Take A Hop Across The Pond And See What You Know About The United Kingdom By Taking This Quiz!

Daniel Rackley profile picture

Written by

Last updated · 21 min play time


United Kingdom Quiz Questions

66 Questions · 783 Plays · No comments

Question 1

What great orator led Britain through WWII, saying "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be"?

  • A
    Winston Churchill
  • B
    Tony Blair
  • C
    Hugh Grant
  • D
    Clement Attlee

Question 2

Known as the "Iron Lady," what first female prime minister said, "If you want something done, ask a woman"?

  • A
    Theresa May
  • B
    Angela Merkel
  • C
    Margaret Thatcher
  • D
    Yulia Tymoshenko

Question 3

With 13 nominations and 4 wins, who is the most Oscar-nominated British actor with roles such as Hamlet and Henry IV?

  • A
    Laurence Olivier
  • B
    Kenneth Branagh
  • C
    Gary Oldman
  • D
    Daniel Day-Lewis

Question 4

Created by aliens or Merlin (depending on who you ask), what is the name of this famed and highly-visited prehistoric monument?

  • A
    Machu Picchu
  • B
    Ring of Brodgar
  • C
    Stonehenge
  • D
    Newgrange

Question 5

What Oscar-winning Welsh actor brought the creepy Hannibal Lecter to life in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs?

  • A
    Tom Hiddleston
  • B
    Sean Connery
  • C
    Anthony Hopkins
  • D
    Patrick Stewart

Question 6

Name this naturalist and scientist who spent years on the Galapagos Islands developing the groundbreaking Theory of Evolution.

  • A
    Nikola Tesla
  • B
    Alexander Fleming
  • C
    Charles Darwin
  • D
    Michael Faraday

Question 7

If the Queen's in, you'll see the Royal Standard flying above what famous residence, pictured here?

  • A
    Buckingham Palace
  • B
    Westminster Abbey
  • C
    10 Downing Street
  • D
    Windsor Castle

Question 8

What unfortunate British royal and queen consort of France was beheaded for treason due to her alleged role in plotting to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I?

  • A
    Mary, Queen of Scots
  • B
    Cleopatra
  • C
    Isabella MacDuff
  • D
    Lady Agnes Campbell

Question 9

Owned by fictional landlady Mrs. Hudson, who is the famous address 221B Baker's Street home to?

  • A
    Sherlock Holmes
  • B
    Ebenezer Scrooge
  • C
    James Bond
  • D
    Phileas Fogg

Question 10

Known as "the Lady with the Lamp," what social reformer and founder of modern nursing said her success was that she "never gave or took any excuse"?

  • A
    Florence Nightingale
  • B
    Mary Breckinridge
  • C
    Clara Barton
  • D
    Sandra Dee

Question 11

Known as the "City of Fog," what is the United Kingdom's most populated city – and also its capital?

  • A
    Manchester
  • B
    Liverpool
  • C
    Edinburgh
  • D
    London

Question 12

Blasting onto the scene with "Rolling in the Deep," what multi-grammy winner has become one of the world's best-selling music artists?

  • A
    Adele
  • B
    Lily Allen
  • C
    Dua Lipa
  • D
    Amy Winehouse

Question 13

The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree with which physicist, who came up with the theory of gravity?

  • A
    Alexander Fleming
  • B
    Alan Turing
  • C
    Charles Darwin
  • D
    Isaac Newton

Question 14

Shortly after the Danes conquered Britain, what Norman king came in and took their place, and then went on to build the Tower of London?

  • A
    Napoleon Bonaparte
  • B
    William the Conquerer
  • C
    Harold Godwinson
  • D
    Harald Hardrada

Question 15

Name the British billionaire author who wrote the highly popular Harry Potter series sitting in a cafe looking up at Edinburgh Castle.

  • A
    Virginia Woolf
  • B
    Agatha Christie
  • C
    Stephanie Meyer
  • D
    J.K. Rowling

Question 16

What wars between the House of York and the House of Lancaster began the Tudor line of rule in England?

  • A
    Wars of Tulips
  • B
    Wars of Lillies
  • C
    Wars of Roses
  • D
    Wars of Dandelions

Question 17

After WWI came WWII. What was the Nazi's incessant eight-month bombing of London called?

  • A
    The Blitz
  • B
    The A-bomb
  • C
    The Strafe
  • D
    The Coup de Main

Question 18

Napoleon's reign of terror came to an end when the British stamped out the "Little Dictator" in what battle?

  • A
    Battle of Trafalgar
  • B
    Battle of Waterloo
  • C
    Battle of Leipzig
  • D
    Battle of Bull Run

Question 19

Famous for its mythological creature, what is the biggest lake by volume in the United Kingdom?

  • A
    Loch Lomond
  • B
    Loch Ness
  • C
    Loch Maree
  • D
    Loch Lock

Question 20

As one of soccer's best midfielders, what Manchester United footballer is the first English player to win league titles in four countries?

  • A
    Cristiano Ronaldo
  • B
    Michael Owen
  • C
    David Beckham
  • D
    Gareth Bale

Question 21

What horrible plague befell England in the mid-14th century, killing more than a third of the population?

  • A
    Spanish Flu
  • B
    COVID-2
  • C
    COVID-19
  • D
    The Black Death

Question 22

What A Brief History of Time author and cosmologist came up with a theory about black holes?

  • A
    Richard Dawkins
  • B
    Steven Hawking
  • C
    Albert Einstein
  • D
    Maurice Wilkins

Question 23

As one of Britain's most famous monarchs, what "coppernose" went through six wives and piddled his country's wealth away on flashy festivals and food?

  • A
    William the Conquerer
  • B
    Richard III
  • C
    Henry V
  • D
    Henry VIII

Question 24

Composed of chalk, these famous white cliffs are a big tourist attraction in the UK. Where can you find them?

  • A
    Hunstanton
  • B
    Dovedale
  • C
    Avon
  • D
    Dover

Question 25

Writing "Courage is found in unlikely places," who found courage in Middle Earth, bringing to life the beloved The Lord of the Rings trilogy?

  • A
    Roald Dahl
  • B
    J. R. R. Tolkien
  • C
    Daniel DeFoe
  • D
    Geoffrey Chaucer

Question 26

Accounting for half of the world's trade at one point, what company was established in the early 17th century and would aid Britain's colonial rule?

  • A
    East India Company
  • B
    Trinity House
  • C
    London Fog
  • D
    The Royal Mail

Question 27

James Bond did as his author quoth and "never said 'no' to adventure." Who first introduced the James Bond character to the world in his 1953 thriller Casino Royale?

  • A
    Ian McKellan
  • B
    Ian Fleming
  • C
    Charles Dickens
  • D
    George Orwell

Question 28

Home to popular shows like EastEnders and Sherlock, what UK media network is nicknamed "auntie"?

  • A
    Sky One
  • B
    BBC
  • C
    The Guardian
  • D
    Channel 4

Question 29

In the late 19th century, what war did England fight with Russia in a dispute over the Holy Land?

  • A
    First Opium War
  • B
    Flagstaff War
  • C
    Revolt of the Mercenaries
  • D
    Crimean War

Question 30

Which famed British queen is most associated with Britain's industrial and imperial expansion?

  • A
    Queen Mary
  • B
    Queen Nefertiti
  • C
    Queen Elizabeth I
  • D
    Queen Victoria

Question 31

Known as "the Bard," Shakespeare was one of the world's greatest poets and playwrights, known for works like Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet. Where was he from?

  • A
    South Lanarkshire
  • B
    Sheffield
  • C
    Stratford-Upon-Avon
  • D
    Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Question 32

With one of his most famous lines being but four words – "You shall not pass!" – what British actor was knighted for his body of work, which includes Shakespearean theatre and his role in The Lord of the Rings?

  • A
    Gary Oldman
  • B
    Michael Caine
  • C
    Ian McKellan
  • D
    John Wayne

Question 33

Home to the Sacred Spring - and a world-famous abbey - what old Roman city sits in Somerset and is famous for its spas?

  • A
    Belfast
  • B
    Liverpool
  • C
    Brighton
  • D
    Bath

Question 34

Once celebrated by giving gifts to the poor, today the day after Christmas is primarily for shopping. What's this UK holiday called?

  • A
    Black Friday
  • B
    The Day After Christmas
  • C
    Christmas Post Eve
  • D
    Boxing Day

Question 35

Writing "You see, but you do not observe," Sherlock Holmes and James Watson are his famous creations, as is the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. Name the author.

  • A
    E.M. Forster
  • B
    Arthur Conan Doyle
  • C
    Thomas Hardy
  • D
    Mark Twain

Question 36

In the early 13th century, what famous charter of rights was signed by King John of England at Runnymede?

  • A
    Rights of Man
  • B
    Treaty of Paris
  • C
    Declaration of Independence
  • D
    Magna Carta

Question 37

Breaking away from Roman Catholicism, what church was formed by Henry VIII so he could divorce his wife?

  • A
    Evangelical Church
  • B
    Lutheran Church
  • C
    Methodist Church
  • D
    Anglican Church

Question 38

Quoted as saying "I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married," which "virgin" queen led England to war with Spain?

  • A
    Elizabeth I
  • B
    Elizabeth II
  • C
    Freddie Mercury
  • D
    Victoria

Question 39

Big in the UK as well as Ireland, Saint Patrick's Day celebrates Irish culture and honors the death of its namesake saint. Which of the following was St. Patrick said to have rid from Ireland?

  • A
    Leprechauns
  • B
    Dragons
  • C
    Snails
  • D
    Snakes

Question 40

Creating hits like The Office and Extras, what British comedy writer, director, actor, and producer once said "Proper stupidity is fascinating"?

  • A
    Steve Carell
  • B
    Eddie Izzard
  • C
    Ricky Gervais
  • D
    Jimmy Carr

Question 41

The United Kingdom is made up of 4 separate countries that live under one government. Which of the following is NOT part of the UK?

  • A
    Ireland
  • B
    Wales
  • C
    Scotland
  • D
    England

Question 42

The United Kingdom consists of many islands, and has a lot of coastline. Which of the following bodies of water does NOT border the UK?

  • A
    Baltic Sea
  • B
    North Sea
  • C
    Irish Sea
  • D
    Atlantic Ocean

Question 43

Once the Romans left Britain, right around 400 AD, what group was the next to settle there?

  • A
    Ottomans
  • B
    Anglo-Saxons
  • C
    Jutes
  • D
    Vikings

Question 44

What group broke up the party that was Northumbria and recorded the history of their raids in runestones?

  • A
    Scots
  • B
    Romans, again
  • C
    Danes
  • D
    Vikings

Question 45

Stretching 73 miles (or 80 Roman miles), what famous wall was built when the UK was the Roman province of Britannia?

  • A
    Berlin Wall
  • B
    Hadrian's Wall
  • C
    Wall of Ston
  • D
    Trajan's Wall

Question 46

Before it eventually went on to become the capital of the UK, what did the Romans call their hub city in Britain?

  • A
    Lindum Colonia
  • B
    Londinium
  • C
    Bath
  • D
    Lugdunum

Question 47

Also known as Bonfire Night, a holiday on November 5th commemorates what antihero with the slogan "Remember, remember, the fifth of November"?

  • A
    James Bond
  • B
    Shylock
  • C
    Guy Fawkes
  • D
    James Moriarty

Question 48

Although he was memorably played by Mel Gibson in Braveheart, his story is even wilder than depicted on the big screen. Name this Scottish knight.

  • A
    Gerard Butler
  • B
    William Wallace
  • C
    Robert the Bruce
  • D
    Adam Smith

Question 49

What was the name for the series of skirmishes between England and France that began in the 14th century?

  • A
    WWI
  • B
    Napoleonic Wars
  • C
    Hundred Years' War
  • D
    Nine Years' War

Question 50

Famous for its impromptu street performances, what is London's equivalent to "Times Square" called?

  • A
    Piccadilly Circus
  • B
    Trafalgar Square
  • C
    Big Ben
  • D
    Covent Garden

Question 51

If you go to Scotland, bring an extra suitcase to bring home all its unique products. Which of the following do the Scots produce most of globally?

  • A
    Wool
  • B
    Whisky
  • C
    Chocolate
  • D
    Vodka

Question 52

Quoted as saying, "My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it," Boris Johnson became Prime Minister of England in 2019. What was his profession before becoming a politician?

  • A
    Race car driver
  • B
    Veterinarian
  • C
    Shop owner
  • D
    Journalist

Question 53

Located mainly in the vast area that is now northern England and southern Scotland, what kingdom was founded in the 6th century?

  • A
    Sussex
  • B
    America
  • C
    Northumbria
  • D
    Kent

Question 54

Americans sometimes use the names United Kingdom and Great Britain interchangeably. What is the actual difference?

  • A
    They're the same thing
  • B
    The United Kingdom has a separate Prime Minister
  • C
    Great Britain refers only to England and Scotland
  • D
    Great Britain refers to England, Wales, and Scotland

Question 55

Saying "My definition of success is control," who is this North Irish actor, famous for his Shakespearean roles?

  • A
    Kenneth Branaugh
  • B
    Robert Pattinson
  • C
    Laurence Olivier
  • D
    Jeremy Irons

Question 56

Known as "the People's Princess," Princess Diana died in a car crash in a Paris tunnel while being chased by paparazzi. What year was it?

  • A
    1997
  • B
    1994
  • C
    1991
  • D
    1989

Question 57

The Spice Girls knew "what you want, what you really, really want." Which of the following is NOT a Spice Girls hit from the 1990s?

  • A
    "Waterfalls"
  • B
    "Say You'll Be There"
  • C
    "2 Become 1"
  • D
    "Wannabe"

Question 58

Built atop stunning Castle Rock, what scenic British city is home to the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Holyrood Abbey, and Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags?

  • A
    Edinburgh
  • B
    Belfast
  • C
    Canterbury
  • D
    Glasgow

Question 59

What Elizabethan era explorer was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe and played a key role in defeating the Spanish Armada?

  • A
    Sir John Hawkins
  • B
    Marco Polo
  • C
    Sir Walter Raleigh
  • D
    Sir Francis Drake

Question 60

Of the four countries that comprise the UK, each has its own national capital. Which of the following cities is NOT one of them?

  • A
    Edinburgh
  • B
    Cardiff
  • C
    Belfast
  • D
    Bristol

Question 61

In the late 9th century, who became the King of Wessex and later defeated the Vikings?

  • A
    Henry VI
  • B
    Ivan the Terrible
  • C
    John the Good
  • D
    Alfred the Great

Question 62

The Scottish Highlands are full of magical formations and folklore. What is this famous Isle of Skye rock called?

  • A
    Old Man of Storr
  • B
    Old Man of Hoy
  • C
    Cheesewring
  • D
    Old Man and the Sea

Question 63

Drive the Coastal Highway and arrive at this incredible geological formation in Northern Ireland, known as what?

  • A
    Cliffs of Moher
  • B
    Giant's Causeway
  • C
    Durdle Door
  • D
    Brimham Rocks

Question 64

Similar to a Full English Breakfast, which of the following is NOT included in a Northern Ireland Ulster Fry?

  • A
    Hashbrowns
  • B
    Veggie roll
  • C
    Egg
  • D
    Soda bread

Question 65

At only 1.9 million people, which is the least populated country that's part of the United Kingdom?

  • A
    England
  • B
    Northern Ireland
  • C
    Scotland
  • D
    Wales

Question 66

Flowing 220 miles through Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire, what is the longest river in the UK?

  • A
    The Danube
  • B
    River Severn
  • C
    River Thames
  • D
    River Trent

Comments (0)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.