BC when it was ruled by Julius Caesar made far more contribution to the world than their celebrated snobbishness. On one hand, the English were responsible for spreading imperialism but on the other England also had the reputation of being the literature capital of the world. The glory days of England, when no nation was capable of rising up to that league has given way to plain resignation due to the rise of countless ‘powers’. However, no nation can boast of a history and culture as diverse and old as England. England is perhaps the one and only power that once could manage to rule the world. There are various interesting and fun facts that define England. To know these read below.

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Interesting & Fun Facts About England

London was known by different names previously. When the Romans invaded England, they referred London as Londonium. The Saxons called it Ludenwic and during the reign of Alfred the Great, it the city was known as Ludenburg.
The London Bridge was destroyed in the year 1014 AD. The Saxons pulled down the bridge using boats and ropes. This incident is said to have inspired the nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge is falling down’.
King Richard, the lion hearted, married Berengaria of Navarre. It is said that she never stepped on English soil.
The largest and the oldest royal residence in the word is the Windsor Castle. The castle is also under continuous occupation and it is still being used as a royal home.
In England during the medieval ages, even animals were not spared from the law. Any animal caught for doing any mischief or damage would be brought to court and tried and sentenced by the judge.
The first chocolate store in England was opened by a Frenchman in the mid 1600s. Even the first public zoo was opened in England in the year 1829.
“The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street” is the nickname of the Bank of England.
Until 1884, the Lincoln Cathedral held the title of the highest building though it was destroyed in 1549. It was the first building to dwarf the Great Pyramid of Giza.
In England, the law can catch you if you get drunk in pubs and bars while in Scotland the police can arrest you if you are found drunk and in possession of a cow.
The London tube is the largest underground system in the world. It is also the first underground system.
The Buckingham Palace was constructed on the site of a brothel.
The queen of England is not a member of the House of Commons and so she is not allowed to enter it.
The Big Ben is not the name of the clock. The name actually refers to the 13-ton bell in the clock tower.
The Theatre Royal Bristol is the oldest continuously operating theater in the world. It continuously staged plays from 1766 except in 2007 to 2008 when it was closed for renovation.
Over 200 bridges and 20 tunnels criss-cross the river Thames.
From 1066 to 1362, French was the official language of England.
There was once a rule at Oxford University that forbade students from bringing bows and arrows to class.
The village Hay-on-Wye on the border of England and Wales is known as the ‘town of books’. The world’s largest second-hand book market is located in this small village.
The world’s first postage stamps were issued in England. Since English were the first to issue postage stamps, England is the only country in the world that does not mention the country’s name on the stamps.

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