1. The United Kingdom is actually made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
2. The UK is home to the world's oldest underground railway system, the London Underground, which opened in 1863.
3. The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn.
4. The UK is the birthplace of famous authors such as William Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, and Charles Dickens.
5. The King of the United Kingdom is the legal owner of one-sixth of the Earth's land surface.
6. The world's first public zoo, the London Zoo, opened in London in 1828.
7. The Big Ben clock tower in London is actually the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock, not the tower itself.
8. The River Thames, which flows through London, is the longest river in England.
9. The UK is the second-largest consumer of tea per capita, just behind Ireland.
10. The world's oldest recorded town, Colchester, is located in England.
11. The city of Liverpool is home to the Beatles, one of the most famous bands in music history.
12. The UK is known for its love of fish and chips, a popular dish consisting of deep-fried fish and potato chips.
13. Scotland is home to the Loch Ness Monster, a mythical creature said to inhabit Loch Ness.
14. The world's first public museum, the British Museum, was founded in London in 1753.
15. The UK is the birthplace of the English language, which is spoken by over a billion people worldwide.
16. The UK is famous for its castles, with over 1,500 castles scattered throughout the country.
17. The Queen's Guard, responsible for guarding the British royal residences, is known for its distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats.
18. The world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued in the UK in 1840.
19. The oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford, was founded in the 12th century.
20. The UK is home to Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument believed to have been constructed around 3000 BC.
21. The sport of football (soccer) originated in England in the 19th century and is now one of the most popular sports in the world.