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About This Quiz
Officially known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (say that fives times fast!), the United Kingdom is located off the northwestern coast of Europe and comprised of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Often referred to simply as ‘the UK,’ it’s one of the most powerful, influential and richest sovereign states in the world. Success hasn’t gone to their heads though — they’re really quite polite! Each country in the UK has its own distinctive culture, history and geography, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world and sparking inspiration for countless works.
Popular UK cities such as London, Glasgow and Belfast are thriving metropolises where tradition and modernity meet, from quaint pubs and medieval castles to world-class restaurants and museums. Feeling a little cheeky? Test your knowledge of UK cities in this quiz where we’ll whisk you from the bustling streets of London to the sweeping highlands of Inverness. Will this quiz have you feeling knackered or bloody brilliant? Find out before you get left on the wrong side of Tower Bridge! By the end of this valiant test of brain power, don't be surprised if you find yourself with a bit of a cockney accent and a most curious craving for a cup of English Breakfast tea with a biscuit.
Considered one of the greatest rock bands, The Beatles were formed in which UK city?
Bristol
Manchester
Cambridge
Liverpool
In 1960, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr formed the Beatles in the port city of Liverpool and changed music forever. Now, it's become a popular tourist destination for fans.
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In 1666, a great fire consumed five-sixths of this UK city, destroying St. Paul's Cathedral, 87 parish churches and at least 13,000 dwellings. Which city is it?
Bristol
Cardiff
Glasgow
London
The Great Fire of London was a catastrophic fire that swept through parts of the city in 1666. The cost of the fire was estimated to be £10 million — the city's annual income was only £12,000!
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Loch Ness is a famous lake in the Scottish highlands best known for its namesake mythical monster, "Nessie." Which city is located closest to Loch Ness?
Inverness
Loch Ness is a 23-mile freshwater lake with dark waters due to the peat washed down from the hills. The first ever "Nessie" sighting dates back to 565 AD by St. Columba, an Irish monk.
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Aberdeen
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Before the fight for Middle Earth was on, J.R.R. Tolkien spent his childhood in and around which large UK city?
Oxford
Birmingham
Although J.R.R. Tolkien wasn't born in Birmingham, he spent most of his childhood there. The countryside from his youth had a significant influence on his work like "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings."
London
Leeds
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Established in the 12th century and nicknamed the "City of Dreaming Spire," a prestigious university is located in which UK city?
London
Edinburgh
Coventry
Oxford
Oxford University is the oldest English-speaking university in the world dating back to the 1100s. Matthew Arnold coined the term "City of Dreaming Spire" in a poem after visiting the university.
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Indulge your sweet tooth at this UK city that was once known for its "sugar houses" and chocolate manufacturing.
Birmingham
Bath
Coventry
Bristol
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the seaport city of Bristol imported sugar and cacao from colonies. These imports led to the rise of “sugar houses” and chocolate manufacturing.
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Winter is coming ... if you don't get this question right! The popular TV series "Game of Thrones" was filmed closed to which UK city?
Belfast
Many of the stunning filming locations used in the hit HBO show, "Game of Thrones," were shot across Northern Ireland. The show is so popular there are tours are now offered from Belfast.
York
Brighton
Inverness
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Established as a city in 1905 and made the capital of Wales in 1955, what is the name of this Welsh city?
Newport
Cardiff
The largest city and the capital of Wales, Cardiff is an industrial city that is rising as a popular tourist destination. In 2011, Cardiff was named by National Geographic as one of the top 10 places to visit in the world.
Flintshire
Swansea
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Located in the heart of England and known as the land of Robin Hood, what is the name of this UK city?
Nottingham
Nottingham is located in the English Midlands region and most famous for its ties to the legend of Robin Hood. The thief with a heart of gold is a much celebrated icon in the area.
Leicester
Chester
Derby
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No need to cram for this quiz; which UK city is home to a prestigious university dating back to the 1200s?
Stirling
Exeter
Southampton
Cambridge
The prestigious Cambridge University was founded way back in 1209, making it the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. It's also the fourth-oldest surviving university in the whole world!
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Thanks to its once-booming industry and city architecture, what is Aberdeen's nickname?
Limestone City
Sandstone City
Granite City
The Scottish city of Aberdeen is called the "Granite City" dues to its granite architecture and local quarries. In the 1800s, Aberdeen was the granite capital of the world, but now it's more known for oil, research and technology.
Marble City
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Get ready to score a goal! Which city is home to one of the most successful football teams in England?
York
Birmingham
Manchester
Located in northwestern England, Manchester's professional football club, Manchester United Football Club, rakes in the crowds. The club first formed in 1878 and was later renamed to its current moniker in 1902.
Sheffield
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The prefix of this Northern Ireland city will look familiar to you, but its suffix comes from the Irish word 'doire,' meaning "oak grove."
Londonderry
Londonderry is Northern Ireland's second largest city but is often referred to simply as 'Derry' by locals. In 1613, 'London' was added to the name after King James I granted the city a royal charter.
Belfast
Bangor
Lisburn
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Jane Austen made her home in which city from 1801 to 1806 and has a museum dedicated to her life and work?
Bath
During Jane Austen's time in the early 1800s, Bath was a thriving spa resort that was popular with fashionable society. Bath is featured in Austen's novels, "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion."
London
York
Hereford
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Catch a show at the City Varieties where legendary performers like Charlie Chaplin and Harry Houdini once headlined. Where is this famous music hall located?
London
Leeds
Founded in 1865, the City Varieties in Leeds is an ornate, restored Victorian music hall where you can catch a great show. Other notable performers there include Buster Keaton, Lilly Langtry and Mickey Rooney.
Edinburgh
York
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Which UK city's name was derived from 'Priest's Town'?
Reading
Bradford
Preston
Located in Lancashire county in northwestern England, Preston's name is derived from 'Priest's Town.' The holy meaning behind the name suggests that there was an early settlement of religious origin in the Anglo-Saxon period.
Stirling
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Home to a medieval castle that served as an air raid shelter during WWII, what is the name of this Welsh city?
Pembrokeshire
Caernarfon
Llandudno
Cardiff
Cardiff Castle in southeastern Wales has been providing shelter and safety since the 11th century. The castle was built on a former third-century Roman fort and later used as an air raid shelter during WWII.
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Locals in this city are nicknamed 'Brummies,' an abbreviation of the city's local name and its dialect — Brummagem.
Liverpool
Bristol
Birmingham
Once synonymous with counterfeit coins, Brummagem is the local name and dialect for the city of Birmingham. Locals and the regional accent are known by the shortened name "Brummie."
Manchester
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Rock out at this five-day music festival that takes place on farmland in which English county?
Somerset
Catch some of the biggest names in music at Glastonbury Festival, a five-day contemporary music festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England. Originally called "Pilton Festival," it was created in 1970.
Essex
Norfolk
Devon
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Relax by the water at this seaside resort town in Northern Ireland that's also home to the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.
Londonderry
Bangor
Bangor's beginnings date back to circa 500 B.C. during the late Bronze Age. Where once Vikings stormed the beaches, it's now a seaside resort town and home to the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.
Lisburn
Belfast
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Dubbed the 'Steel City' for its steel production in the 19th century, what is this English city's official name?
Sheffield
In 1856, inventor Henry Bessemer’s tested and used his new method for steel production in a Sheffield factory. As a result, heavy steel industries greatly expanded in the city earning it the 'Steel City' nickname.
Aberdeen
Canterbury
Newport
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Once a major hub for lace making, where can you find the historic neighborhood, the Lace Market, in the UK?
Worcester
Salisbury
Portsmouth
Nottingham
The Lace Market in Nottingham was once the hub of the British Empire's lace making industry. Now, the Lace Market's Victorian redbrick warehouses are home to hip pubs, restaurants and businesses.
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Known for playing the Doctor in the popular sci-fi TV show "Doctor Who," the actor Peter Capaldi hails from this city, the largest in Scotland.
Glasgow
Not only is Glasgow the largest city in Scotland, but it's also the third largest in the UK. Glasgow native Peter Capaldi played the 12th incarnation of the Doctor in "Doctor Who."
Cardiff
Belfast
Edinburgh
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You'll win gold (OK, maybe just a point) if you pick the right answer! Which UK city hosted the 2012 summer Olympics?
Belfast
Edinburgh
London
In 2012, London hosted the Olympic summer games and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II. London has previously hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948. The United States is the only other country that has hosted the Summer Olympics more than once.
Glasgow
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Known for its Roman-built baths, what's the name of the UK city that became a World Heritage Site in 1987?
Liverpool
Bath
Constructed around 70 AD., the Roman Baths in the city of Bath is a grand bathhouse complex that you can still take a dip. It's one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world and a World Heritage Site.
Portsmouth
Brighton
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Curl up to this influential collection of tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer about a pilgrimage from London to where?
Lancaster
Durham
Bradford
Canterbury
"The Canterbury Tales" was written by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400 as a collection of stories. Often studied in literature classes, it tells the story of a group of 30 pilgrims who travel to Canterbury.
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John Cabot, an Italian navigator and explorer, departed from which port city on his first expedition across the Atlantic?
Dover
Glasgow
Liverpool
Bristol
John Cabot (originally 'Giovanni Caboto') gained a commission from King Henry VII and sailed from Bristol in 1497 to explore the new world. It's believed that he landed in Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island or southern Labrador.
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Where does Scotland's oldest daily newspaper, The Press and Journal, call home?
Edinburgh
Aberdeen
Brush up on Scottish news, sports and politics with Scotland's oldest daily newspaper, The Press and Journal, based in Aberdeen. Established in 1747, it was originally called The Aberdeen Journal.
Glasgow
Bangor
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Where is the largest cathedral in Britain and the fifth largest in the world located?
Birmingham
Manchester
Liverpool
Liverpool's stately Anglican Cathedral was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott in 1904 and took 74 years to build. The city's second cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral, was designed by Frederick Gibberd after WWII.
London
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Before he was known for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Matilda," children's book writer Roald Dahl was born where?
Cardiff
Roald Dahl, the world-famous children’s book author, was born in Cardiff in 1916 and attended Oxford University. He was born to Norwegian immigrant parents and served in WWII as a fighter pilot.
London
Glasgow
Edinburgh
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Make sure to be on your best behavior when visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland situated in which city?
Glasgow
Dundee
Perth
Edinburgh
Commonly referred to simply as 'Holyrood Palace,' it's the official royal residence in Scotland for the British monarch and was once home to Mary Queen of Scots. The palace was built in 1128 by David I, the King of Scots, and was initially a monastery.
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What's the name of this city that's derived from a Pictish word meaning "wood," "copse" or "thicket"?
Culloden
Perth
The riverside city of Perth is located in central Scotland and sits on the River Tay. It was once Scotland's capital and the inspiration behind Sir Walter Scott's novel, "The Fair Maid of Perth."
Dunfermline
Elgin
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Penned by the first female author, where was "Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love" written?
Brighton
Salford
Lincoln
Norwich
"Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love" was written in the 1390s by Julian of Norwich and are considered a powerful work of English mysticism. Little is known about her before she became an anchoress, living in permanent seclusion.
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Don't get your tongue in a twist! Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch is one of the longest town names in the world and located in which UK country?
England
Wales
Typically shortened to 'Llanfairpwll,' the village is located on the island of Anglesey in Wales. Comprised of 58 letters, it's the longest place name in the UK. It translates to “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the cave.”
Scotland
Northern Ireland
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Quench your thirst at the oldest pub in the UK, The Bingley Arms, located in which city?
Leeds
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, The Bingley Arms in Bardsey, Leeds, England is the oldest pub in the UK. The pub dates back over 1,000 years ago and continues to serve thirsty patrons.
Perth
Sheffield
Worcester
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