Facts about London City

We all know that England is an interesting country with an impressive history and I’m sure you’ve heard many interesting facts about it. However, did you know that approximately 2, 500 people have to be rushed to hospital every year for injuries caused by toothbrushes?!!

Read on for more crazy facts about London and England:

1. Nowhere in the UK is more than 70 miles (113km) from the sea! A place called Coton in the Elms is the furthest place from the sea.
2. It is considered an act of treason to put a postage stamp with the queen’s head upside down on an envelope!
3. The British eat over 11.5 billion (1, 500, 000, 000) sandwiches every year!!
4. Our wonderful city London has not always had this name. In the past it has been called Londonium, Ludenwic, and Ludenburg!
5. In 1945, a flock of birds landed on the minute hand of Big Ben and put the time back by 5 minutes.
6. Big Ben is not actually the name of the clock, it is the name of the bell which is inside the clock.
7. There are more chickens than people in England.
8. Black cab (taxi) drivers in London have to memorise every street and important building in London within six miles from Charing Cross and they need to take a test called ‘The Knowledge’ before they can drive a cab.
9. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
10. In 1647, Christmas was abolished by the English Parliament. No-one was allowed to celebrate!
11. On average, 488 people are injured by zips and 3, 078 people are injured by slippers every year in the UK.
12. Windsor Castle is the oldest royal residence in the world that is still being used by the royal family.
13. England was part of the shortest war in history. They fought Zanzibar in 1896 and Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes!

Have fun with English

Active or Passive?

Are these sentences active or passive?

1. Helen ate the last piece of carrot cake.
2. He was introduced to his colleagues on his first day at work.
3. The bank was robbed by a man in a balaclava.
4. I took the exam last week.
5. The cinema was built 10 years ago.

Last week’s answers

Posh vocabulary

1. Gosh! – a saying used to express surprise
2. Vestibule – a small room next to the front door of a building where you can leave your coat
3. Aperitif – an alcoholic drink (usually drunk before a meal)
4. Loquacious – someone who talks a lot
5. Divine – extremely good or enjoyable
6. Perchance – by chance / possibly