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Things British People Know that Americans Don't

These trivia questions should be easy for any British person, but almost impossible for Americans. Can you answer them?
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Featured Quiz
Last updated: August 2, 2020
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First submittedAugust 2, 2020
Times taken32,417
Average score52.4%
Rating4.17
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Hint
Answer
If a British person says "I went to my local", where have they gone?
a Pub
What must British households pay £157.50 per year in order to legally use?
Television
What popular British TV series is known as "Strictly" for short?
Strictly Come Dancing
What test cricket series has been played between England and Australia since 1882?
The Ashes
What city did Lady Godiva ride through without any clothes on?
Coventry
What is the name of the senior Minister of the Crown who deals with the
internal affairs of the United Kingdom?
Home Secretary
What units do British people typically use to measure their weight?
Stone and pounds
What food product is the Walkers company famous for making?
Crisps
(aka, Potato Chips)
What card is used to pay for journeys on London's public transit system?
Oyster Card
What Somali-born runner has won 4 gold medals for Great Britain?
Mo Farah
What was the profession of Margaret Thatcher's father?
Greengrocer
What are Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly better known as?
Ant & Dec
What is the name of the fake children's character who is pink with yellow spots and
whose #1 Christmas hit is considered possibly the worst song of all time?
Mr. Blobby
What word, starting with W, means "to whine or complain"?
Whinge
On what holiday is it most common for British people to light fireworks?
Guy Fawkes Day
Who is the star of the British version of "The Apprentice"?
Lord Sugar
In what country was Prince Philip born?
Greece
What have people chased down Cooper's Hill each year for hundreds of years?
Cheese
What type of people belong to London's "Inner Temple"?
Barristers
(aka Lawyers)
Where do Scousers come from?
Liverpool / Merseyside
Americans spell the last letter of the alphabet as "zee".
How do British people spell it?
Zed
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101 Recent Comments
plattitude
+4
Level 92
Aug 3, 2020
Was getting really frustrated that Octopus wasn't accepted... until I remembered that was Hong Kong's version.
sihollett
+1
Level 87
Aug 3, 2020
Oyster stole the seafood-beginning-with-o idea from Hong Kong (and the whole idea in the first place), but went with "the world's your..."
rosina
+1
Level 61
Oct 23, 2022
And just to confuse matters, Octopus is the name of a renewable energy company in the UK.
vermiciousknid
+2
Level 89
Aug 3, 2020
Fun and informative! I'm from the USA and I only got 8 out of 21. After seeing the answers I feel I should have gotten a couple more, but they just didn't come to me. I had never heard of the Cooper's Hill event, but I'm very amused by the idea!
BenSP
+4
Level 79
Aug 4, 2020
For the last question would you accept I T? 5 stars for a fun quiz
Fuse
+1
Level 78
Aug 17, 2020
I must give you the award for the most genius answer on this quiz. Here you go 🏆
elijahwade
+4
Level 95
Aug 4, 2020
Hiya,

Great quiz! Here are a few suggestions:

The television licence pays for the BBC and not for television in general.

The Oyster Card question might be rather dated as, while Oyster Cards are still valid, since 2014, they have been in the process of being phased out in favour of contactless bank cards in the 'TfL' scheme.

In common terminology, 5 November is referred to as 'Guy Fawkes Night' and not 'Guy Fawkes Day'.

Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Aug 4, 2020
The quiz is accurate. Guy Fawkes Night is also called Guy Fawkes Day and you need a TV license to watch any channel, not just the BBC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one

Olober
+8
Level 57
Aug 4, 2020
Regarding Guy Fawke's. Maybe according to Wikipedia, but I'm sure most Brits would agree that it's extremely rare to hear it, being that any celebrations typically happen after dark. The most common name used in my personal experience is actually just "bonfire night", whatever that's worth

And while yes, according to that link, you do need a TV license for pretty much any live TV or streaming, the vast majority of money is paid to the BBC

https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-does-your-licence-fee-pay-for-top13

Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Aug 4, 2020
Yeah, I should have put "Guy Fawkes Night" originally, but now I'm being stubborn :)
Shearer
+8
Level 51
Aug 17, 2020
I'm a 54 year old Brit, originally from Lancashire and for the last 30 years, Shropshire. Never called it Guy Fawke's Day or Guy Fawke's Night. Known it as Bonfire Night or 5th of November. Certainly not a 'holiday'. Good quiz though.
JonOfKent
+5
Level 57
Aug 17, 2020
Yer I agree, I've never come across Guy Fawkes' Night being called Guy Fawkes' Day except by foreigners... perhaps that is another thing which British people know which Americans don't? ;-)
ruftytufty
+2
Level 79
Oct 23, 2022
Spent some of my childhood in Yorkshire, and it's known there as Plot Night
brandybuck96
+1
Level 83
Mar 9, 2023
Have spent my entire life in Yorkshire and never heard of Plot Night... could be an extreme regionalism or archaism?
FoxChaser
+2
Level 45
Aug 22, 2023
No, you need a TV license to WATCH LIVE TV, not to "use a television". You can watch catch-up TV without a license just fine.
Berney
+7
Level 81
Aug 5, 2020
21/21. I'd agree with the Guy Fawkes' Night comment, no-one calls it Guy Fawkes' Day. It's either Guy Fawkes' Night or Bonfire Night. It's also not a holiday - really it's just an annual evening event.
ChipOtley
+2
Level 74
Aug 10, 2020
I guess in a loose sense, holiday could be translated as festival/day of celebration (e.g. fiesta would cover this?), not necessarily a day off work.
fitheach
+3
Level 58
Aug 17, 2020
Agreed: never heard it called Guy Fawke's Day (all the activities take place in the evening), it is and never has been a holiday (in the UK, a holiday is either when you go away for a week or two, or when there's a government-defined day off work for many people, generally called a Bank Holiday).
kiwiquizzer
+2
Level 68
Oct 23, 2022
In NZ, it's Guy Fawke's. (Or Guy Fawke's Night). And it's not a holiday.
tbolt
+2
Level 77
Aug 4, 2020
As an American I knew some of the answers. The others I remember hearing the hosts of Top Gear (Clarkson, Hammond, May) mention or talk about.
Shiloh376
+2
Level 76
Aug 5, 2020
American - got the first and the last. Pub and Zed That's It!
JessicaDR
+1
Level 62
Aug 6, 2020
Ditto
Jeremy
+1
Level 74
Aug 5, 2020
7/21, two of which I learned from Harry Potter. This was definitely a tough one.
mightythor
+1
Level 66
Aug 17, 2020
Does cheese run quickly in the UK?
Stowsettler
+2
Level 59
Aug 17, 2020
It does down that hill!
RAFhatter
+2
Level 49
Aug 17, 2020
It does if you roll a massive wheel of it down an extremely steep hill.
TheGreatArturo
+1
Level 78
Mar 20, 2024
Yes, if you leave the Brie out on a hot day.
Stowsettler
+1
Level 59
Aug 17, 2020
21/21. True Brit.
stylus
+2
Level 76
Aug 17, 2020
agree about guy fawkes’ night v.s. day, but could boring old 5th November or November 5 be accepted as well? that was my first guess as a brit
WelshWizard
+1
Level 84
Aug 17, 2020
You've been able to pay for London's public transport (services from TfL) using any contactless payment card for a few years now. Only tourists and people with travelcards use Oysters!
Suhas
+1
Level 23
Aug 17, 2020
Missed Ant and Dec😢😭 my favourites❤😍😘😢
HectorVortac
+1
Level 48
Aug 17, 2020
Wow. Just Fawkes, zed, cheese, and stone. (Don't try to get a cheese question past me)

But I finally learn what 'whinge' means.

FranckMee
+1
Level 66
Aug 17, 2020
Saaaaad! I tried November 5th, 11/5, 5/11, 5th of November, but I just didn't think to enter Guy Fawkes Day!!! ^^
Zenelle
+1
Level 48
Aug 17, 2020
I'm British and ended up with 15... I'm not really into sports or politics, to be fair xD
nicolasquiz
+1
Level 68
Aug 17, 2020
Got 9 out of 21 as a german. Should have gotten the Guy Fawkes one
ClementBlobfish
+1
Level 23
Aug 17, 2020
Im from britain and I didnt know about 5 of these. And I drink tea!
kalbahamut
+1
Level 82
Aug 17, 2020
I knew more than half of these. But still pretty challenging. Took me a while to remember Oyster card even though I still have mine in a drawer somewhere.
EcceHomo
+1
Level 81
Aug 17, 2020
Not much of an achievement for a UK-born individual, but I did get them all right.
Pharley
+4
Level 73
Aug 17, 2020
"What are Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly better known as?" Can "a couple of right plonkers" be accepted?
mo918
+2
Level 77
Aug 17, 2020
12/21 for an American, im pretty happy with that.
AlexThirkell
+2
Level 75
Aug 17, 2020
Honorary Brit!
AllHailKingHomer
+1
Level 77
Aug 17, 2020
Californian. I got Oyster, zed, Farrah, CHips, stone, and I should have been allowed shopkeeper for thatchy watchy's dad
AlexThirkell
+2
Level 75
Aug 17, 2020
Please accept "Double Gloucester" for the Cooper's Hill question!!!
mikeyheath92
+2
Level 49
Oct 23, 2022
Or don't be snobby and just put the right answer.
jakec
+1
Level 37
Aug 17, 2020
thank you for introducing me to Mr. Blobby
CaptainUnderpant
+1
Level 79
Aug 19, 2023
Mr. Blobby will haunt my nightmares
carrow
+1
Level 52
Aug 17, 2020
Australian, 18/21. Was sure Mr Thatcher was a newsagent for some reason.
DanielJS
+1
Level 55
Oct 26, 2022
His name was Alf Roberts and was a grocer, as was Alf Roberts in Coronation Street! So that's easy to remember.
Linen
+1
Level 51
Aug 17, 2020
Can biscuits also be acceptable for walkers? there is another company in the UK called Walkers that make shortbread, biscuits, cookies, etc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkers_Shortbread#:~:text=Walkers%20Shortbread%20is%20a%20Scottish,%2C%20biscuits%2C%20cookies%20and%20crackers.&text=The%20company's%20signature%20pure%20butter,by%20Joseph%20Walker%20in%201898.

celebeth
+1
Level 70
Aug 17, 2020
Another vote for accepting shortbread!!
KIS
+1
Level 81
Aug 18, 2020
I also went with the shortbread (various versions) and I forgot the runners last name. Definitely just tried his first tho.
Regtheledge1000
+1
Level 29
Aug 18, 2020
We don’t spell it see we pronounce it zed
OZZA
+1
Level 40
Aug 18, 2020
I'm American and I got 18/21. Granted I do watch a lot of UK media.
Moonmask
+1
Level 42
Aug 18, 2020
"Almost impossible" yet I got more than a third on the first try
Rockton
+1
Level 15
Aug 18, 2020
I got zed, oyster, stone, and chips.
howard38
+1
Level 61
Aug 19, 2020
I'm American & got 8. Thought I should have got credit for calling Thatcher's dad a merchant though.
mal
+1
Level 62
Aug 19, 2020
British born and raised so no surprise at the full house- wish I'd missed Mr Blobby though!
mre97
+1
Level 50
Aug 21, 2020
Can you do an inverse quiz now, things only Americans would know that Brits would not?
Nige
+1
Level 55
Aug 22, 2020
I love it that Cooper's Hill is more famous than Coventry!
Ferbin
+1
Level 76
Oct 15, 2020
The date of the holiday is not accepted? Come on.
swaddle
+1
Level 39
Mar 4, 2021
British. 6/21. Lol. We only really use kilograms
ethantoad
+1
Level 35
Mar 24, 2021
I got 2/21, Zed and Crisps, thats it lol
DrGaravaglia
+1
Level 27
May 28, 2021
I got 2/21, as I only got the Zee one right, as well as the Prince Phillip one. I personally like the accent, and I also like the Creativity. (I was going to write something here but I forgot what I was going to say)
Hawke
+1
Level 84
Jun 6, 2021
Yup, I'm definitely American. I got 4/21, and that was by guessing
QuizApe
+1
Level 68
Aug 11, 2021
There is also a company called Walkers that manufactures biscuits.
QuizApe
+1
Level 68
Aug 11, 2021
This quiz needs at least another minute of extra time or the hints need to be made shorter.
TemmieCody
+1
Level 49
Nov 30, 2021
I got 5/21 which is approximately 5 more than I expected to get
hannahgeographyy
+1
Level 60
Jan 20, 2022
i only got 1/21
FlabberBapper
+1
Level 74
Oct 23, 2022
JetPunk users be like, "Too UK centric"
maur85
+2
Level 72
Oct 23, 2022
Extra question for bonus points: according to British mythology, how many testicles did Adolf Hitler have?
sihollett
+1
Level 87
Oct 25, 2022
Not mere British mythology, but notes from a couple of doctors that examined him too.
Gozzagog
+1
Level 69
Oct 23, 2022
Guy Fawkes day is not a holiday....
hasanabdi
+1
Level 70
Oct 23, 2022
most people use kilograms in the uk, old people use stone

good quiz tho

JonOfKent
+3
Level 57
Oct 23, 2022
Not true in my experience... one does meet the occasional person who knows their weight in kg but it's rare. Unless by "old" you mean "over 18"?
Hozi
+1
Level 71
Oct 23, 2022
Thanks for introducing me to Mr Blobby!
AllHailKingHomer
+1
Level 77
Oct 23, 2022
Yank, got 9. The cost of watching tv is quite a surprise
raneman11
+1
Level 67
Oct 23, 2022
American 11/21. Missed Mo but the rest I had never heard of. Kept guessing colors for the card lol. Got through the rainbow and decided it must be something really weird I would never guess. I was right.
Gurminator
+1
Level 67
Oct 23, 2022
Australian here.

18/21.

(I ran out of time after wasting too much of it typing in different variations of "shortbread biscuits" on the Walkers question, haha.)

Might have to write an Australian version of this quiz.

Dollyfroggy
+2
Level 60
Oct 23, 2022
Isn't 'whine' a word starting with W that means 'to whine or complain'?
Leafsnationguy
+1
Level 52
Oct 23, 2022
I only got 1 and i'm canadian, i got grocer by guessing what i went to my local meant.
JohnnyYeet
+1
Level 58
Oct 23, 2022
I thought of barber for local, so I accidentally got pub by typing in 'bar'
HiLow
+1
Level 39
Oct 23, 2022
I got 5/21 :(
Hawke
+2
Level 84
Oct 23, 2022
Did anyone else get greengrocer only because you guessed grocery store?
daraconn
+1
Level 58
Oct 23, 2022
I'm not British, but I am a very frequent visitor to the Lady Godiva city and often pass by her statue in the city centre. Got 20/21 because I couldn't remember the name of the runner.
CharlieP212
+1
Level 35
Oct 23, 2022
Australian, 20/21
martay
+1
Level 70
Oct 23, 2022
I bet no one in Britain can explain why Matt Lucas continues to be employed
GlassMonkeyCode
+2
Level 68
Oct 23, 2022
How frightfully embarrasing, I only got 19 correct. I very much hope to do better next time.
TableFor1
+1
Level 63
Oct 24, 2022
I was so upset that I didn't do well that I nearly spilled my coffee on my bald eagle and Big Mac flavored rifle.
Ian1979
+1
Level 71
Oct 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this, thank you.
ShievaAndGolly
+1
Level 56
Oct 24, 2022
The only one I got was the 'zee' question
AndyTownsend7
+1
Level 46
Oct 24, 2022
As an American, I can confirm that outside of the really easy ones, I did not know most of them lol
Grg123456
+1
Level 43
Oct 24, 2022
I typed "store clerk" for Thatcher's father's job at first, couldn't think of the word "grocer" so had to google it cause it was so frustrating lmao
HinesBrothers
+1
Level 75
Oct 24, 2022
Too America-centric
HyddenRizz
+1
Level 67
Oct 25, 2022
As someone from the UK, there were only 3 I didn't know - Prince Philip (which I guessed), Inner Circle (what is this), and Thatcher's father (this was 40 years ago and everyone hates her now).

Just to amend, because Americans get this wrong a lot. You don't need a license for a TV. You pay a fee that helps to fund the BBC's channels, website, and radio.

You need the TV license to watch other channels too (ITV and 4 mostly), but you don't need a license to watch streaming services like Netflix or YouTube, play Blu-rays or video games.

Hayj90
+1
Level 61
Oct 26, 2022
Guessing you wrote the comment about Maggie thatcher a bit tongue in cheek but despite her being a highly divisive character, can’t be denied that she’s one of our most famous Prime Ministers and it’s fairly common knowledge about her father’s profession (not saying that to mock anyone not knowing that - I just mean that it was referenced a lot whenever Thatcher was spoken about). And it was bought to light again recently with the latest series of The Crown so possibly one non-UK people might know through that.

I’d also argue 40 years ago is not that long! Although I’m possibly bias on that one as I was alive when she was prime minister ;)

geohillierneo
+1
Level 46
Oct 25, 2022
"British people should find this easy"..... Sorry, but I wasn't aware Margaret Thatcher's dad was a greengrocer, I didnt realise that was common knowledge!
CPAmt
+1
Level 63
Oct 25, 2022
You are right! I got exactly zero. Biggest fail yet. I did however know Philip was from Greece, just failed to see that question.
Hayj90
+1
Level 61
Oct 26, 2022
Great quiz! Nice to have a British one where a lot of the general knowledge quizzes are American focused.

I understand why there’s more American quizzes as there’s just more American users on the site but this one just meant I could get 100% for once 😂

ItzIngenious
+1
Level 60
Feb 23, 2023
I got 5, american lol
Sifhraven
+1
Level 71
Jun 16, 2024
Got 15 correct and I am not British, not American either though.

I missed home, mo, oyster, greengrocer, coventry and barristers. Only the last one means nothing to me. (Did try shop owner/shopkeeper for grocer I believe, but when that didn't work I gave up because I've read too many person x's father worked as y, that I had no faith in getting it) Coventry I recognise but not likely I would have come up with it any time soon. The first three could have gotten and might have gotten on another day.

FrankiiLynx
+1
Level 80
Jun 20, 2024
Technically speaking we don't need a license to "use a TV". The TV license is needed for watching *live programming* (regardless of the device you're watching on - it can be a TV, a phone, a computer, etc., doesn't make a difference as far as the law is concerned), but without it you can still use your TV for catch-up TV, streaming services, gaming, etc., and there's absolutely nothing the government can do about it.
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