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UK is a fascinating country with a rich history and unique culture. But did you know that there are many bizarre and obscure facts about this nation that are rarely discussed? Here are 50 cold, hard facts about the UK that you may not have heard before! 1. The shortest war in history was between the UK and Zanzibar, lasting just 38 minutes. 2. The world's oldest underground railway system is the London Underground, known as the "tube." 3. In the UK, people drive on the left-hand side of the road, unlike most other countries. 4. More than half of the UK's population is overweight or obese. 5. The longest place name in the UK is Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, a village in Wales. 6. The UK is the only country in the world with a secret service that doesn't need to hide its name, as its official title is MI6. 7. The UK's youngest MP was elected at the age of 20. 8. The world's first recorded game of soccer was played in the UK in 1863. 9. The first Wimbledon tennis tournament was held in 1877, making it the oldest tennis tournament in the world. 10 The UK is the only country in the world to have a double-decker bus as an icon of its public transportation system. 11. The UK's tallest building, The Shard, stands at 95 stories or 309 meters tall. 12. The UK is home to the world's largest and oldest puppet theater, located in London's Covent Garden. 13. The UK is responsible for the creation of the internet, with the first message being sent in 1971. 14. The UK is home to the world's largest and most comprehensive library, the British Library. 15. The UK has more chickens than humans, with a ratio of six chickens to every person. 16. The UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, stands at 1,345 meters tall. 17. The UK's longest river is the River Severn, which flows for 220 miles. 18. The UK has been invaded more times than any other country in the world. 19. The world's first commercial hovercraft service was launched in the UK in 1962. 20. The UK is the birthplace of many famous actors and actresses, including Kate Winslet, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Helen Mirren. 21. The UK's currency is the British pound, which is the oldest currency still in use today. 22. The UK is home to the oldest active polo club in the world, the Hurlingham Polo Association. 23. The UK is known for its love of tea, with the average person drinking 165 million cups of tea every day. 24. The UK has the highest number of CCTV cameras per person in the world. 25. The UK is home to the largest garden in the world, Kew Gardens, which covers over 300 acres. 26. The UK's Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious and well-known prehistoric sites in the world. 27. The UK has the world's largest offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Kent. 28. The UK is known for its love of fish and chips, with over 10,500 fish and chip shops across the country. 29. The UK is the world's second-largest producer of wool, after Australia. 30. The UK is home to the world's oldest university, the University of Oxford, which was founded in 1096. 31. The UK's national dish is chicken tikka masala, which was actually created in Glasgow. 32. The UK's national animal is the lion, even though lions are not native to the country. 33. The UK is home to the world's largest and most famous flower show, the Chelsea Flower Show. 34. The UK's famous red phone booths are a rare sight, as there are only around 10,000 left in the country. 35. The UK has a long history of witchcraft and pagan traditions, with many famous witches and druids hailing from the country. 36. The UK's well-known megalithic circle, Stonehenge, has been the subject of many theories and myths about its purpose and origins. 37. The UK is known for its rainy weather, with London receiving an average of 23 inches of rain per year. 38. The UK is home to some of the world's most famous writers, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and J.K. Rowling. 39. The UK's famous red buses are not actually red anymore, as they were painted in a new shade of red called "Poppy Red" in 2017. 40. The UK's oldest tree, the Fortingall Yew in Scotland, is believed to be over 5,000 years old. 41. The UK is home to the world's largest art collection, with over 2 million works of art stored in the National Gallery alone. 42. The UK is known for its love of pubs, with over 60,000 pubs across the country. 43. The UK has a rich history of royal families, with the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, being the longest-reigning British monarch. 44. The UK's famous Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is home to over 1,000 rooms. 45. The UK's famous red postboxes were originally green, but were changed to red in 1874. 46. The UK is home to the world's largest and oldest tropical rainforest conservatory, known as the Eden Project. 47. The UK's famous Big Ben clock tower is not actually called Big Ben, but is officially known as the Elizabeth Tower. 48. The UK's national anthem, "God Save the Queen," is actually the national anthem of many other Commonwealth countries as well. 49. The UK's famous Scottish Highlands are home to many rare and endangered species, including the Scottish wildcat, pine martens, and golden eagles. 50. The UK is known for its love of all things Harry Potter, with the series being filmed and set in various locations across the country, including Oxford, Scotland, and London.
