English traditions
This popular afternoon tradition involves drinking a specific hot beverage often accompanied by scones, jam, and clotted cream.
What is Tea?
Often mistakenly called by the name of its famous bell, this clock tower is located at the north end of the Houses of Parliament in London.
What is Big Ben?
Known as the "Bard of Avon," this 16th-century playwright wrote 38 plays, including Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet.
Who is William Shakespeare?
In this Devon event, participants have 15 minutes to "vibrate" the ground to lure as many of these slimy creatures to the surface as possible.
Answer: What are worms? (Worm Charming)
Under the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839, it is illegal to "disturb" residents by ringing this and then running away.
What is a doorbell (or knocker)?
Celebrated on November 5th, this event involves lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks to commemorate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
What is Guy Fawkes Night?
This prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain consists of a ring of standing stones, each around 13 feet high and weighing 25 tons.
What is Stonehenge?
This world-renowned naturalist published On the Origin of Species in 1859, introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Who is Charles Darwin?
This Derbyshire "sport" involves two people interlocking their small toes and trying to force their opponent's foot to the side.
What is Toe Wrestling?
It is technically a crime to fly one of these in a public place if it "annoys" the other people there.
What is a kite?
On this day, which immediately follows Christmas Day, British people traditionally gave "boxes" of gifts to servants and tradespeople, though today it is a major shopping holiday.
What is Boxing Day?
Originally built by William the Conqueror, this historic fortress on the River Thames has served as a royal palace, a treasury, and a notorious prison.
What is the Tower of London?
This Prime Minister led Great Britain to victory during World War II and was famous for his inspiring speeches and "V for Victory" sign.
Who is Winston Churchill?
This traditional game involves hitting a horse chestnut on a string against your opponent's chestnut until one of them shatters.
What are Conkers?
A law from 1839 makes it illegal to carry a long plank of wood across one of these, unless you are unloading it from a car.
What is a pavement (or sidewalk)?
This traditional English folk dance, often performed on May Day, involves dancers weaving ribbons around a tall wooden pole.
What is the Maypole Dance?
Located in the North East, this massive contemporary sculpture by Antony Gormley stands 20 meters tall and has a wingspan of 54 meters.
What is the Angel of the North?
Born in Woolsthorpe, this scientist formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation after reportedly seeing an apple fall from a tree.
Who is Sir Isaac Newton?
Held in a muddy trench, competitors must swim two lengths using only "flipper power"—no traditional swimming strokes allowed.
What is Bog Snorkelling?
According to the Licensing Act of 1872, it is actually illegal to be drunk while inside one of these businesses.
What is a pub (or licensed premises)?
In this unusual annual Gloucestershire event, participants chase a 7lb-9lb round of Double Gloucester down a steep hill, often resulting in spectacular tumbles.
What is Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling?
Spanning 73 miles across Northern England, this stone fortification was built by the Roman Empire to separate the Romans from the "barbarians" to the north.
What is Hadrian’s Wall?
This legendary English theoretical physicist, known for his work on black holes and the book "A Brief History of Time", communicated via a speech-generating device for most of his life.
Who is Stephen Hawking?
An annual event in Lancashire where people dress up in costumes to wrestle each other inside a pool filled with this thick, brown meat sauce.
What is Gravy? (Gravy Wrestling)
While you can shake a doormat before 8 AM, it is a criminal offense to shake one of these in the street at any time.
What is a carpet (or rug)?