13 Interesting England Facts For Kids To Boost A Love Of History
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England is known for its rich history, iconic landmarks, and diverse culture.
Fun facts about England include its significant contributions to literature with famous authors like William Shakespeare and Jane Austen calling this country their home.
England is also home to the world-renowned university, Oxford, which was established in the 12th century and has educated countless scholars throughout history.
Additionally, England is famous for its traditional afternoon tea, a delightful custom introduced in the early 19th century that involves enjoying a cup of tea along with scones, sandwiches, and pastries.
The country is also the birthplace of football, the globally beloved sport that has spread its popularity worldwide.
England’s royal family, with King Charles currently reigning, attracts attention from around the globe with their ceremonial events and royal residences like Buckingham Palace.
With its picturesque countryside, vibrant cities, and fascinating heritage, England offers an abundance of fun facts and experiences to explore.
If you have children who are curious about the country, here are 13 fun and smart England facts for kids!
- England Has an Array of Famous Scientists
England is home to different scientists from different fields.
On top of England’s list include Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin.
Though the UK only contributes around 3.2% of the world’s spending on research and development, the United Kingdom accounts for 16% of cited research articles.
This number puts the UK ahead of the US when it comes to the number of research articles used as citations by the scientific community.
2. London buses had a different color other than red
London’s buses are iconic for their red color.
But did you know that it wasn’t always this way?
That there was a time when their buses were of different colours?
The colours would signify their route.
In 1907, The London General Omnibus Company started painting their buses red to be able to stand out.
And since then, other bus companies have followed.
3. England was the first country to become industrialized
England was the first country to reach the age of industrialization in 1760.
What made it possible to make the industrial revolution to happen early in the country?
One of the reasons why England became industrialized sooner than other countries is due to Britain’s large supply of coal.
Coal was the fuel used for steam engines that powered ships, trains, and different types of machinery.
4. JK Rowling, who wrote Harry Potter, was born in England
JK Rowling, who was born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, England wrote Harry Potter for five years.
She described the day she received a book deal as the best day of her life.
The Harry Potter universe has since extended into seven books.
The last book was released in 2007.
The initial print for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold 12 million copies in the US alone.
Today, not only have her books made into classic films, but you also get to enjoy Harry Potter theme parks in different parts of the world.
You can enjoy the Harry Potter theme park in England by doing the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.
Or you could go to Japan and see the magical world created by JK Rowling.
5. King Henry VIII wasn’t always fat
King Henry VIII ruled as England’s king for 36 years.
He was the reason the country was introduced to the Protestant Reformation.
With his desire to divorce his wife without any approval of the Catholic Church, he decided to create the Church of England.
Though he served as the King of England for 36 years from 1509 to 1547, Henry VIII wasn’t the one who was supposed to be next in line for the throne.
It was his brother Arthur, who died at age 15, that was supposed to take the throne.
Henry VIII was able to take the throne at age 17.
And though the painting that you might see on Google is that of a fat man, this wasn’t always the case with Henry VIII.
Though he was morbidly obese during his later years, he was said to have an athletic frame when he was younger.
If your kids love castles, be sure to mark these castles near London on your list for visiting.
6. A 21-Mile Gap Separates France and England
The two countries are separated by the Atlantic Ocean’s arm.
If you are planning on visiting Europe, did you know there is only a small gap that separates England and France?
North France and Southern England are then connected by the English Channel.
Through the years, the name of the English Channel has changed.
It has been known as the Mare Britannicum, Mare Anglica and the Narrow Sea among others.
Crossing the English Channel tunnel is approximately a 35-minute trip and around 50,000 people are able to cross daily.
The Channel Tunnel opened in 1994 though it had been planned since 1802.
It also holds the record for having the longest undersea part of any tunnel in the world.
7. The United Kingdom is Not a Single Country
The United Kingdom is not a single country but actually a union between four individual countries.
These countries include England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain, on the other hand, pertains to England, Scotland, and Wales.
This political union happened way back in 1707 without the inclusion of Northern Ireland.
The UK is culturally diverse.
Though English is spoken in throughout the UK, you have regional languages including Welsh and Gaelic.
In terms of population, England comprises the majority of the UK.
It is home to roughly 84% of the United Kingdom’s entire population.
Among its most populated cities include London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
8. Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England was built around 5,000 years ago
Many are still baffled by Stonehenge in England.
Different theories exist on why and how it was made.
One of the biggest mysteries is how people during the Stone Age got to move and chisel large stones.
And why did they make it in the first place?
Some believe that the stones were moved by using ropes and by having ditches where the stones were placed.
Also, some scientists believe that Stonehenge was used as some type of calendar during the late Stone Age.
However, Stonehenge has also been used as a cemetery.
Around 200 people were buried within the area.
9. William Shakespeare influenced how we use the English language
English playwright, poet, and actor William Shakespeare is known for his masterpieces including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and King Lear.
He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets during his lifetime.
And though his parents were believed to be illiterate, Shakespeare was a literary genius.
But did you know that Shakespeare influenced how we use the English language?
It was said that Shakespeare was able to give 1,700 to 3,000 words to the English language.
Words like fashionable, sanctimonious, lacklustre, and eyeball came from Shakespearean classics.
He is also responsible for terms such as “wild goose chase”, “foregone conclusion”, “as you like it”, and “in a pickle.”
10. Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch
Queen Elizabeth was the longest-reigning monarch in Britain as she sat on the throne for 70 years and 214 days.
She was crowned queen on June 2, 1953, making her the queen of the United Kingdom for the last 68 years.
As queen, she was able to beat her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria for the number of years on the throne. Queen Victoria was queen for 63 years.
As queen, Queen Elizabeth II was served by 14 UK prime ministers including Winston Churchill.
11. London Bridge fell 1,000 years ago
The nursery rhyme “London Bridge is falling down” is said to be based on the incident when Saxons destroyed the bridge using boats and ropes.
However, this isn’t the only explanation for the song.
Some believed that the bridge fell because of a devastating fire that damaged the bridge’s structure.
Other historians believe that the bridge fell down because parliament decided to rebuild the bridge allow the Thames River to flow better.
If you haven’t seen London bridge, it’s a must-have for your London itinerary.
12. England produced several best-selling rock bands
One of the most cool facts about England is its rock and roll history. Rock and roll music is part of England’s DNA!
British rock is even used as a term to describe music that came from the United Kingdom.
The British Invasion started in the 1960s when the Beatles made an impact on US airwaves.
Apart from the Beatles, some of the best-selling bands of all time that came from England included Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.
You also have English bands such as The Kinks, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd that have been included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
13. The London Eye is the fourth largest Ferris wheel in the world
The London Eye is a tourist attraction in London.
There are around 3.5 million people who go to London to see the London Eye annually.
A ride on the London Eye takes around 30 minutes where you get to see a bird’s eye view of the city.
Though it is a huge structure that stands proud in London, it isn’t the largest Ferris wheel in the world.
The largest Ferris wheel is the High Roller found in Las Vegas standing at 167.6 meters.
On the other hand, the London Eye stands at 135 meters.
Though it didn’t take the title for the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, the London Eye is a favorite romantic spot by couples.
Since it opened, around 5,000 people were engaged on the London Eye.
Also, more than 500 weddings were held in the London Eye since 2001.
And though it might shock you, the London Eye wasn’t the very first big Ferris wheel in the city.
The Great Wheel was constructed in 1895 and then demolished in 1907.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of interesting facts about England for kids – the country is such an amazing place to visit.
Its rich history, culture, and music scene can get anyone interested to know more about the place.
Learning before you go on a trip is one of the best family travel hacks you can do.
It helps you learn about the location, and the history and will also help you make a better decision about what you want to visit.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these interesting fun facts about England for kids. Take your love of learning further with this guide to the best historical fiction books.
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