Be my British Travel Guide Trivia Quiz

Answer: Newcastle

The Angel of the North is a steel statue, 20 meters (66 feet) tall with a wing span of 54 meters (177 feet). Located near the city of Gateshead, the statue is visible from the major nearby highways and rail lines. Gateshead itself is approximately three miles from Newcastle, the closest major city to the statue.

Initially plans for the statue were opposed by many local citizens, due to issues ranging from traffic accident concerns to its perceived similarity to Communist and Fascist statues. It is now considered a landmark of Northeast England and a British icon, one of the most recognizable pieces of architecture in the country and a source of local pride.

Answer: Edinburgh

Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarch while in Scotland, is located at the opposite end of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle, adjacent to Holyrood Abbey. James IV of Scotland started construction of the palace in 1501, and his successor James V made major additions around 1530.

Mary Queen of Scots lived in the palace after her return from France until she was arrested. The palace fell into a state of disrepair after James VI became King of England and moved to London. George V modernized the palace in the early 20th Century and began the tradition of the British monarch spending one week at the palace.

Answer: Brighton

The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence built in Brighton. Construction began in 1787 as a seaside residence for the future King George IV. The design of the palace was heavily influenced by the architecture of India and the Mughal Empire. The palace is topped by a distinctive white onion dome, and the interior of the palace is a lavish collection of Indian and Chinese artwork and decoration.

The Royal Pavilion was maintained as the royal seaside residence by George IV's successor William IV, but Queen Victoria later decided to use a more private palace at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. The Royal Pavilion was then sold to the city of Brighton. During World War I the site was used first as a hospital for wounded soldiers from the Indian Army serving for the Allied Powers. Later it was used as a rehabilitation center for WWI amputees.

Answer: Glasgow

Glasgow is the home to perennial powers in the Scottish Premier League, Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic. Since 1985 one of the two teams has been the champion of the top league in Scotland, although their monopoly is being threatened in 2025 by Hearts from Edinburgh. Between 1890 and 2024 the two clubs claimed 109 championship compared to 19 won by competitors.

As two dominant teams competing for the championship nearly every year, a natural rivalry should be expected. However, this rivalry transcends sports due to cultural, economic, political and religious differences between supporters of the two clubs. Matches have led to violence between fans of both clubs and several deaths. Efforts by the management of both clubs and reduction in strife in Northern Ireland, a flashpoint for many supporters, seems to have reduced some of the worst aspects of the rivalry.

The Glasgow Rangers' home stadium is Ibrox Stadium, and Glasgow Celtic play at Celtic Park.

The other cities also have heated rivalry games or derbies (Manchester City vs Manchester United, Liverpool vs Everton, and Arsenal/Chelsea/Spurs).

Answer: Liverpool

Liverpool is the site of two important cathedrals built in the 20th Century, the Liverpool Cathedral (Church of England) and the Metropolitan Cathedral (Roman Catholic). The Irish Potato Famine led to the migration of many people to Liverpool for work, especially in the shipbuilding industry. Several attempts were made to construct a Catholic cathedral within the city, but failed due to financial constraints.

The cathedral was eventually constructed in 1967 after a worldwide design competition. The church is circular, allowing an unobstructed view of the altar from all 2,000 seats. The exterior of the building is topped by a conical tower with an upper lantern tower containing stained glass windows and protruding spikes, giving the appearance of the Crown of Thorns. The altar and flooring of the church is marble with thirteen smaller chapels ringing the perimeter of the building. The lantern has sixteen sides of stained glass, which reflect light onto the church, similar to Bath Abbey.

Pertaining to the other choices, the Roman Catholic cathedral in London is Westminster Cathedral, designed in the Byzantine style. Arundel is the home of the Duke of Norfolk, the highest ranking non-royal family and generally regarded as the most prominent Catholic family in England.

The word "Help" in the question was intended to be a clue.

Answer: Canterbury

There is no connection between the city of Leeds in northern England and Leeds Castle in southeastern England. The city's name is derived from an earlier Celtic-based language for "people of the fast moving river". The castle's name is derived from the name of the Saxon chief Led or Leed, who built the first building on the area of the castle.

Leeds Castle is situated near the town of Maidstone between Canterbury and Dover. (The other choices in the quiz are not in southeastern England). The castle was a favorite residence of King Edward I in the 13th century and later was a residence of Catherine of Aragon. Control of the castle was granted to lower nobility in 1552, and eventually the financial stress of death duties placed the control of the castle to a trust foundation.

The castle is one of the most picturesque castles or stately homes in England. A large lake surrounds the castle, and a small bridge allows entry for tourists. The interior was redesigned by Lady Olive Baillie, the last owner and a descendant of the Whitneys ( a rich American family). A large maze was added on the grounds in 1988. The castle location has been used as a filming location, such as "Moonraker" and "Kind Hearts and Coronets" and a "Dr Who" episode.

Answer: Harewood House

Harewood House, outside of Leeds, was the residence of the Princess Royal Mary (1897-1965). She was the only daughter of King George V, a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and the sister of King Edward VIII and King George VI. She was very active in promoting the Girl Guides, nursing, and aiding the British soldiers during WWI. She initiated the Princess Mary Christmas Gift Fund for the troops in 1914.

In 1925 she married Viscount Henry Lascelles and lived in his family's residence of Harewood House. The house had been constructed in 1771 for Baron Edwin Lascelles, a rich West Indian plantation owner. For many years the family downplayed his involvement in slavery, but is now more forthcoming.

Harewood House is one of the "Treasure Houses of England", a group of outstanding stately homes open to the public. The house contains an outstanding collection of paintings, an Italian-style garden, and a new woodland garden area to replace its exotic bird area. The grounds of the estate have been used in the television program "Emmerdale" and the movie "Downton Abbey", along with some musical concerts.

Chatsworth is regarded by many as the most elegant non-royal home in England. located in Derbyshire. Bamberg Castle, near the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, is in Northumberland to the north of Leeds. Alnwick Castle, used in the first "Harry Potter" films, is also in Northumberland. Leeds and Harewood House are in North Yorkshire.

Answer: York

The Vikings have had a reputation as raiders of England, seizing the wealth of landowners and monasteries and capturing slaves. However, for a period of about 200 years the Vikings settled and ruled areas in East Anglia and Northern Britain. In 878 King Alfred the Great defeated the Viking Leader Guthrum to partition the country. The Viking ruled their area, named Danelaw, from its capital of Jorvik (now the city of York). Eventually Athelstan defeated the Vikings in 937 to rule a united Britain. However, England had four Norse kings after that, notably Cnut; and Harald Hardrada attempted to invade Britain in 1066, only to be defeated at Stamford Bridge.

From 1976 to 1981 archaeologists conducted an excavation near the center of York and uncovered coins, remains of buildings, and other artefacts from the era of Viking rule. In 1984 the Jorvik Viking Center opened to the public with recreations of life in the 12th century city.

York has many other attractions for visitors. The Minster is one of the largest churches in the world, a Gothic masterpiece. The center of the city is surrounded by the city's original stone walls, and the buildings and streets have remained relatively unchanged from Medieval times.

Answer: Bath

The city of Bath is situated in a valley by the River Avon. Located near hot springs, it has been a spa and resort town since the time of the Romans in England. The spa fell into disuse over time; but was revived in the late 1500s and reached its peak popularity during the Georgian Era in England. In that time, the early 1700s, Beau Nash was the arbiter of high fashion and decorum of that age; and nobility and members of high society traveled regularly to Bath.

Jane Austen's family moved to Bath when she was 25 and stayed there for about ten years. Although Bath claims her as a favorite daughter, these were her least productive years as a writer and she seemed unhappy with the move from her childhood home.

Bath is one of the favorite tourist locations in England. Bath Abbey is a beautiful Gothic Perpendicular church with beautiful lighting through its extensive glass windows. The buildings in the Circus and Royal Crescent have been constructed using the local golden-colored Bath stone. The Pulteney Bridge spans the River Avon and contains a shopping arcade, similar to those found on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence and Rialto in Venice.

Note Haworth is the home of the Bronte sisters.

Answer: Blackpool

A holiday to a beachside resort was long a British tradition, although cheap airfare to warm Mediterranean resorts has reduced visits to Britain's beaches. Some of the more popular ones were Brighton, Blackpool, St Ives, Scarborough, Whitby, and Bournemouth.

Blackpool is a resort town in Lancashire, located on the coast of the Irish Sea. The town grew rapidly during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods as a favored vacation spot for the working class families of northern England. During that time it became the first city to install electric lighting, which would eventually evolve into the Blackpool Illuminations.

The Illuminations start in late August and extend for more than two months. The lighting displays run for over five miles and use more than one million lights.

Answer: Leicester

Richard III was the brother of King Edward IV. When the king died, Richard was named Lord Protector for Edward's older son Edward V. Before the child could be invested as king, his parents' marriage was declared bigamous and invalid. This blocked Edward V from inheriting the throne, and Richard was named king. The child Edward V and his younger brother disappeared from the Tower of London and were never found, and contemporary writers blamed Richard.

During his reign Richard faced two major rebellions. The second was led by Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII, and culminated at the Battle of Bosworth Fields, near Leicester. In that battle Richard was slain after fighting bravely, ending the War of the Roses. His body was taken from the battlefield and buried quickly at the Greyfriars Priory in Leicester, which was later destroyed during the Reformation. Claims were made at that time that Richard's bones were thrown into the River Soar.

In 2012 the University of Leicester began an effort to find his body. By comparing known points of old and current maps, they were able to identify the location where Greyfriars Priory had been. Excavating that location, the current site of a parking lot, they discovered a body with wounds comparable to those inflicted on Richard. Genealogical research had traced a descendant of Richard's sister, and a mitochondrial DNA match was found. Richard's remains were then reburied in the Leicester Cathedral.

Answer: Whitby

In Bram Stoker's book, Dracula escaped from Transylvania packed in a box on a ship destined for England. Crew members mysteriously died until the ship ran aground near Whitby. Dracula was seen was a black creature racing to the top of the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, overlooking Whitby, and began to terrorize the local citizens.

The town of Whitby is a resort or fishing village in North Yorkshire. A path of 199 steps steps leads to St Mary's Abbey on the top of a hill, giving a panoramic view of the town below and the surrounding countryside. Captain Cook trained in Whitby, and a memorial statue and whalebone arch commemorate a favored adopted son.

In 664 the Synod of Whitby was held to determine the method used to determine when to celebrate Easter. At that time some uses followed the practice used by Rome and others used a different method favored by the Irish monks. The King of Northumbria Oswiu listened to the arguments of both sides and chose to follow the method of Rome.

Answer: Shrewsbury

Brother Cadfael is the main character in a series of historical mysteries written by Ellis Peters, a pen name for linguist/scholar Edith Pargeter. The character Brother Cadfael is a Benedictine monk living in Shrewsbury, a market town in western England near the border of Wales. A Welshman, he had been a soldier and sailor before entering the monastery, and uses his knowledge of pharmacy and medicine to aid solving mysteries set in the 12th century.

Shrewsbury is a market town in Shropshire. It contains over 600 listed buildings, including several timber-framed ones built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its most famous native son is Charles Darwin.

The author. Ms. Peters, has pointed out that most people pronounce Brother Cadfael's name incorrectly. As a Welshman, the "f" in his name should be pronounces as a "v". (In the Welsh language a double "f" is needed for the "f" sound, as in the movie "ffolkes").

Answer: Stoke-on-Trent

The main center for manufacturing English pottery has come to be called "The Potteries". Alternatively the area is referred to as Stoke-on-Trent, the largest of the six towns and cities involved in pottery and ceramics manufacture in Staffordshire. The other towns are Burslem, Hanley, Fenton, Longton, and Tunstall. Spode, Burleigh, Doulton, Moorcroft, and Wedgewood are among active brands at the Potteries.

The Alton Towers is an entertainment park near the Potteries.

Answer: Gretna Green

In 1753 England passed a marriage act that required parental approval of any marriage when the bride or groom was less than 21. Scotland had a much laxer requirement. Boys only needed to be 14 to marry without parental approval, and girls could be as young as 12. Furthermore Scottish law allowed almost anyone to perform the marriage, rather than just clergy or officials. Many of the marriages were performed by local blacksmiths, referred to as anvil priests

Gretna Green was one of the nearest Scottish villages to the English border and soon became a favored location for eloping couples. Although other towns and villages in Scotland also received eloping couples, Gretna Green became synonymous with this elopement. Gretna Green remains a popular place to conduct weddings in Britain for its atmosphere and history, rather than forbidden marriages.

Answer: Durham

The original main church for Christianity in northeast England was the Lindisfarne Priory, but the monks moved due to repeated Viking raids. Eventually the monastery was moved Durham in 995. The Durham Cathedral was built between 1093 and 1133 in the Romanesque architectural style.

The remains of St. Cuthbert, an early abbot at Lindisfarne, were moved when the monks left there. At the time of the dissolution of churches ordered by Henry VIII, Cuthbert's tomb was destroyed, and it is claimed that his body was uncorrupted. He was later reburied in the church, along with Bede the Venerable.

The Cathedral and nearby Durham Castle have been named as a World Heritage site. Both are located on a cliff above the Wear River. J M W Turner painted a famous picture of the site. The cathedral has been used many times in movies and television with its distinctive architecture and sightline.

Answer: Edinburgh - name of cannon fired at noon from the Castle

Mons Meg, located in the Edinburgh Castle, is one of the largest caliber cannons in the world. The cannon is fired daily at 1 p.m. except on Good Friday, Sundays, and Christmas.

The cannon itself was cast in 1449 and used in sieges until the middle of the 16th century. From that time the cannon has been used only for ceremonial purposes.

The Edinburgh Castle grounds are also the home for one of the highlight events in the country, the Edinburgh Tattoo. Bleachers are erected on the grounds, with seats that make one long for aircraft seats in economy class. Military units from current and former members of the British Commonwealth demonstrate skills. One year we saw a steel drum band from Trinidad, an elite marching unit from New Zealand, and a saber-wielding Pakistani unit in native dress. The show ended with only a spotlight on a commando unit rappelling down the castle walls, followed by the Lone Piper closing the performance from the Esplanade walls.

Other highlights include Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration and the Festival Fringe.

Answer: Oxford

The Ashmolean Museum and the Radcliffe Camera are part of the Oxford University complex.

The Radcliffe Camera is a circular building which originally housed the Radcliffe Science Library. As an explanatory note, the term "camera" was based on the Latin-Greek word for a vaulted chamber, and its use as a piece of photographic equipment occurred long after the building was completed. The Radcliffe Camera was funded by a bequest from John Radcliffe, a successful medical professional. The building was completed in 1749, and serves in conjunction with the Bodleian Library. Unfortunately for tourists, the Radcliffe is not open to the general public.

The original Ashmolean Museum opened in 1683 to house gifts from Elias Ashmole. A newer building for the museum opened in 1845. It contains notable collections of archaeological discoveries, English silverware, and paintings from the Renaissance to current times among its wide and varied collections. The museum runs a series of exhibitions, open to the public.

Answer: Chipping Campden

The Cotswolds is a region in south and southwestern England that is marked by a series of rolling hills over a limestone base, which are called "wolds". A defining feature of the region is the use of golden-colored stone for houses and buildings. The area received the designation of "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty", now termed as "National Landscape", in 1966.

Although urban areas fall within the Cotswold region, most people associate the Cotswolds with the small, attractive villages that use the golden Cotswold limestone in the homes.

Some of these towns are Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Dursley, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Wotton-under-Edge. Chipping Campden is noteworthy is noteworthy for being a center of the Arts and Crafts movement founded by William Morris. The word "Chipping" in its name is derived from an Old English word for marketplace.

Knaresborough is a town in North Yorkshire, noted for its viaduct and Mother Shipton's Cave, Bettws-y-Coed is a small village in Wales on the edge of the Snowdonia Mountains. Edzell is a town on the eastern coast of Scotland and was formerly the home for an RAF base.

Answer: Coventry

I think most people view the Battle of Britain as just the deadly bombing of civilians in London. However, German bombers also made a concerted effort to destroy the industrial heartland of England. They regularly struck from the Midlands of England to attack the steel manufacturing at Sheffield to the North for ship construction at Liverpool. During those attacks most of the cathedral at Coventry was destroyed. Some claim that Churchill was aware of the planned attack due to decryption of the Enigma codes but chose not to use that information to protect the British decipherment of the Enigma cryptography.

The new cathedral kept the ruins of the old cathedral as a remembrance and commissioned sculpture, tapestry,and artwork from modern masters.

Coventry was an important city during the Middle Ages, later becoming an industrial center for the cloth trade, watchmaking, and automobile manufacturing. It is probably most famous for the mythic tale of Lady Godiva riding naked through its streets to protest the taxes of her husband Leofric, while the population, except Peeping Tom, turned their eyes away.