Facts For Kids

Tag: England

  • River Thames Facts – The Longest River in England

    River Thames Facts – The Longest River in England

    River Thames is the longest river in England and the second longest river in the United Kingdom with a length of about 215 miles. It flows through southern England, starting from Gloucestershire Cotswolds to North Sea. It passes through eight English counties and flow alongside some of the major towns and cities such as Oxford, Richmond, Kingston upon Thames, Henley-on-Thames, Reading, Windsor and finally through the center of London before falling into the North Sea. River Thames is a very important river in England, it is favourite spot for peaceful weekend evening, fishing, boating, trail hikers and water sports. We have gathered complete set of River Thames Facts to help you learn all about it.

    River Thames Facts

    How long is the river Thames?

    • The length of River Thames from its source (Gloucestershire Cotswolds) to North Sea is 215 miles (346 km)
    • The non-tidal part of Thames is 147 miles while the tidal part of Thames is 55 miles.

    Facts and Figures

    • There are total 45 locks at River Thames. Locks help in boat navigation where the level of the water is not the same.
    • The floodplain area of the river is about 896 km square.
    • There are 29 bridges over the tidal Thames and 75 bridges over the non-tidal Thames.
    • It flows through 16 main cities and key towns.
    • About 20 tunnels exists that cross the River Thames including the  the world’s first ever underwater tunnel built in 1843.
    • The non-tidal part of Thames is from the source to Teddington. It is about 147 miles (237 km). The river falls for about 342 feet when it travels from the source to Teddington.
    • The part of the river from Teddington to the North Sea is called the tidal part of Thames which is 55 miles in length.
    • About 60 active shipping terminals exists on the tidal part of the Thames.
    • Every year about 300,000 tonnes of sediment is carried by the River Thames from its source to the sea.
    • About 8 meters change occurs in the water level of the river.
    • The tidal part of Thames receives high tides up to 24 feet.
    • The world’s second largest floating barrier, Thames Barrier, is situated at river Thames. It was constructed in 1974 at Woolwich to control floods and storm surges.

    How wide is the river Thames?

    The river widens as it flows downstream from its source to the sea.

    • At Lechlade it is 18 meters
    • 76 meters at Oxford
    • 100 meters at Teddington,
    • 265 meters at London Bridge
    • 448 meters at Woolwich
    • 732 meters at Gravesend
    • about 10 kilometers at Nore Light.
    • At the Estuary(where the river falls into the sea) the river width stretches to 29 kilometers.

    Flow of River Thames:

    The water flow speeds up down the stream (towards the sea) of the river Thames. It is due to the addition of more water from the different tributaries that join the river on its way.

    • The flow speed at Buscot is about 176 million gallons/day.
    • 790 million gallons/day at Reading
    • About 1,253 million gallons/day at Kingston.

    The Name Thames

    • The name Thames has been derived from the word Temese which is a Celtic word for river.
    • The river is known as River Isis at Oxford.

    Where does the river Thames start – Source of River Thames

    • There are two sources: Thames Head and Seven Springs
    • The  first source of the river is called is called the Thames Head which is situated at southern Gloucestershire, in the Cotswolds near a town called Cirencester.
    • The second source is Seven Springs, where river Chum falls into Thames. It is situated near Cheltenham.
    • The water flow is seasonal at the springs of Thames Head while at Seven Springs it flows all year around.
    • River Thames get water from 18 major river catchments.

    Islands in River Thames

    • From Kent to Oxfordshire there are total of more than 190 islands in the River Thames.
    • 45 of these islands have people living in them in small settlements.
    • These islands are called Aits or Eyots.

    Wildlife at River Thames

    • The tidal Thames has more than 100 species of fish while the non-tidal Thames hosts more than 25 species of coarse fish.  Among the Freshwater fish the most prominent are flounder, barbel, bleak, pike, perch, roach, chub, dace and brown trout.
    • The estuary of the Thames is home to aquatic mammals such as the gray and harbour seals where they breed and nurse their young ones.
    • About 350 species of invertebrates that live at the bottom of the river exists at the river Thames.
    • During summer and autumn Bottlenose Dolphins and Harbour porpoises also visits the estuary of the Thames.
    • Otter and water vole are also found in the river.
    • Thames is home to various bird species which include herring gull, cormorant,black-headed gull, great crested grebe, , moorhen, kingfisher, coot, heron, Mallard duck, Mandarin duck, Wood duck, Egyptian geese, bar-headed geese, Canadian geese mute swan and black swan. The mute swan are very common and black swan is rarely seen now.
    • A ceremony of Swan Upping is held every year in which the swans at river Thames are counted and tagged.
    • About 46 different areas has been internationally designated as Special Protection Areas and Areas of Conservation at the Thames River Basin.

    Main Attractions

    • It has a national trail called Thames Path which is about 184 miles (296 km) and follows the river from its source. It is the longest riverside walk in the whole Europe.
    • The river is favourite place for sporting and leisure activities such as fishing, rowing, canoeing and boat trips.
    • The areas of the North Wessex Downs, The Kent Downs and The Cotswolds where the river crosses are well known for their amazing natural beauty.

    River Thames in Literature

      • The river Thames is such an important part of the life of the people of England that it has been featured in the their literature.
      • River Thames has always been a dank, stinking sludge and crime scene in the novels of Charles Dickens.
    • Three Men in a Boat, Alice in Wonderland and The Wind in the Willows all featured river Thames in them.

    Learn more: England Facts For Kids

  • Winston Churchill Facts For Kids | The Prime Minister Of UK

    Winston Churchill Facts For Kids | The Prime Minister Of UK

    Winston Churchill became twice the Prime Minister of UK. He was a politician as well as an author. His first term of office begins in May 10, 1940 and ends on July 26, 1945. His second term of office begins in October 26, 1951 and ends on April 6, 1955. He was also one of the finest leaders of the 21st century during times of war. Now let’s explore more about this extraordinary leader of his time.

    Full Name: Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

    Date of Birth: November 30, 1874

    Place of Birth: Woodstock, Oxfordshire

    Age: 90

    Date of Death: January 24, 1965

    Winston Churchill Facts For Kids

    • He won the Nobel Prize in Literature. As a Prime Minister, he is the only one in the world who is also a Nobel Prize winner.
    • Born in a noble family, Churchill is considered to be one of the greatest leaders of twentieth century during times of war.
    • The name of the family of Churchill is Dukes of Marlborough.
    • The name of his father was Lord Randolph Churchill. He too was a politician.
    • The name of his mother was Jennie Jerome. She was an American woman and was quite a social personality. Her father was a US millionaire named Leonard Jerome.
    • The name of his brother was John Strange Spencer-Churchill.
    • The name of Churchill’s nanny was Elizabeth Ann Everest.
    • He also served in the British Army.
    • He was President of the Board of Trade as well as Home Secretary. He held these offices before the start of World War I.
    • He was also Chancellor of the Exchequer after World War I was over.

    He was the first individual who had been made honorary citizen of USA.

    Early Years and FamilyA 21-year-old Churchill in Army uniform - Winston Churchill Facts For Kids

    1. When he was just 2 years old, he went to Dublin (Ireland) for 4 years. Churchill’s grandfather was signed up as Viceroy in Dublin and his father was made private secretary.
    2. He began his education while he was in Dublin. The name of the first book he read (when he was a kid) was ‘Reading Without Tears’.
    3. During his early years, nanny was very close to him. He used to call her ‘Old Woom’.
    4. Churchill had always been a very poor student in his schooldays and was often punished as a result.
    5. Churchill was very close to his mother as compare to his father.

    Marriage and Kids

    1. The name of his wife was Clementine Hozier.
    2. At Temple of Diana in Blenheim palace, Churchill proposed Clementine on August 10, 1908.
    3. They got married on September 12, 1908 in the church of St Margaret, Westminster.
    4. They had 5 children.
    5. The name of Churchill’s first kid was Diana Churchill. She was born on July 11, 1909.
    6. The name of Churchill’s second kid was Randolph Churchill. He was born on May 28, 1911.
    7. The name of Churchill’s third kid was Sarah Churchill. She was born on October 7, 1914.
    8. The name of Churchill’s fourth kid was Marigold Frances Churchill. He was born on November 15, 1918.
    9. The name of Churchill’s fifth and last kid was Mary Soames, Baroness Soames. She was born on September 15, 1922.

    More Facts

    • Churchill’s brother was born in Ireland.
    • His father passed away on January 24, 1895. He was just 45 years old at the time.
    • He did not like mathematics.
    • While he was second-lieutenant, his salary was £300 per year.
    • He took retirement from British Army in 1900.
  • Victorian Facts For Kids | Age Of Happiness and Progress In Britain

    Victorian Facts For Kids | Age Of Happiness and Progress In Britain

    The Victorian era was a period in the British Empire in which Queen Victoria ruled over Britain from June 20, 1837 to January 22, 1901. It was a period of great happiness and peace in Britain. Let’s take a brief look at Victorian facts for kids.

    Victorian Facts For Kids

    Name Of British Monarch: Queen Victoria

    Starting Date Of Victorian Era: June 20, 1837

    Ending Date Of Victorian Era: January 22, 1901

    Reign: 63 years, 6 months, 22 days

    Victorian Facts For Kids

    Architecture

    1. During Victorian rule, England saw great progress in architecture particularly the style of architecture known as Victorian Gothic. It is known as Gothic Revival in which there was a great interest in reviving medieval architecture.
    2. The Palace of Westminster was renovated on medieval-style architecture by Sir Charles Barry.
    3. In 1851, an exhibition was conducted in the London’s Hyde Park and known as The Great Exhibition. The exhibition displayed some of the fantastic creations of the 19th century. It continued for more than 5 months. Among many other famous personalities, Charles Darwin was also there to attend this exhibition. It is also called Crystal Palace Exhibition.
    4. The Great Exhibition was conducted in a palace built of glass known as The Crystal Palace. At the time, this palace was the only building that had maximum glass-work on it.
    5. The Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol was also built in Victorian period.

    Victorian Era was the age of great happiness and progress in Britain. One of the greatest works during this era was London sewerage system. It was built in 1858 by one of the finest British civil engineers of the 19th century named Sir Joseph William Bazalgette.

    Famous Personalities

    1. The most famous music composer and violinist during Victorian era was Michael William Balfe. He was an Irish and his best opera was ‘The Bohemian Girl’.Queen Victoria statue - Victorian Facts For Kids
    2. The two most popular persons of Victorian era who made a famous musical theatre during 1871 to 1896 were Gilbert and Sullivan. They built 14 comic operas in partnership.
    3. The most famous performer in circus during Victorian age was Pablo Fanque. He was the first black performer of England too.
    4. During Victorian era, one of the pioneers of photography named Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre also flourished. He was a French photographer. In addition to photography, he was also a famous artist of his time. He invented a photographic method known as daguerreotype in 1839.
    5. A British photographer named William Henry Fox Talbot also lived in Victorian period. He is also one of the pioneers of photography who invented talbotype method in photography in 1841. This is a photographic process and is also known as Calotype.

    Want to read more? Just have a look at: Queen Victoria Facts For Kids

    Arts and Music

    1. It was in Victorian era when the Brass Band group (a British-style music company) gained its popularity during the 19th century.
    2. A small structure was also designed for music bands allowing them to perform on stage became famous in Victorian period. This structure is known as ‘Bandstand’.
    3. Circus reached its high point during Victorian period.
    4. The most famous amphitheatre for the British circus was Astley’s Amphitheatre in London.
    5. One of the aspects of Victorian period was the progress in communications network like improved railway service, steam ships, stagecoaches and the like.

    Sports

    1. The Tennis game was invented in Birmingham during early 1860s.
    2. In 1877, the tennis tournament named ‘Wimbledon’ had its first ever championship matches played in London. Today, this tournament is by far the oldest tennis championship around the world.
    3. In 1888, the very first league of football was made.
    4. The British football club known as Aston Villa Football Club was established in 1874. They founded The Football League.
    5. Some of the famous sports that were commonly played during Victorian period was cricket, horseback riding, bicycling and roller skating.

    More Victorian Facts For Kids

    1. The Victorian period came to an end with the death of Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901.
    2. In 1831, the population of Britain was 13.9 million. However in 1901, the population increased to 32.5 million people. Thus there was a total increase of about 18.6 million people in 70 years of Victorian rule.
    3. A small village known as Saltaire in the West Yorkshire was also constructed.
    4. The revolutionary book on natural history by Charles Darwin was also published in 1859. The name of this book was ‘On the Origin of Species’.
    5. The incandescent gas mantle was invented during 1890s. A gas mantle is illuminated as it heats up through gas flame.
  • Henry VIII Facts For Kids | King Of England

    Henry VIII Facts For Kids | King Of England

    Indeed, Henry VIII was the most famous king of the Tudor dynasty. He ruled England for just about 38 years and married six times. He died at the age of 55. Now let’s have a look at some other facts about Henry VIII.

    Henry VIII Facts For Kids

    Date of Birth: June 28, 1491

    Place of Birth: Greenwich Palace

    Date of Death: January 28, 1547

    Place of Death: Palace of Whitehall

    Age: 55

    Time period in Office: 38 years

    Family and Early Life

    1. Henry VIII was the second Tudor king.
    2. The name of his father was Henry VII.
    3. The name of his mother was Elizabeth of York.
    4. He was the Lord of Ireland.
    5. Three of his sisters and brothers reached adulthood. These were Margaret, Arthur and Mary.
    6. When he was just 2 years old, he was made constable of Dover Castle. He was also made Lord Warden of Cinque Ports.
    7. When he reached 3, he was made England’s Earl Marshal as well as Ireland’s Lord Lieutenant.
    8. When he was 4 years old, he was made Order of the Garter.
    9. Edward was only 9 years old when his father (Henry VIII) passed away.

    Wives of Henry VIII

    1. Henry VIII had 6 wives.
    2. Catherine was Henry’s first wife.
    3. Henry got married to Anne Boleyn in 1532.
    4. On May 23 of 1533, the marriage of Henry with Catherine was declared invalid.
    5. On May 28 of 1533, the marriage of Henry with Anne was declared valid.
    6. After Henry’s marriage with Anne, the title of queen was taken away from Catherine. She was referred to “Princess Dowager”.
    7. Anne Boleyn became a new queen on June 1, 1533.Henry VIII picture - Henry VIII Facts For Kids
    8. Catherine of Aragon (Henry’s first wife) died on January 8, 1536. Henry celebrated the day with enjoyment when Catherine died.
    9. In Tower of London, Anne Boleyn was put to death by cutting her head off on May 19, 1536. This place is now known as ‘Tower Green’.
    10. Henry got married to Jane Seymour after 11 days of Anne’s death.
    11. A son was born to Jane on October 12, 1537. His name was Edward and became Edward VI of England.
    12. Jane died just after 12 days of Prince Edward’s birth.
    13.  Henry got married to Anne of Cleves on January 6, 1540. But this marriage was canceled and Anne was given the title ‘The King’s Sister’.
    14. Henry got married to Catherine Howard on July 28, 1540.
    15. Catherine Howard was sentenced to death on February 13, 1542.
    16. The last and sixth wife of Henry was Catherine Parr. They got married in 1543.

    More Henry VIII Facts For Kids

    1. He was more than 6 feet tall.
    2. At the Battle of the Spurs on June 30, 1513, Henry attacked France and won the battle.
    3. Henry became very fat in his 50s. His waist was 54 inches while he was just about 50 years of age or more.
    4. Henry died at the age of 55 due to obesity.
    5. The final words of Henry just before he died were ‘Monks! Monks! Monks’.
    6. The day when Henry VIII died was the same day when his father Henry VII was born 90 years back.
    7. Henry was succeeded by his only son named Edward.
    8. He was a good singer, writer as well as a musician.
    9. He wrote the most famous British song called ‘The Kynges Ballade’ or “Pastime with Good Company”. It is also known as ‘The King’s Ballad’.
    10. He was fond of playing sports like tennis, jousting. He was also a gambler.
    11. He is the founder of a school in Oxford known as Christ Church Cathedral School. He built it in 1546.

    Did you find these Henry VIII facts for kids helpful? Is it what you’re looking for? Please comment and help us improve this article. Thanks for reading it!

    Learn more: England Facts

  • Tudor Facts For Kids | Royal House Of Kingdom Of England

    Tudor Facts For Kids | Royal House Of Kingdom Of England

    Tudor is the dynasty of kings and queens that ruled over England and Ireland in 1485. There were five monarchs who ruled for more than a century. Of all the five, Henry VIII was certainly the most famous king. The last queen of this dynasty was Elizabeth I in 1603 after which the succession of kings and queens came to an end. Now let’s take a short look at Tudor facts for kids to know more about it.

    Tudor Facts For Kids

    Introduction

    Date of Origin: August 22, 1485

    Name of Founder/First Ruler: Henry VII

    Name of Last Ruler: Elizabeth I

    Ending Date: March 24, 1603

    Basic Tudor Facts For Kids

    1. The word ‘Tudor’ came from two words: ‘tud’ which means ‘territory’ and ‘rhi’ meaning ‘king’.
    2. Tudor is the name of a family of Kings and Queens known as Tudor Dynasty.
    3. Tudors came from the mother of King Henry VII. The name of his mother was Margaret Beaufort.
    4. The dynasty ruled England and Wales (known as Kingdom of England) and also Ireland (not all but some parts of it).
    5. The dynasty ruled for more than 100 years starting from 1485 and ended on 1603.
    6. Tudors were basically Welsh people which means they came from the country of Wales. As a matter of fact, there was a King in Wales named ‘Rhys ap Tewdwr’ and this dynasty came from him.
    7. During the period of more than 100 years (1485-1603), there were only six Tudor rulers who ruled the country.

    First Tudor King

    1. Henry VII was the very first king of this dynasty.Tudors - Tudor Facts For Kids
    2. Henry VII fought only two wars during his rule; one in 1489 and other in 1496.
    3. In 1492, Henry VII made a peace agreement with France.
    4. Henry VII died before his son, Henry VIII, got married to Catherine.
    5. The most popular Tudor king was Henry VIII.

    Second Tudor King

    1. Henry VIII was the second ruler of Tudor dynasty after his father Henry VII.
    2. Henry VIII and his wife Catherine of Aragon became king and queen respectively on June 24, 1509. Both got married just 13 days before becoming new rulers.
    3. When Henry VIII became a ruler, he did not have any interest in ruling the country. Instead he was more interested in playing sports or involving himself in luxuries of life.
    4. During the first two years of his rule, Henry VIII allowed others to run the affairs of the country.
    5. He was a friendly person in his younger years and never acted like a King rather always behaved like a gentleman.
    6. Catherine was 6 years older than her husband Henry VIII.
    7. The marriage of Henry VIII with Catherine was cancelled because Catherine did not give birth to a son who was to become the heir to the throne. Though a son was born but he died within almost 2 months after his birth.
    8. Thomas Cranmer, who was Archbishop of Canterbury, cancelled the marriage of Henry VIII with Catherine.
    9. After the divorce of Catherine and Henry VIII, Catherine was locked up for 3 years until she died.
    10. Henry VIII got married to Anne Boleyn.
    11. After giving birth to Elizabeth, Anne was put behind bars and after that she was sentenced to death in May 1536.
    12. The third wife of Henry VIII was Jane Seymour.
    13. In 1537, Jane gave birth to a son called Edward VI.
    14. The fourth wife of Henry VIII was Anne of Cleves. The marriage took place in 1540.
    15. Henry VIII divorced her fourth wife Anne in a peaceful way and also gave her several lands including Hever Castle and Richmond Palace.
    16. The title of Anne of Cleves was ‘My Lady, the King’s Sister’.
    17. Henry VIII pointed the finger at Thomas Cromwell for his failure to go on with Anne as a successful couple. As a result, he was so much annoyed at him that he cut off Cromwell’s head in July 28, 1540.
    18. The fifth wife of Henry VIII was Catherine Howard.
    19. Henry VIII gave her a title of ‘Rose without a Horn’.
    20. Catherine Howard was sentenced to death on February 13, 1542 because she had unlawful relations with Thomas Culpeper (one of the courtiers of Henry VIII).
    21. The sixth wife of Henry VIII was Catherine Parr. They were married in 1543.

    Want to read more? Just have a look at:

    Henry VIII Facts For Kids

    Third Tudor King

    1. In 1547, Edward VI became the third ruler of Tudor dynasty when his father (Henry VIII) passed away.
    2. Edward VI was declared as King on January 20, 1547. At the time he was only 9 years old.
    3. Edward VI was the son of Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour.
    4. He was the first ruler of Tudor dynasty who was brought up as Protestant.

    Fourth Tudor King

    1. The fourth ruler of Tudor dynasty was Mary I.
    2. Mary I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
    3. She got married to the Spanish Prince Philip on July 25, 1554.
    4. She was also called ‘Bloody Mary’ because she burned down many Protestants.
    5. During the rule of Mary I, a new system of coining was introduced. This system remained implemented till 18th century.
    6. The first ambassador of Russia came in England during the time of Mary I. She was the first ruler to make new relations between England and Russia.
    7. Mary I died on November 17, 1558. She was only 42 years old.

    Fifth Tudor King

    1. The fifth and last queen of Tudor dynasty was Elizabeth Tudor. She became queen and was known as Elizabeth I.
    2. Elizabeth I was only 25 years old at the time of becoming queen of England.
    3. She was also known as ‘Good Queen Bess’ or ‘The Virgin Queen’.
    4. Anne Boleyn was the mother of Elizabeth I.

    More Tudor Facts For Kids

    1. Margaret Beaufort was the granddaughter was John Beaufort.
    2. John Beaufort was an illegal son of John of Gaunt (who was the son of Edward III) and his lover Katherine Swynford. Though both of them got married in 1399 but all four children were born before their marriage.
    3. After the death of Henry VIII, Anne became very poor because all the estates she owned at the time were taken away by Edward VI and eventually she died on July 16, 1557.
    4. Catherine was the wife of Prince Arthur before marrying to Henry VIII. Prince Arthur was the elder brother of Henry VIII.

    Did you really find these Tudor facts for kids helpful? Is it what you’re looking for? Please comment and help us improving this article. Thanks for reading it!

  • Big Ben Facts for Kids | Exciting 8 Facts about Clock Tower

    Big Ben Facts for Kids | Exciting 8 Facts about Clock Tower

    London has many landmarks, but none is more popular than the Big Ben. This clock tower is probably the most prominent and well known attraction in not only London, but England as well. Its history and Victorian structure attracts millions of tourists every year. It is located on the side of the House of Parliament in Westminster, London. But, what makes this tower so special? The tower is home to the largest four-faced chiming bell in the world. Additionally, Big Ben is 315 foot high—making it the third tallest free standing clock tower. Do I not tell you all these exciting big ben facts for kids?

    Now, if you think that’s interesting, read ahead and find out more about this fascinating tower. So many interesting things you can learn and read with more free time and desire. If you are a student and you don’t have time for anything other than studying law, you can law homework help and spend your free time on something you would really like to read.

    Now, if you think that’s interesting, read ahead and find out more about this fascinating tower.

    Big Ben Facts For Kids

    When was the tower built?

    The clock took nearly 13 years to build and finally began ticking in the summer of 1858; but it wasn’t until July 1859 when the bell was first chimed. It now rings every 15 minutes without delay.

    Amazingly, this clock still rang after the House of Parliament was bombed in during the Second World War. The house was completely destroyed, but the clock was unharmed.

    Why was the Tower built?

    Originally, the land where the Big Ben Tower now stands, used to be occupied by the Old Palace of Westminster. However, when the Palace was tragically destroyed in a fire in the winter of 1834, the Tower was built along with the construction of the House of Parliament.

    Why was a clock tower named “Big Ben”?

    Well, it wasn’t. Big Ben was actually the name of the four faced bell inside the tower, not the tower itself. However, due to popular misconception, the tower came to be known as Big Ben. Furthermore, the tower has been renamed as the Elizabeth Tower. The name was changed as to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee.

    But, why Big Ben?

    Big Ben is actually a nickname. The original name of the bell being the Great Bell. However, it didn’t quite catch on. The conception of the name is rather debatable. Nobody knows the exact origin; however, two prominent theories are: The bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works. His name is actually inscribed on the bell itself. The second theory suggests the bell was named after Ben Caunt, a well-known and respected heavyweight boxing champion.

    Want to hear another interesting fact?

    If you have ever seen the clock face, you’ll notice some writing imprinted on it. It reads:

    DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM RIMAM

    Translation: O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First.

    Is Big Ben tilted?!

    Yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The clock tower is actually tilted. Due to some tunnel excavation nearby, the tower became a little slanted. It leans slightly towards the northwest by 8.66 inches.

    So, we have Big Ben, is there a Little Ben?

    Surprisingly yes. If you look at the top of the clock tower, you’ll see a weather vane. That’s Little Ben.

    Has the clock ever been wrong?

    Even though the clock is maintained and it’s time is kept accurate, there have been some incidents where the clock was inaccurate. In 1949, a flock of birds’ constant pecking on the minute hand made it slow down by 4.5 minutes.

    Now that you know everything about London’s most famous landmark, show off your new found knowledge with friends and family.

    Read more:

    • Big Ben Facts
    • England Facts
  • London Facts For Kids – Facts About London

    London Facts For Kids – Facts About London

    London being the capital city of England, stands on the River Thames and it has long been admired for the exquisite lavishness of Londoners and the long history that enriches city in the field of art, commerce, fashion, research, culture, tourism, and entertainment. Let’s discover some of the least known London facts for kids.

    London Facts For Kids

    According to a 2012-survey, there are 8,308,369 residents in London.

    London is also the world’s leading financial sector and is the most-visited city as it is also accompanied by the world’s largest airport system assessed by the passenger traffic.

    The Heathrow airport is the world’s busiest airport in the world.

    Unlike any other city in the world, London is the only city which hosts modern Summer Olympic Games three times.

    The Mayor of London and the London Assembly governs the city.

    It is the most populous city in the European Union with the population estimating at 21 million.

    London was honored to have the world’s renowned poet and dramatist of all-time, William Shakespeare, who, along with his contemporaries, had lived in London in the early 16th century.

    London was deemed to be the world’s largest city in the world from 1831 to 1925.

    It is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

    The double-decker is an iconic symbol of this city.

    The annual rainfall in London is measured around 23 inches.

    Some of the prominent newspapers are The Daily Telegraph, The Times, and the Guardian.

    London Underground Railway System

    The london underground is unquestionably the oldest railway system in the world, with the Metropolitan Railway being the oldest while Jubilee Lines (emerged in 1979) the youngest. The busiest railway system is the Northern Line, with 207 million passengers being carried by it each year. Another busiest station which serves over 77 million passengers annually is the Kings Cross St Pancras. The London underground is accredited to Charles Yerkes, an American entrepreneur, who did most of to bring about this system; but he was also involved in fraudulent acts and was died in debt.

    Metropolitan Railway Facts

    The Metropolitan Railway was emerged on 9th January 1863.

    Before the introduction of Metropolitan Railway, there was no concept of underground railway system.

    It serves Londoners from Bishop’s Road, Farringdon to Paddington Street, in the heart of the city.

    It brings about more than 50 million passengers each year.

    The railway ran 42 miles of track and serves 34 stations on its way.

    The longest distance between stations runs from Chesham to Chalfont & Latimer, estimating 3.9 miles.

    Sir John Fowler was the Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Railway system.

    Cultural Facts | London Facts For Kids

    London hosts top ten galleries and museums in the world with more than 850 art galleries all throughout the city.

    You may also find four UNESCO world heritage sites;

    • Westminster Palace
    • Royal Botanic Gardens
    • Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich
    • Saint Margaret’s Church

    London also embraces diverse cultural languages and it is believed to have vast number of languages than any other city in the world.

    The city also holds more than 17,000 top-notch music performances in just 300 venues.

    In the UK visual arts sector, the performance of London stands prominent making it worth-noting as it covers 30% of the global art market.

    Surely, there is no denying fact that London has always been the hub of major Hollywood films, ranging from famous Harry Potter to the Notting Hill; currently hosting the world’s third busiest film production center embracing more than 14,000 shooting days in 2011.

    While London dominates the other parts of the city by hosting almost 800 cinema screens which is a great achievement, it also insists on presenting one-fifth of the whole UK’s cinema’s screen.