If You Can Ace This Pub Trivia Quiz, We’d Guess You’re a True Brit

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
If You Can Ace This Pub Trivia Quiz, We’d Guess You’re a True Brit
Image: Henrik Sorensen/DigitalVision/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Some spend their formative years with their noses buried in books. Some spend their time at university actually studying. Others spend that time watching reality television competitions, listening to obscure bands, or becoming obsessed with some niche area of history. There are even odds, when one steps into the pub quiz arena, that a formal education will be more valuable than an informal, ad hoc education. Perhaps those dozens of school trips to Hampton Court will finally pay off by providing a valuable piece of trivia, or that time you did not sleep through a history class will mean the difference between victory or defeat. We can guarantee that if you know Britain, you will know most of what we have in store for you!

Most of the facts one learns from teachers never really become useful, but the things one learns from the contents of a Christmas cracker will always be useful when it's pub quiz night! Sadly, we cannot provide you with a pub atmosphere (unless you take this quiz in a pub) but we can provide you with entertaining brain teasers guaranteed to have you swearing that the answer is on the tip of your tongue. Pub quiz victories don't come easily, so think of this as an opportunity to give your brain the workout it needs to conquer quiz night when it happens at your local. How well do you think you will do in our pub quiz? If you succeed here, we'll just have to assume you are a true Brit!

Race Horse
Pixabay by annca
Which of the below is NOT a major British horseracing course?
Newmarket
Ascot
Silverstone
Aintree
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While a horse race at Silverstone would be tremendously entertaining when they reached one of the banking turns, it would be a shocking sight. Silverstone is a Formula One racetrack. The others are all for horses.

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England
Pixabay by InspiredImages
In what part of the country would you find a Brummie accent?
Midlands
West Country
North of England
Northern Ireland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

“Brummie” accents are found in Birmingham, the largest city in the UK outside of London. Birmingham is a city in the Midlands, placing it about halfway up England on the north-south axis. The accent is considered fairly “neutral”, perhaps in a nod to the city’s position.

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Funeral
Miguel Sotomayor/Moment/Getty Images
What tragic event occurred in the late 1340s that killed about a third of the British population?
The Great Fire Of London
The Civil War
The Black Death
The Eruption of Mount Tambora
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

About 50% of the population of Europe died in the Black Death. While it was absolutely tragic and very few families were left untouched by it, the plague did result in a huge weakening of feudalism when landlords were unable to hang onto their labourers and had to treat them a little better … for a while.

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Crystal_Palace_fire_1936
WikiCommons
What building, later destroyed, was constructed to house the Great Exhibition of 1851?
Vauxhall Gardens
Royal Albert Hall
Windsor Castle
Crystal Palace
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There is still a football team called Crystal Palace, but there is no actual Crystal Palace! This Victorian building looked like a massive greenhouse and was designed to host the Great Exhibition of 1851, at which modern inventions were showcased. The palace was notable for having some of the earliest public bathrooms in the UK.

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Scotland
Pixabay by FrankWinkler
Whose birth on July 5th, 1996 marked a huge leap forward for science at the Roslin Institute in Scotland?
Louise Brown, the first “test tube baby”
Dolly the sheep
The first baby with three parents
Greta Thunberg
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dolly the sheep was the first mammal born by cloning a previously existing animal. She lived until 2003 and her birth marked a new frontier in the field of genetics. Dolly was named in honour of Dolly Parton, of whom the sheep’s creators were huge fans!

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M1
WikiCommons by Albert Bridge
Britain has a very impressive inter-city motorway system. Which of its major roads was the first one completed?
M4
M1
M25
M3
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One can be forgiven for forgetting the history of the British motorways, as the experience of commuting upon them can be so traumatic as to recommend wiping all thoughts of them from one's memory. Nevertheless, the answer is the M1. The M1 is the main road from London to Leeds.

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Library
Pexels by Pixabay
Which of these is NOT one of the “legal deposit libraries"?
National Library of Scotland
National Library of Wales
Cambridge University Library
Blenheim Palace Library
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are five libraries in the UK that receive a copy of all newly printed works - three of the above plus Library, Trinity College Dublin, and the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Together they protect Britain’s literary heritage -- and they are also very beautiful and well worth a visit!

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Farthing
WikiCommons by Retroplum
Back before British money was decimalised, how many farthings were in a penny?
1
2
3
4
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There were four farthings in a penny, twelve pennies in a shilling, and twenty shillings in a pound. This is, of course, a very silly system, and it was eliminated in favour of a much more usable decimal system in 1971.

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Can You Finish These Tongue Twisters? 1
Nazar Abbas Photography/Moment/GettyImages
What do the following have in common: The Rollright Stones, Long Meg and her Daughters, and Stanton Drew?
They are all fictional British detectives.
They are all ancient stone circles.
They are all ska bands from East London.
They are all lords who died at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stonehenge is not the only stone circle in the UK, though it is one of the best-preserved and largest. There are lots of other stone circles, including Arbor Low Stone Circle and the Ring of Brodgar.

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Faroe Islands
Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld/Moment/Getty Images
Which of these islands or island groups does NOT belong to the UK?
Shetland
Faroe Islands
Isles of Scilly
Outer Hebrides
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Hebrides and Shetland are both part of Scotland. The Isles of Scilly are part of Cornwall. The Faroe Islands, however, are a self-governing territory of Denmark.

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chocolate
kolderal/Moment/Getty Images
Which originally British chocolate bar lost market share for giving up its much-loved foil packaging?
Time Out
Kit-Kat
Curly Wurly
Flake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kit-Kat was created by that great British institution Rowntree’s, which was later bought by Nestle. One of the great joys of the Kit-Kat was that it came in a foil wrapper whereby you could run your finger along the foil and break off a wafer, a weirdly satisfying feeling that endeared the chocolate bar to millions. A change to plastic wrappers caused quite an uproar.

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Dover
Kypros/Moment/GettyImages
By what collective name are the towns of Dover, Hastings, Hythe, Romney, and Sandwich known?
The Cinque Ports
The Sink Ports
The Ports of Ports
The Portals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cinque Ports were part of a coastal defense system that dates back to pre-Norman times. “Cinque” is French for five, but thanks to English butchering of the French language, it is pronounced “sink” when referring to the ports.

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Vote UK
WikiCommons
When did all adult women get the right to vote in the UK?
1880
1918
1928
1991
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Women in the UK were actually allowed to vote before 1832, if they had property. However, the Victorian age represented a step backward. Some women got the vote in 1918, but only if they were married. In 1928, all adult women were allowed to vote on the same terms as men.

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Partridge
Mark Hugues / Moment / Getty Images
What kind of bird would you find in a “covey”?
Grouse
Partridge
Ptarmigan
All of the above
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It’s a trick question! All game birds live in “coveys” (pronounced to rhyme with lovey, not rove-y). This also includes quail. Game birds can also be described collectively as a bevy or a pack.

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Cairngorms
WikiCommons by Graham Lewis
What is the most northerly national park in the UK?
Cairngorms
Snowdonia
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Brecon Beacons
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Cairngorms national park covers the beautiful area of the eastern Highlands. It is one of the loveliest places in the world, affordable to visit, and easy to reach, thanks to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports being conveniently located nearby.

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John Lewis Store
WikiCommons by Mankind 2k
For what is the major British department store John Lewis known?
All the workers get stock in the company.
All the shops have the exact same layout, so nobody gets lost.
They never have any windows, so you can’t feel the passing of time and shop more.
They each have an official cat who lives in the shop.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

John Lewis is one of the most popular department stores in the UK, and is a sterling example of a worker-owned cooperative. The store is deeply beloved by the British public, partly because the fact that the workers own it means even the most conscience-stricken shipper can shop there without guilt!

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27 crown
Wiki Commons by United Kingdom Government
In what year was the dissolution of the monasteries?
1536
1601
1750
1837
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Henry VIII did not appreciate the power of the church or the fact that it was richer than him. He broke with Rome when the church would not let him divorce his first wife, Katharine of Aragon, and decided he might as well take their land and money while he was at it.

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Chawton
WikiCommons by Ray Moseley
Which writer is noted as a regular famous visitor to Chawton House in Hampshire?
Walter Scott
William Shakespeare
Christopher Marlowe
Jane Austen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chawton House was the home of Jane Austen’s brother, Edward. Austen used to visit the house daily from a smaller residence on the estate, where she would enjoy the very impressive library. A visit to Chawton is not complete without checking out the library, which is notable for its large number of older books by women.

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Battle_of_Bosworth_Field
WikiCommons by John Taylor
What very long British war was decided by the Battle of Bosworth Field?
Boer War
World War One
War of the Roses
Civil War
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There have been plenty of wars in Britain, but the War of the Roses was notable for lasting 30 years, from 1455-1485. This war between the houses of York and Lancaster ended with victory for the Lancastrians, after which winner Henry Tudor wisely married Elizabeth of York in order to ensure that both houses were satisfied in future.

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Sports balls
courtneyk/E+/GettyImages
Which of these sports was NOT invented by the British?
Tennis
Golf
Cricket
Rugby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tennis was invented in France, but golf, cricket, and rugby were all invented in Britain. Of course, the British take great pride in inventing sports and then losing consistently at them, particularly to formerly colonised nations.

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The Tube
Pierre Klemas / Moment / Getty Images
By what name are the people who clean the tracks of the Tube known?
Cleaners
Fluffers
Scrapers
Streakers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Tube is cleaned by a trusty cabal of workers who keep the tracks clean. One of the most significant problems in the Tube is that the tunnels can find themselves beset by preposterously large clogs of human hair!

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Which Real-Life Crown Matches Your Personality?
Pexels by Melt Pels
Which of these is NOT an Anglo-Saxon kingdom?
Mercia
West Anglia
Northumbria
Wessex
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There was never a kingdom of “West Anglia”. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that joined up to form England were Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Wessex.

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North Wales
Wiki Commons by Velela
How far can you get from the sea without leaving the United Kingdom?
50 miles
150 miles
75 miles
20 miles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The UK has such a wiggly coastline that you cannot get away from the sea. This helps to explain why it was such a seafaring nation, as it had plenty of coastline but almost no warm beaches to lie on!

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Beaulieu
Wiki Commons by DeFacto
What do Thame Park, Arisaig, and Beaulieu House have in common?
They were all owned by the Boleyn family.
They were all burned down by the same arsonist.
They all have gardens by Capability Brown.
They were all sites where spies trained during World War Two.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During World War Two, a number of stately homes and estates were requisitioned by the government for use as hospitals, codebreaking facilities, and more. Spies destined to join the Special Operations Executive would train at Thame Park, on the estate of Arisaig, and in cottages on the Beaulieu estate on the South Coast.

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Duke of Devonshire
Wiki Commons by National Trust
In what county does the Duke of Devonshire live?
Devonshire, obviously
Derbyshire
Cornwall
Norfolk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chatsworth House is the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, but it is in Derbyshire. This seems to be mainly a result of where the Cavendish family, holders of the title, happened to have land, which did not relate to the title that was given to their ancestor!

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Yorkshire
WikiCommons by Ch1902
Which of the below is NOT one of the ridings of Yorkshire?
East
West
South
North
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yorkshire is a northerly county that has been divided into three “Ridings” - East, West, and North. There is no south riding. However, there is a diverse array of industrial history there, as well as some of the most beautiful churches and landscapes in the UK.

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Book
Caio Resende via Pexels
Which British author can reasonably claim to be the bestselling novelist of all time?
Agatha Christie
Jane Austen
J. K. Rowling
Barbara Cartland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The creator of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot is the bestselling novelist, with some billions of books sold in dozens of languages. Christie’s work has also been adapted multiple times in multiple territories, and even those who have never read her work are at least somewhat familiar with it.

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Aethelred II the Unready
Wiki Commons
How many kings of England were named Aethelred?
1
2
3
0
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While there is a convention in some quarters to refer to the king commonly called Aethelred The Unready by the title Aethelred II, this isn't correct. The first king named Aethelred was not the King of England, but only the King of Wessex. As the numbering convention of Kings is confined to their nation, Aethelred "Unrad" should be called "King Aethelred of England, first of his name".

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Cleopatra's needle
WikiCommons by Ethan Doyle White
For which surprising queen is an ancient monument on the Victoria Embankment in London named?
Cleopatra
Boudicca
Victoria
Matilda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are monuments all over the UK to its many queens, but there are also plenty of imported monuments, such as Cleopatra’s Needle on the Embankment in London. Some were looted, while others were legitimately purchased and brought back to the UK.

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Blackberry
Diana Miller/Cultura/Getty Images
All true Brits love to go blackberry picking in the right season. But what other popular feature of British gardens is a cousin of the humble blackberry?
Begonia
Poppy
Rose
Gooseberry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blackberries may be mostly grown wild (and they really do show up everywhere in the UK), but they have some fancy domestic relatives. Roses, apricots, almonds and more belong to the same family. Indeed, disease-resistant “roseberry” plants have been bred to help roses borrow genes from their tougher relatives.

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British-Empire
WikiCommons by Cornell University Library
Roughly how much land did the British Empire cover at its height?
⅓ of the world
⅒ of the world
¼ of the world
½ of the world
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The British Empire was short lived by the standards of some historical empires, but it made up for this with its enormous size. It was so vast that the sun never set upon it, and it covered a quarter of the world at the same time. This is even more impressive when you allow that this number does NOT include the USA!

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Mary Queen of Scots
WikiCommons by François Clouet
What did the ladies-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots’ have in common?
They were all French.
They were all converts to Catholicism.
They were all called Mary.
They all conspired to kill her.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mary, Queen of Scots, was mostly raised in France, but she had four Franco-Scottish ladies-in-waiting to attend her there. They were called Mary Steno, Mary Fleming, Mary Beaton, and Mary Seton.

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St Edwards Crown
Youtube by Monsanch9
What is the oldest item among The Crown Jewels?
Saint Edward's Staff
The Spoon
The Sword of State
The Ampulla
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Likely the most valuable spoon in the world, the spoon used to anoint the new monarch is just over 10 and one half inches long, and is beautifully engraved. Known to date to at least 1349, the spoon has survived in the collection while other objects, including Saint Edward's Staff, were destroyed and had to be remade.

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Battle_of_Maldon_Plains
WikiCommons by Ken Eckert
What is the oldest recorded battlefield in Britain?
Bannockburn
Neville's Cross
Hastings
Maldon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the Normans took England, their historians quickly created a new category for the Norman kings, calling the time before 1066 "Time Immemorial" and giving kings from before 1066 adjectives, and the kings thereafter, numbers. It is thus no great surprise that few remember much of The Battle of Maldon, fought on the edge of the seaside village of Maldon, Essex.

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television
Pixabay by Free-Photos
What is the friendliest thing about British television?
The video format
The personalities
The style of the BBC, as opposed to commercial television
"Antiques Roadshow" of course!
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Early CRT televisions were too slow to produce progressive images without a visible flicker. To overcome this, America, which had TV before the UK, used a video format called NTSC. It overcame this foible by interlacing video; writing one in five lines until reaching the bottom, then doing the same for the second and sixth lines and so on. Adopting TV once CRTs had improved, the UK adopted a progressive format called PAL. Friendly, no?

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