Looking for fun facts about England for kids? England is packed with castles, kings and queens, quirky traditions, famous foods, and places that feel straight out of a storybook. This kid-friendly guide shares true, fascinating, and sometimes hilarious facts about England, plus simple explanations (like the difference between England, Great Britain, and the UK).

England is a country full of history, fascinating traditions, and peculiar customs that make it an interesting place for kids to explore.

So, let’s  get ready to learn these funny and crazy facts about England and maybe you will want to visit yourself some day.

Fun Facts About England for Kids (Quick List)

England is full of strange, funny, and fascinating facts that kids love. Here are some of the coolest and weirdest facts about England to know before you visit:

1. England is part of the United Kingdom, but it is not the same thing as the UK.

2. London is the capital of England, and it has been a major city for nearly 2,000 years.

3. The Queen (and now the King) technically owns all unclaimed swans in England.

4. Big Ben is not the name of the clock tower — it’s actually the name of the bell inside.

5. England has over 1,500 castles, more than any other country in Europe.

6. The smallest historic county in England is Rutland, but it proudly says “much in little.”

7. England’s largest lake is Lake Windermere, located in the Lake District.

8. Stonehenge is older than the Roman Empire and still a mystery today.

9. Red double-decker buses have been driving through London since the 1920s.

10. England invented the sandwich, thanks to a man who didn’t want to stop playing cards to eat.

11. People in England drive on the left side of the road.

12. The English love tea, and many people drink several cups a day.

13. England has many islands, but most of the UK’s thousands of islands are in Scotland.

    though most are very small.

14. The English language has silent letters that aren’t pronounced at all.

15. Robin birds are a symbol of England and often appear on Christmas cards.

16. England has laws that sound silly, but many of them are old myths.

17. Soccer is called “football” in England, and it’s the most popular sport.

18. Many famous movies were filmed in England, including Harry Potter.

19. The weather in England changes quickly, sometimes all in one day.

20. England has some of the oldest schools in the world, still teaching students today.

 A Country With A Lot of Names

England is a country that has more names than most. You may hear it called Great Britain, Britain , United Kingdom, the UK or the British Isles. All of those are kind of correct!

1. England is a country that is part of a bigger island called Great Britain. Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales all together on one big island.
2. England is also part of a group of smaller islands called the British Isles. The British Isles includes Great Britain and also the island of Ireland.
3. Finally, England is part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom or UK includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all joined together as one country with one government.

So while you may visit England, we can also say you visited  Great Britain, the British Isles, or the United Kingdom. Isn’t it cool that one small country has so many names?

Geographical Oddities

Smallest County

Welcome to Rutland, the smallest county in England! Located in the East Midlands, this county is only 147 square miles in size. Despite its tiny size, Rutland has its own motto: Multum in Parvo, which means “much in little.” Don’t let its size fool you, though, as Rutland sure has a lot of character packed into this little space!

Fun fact: Rutland was once eliminated as a county in 1974, but it made a comeback in 1997, getting its status as a county restored. How’s that for resilience?

Largest Lake

Though the Lake District in the northwest is famous for its stunning lakes, the Largest Lake in England title goes to Lake Windermere. Located in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Lake Windermere is a whopping 10.5 miles long and a little over 1 mile at its widest point!

Here’s a quick table to show off its impressive stats:

Measurement	Miles
Length	10.5
Widest Point	1.1

Lake Windermere’s beauty attracts millions of tourists every year who come for boating, kayaking, and simply taking in the lovely views. So, if you want to witness the grandeur of England’s largest lake, better add Lake Windermere to your list of must-see places!

Historical Hodgepodge

Capitol Facts

Did you know that London has not always been the capital city of England? In fact, Winchester was the first one! But don’t worry, this bizarre fact won’t change your history lessons too much.

Another fun fact: there’s a law in England that you can’t dress up as a soldier or sailor while in London. So, better leave those costumes at home!

Crazy Kings and Queens

These English royals had their fair share of quirks, too! Have you heard of King Henry VIII? He is famous for having six wives – but here’s the funny part: he gave them all the same family jewels, just passing them on from one wife to the next. Talk about recycling!

And how about Queen Victoria? This royal lady loved celebrating her birthday with a game of tag. Yes, you read it right – a game of tag! Can you imagine playing tag with her in her enormous dress?

Here’s a quick list to tickle your funny bone:

• King Charles II might have had the best hiding spot during a game of hide and seek – he once hid in an oak tree to escape his enemies!
• Little King Edward VI, only nine years old when he became king, was so small that he needed a special throne with a foot stool!

Unique Customs and Traditions

Quirky Holidays

In England, there are some strange and funny holidays that might make kids giggle. For instance, every year on January 7th, people in the village of Haxey celebrate the Haxey Hood. This involves a large group of people trying to push a leather tube called the “hood” to one of four pubs in the village. It’s a muddy, fun event that can last for hours!

Another quirky holiday is Bun Day in the town of Abingdon. Every year on the second Monday in October, currant-filled buns are thrown from the roof of the town hall to the waiting crowd below. This tradition dates back to the 17th century and is still going strong.

Laughable Laws in England: Truth vs. Myth

You may have heard that England has some of the strangest laws in the world, but here’s the funny truth: many of the “weird laws” people talk about are actually old stories, misunderstandings, or myths that have been passed around for years.

Let’s sort out what’s true, what’s not, and what just sounds funny!

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Silly Laws People Say Exist (But Mostly Don’t)

• “It’s illegal to die in Parliament.”
  This one gets repeated a lot, but it isn’t true. There’s no law that says you can’t die there — even though it soundsdramatic!

• “London taxi drivers must carry a bale of hay.”
  This comes from very old horse-drawn carriage rules. Modern taxis definitely do not carry hay.

• “It’s legal to shoot a Scotsman in York.”
  This is an old legend, not a real modern law — and absolutely not something anyone should ever try!

These stories are fun to share, but they’re better thought of as legends than real rules.

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Strange Rules That Did Exist (A Long Time Ago)

England has been around for a very long time, so some very old laws were written for life hundreds of years ago.

For example:

• There were rules about how and when carpets could be beaten in the street (to control dust).

• Some laws were created when horses filled the roads, not cars.

• Many laws were written before electricity, airplanes, or even bicycles existed!

Most of these laws are no longer enforced — but they help us understand what life was like long ago.

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A Truly Odd but Real Rule

• Handling salmon suspiciously is actually mentioned in a modern law.
  This law exists to stop people from selling or catching fish illegally — but the wording makes it sound funny!

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Why England Has So Many “Weird Law” Stories

England’s laws go back hundreds of years, and sometimes the wording hasn’t changed even though life has. Over time, people turned old rules into jokes, dares, and fun facts — especially for kids.

The good news?
You don’t need to worry about accidentally breaking a silly law when you visit England!

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And learning the difference between real rules and old myths is a fun fact all by itself!

Strange Sports

England is also home to some wild and wacky sports that you might not have heard of. Here are a few examples:

• Cheese Rolling: In this crazy sport, courageous competitors chase a wheel of cheese down a dangerously-steep hill in Gloucestershire. The first person to reach the bottom wins the cheese!
• Swan Upping: This unusual event takes place on the River Thames every July. It involves catching, tagging, and releasing swans to help monitor and protect their population. The Queen’s Swan Marker, dressed in traditional red, leads a team of rowers in this time-honored ceremony.
• Worm Charming: In this bizarre sport, participants attempt to lure as many worms out of the ground as possible, usually by vibrating the soil. The World Worm Charming Championships take place annually in Cheshire.

So from quirky holidays to strange sports, England certainly has its fair share of unique and entertaining customs and traditions for kids to learn about and enjoy.

Fascinating Flora and Fauna

Distinctive Birds

England is home to some quirky and colorful birds that you might not find anywhere else! Here’s a list of some birds you don’t want to miss:

• Atlantic Puffin: This adorable bird has a bright orange beak, which is often called the sea parrot. They mostly live on the coasts and feed on small fish from the sea.
• European Robin: Often associated with Christmas, their bright red chest gives them a festive look. You can find them almost everywhere in England, from gardens to woodlands.
• Kingfisher: With a beautiful turquoise and orange plumage, the kingfisher is often considered one of England’s most attractive birds. They’re great at fishing too!

British Food Fun

Weird Snacks

In England, there are some interesting snacks to try! For example, Pork Scratchings are a popular pub snack. They’re crunchy pieces of pig skin, deep-fried and seasoned (Yum…or maybe not?).

Another unusual snack is the Scotch Egg. It’s a hard-boiled egg wrapped in a “shell” made of meat, breadcrumbs, and herbs – and then it’s deep-fried!

One of the most delicious snacks in England is a sausage roll, which is a sausage rolled up in flaky pastry. You can find them all over any city you visit and they are like a more delicious hot dog!

Tea Time Tidbits

Tea time in England is more than just a drink. It’s a tradition, and there’s plenty of fun food to enjoy too! One classic treat is scones served with clotted cream and jam. Clotted cream is thick, rich cream that’s perfect for spreading on a warm scone. Another tasty snack often served with tea is cucumber sandwiches. These sandwiches are made with thinly sliced cucumbers, butter, and sometimes cream cheese, all on soft white bread. And don’t forget the adorable mini sausage rolls!

• Fun fact: The world’s largest scone weighed a whopping 141.777 kg (312.52 lb)! It was made in England in 2010. That’s one massive tea party snack!

Laughable Laws

 

 

Unusual Restrictions

Now let’s explore some unusual restrictions that might raise your eyebrows.  Additionally, it’s against the law to beat or shake any carpet or rug in any street in London. However, it’s okay to beat a doormat if you do it before 8:00 am.

Take a look at this list of strange rules:

• Don’t play with salmon! It’s illegal to handle salmon in suspicious circumstances.
• Watch those fish! It’s forbidden to place postage stamps with British monarchs on upside down.
• Walk your cows cautiously! It’s unlawful to herd cows down the roadway between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm unless there’s permission from the Commissioner of Police.

Who knew that England had such amusing and unusual rules? These laughable laws and unusual restrictions definitely make for some fun stories. Just remember to follow the laws wherever you are, even if they seem a bit silly!

Surprising English Language Facts

Did you know that the English language is full of funny and crazy facts that can shock and amuse you? Well, sit back and enjoy these fascinating tidbits about the language spoken in England!

1. First, let’s talk about palindromes. These are words that read the same forwards and backwards. Some examples of palindromes include radar, level, and civic. Neat, right?
2. Now, have you ever wondered how many words are in the English language? Well, it’s a staggering 170,000 active words and another 47,000 obsolete words! Just imagine trying to learn them all. But kids in England don’t have to worry, as they only need around 3,000 words to understand everyday conversations.
3. Here’s a fun table showing some of the longest words in English with their meanings:

Word	Meaning
antidisestablishmentarianism	Opposition to separating church and state
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis	Lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust
floccinaucinihilipilification	The act of describing something as unimportant

1. And let’s not forget about homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Some examples are bear (the animal) and bare (without); pair (two things) and pear (a fruit); or break (to damage) and brake(to stop a vehicle).
2. Did you know that there are silent letters in English? That’s right! Some words have letters that aren’t pronounced. A few examples are knife, gnat, and wreck. It’s like they’re playing hide and seek!
3. Lastly, the most commonly used letter in the alphabet is “e”, followed by t, a, o, and i. In contrast, the most rarely used letter is “z”.

Well, that’s enough surprising facts to make anyone fall in love with the English language! Can you think of any other fun facts to share with your friends?

Conclusion

England is a country full of surprises and fun facts that kids would enjoy. So, let’s take a quick recap of some of the most interesting ones we’ve learned!

1. Queens and their swans: England’s Queen has a unique quirk – she owns all unclaimed mute swans in the country! Quite a fascinating collection, right?
2. Tasty treats: Jaffa Cakes in England sparked a debate as people couldn’t decide: cake or biscuit? One thing’s for sure, they make a scrumptious treat for all.
3. Super special sandwiches: Sandwiches actually originated in England. The credit goes to John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who requested his meat to be served between two slices of bread to avoid greasy hands.
4. Double-decker delights: The red double-decker bus, an iconic symbol of England, has been serving passengers since 1928. They sure make traveling through the bustling streets a one-of-a-kind experience!

So, the next time you’re chatting with your friends, be sure to share these delightful tidbits about England. Who knows, it might just make them fall in love with this quirky country too!