Eng
land is a land rich in history and culture, and with that comes a plethora of fascinating and little-known facts. From its ancient traditions to its modern-day quirks, here are ten cold, hard truths about England that you might not have known.
1. England has over 30,000 listed buildings Listed buildings are of national importance and have special protections under the law. England alone has over 30,000 listed buildings, ranging from castles and churches to pubs and phone boxes.
2. England is home to the world's oldest parliament The Palace of Westminster, home to the UK's Houses of Parliament, was built in 1016 and has been the seat of democratic government in England for over 800 years. It's the oldest parliament in the world that is still in use today.
3. The oldest continuously operating school is in Canterbury The King's School in Canterbury was founded in AD 597 and has been continuously operating ever since. It's the oldest school in the English-speaking world and one of the oldest in the world overall.
4. The first recorded game of football was in East Anglia Football, or soccer, is the world's most popular sport, and it all started on a field in East Anglia. The first recorded game of football was played in 1280 in a village called Ulgham, which is now part of Suffolk.
5. The world's first hamburger was made in London In the late 19th century, a German immigrant named Louis Lassen opened a food stall in London that sold a new kind of sandwich called a "hamburger steak." It was the first time that ground beef had been formed into a patty and cooked on a grill, and it quickly became a hit.
6. England's national sport is cricket Although football is more popular worldwide, cricket is England's national sport. It has a rich history dating back to the 16th century and is still widely played and watched today.
7. Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire Oxford University was founded in 1096, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. It's older than the Aztec Empire, which wasn't established until the 14th century.
8. The UK has the world's largest and oldest palace guards The Queen's Guard is a ceremonial unit that has been guarding the royal residences in England since 1660. They're known for their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats and are the largest and oldest palace guards in the world.
9. There are over 6000 miles of canals in England England has a vast network of canals that were built in the 18th and 19th centuries to transport goods around the country. Today, many of them have been restored and are used for leisure activities such as boating and fishing.
10 The world's first public park opened in England In 1845, the world's first public park opened in Derby, England. It was called the Arboretum and was designed to give the people of Derby a space to enjoy nature and relax. Today, public parks can be found all over the world, but it all started in England. These are just a few of the many cold, hard truths about England that make this country such a fascinating place to explore. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and quirky traditions, there's always something new to discover in England.