A Modern, Thriving Society

What is the Turner Prize?

Answer: An annual prize for a British visual artist under 50

The Booker Prize is awarded for:

Answer: The best novel published in the UK in English

The BAFTA awards recognise achievements in which field?

Answer: Film and television

The Laurence Olivier Awards recognise achievements in:

Answer: Theatre

Which famous British author created Sherlock Holmes?

Answer: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Which author wrote "Pride and Prejudice"?

Answer: Jane Austen

J.K. Rowling is famous for writing:

Answer: The Harry Potter series

Charles Dickens is famous for writing novels that highlighted:

Answer: The harsh social conditions and poverty of Victorian England

Robert Burns is celebrated in Scotland as:

Answer: A national poet, celebrated on Burns Night on 25 January

What is "Auld Lang Syne"?

Answer: A song written by Robert Burns, traditionally sung at New Year

The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of artists in the:

Answer: Second half of the 19th century

Which British architect designed St Paul's Cathedral in London?

Answer: Sir Christopher Wren

Which famous music venue is located in Cardiff?

Answer: St David's Hall

Which of these is a famous British fashion designer?

Answer: Stella McCartney

Bonfire Night is celebrated on:

Answer: 5 November

What is traditionally eaten on Burns Night in Scotland?

Answer: Haggis, neeps and tatties

When is St George's Day celebrated?

Answer: 23 April

Hogmanay is a traditional celebration in:

Answer: Scotland

What is the National Eisteddfod of Wales?

Answer: An annual Welsh festival of music, poetry, dance and art

Which of the following is a Christmas tradition in the UK?

Answer: Watching the Queen's/King's Christmas speech on television

Remembrance Day is observed on:

Answer: Both 11 November and the second Sunday of November

What is the purpose of wearing a red poppy in November in the UK?

Answer: To remember those who have died in wars

Where is the home of English football?

Answer: Wembley Stadium, London

The "Ashes" is a cricket competition between England and which other country?

Answer: Australia

Wimbledon is a famous annual tennis tournament held in:

Answer: London

The Grand National is a famous:

Answer: Horse race held at Aintree

Where is the National Horseracing Museum located?

Answer: Newmarket, Suffolk

Golf is particularly associated with which UK country?

Answer: Scotland

How many players are in a rugby league team?

Answer: 13

Sir Roger Bannister became famous for:

Answer: Being the first person to run a mile in under four minutes

Sir Steve Redgrave won how many consecutive Olympic gold medals in rowing?

Answer: Five

Jessica Ennis won Olympic gold in which event at the 2012 London Olympics?

Answer: Heptathlon

Andy Murray won which Grand Slam tennis tournament in 2012, becoming the first British man to do so in 76 years?

Answer: US Open

Where is the home of golf in Britain?

Answer: St Andrews, Scotland

The Super League is the most well-known competition in:

Answer: Rugby league

Which of the following is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in England?

Answer: Stonehenge

The Eden Project is located in:

Answer: Cornwall, England

Snowdonia is a national park and mountain range in:

Answer: Wales

Ben Nevis is:

Answer: The highest mountain in the UK, located in Scotland

The Giant's Causeway is located in:

Answer: Northern Ireland

Loch Lomond is:

Answer: The largest loch (inland lake) in Great Britain, located in Scotland

According to the 2011 Census, what percentage of people in the UK identified as Christian?

Answer: Around 59%

Diwali is a festival celebrated by which religion?

Answer: Sikhism and Hinduism

Eid ul Fitr is a celebration marking:

Answer: The end of Ramadan (the Muslim month of fasting)

Vaisakhi is a festival celebrated by:

Answer: Sikhs, celebrating the founding of the Sikh community

Which is the Church of England's most senior bishop?

Answer: The Archbishop of Canterbury

Hanukkah is a festival celebrated by:

Answer: Jewish people

What is the approximate population of the UK today?

Answer: Around 67 million

What percentage of the UK population lives in England?

Answer: Around 84%

What is the currency of the UK?

Answer: The Pound Sterling

Which of these is the UK's longest-running television soap opera?

Answer: Coronation Street

The UK's National Lottery draws are held how often?

Answer: Weekly

What is the BBC?

Answer: The British Broadcasting Corporation, a public service broadcaster

Welsh cakes are a traditional food from:

Answer: Wales

The National Trust is an organisation that:

Answer: A charity that preserves important buildings, coastline and countryside

Europe's longest dry ski slope is located near which city?

Answer: Edinburgh

What is a "pub" in British culture?

Answer: A public house where people gather to socialise and drink

Spending time with friends or family, going to the cinema and reading are examples of:

Answer: Leisure activities that are popular in the UK

Gardening and DIY (do-it-yourself home improvement) are:

Answer: Popular leisure activities in the UK

Which of the following is a famous horse racing event held at Epsom?

Answer: The Derby

Which famous painter is associated with the Lake District?

Answer: J.M.W. Turner

John Constable is famous for his paintings of:

Answer: The English countryside, particularly in Suffolk

David Hockney is a famous British:

Answer: Painter

The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (the Proms) are held at:

Answer: The Royal Albert Hall, London

Which famous playwright wrote "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?

Answer: William Shakespeare

Where is Shakespeare's "Globe Theatre" located?

Answer: London

Which author created the character "James Bond"?

Answer: Ian Fleming

What is the "Edinburgh Festival"?

Answer: The world's largest arts festival, held annually in Edinburgh in August

What is the "West End" in London famous for?

Answer: Its theatre district, including many famous theatres

Which famous British architect designed the Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe) in London?

Answer: Norman Foster

What is "Cockney" rhyming slang?

Answer: A form of slang from London where words are replaced by rhyming phrases

Which of the following is a traditional Christmas custom in the UK?

Answer: Giving and receiving Christmas cards and presents

What is "Boxing Day"?

Answer: The day after Christmas Day (26 December), a public holiday in the UK

What is "Shrove Tuesday" (Pancake Day)?

Answer: The day before Lent begins, traditionally marked by eating pancakes

What is the Chelsea Flower Show?

Answer: The world's most famous garden show, held annually in London

What sport is played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London?

Answer: Cricket

Royal Ascot is a prestigious annual event in which sport?

Answer: Horse racing

The FA Cup is a knockout competition in which sport?

Answer: Football

England's national football team plays its home games at:

Answer: Wembley Stadium, London

Which British tennis player won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016?

Answer: Andy Murray

Where is cricket most popular in the UK?

Answer: England

What is the population of London approximately?

Answer: Around 9 million

The British Museum is located in which city?

Answer: London

The National Museum of Scotland is located in:

Answer: Edinburgh

The Tate Modern art gallery is located in:

Answer: London

Diwali celebrations typically involve:

Answer: Lighting candles and lamps, fireworks and sharing food

According to the 2011 Census, approximately what percentage of people in the UK identified as Muslim?

Answer: About 5%

Which of the following describes the Church of Scotland?

Answer: It is a Presbyterian church, separate from the Church of England

What is Eid ul Adha?

Answer: A festival where Muslims sacrifice an animal to remember Ibrahim's devotion to God

What type of climate does the UK generally have?

Answer: Temperate (mild with rainfall throughout the year)

Which famous novelist wrote "Middlemarch" and "Silas Marner"?

Answer: George Eliot

Which famous Brontë sister wrote "Jane Eyre"?

Answer: Charlotte Brontë

Thomas Hardy's novels are typically set in which region of England?

Answer: The fictional "Wessex" region (based on rural south-west England)

Evelyn Waugh is a celebrated British author known for:

Answer: Comic and satirical novels including "Brideshead Revisited"

Which famous composer wrote the "Planets" suite?

Answer: Gustav Holst

Edward Elgar is famous for composing:

Answer: "Land of Hope and Glory" and the "Enigma Variations"

The poem "Jerusalem" is often sung at sporting events and was written by:

Answer: William Blake

Which Shakespeare theatre company is based in Stratford-upon-Avon?

Answer: The Royal Shakespeare Company

Agatha Christie is famous for:

Answer: Detective fiction featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple

Which TV programme has the longest run in British television history?

Answer: Coronation Street

The National Gallery is located in which London square?

Answer: Trafalgar Square

Which famous museum in London houses the Rosetta Stone?

Answer: The British Museum

The population of the UK is approximately 67 million. Roughly what proportion lives in England?

Answer: Almost all of it — about 84%

Which of these is a traditional British food?

Answer: Fish and chips

Afternoon tea is a British tradition that typically includes:

Answer: Sandwiches, scones and cakes, served with tea

What is the "Notting Hill Carnival"?

Answer: Europe's largest street festival, celebrating Caribbean culture

The RSPCA stands for:

Answer: Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

In which year were the Olympic Games held in London most recently?

Answer: 2012

Sir Mo Farah is famous for:

Answer: Winning Olympic gold medals in long-distance running (5,000m and 10,000m)

Which annual event is held on the Thames in London and involves Oxford and Cambridge?

Answer: The Boat Race

The Henley Royal Regatta is a famous annual event in which sport?

Answer: Rowing

Which pub game is traditionally very popular in the UK?

Answer: Darts

What is "English Heritage"?

Answer: A charity that manages over 400 historic sites in England

Buckfast Abbey is a working Benedictine monastery located in:

Answer: Devon

What is the Caledonian Canal?

Answer: A canal linking the east and west coasts of Scotland through the Great Glen

The Jorvik Viking Centre is located in which British city?

Answer: York

Wales is known for which traditional form of community singing?

Answer: Male voice choirs

What is the national dish widely considered to be one of Britain's most popular today?

Answer: Chicken tikka masala

The Royal Mint is responsible for:

Answer: Making the UK's coins

Guy Fawkes Night is named after:

Answer: One of the conspirators in the 1605 Gunpowder Plot

The Edinburgh International Festival runs alongside which other major event?

Answer: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

St David's Day (1 March) is traditionally marked by wearing which items?

Answer: A daffodil or leek

Which of the following is a famous English cheese?

Answer: Cheddar

What is the Scottish national dress for men?

Answer: Kilt and sporran

Which race is known as "the greatest show on turf"?

Answer: The Derby at Epsom

Sir Jackie Stewart, who won the Formula 1 world championship three times, competed in which sport?

Answer: Motor racing

Bobby Moore captained the English team that won the World Cup in 1966 in which sport?

Answer: Football

Sir Ian Botham captained the English national team in which sport?

Answer: Cricket

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won Olympic gold medals in 1984 in which sport?

Answer: Ice dancing

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won 16 Paralympic medals, is famous in which sport?

Answer: Wheelchair racing

Dame Kelly Holmes won two gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in which discipline?

Answer: Running

Dame Ellen MacArthur, who in 2004 became the fastest to sail solo around the world, is famous as a what?

Answer: Yachtswoman

Sir Chris Hoy, winner of six Olympic gold medals, competed in which sport?

Answer: Cycling

In 2012, Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win which cycling race?

Answer: The Tour de France

Ellie Simmonds won Paralympic gold medals in which sport?

Answer: Swimming

David Weir, a six-time Paralympic gold medallist and London Marathon winner, competes in what?

Answer: Wheelchair racing

The Paralympic Games have their origin in the work of Dr Ludwig Guttman at which English hospital?

Answer: Stoke Mandeville

How many times has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?

Answer: Three times

What is the most popular sport in the UK?

Answer: Football

Which major stadium for sporting events is located in Cardiff?

Answer: The Principality Stadium

In which country did the sport of rugby originate?

Answer: England

The Six Nations rugby championship includes England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and which other country?

Answer: France

Wimbledon is the only "Grand Slam" tennis tournament played on which surface?

Answer: Grass

Who was the first person to sail single-handed around the world?

Answer: Sir Francis Chichester

The UK's most famous sailing regatta is held at Cowes on which island?

Answer: The Isle of Wight

Which of these is a recent British Formula 1 world champion?

Answer: Lewis Hamilton

The first tennis club was founded in 1872 in which English town?

Answer: Leamington Spa

The Scottish Grand National horse race is held at which racecourse?

Answer: Ayr

Which German-born composer became a British citizen and wrote the oratorio Messiah?

Answer: George Frideric Handel

Which composer is best known for the operas Peter Grimes and Billy Budd?

Answer: Benjamin Britten

The composer Henry Purcell was the organist at which church?

Answer: Westminster Abbey

Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, played at the Last Night of the Proms, is popularly known as what?

Answer: Land of Hope and Glory

Since which year has the BBC organised the Proms music season?

Answer: 1927

Which composer wrote orchestral and choral music strongly influenced by traditional English folk music?

Answer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Handel wrote the Water Music for which king?

Answer: King George I

What is the name of the most famous concert in the Proms season?

Answer: The Last Night of the Proms

Which murder-mystery play has been running in London's West End since 1952 — the longest initial run of any show in history?

Answer: The Mousetrap

Gilbert and Sullivan, writers of HMS Pinafore and The Mikado, are famous for what kind of work?

Answer: Comic operas

Which composer wrote the music for the musicals Cats and The Phantom of the Opera?

Answer: Andrew Lloyd Webber

In a traditional British pantomime, the character known as the "Dame" is usually played by whom?

Answer: A man

Which music award is given each September for the best album from the UK and Ireland?

Answer: The Mercury Prize

The Brit Awards give annual awards in which field?

Answer: Music

Which German-born British artist (1922–2011) was best known for his portraits?

Answer: Lucian Freud

Which English artist is best known for large bronze abstract sculptures?

Answer: Henry Moore

The Turner Prize for contemporary art is named after which influential landscape painter?

Answer: Joseph Turner

The 18th-century artist Thomas Gainsborough was famous for painting what?

Answer: Portraits

Which 18th-century designer, nicknamed "Capability", created natural-looking landscaped grounds around country houses?

Answer: Lancelot Brown

The White Tower in the Tower of London is an example of what kind of structure?

Answer: A Norman castle keep

Which 17th-century architect designed the Queen's House at Greenwich and the Banqueting House in Whitehall?

Answer: Inigo Jones

Dame Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) was a celebrated British what?

Answer: Architect

Which of these British writers won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

Answer: Harold Pinter

In 2003, which J.R.R. Tolkien novel was voted the country's best-loved novel?

Answer: The Lord of the Rings

Which Anglo-Saxon poem tells of its hero's battles against monsters?

Answer: Beowulf

Which adventure novel was written by Robert Louis Stevenson?

Answer: Treasure Island

The Cenotaph in Whitehall, site of the annual Remembrance Day service, was designed by whom?

Answer: Sir Edwin Lutyens

Which British actor became famous in silent films for his "tramp" character?

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

In which year were films first shown publicly in the UK?

Answer: 1896

Which famous British film director, known for suspense, later moved to Hollywood?

Answer: Sir Alfred Hitchcock

Who created the Oscar-winning animated characters Wallace and Gromit?

Answer: Nick Park

Which British film studio has a claim to being the oldest continuously working film studio in the world?

Answer: Ealing Studios

Which classic film, about British athletes, was directed by Hugh Hudson in 1981?

Answer: Chariots of Fire

Which epic film about the First World War era was directed by Sir David Lean?

Answer: Lawrence of Arabia

Which recent British actor has won an Academy Award (Oscar)?

Answer: Dame Judi Dench

Which 1969 TV show introduced a new type of progressive British comedy?

Answer: Monty Python's Flying Circus

Which satirical puppet show was popular on British TV in the 1980s and 1990s?

Answer: Spitting Image

Which famous satirical magazine was first published in the 1840s?

Answer: Punch

The BBC is funded mainly by the television licence and is the largest broadcaster where?

Answer: In the world

What is the maximum fine for watching TV in the UK without a TV licence?

Answer: £1,000

As well as English, there is a dedicated television channel broadcasting in which language in Wales?

Answer: Welsh

In which part of Westminster Abbey are many famous poets buried or commemorated?

Answer: Poets' Corner

Which Romantic poet wrote "I wandered lonely as a cloud" (also known as The Daffodils)?

Answer: William Wordsworth

Which Romantic poet wrote "She Walks in Beauty"?

Answer: Lord Byron

Which novelist wrote Lucky Jim and more than 20 other novels?

Answer: Sir Kingsley Amis

Which author wrote novels influenced by his religious beliefs, including Brighton Rock and The Honorary Consul?

Answer: Graham Greene

Thomas Chippendale was famous in the 18th century for designing what?

Answer: Furniture

Which designer is known for Art Deco ceramics?

Answer: Clarice Cliff

Which Scottish architect influenced the development of architecture in the UK, Europe and America, including work in Bath?

Answer: Robert Adam

Durham, Lincoln, Canterbury and Salisbury are famous examples of what?

Answer: Cathedrals

What is an "allotment" in the UK?

Answer: Rented land for growing fruit and vegetables

Which of these is a famous garden to visit in England?

Answer: Kew Gardens

Haggis is a traditional food from which part of the UK?

Answer: Scotland

The "Ulster fry" is a traditional fried meal from which part of the UK?

Answer: Northern Ireland

Roast beef served with Yorkshire pudding is a traditional food associated with which country of the UK?

Answer: England

What is the minimum age to take part in the UK National Lottery?

Answer: 16

Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight Festival are examples of famous British what?

Answer: Music festivals

Which garden designer often worked with the architect Edwin Lutyens to design colourful gardens?

Answer: Gertrude Jekyll

British music hall, common until television took over, was a form of what?

Answer: Variety theatre

Which magazine continues the British tradition of satire today?

Answer: Private Eye

Sir Terence Conran was a famous British what?

Answer: Interior designer