Build your True Trip
With a marriage of nations along came the famous United Kingdom, making for an amalgam of quirky little facts that turn this destination into an even more interesting place. Celebrators of royals, tea addicts, queue lovers, and black humorists are but a few of the characteristics that typically describe UK mannerism, yet there is so much more you probably didn’t know about the ‘stiff upper lip-ers’.
If you are planning a trip to the UK soon and want to learn about some lesser-known facts, or if you’re just a thirsty philomath, below we have compiled 7 things that you might not know about the United Kingdom:
The UK is larger than you think
The UK is larger than you think
Formally known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, combining the nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK’s reach extends way beyond those map lines with numerous overseas territories. Spanning from Antarctica all the way to Gibraltar, there are 14 territories under UK governance all over the world; remnants of the once ferocious British Empire that left its mark in history.
The Capital City
As strange as it may seem, London wasn’t always England’s capital city. Instead, Winchester in the county of Hampshire preceded up until the 11th century, while London was only crowned as the formal capital in the 12th century once the Palace of Westminster became the permanent location of the royal court, and consequently the political capital of the nation.
An added fun fact: Did you know that London had name predecessors? It was ‘Londonium’ throughout the Roman Invasion, ‘Ludenwic’ during the Saxon years, and ‘Ludenburg’ under the rule of Alfred the Great!
Lovers of alcohol and the emergence of gin
Lovers of alcohol and the emergence of gin
A cold-brewed beer, an expertly distilled spirit, a perfectly fermented wine, you name it, the Brits like their liquor and ‘happy-hour’ is a widespread tradition in the UK. But, did you know that alcohol consumption once got a bit out of hand and laws were put in place to control overconsumption? Back in 1688, William of Orange had introduced an affordable alternative to brandy, and along came gin. Gin evolved into the ‘magic potion’, mainly for the lower-class, and various distilleries opened around the country to match the increasing demand. However, by early 1700, the Parliament implemented five Acts to control gin consumption and put a leash on the ‘Gin Craze’.
Inventors of stamps
The United Kingdom was the very first to introduce the famous postage stamps and it all begun back in 1837 when Sir Rowland Hill, a schoolmaster in England, invented this little adhesive masterpiece that led to the establishment of an efficient postal system for the British Empire. The very first stamp was issued in May 1840, known as the Penny Black, that featured an engraved profile of none other than Queen Victoria. Postage stamps are still being widely used in the UK with a first-class stamp priced at 65p and a second-class stamp at 56p.
Good to know: placing a stamp with the Queen’s engraving upside-down is generally considered to be an act of treason, so let’s be extra careful with that.
Champagne and its origins
Champagne and its origins
So, who were the first to invent the highly regarded fizzy wine, formally known as Champagne? The most common answer tends to be France, but there is some controversy that not many of us know. While the French claim that the 'methode champenoise' was first invented by the famous Dom Pierre Perignon back in 1697, history begs otherwise, as we travel back to 1662 when Christopher Merret, in the picturesque Cotswold town of Winchcombe, experimented with adding sugar in wine, and along came the bubbles. Even though the French take the merit, what’s important is that they both created a wonderful accompaniment to any celebration.
Golfing your way through history
Surprisingly enough, the game of golf dates way back in time when the eastern coast of Scotland passed their time by hitting pebbles over sand dunes and around tracks by means of a club or bent stick. The Scottish were so fascinated by this game that led many to disregard their military training, and the nation found itself ill-defended when faced with an invasion by the ‘Auld Enemy’ during the 15th century. To overcome this obsession, the Scottish parliament of King James II placed a ban on the sport in 1457, however, it was largely ignored and by 1502, the game of golf gained the royal seal of approval. Thanks to this royal endorsement, this sport spread throughout Europe during the 16th century and Scotland is now home to the world’s oldest golf course.
Royalty at its best
Serving as the family home of kings and queens for almost 1,000 years, the United Kingdom hosts the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, the Windsor Castle. From the 11th century until today, the Windsor Castle is still one of the official residences of the Majesty that also hosted the recent marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Some of its grounds are also open to the public for touring – definitely a sight not to be missed!
