05 May 2023

Quiz: How much do you really know about UK traditions?

From royal coronations to Morris dancing, the UK is as famous for its traditions as it is for its fish and chip shops. Time to sit down with a cup of tea and delve into the quirky and bizarre...

4 mins

1. Which London location has been the setting for royal coronations since 1066?

St. Paul's Cathedral

Tower of London

Windsor Castle

Westminster Abbey

2. The UK is famed for its public houses, but do you know the pub with the longest name?

The King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Tavern

The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn

The Cat, the Custard Pot and the Cheese Public House

I am the Only Running Footman Londoners

3. What would you do if you found yourself on Cooper Hill in Gloucestershire with a ball of Double Gloucester Cheese?

Eat in

Roll it down the hill

Slice it up as part of a May Day ceremony

Share it with friends at the annual August Bank Holiday picnic

4. No English village green is complete without a bit of Morris Dancing. Which of the following is not a style of this traditional folk dance?

Molly

Border

Cotswold

Arthur

5. The Boat Race is an annual rowing contest between crews from Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs. What started this tradition back in 1829?

An argument between the Chancellors of each university over who had the better institution

A challenge between two friends both called Charles

Two brothers (one at Oxford and one at Cambridge) who decided to use rowing to show who was the stronger of the two

Two professors who declared their students to be the fittest in the country

6. Invented in the UK, Cricket is a long game at the best of times. How long did the longest game ever recorded last?

18 days

10 days

12 days

16 days

7. What will you never find on a plate of Ulster Fry, one of Northern Ireland’s traditional breakfast dishes?

Hash browns

Bacon

Eggs

Tomatoes

8. What is the official start time for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace?

11.02 am

11.03am

10.57am

11.00am

9. Why is Worthy Farm in Southwest England one of the most famous farms in the UK?

It is the backdrop for the UK’s biggest Morris Dancing competition

It is the home of Glastonbury Festival

It was the location where apple bobbing was invented

It is where the annual tractor championships take place

10. The tallest Maypole in Britain is said to be 27 metres high. In which county would you be able to see it in action?

Cheshire

Shropshire

Surrey

North Yorkshire

11. What activity is not part of the famous Scottish Highland Games?

Hammer throwing

Haggis hurling

Caber tossing

Kilt knotting

12. What is the main difference between a Cornish pasty and a Devonshire one?

The crimp is on the side in Cornwall and on the top in Devon

You will only find swede in a Cornish pasty

The Devon pasty only ever has six main ingredients

A Devon pasty is usually served cold

13. What tradition takes place at the Tower of London every night at 9.53pm?

Ceremony of the Locks

Ceremony of the Lights

Ceremony of the Swords

Ceremony of the Keys

14. Waen Rhydd is home to one of the UK’s quirkiest traditions. What is it?

World Bog Snorkelling Championships

Swamp Football World Championships

Man v Horse race

Annual Nettle Eating Contest

15. In what decade did the first fish and chip shop open in London?

1860s

1890s

1900s

1920s

16. Which of the following is NOT a traditional British sweet treat?

Battenberg cake

Sticky Toffee pudding

Banoffee pie

Apple cake

17. In which of the following locations might you go barrel racing on Boxing Day?

Grantchester

Winchester

Cirencester

Bicester

18. On what day of the year might you stab a haggis with a dirk?

21 January

22 January

25 January

23 January

19. The world's longest-running pancake race still takes place every Shrove Tuesday in which county?

Buckinghamshire

Northamptonshire

Suffolk

York