r>1. Big Ben Despite popular belief, 'Big Ben' actually refers to the bell inside the clock tower, not the tower itself. 2. London Bridge If you're looking for the iconic 'London Bridge', head to Lake Havasu City in Arizona, USA. The original bridge was sold to the US in 1967 and replaced with a new bridge in London. 3. Tea Time While afternoon tea is a beloved British tradition, it was actually invented by Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the 1800s. 4. The Queen's Corgis Queen Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 corgis throughout her reign, but she has stopped breeding them due to concerns about leaving behind aging dogs. 5. The London Underground The London Underground, also known as the 'Tube', is the oldest underground railway network in the world, opening in 1863. 6. The Tower of London Home to the crown jewels and infamous for its bloody history, the Tower of London is actually a collection of 21 separate buildings and contains over 900 years of history. 7. The Beatles The world-famous band was originally called the 'Quarrymen' and played their first gig at St. Peter's Church fete in Woolton, Liverpool. 8. The House of Lords The House of Lords room in the Palace of Westminster is the only room in the world where the red carpet is replaced every five years. 9. The Black Cab London's iconic black taxi cab was designed to be tall enough to accommodate a passenger wearing a top hat. 10 The British Museum The British Museum was the first national public museum in the world, opening its doors in 1759. 11. The Houses of Parliament The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, contains over 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases and has 3 miles of corridors. 12. English Breakfast Typical English breakfast consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, mushrooms and toast. 13. The Queen's Beasts The Queen's Beasts, 10 sculpted statues representing heraldic animals, were originally created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. 14. The Church of England The Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, was founded by King Henry VIII in 1534 after a disagreement with the Pope. 15. The Crown Jewels The Crown Jewels are kept under heavy guard in the Tower of London and include the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond, which weighs in at over 106 carats. 16. The London Eye The London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank, is the world's largest cantilevered observation wheel, standing at 135 metres tall. 17. The Beatles' Abbey Road The iconic album cover for the Beatles' 'Abbey Road' was taken outside Abbey Road Studios in St. John's Wood, London. 18. The Royal Family The British Royal Family earns a significant amount of money through the Crown Estate, which includes ownership of land, property and businesses. 19. Sherlock Holmes Although fictional, the infamous detective Sherlock Holmes is widely associated with London and 221B Baker Street. 20. The Downing Street Cat Since 2011, a cat named Larry has held the official title of 'Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office' and lives at 10 Downing Street. 21. The Welsh Language Welsh, the official language of Wales, is one of the oldest surviving Celtic languages and is still spoken by around 20% of the population. 22. The Red Telephone Box The iconic red telephone box, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1930s, has become a beloved symbol of British culture. 23. The Oxford English Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary is considered the ultimate authority on the English language, containing over 600,000 words. 24. The Channel Tunnel The Channel Tunnel, also known as the 'Chunnel', is a 31-mile-long tunnel that connects the UK and France via train. 25. The London Marathon One of the world's most popular marathons, the London Marathon attracts around 40,000 runners each year. 26. The British Accent There is no single 'British accent', as there are many regional variations throughout the UK. 27. The Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is home to both the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet and has been in operation for over 280 years. 28. The Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre, a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan theatre, was completed in 1997 and is now the home of Shakespeare's Globe. 29. The Beefeaters The Yeoman Warders, more commonly known as the Beefeaters, are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. 30. The London Zoo The London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo, opening its doors in 1828. 31. The British Library The British Library is the largest library in the world by the number of items catalogued, with over 170 million items. 32. The Churchill War Rooms The Churchill War Rooms, located underneath the streets of Westminster, were used by Winston Churchill and his government during World War II. 33. The Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a celebrated concert hall, opened in 1871, and hosts events ranging from classical music to rock concerts. 34. The London Bridge Experience The London Bridge Experience is a tourist attraction that takes visitors on a journey through the dark history of the city's most famous bridge. 35. The Queen's Guard The Queen's Guard, often seen in iconic red and black regalia outside Buckingham Palace, are responsible for protecting the royal residences. 36. The Royal Society The Royal Society is the world's oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, founded in 1660. 37. The London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra is one of the world's leading orchestras and has been in operation for over 100 years. 38. The British Army The British Army, founded in 1660, currently has over 80,000 active personnel and is one of the most respected military forces in the world. 39. The Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force, founded in 1918, is the oldest independent air force in the world and currently has around 33,000 active personnel. 40. The British Navy The British Navy, founded in the 16th century, is one of the largest and most powerful naval forces in the world. 41. The British Red Cross The British Red Cross, founded in 1870, is a humanitarian organisation that provides support to those in need both in the UK and abroad. 42. The NHS The National Health Service, founded in 1948, provides free healthcare to all UK citizens and is funded through taxes. 43. The London Stock Exchange The London Stock Exchange is the third-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalisation, with over 3,000 companies listed. 44. The UK Weather The UK is known for its often unpredictable weather, with rain being a common occurrence throughout the year. 45. The Royal Mint The Royal Mint, founded in 886 AD, produces all of the UK's coins and banknotes and is responsible for producing currency for other countries too. 46. The Tate Gallery The Tate Gallery is a network of four art galleries across the UK, collectively housing over 70,000 works of art. 47. The Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company is a renowned theatre company that has been bringing the works of Shakespeare to life for over 100 years. 48. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, founded in 1824, is a charity that provides life-saving support to those in danger on the coast. 49. The UK Education System The UK education system is divided into four main stages: primary school, secondary school, Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE). 50. The UK Monarchy The UK Monarchy, currently headed by Queen Elizabeth II, has been in operation for over 1,000 years and is a cornerstone of British culture and tradition.
