Blog · 2024-04-02

Surprising facts about the United Kingdom you probably didn't know

The United Kingdom is a country of rich history and singular traditions that draws millions of visitors from around the world. Yet even behind its famous landmarks lie little-known facts worth sharing.

1. London was the first city in the world to open an underground railway.
2. The world's first postage stamp was invented in Britain. Issued in 1840, it bore the portrait of Queen Victoria.
3. British author J.K. Rowling became the first billionaire novelist. In 2014 her income reached roughly one billion dollars.
4. The University of Oxford is the oldest institution of learning in Britain. Until 1877, its lecturers were forbidden to marry.
5. Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, a village in Wales, has the longest place name in the country - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch - and has become a tourist attraction in its own right.
6. Becoming a licensed taxi driver in London is no easy feat: it requires passing a fiendish test of navigating the city entirely from memory, without any satnav.
7. Margaret Thatcher was the first woman in the world to be elected prime minister - and she held the office longer than anyone else.
8. French was an official language of Britain from 1066 to 1362 - nearly 300 years.
9. Killing swans is prohibited by law in Britain. The penalty can reach a £5,000 fine or six months in prison.
10. Stonehenge is older than the Egyptian pyramids. It was built more than 3,000 years BC, whereas the Great Pyramid of Giza dates to around 2,500 years BC.

Are you a leader in your field?

The UK Global Talent Visa is a special category designed for individuals who have achieved outstanding results in science, digital technology, the arts, or culture and wish to relocate to the United Kingdom to work in their field.

To demonstrate your talent, you'll need a portfolio of achievements. That might mean research grants for academics, publications or exhibitions for those in the arts, or a role as founder or key employee at a technology company. Both EU nationals and citizens of third countries can apply. Neither English-language proficiency nor proof of income is required. If you don't yet have an established public profile, additional PR work with specialists who help build your case may be needed. After five years of living in the country on the Talent Visa, you become eligible to apply for British citizenship.

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