The Alternative Guide to… England
England at a Glance
Capital city: London
Population: 53 million
Local currency: British pound
Famous face: David Attenborough, TV presenter, naturalist and the man for whom the phrase “national treasure” was practically invented
5 things you never knew about England
Eccentricity is celebrated in England. And nothing typifies the nation’s tendency towards oddness better than the annual cheese-rolling event at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire (main picture, above). It’s pretty simple: everyone gathers at the top of said hill, a 9lb Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down it, and everyone chases after it. Whoever crosses the line first wins the cheese (and perhaps a broken limb or two).
It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
There’s no denying it. We love a good cup of tea in England. In fact, we tend to think there’s not much that can’t be sorted with a sit-down and a brew. Britain as a whole gets through 165 million cups a day. Your author has one in front of him right now.
The Queen owns approximately one sixth of the world’s entire land surface.
We have some very peculiar place names in England. Barton in the Beans, Curry Mallett, Matching Tye, Pratts Bottom and Marsh Gibbon are among the less rude ones. This way for the rude list.
National dish
Fish and chips. Yes, things have moved on in recent years, but there’s no getting away from it. We still eat a LOT of deep-fried, stripped-of-all-nutrients, beige-coloured food.
If you see one thing in England, make sure it’s…
… the Lake District. This patchwork of lakes and mountains in the north-west of the country is spectacular on another level. We recommend you check out this interactive guide to find out more.