Dirty Spanish Workbook: 101 Fun Exercises Filled with Slang, Sex and Swearing (Dirty Everyday Slang)

ALL 19 English Display 1 - 19 from 19 results. Everybody Poops Pounds a Year: But did you ever discover how much? Well, sit down on that cold porcelain throne and get ready to laugh your butt off at the most amazing, hilarious, need-to-go facts on the one thing everyone does--but nobody talks about. Filled to the rim with piles of fascinating dirty fun, this illustrated kids' book for grown-ups answers all th.. Local courier delivery with tracking number or collect from 90 lockers islandwide.

Add to My List. Sipping a caf au lait at a sidewalk bistro Drop the textbook formality and chat with the locals in France's everyday language. Ce brie sent putain de dr le. On se roule une pelle? L'arbitre est un abruti. Everyday Slang from "What's Up? Sipping espresso at a sidewalk caf Drop the textbook formality and chat with the locals in Italy's everyday language.

Ho una fame da morti. Forza the Samurai Sword Workout: First the author teaches basic sword movements: Although she keeps it fun, she draws on her years of martial arts training to teach the true movements that combine balance, focus and precised muscle control. Then the author explains the benefits of each movement and her sword fighting program as a whole. In part three of the book she brings it all together showing how to string movements together into a heart-pounding, full-throttle workout.

Are those fake boobs? That goalie is so weak. Shit's about to go down -- O coro vai comer I'm smashed. The West End is the main theatre district in the UK.

Dirty Spanish Workbook: Fun Exercises Filled with Slang, Sex and Swearing - ND B - Google Книги

Opened in , the Theatre Royal at the Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continually-operating theatre in the English speaking world. In the 18th century, the highbrow and provocative Restoration comedy lost favour, to be replaced by sentimental comedy, domestic tragedy such as George Lillo's The London Merchant , and by an overwhelming interest in Italian opera. Popular entertainment became more important in this period than ever before, with fair-booth burlesque and mixed forms that are the ancestors of the English music hall.

These forms flourished at the expense of other forms of English drama, which went into a long period of decline. By the early 19th century it was no longer represented by stage plays at all, but by the closet drama , plays written to be privately read in a "closet" a small domestic room.

In , a critic using the pseudonym "Dramaticus" published a pamphlet [31] describing the parlous state of British theatre. Production of serious plays was restricted to the patent theatres , and new plays were subject to censorship by the Lord Chamberlain's Office. At the same time, there was a burgeoning theatre sector featuring a diet of low melodrama and musical burlesque ; but critics described British theatre as driven by commercialism and a "star" system. A change came in the late 19th century with the plays on the London stage by the Irishmen George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde , who influenced domestic English drama and revitalised it.

Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan , nurtured their collaboration, and had their first success with Trial by Jury. Among Gilbert and Sullivan 's best known comic operas are H. Carte built the West End's Savoy Theatre in to present their joint works, and through the inventor of electric light Sir Joseph Swan , the Savoy was the first theatre, and the first public building in the world, to be lit entirely by electricity. The performing arts theatre Sadler's Wells , under Lilian Baylis , nurtured talent that led to the development of an opera company, which became the English National Opera ENO ; a theatre company, which evolved into the National Theatre; and a ballet company, which eventually became the English Royal Ballet.

The National Theatre's largest auditorium is named after Olivier, and he is commemorated in the Laurence Olivier Awards , given annually by the Society of London Theatre. Lionel Bart 's musical Oliver! In July , a board was set up to supervise construction of a National Theatre in London, and a separate board was constituted to run a National Theatre Company and lease the Old Vic theatre. A National Theatre of Scotland was set up in A prolific composer of musical theatre in the 20th century, Andrew Lloyd Webber has been referred to as "the most commercially successful composer in history".

Lloyd Webber has worked with producer Cameron Mackintosh , lyricist Tim Rice , actor Michael Crawford originated the title role in The Phantom of the Opera , actress and singer Sarah Brightman , while his musicals originally starred Elaine Paige originated the role of Grizabella in Cats and had a chart hit with " Memory " , who with continued success has become known as the First Lady of British Musical Theatre.

Written by Catherine Johnson , Mamma Mia! The traditional marching song " The British Grenadiers " is often performed by British Army bands , and is played at the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Written by British Army bandmaster F. Jeremiah Clarke 's " Trumpet Voluntary " is popular for wedding music, and has featured in royal weddings.

The traditional folk music of England has contributed to several genres, such as sea shanties , jigs , hornpipes and dance music. It has its own distinct variations and regional peculiarities. Accompanied with music, Morris dancing is an English folk dance that first appeared in the s. The bagpipes have long been a national symbol of Scotland, and the Great Highland Bagpipe is widely recognised.

The Child Ballads , a collection of English and Scottish Popular Ballads , are ballads of the British Isles from the later medieval period until the 19th century. Both Northern English and Southern Scots shared in the identified tradition of Border ballads , such as the cross-border narrative in " The Ballad of Chevy Chase " from Many ballads were written and sold as single sheet broadsides.

In the midth century nursery rhymes begin to be recorded in English plays, and the most popular date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Christmas carols in English first appear in a work by John Awdlay , a Shropshire chaplain who lists 25 "caroles of Cristemas", probably sung by groups of ' wassailers ', who went from house to house.

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The service is broadcast around the world. The music of Christmas has always been a combination of sacred and secular, and every year in the UK there is highly publicised competition to be the Christmas number one single , which has led to the production of music which provides the mainstay of festive playlists.

It has been Christmas number one three times. London is one of the world's major centres for classical music: British traditional music has also been very influential abroad. The UK was one of the two main countries in the creation and development of many genres of popular music, including rock music: Rex , blues rock: The Hollies ; blue-eyed soul: Bee Gees ; synth pop: Madness ; shock rock: Arthur Brown ; pop rock: ELO , Muse ; Britpop: Oasis , Blur , Pulp , The Verve ; soul: In , British artists topped the decade end ranking, with " Chasing Cars " by Snow Patrol announced as the most widely played song of the decade in the UK, and Back to Bedlam by James Blunt the best selling album of the s in the UK.

Since the earlys, British hip hop and grime has become increasingly popular, mainly within the youth of cities such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds and Sheffield. Two of the biggest actors in the silent era were Chaplin and Stan Laurel. Ranked by many as the best British filmmaker, [60] Hitchcock's first thriller, The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog , helped shape the thriller genre in film, while his film, Blackmail , is often regarded as the first British sound feature film. Boris Karloff played the leading role in major horror films in the s, and collaborated with film director James Whale.

Famous for their motion picture film scores , the London Symphony Orchestra first performed film music in Chips about a beloved aged schoolteacher Mr. Chipping was based on the novel by James Hilton. The British film-making partnership of Powell and Pressburger made a series of influential films in the s and s, with The Red Shoes their most commercially successful film.

David Lean emerged as a major filmmaker in the s with Brief Encounter and Great Expectations , with his first big-screen epic The Bridge on the River Kwai Towards the end of the s, Hammer Films embarked on their series of influential and wildly successful horror films, including lavish colour versions of Frankenstein , Dracula and The Mummy , with actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee at the forefront.

The Carry On series, which consists of 31 comedy motion pictures, commenced in A West Country native where many well-known English pirates hailed from, Robert Newton 's portrayal of Long John Silver in s films popularised the stereotypical West Country pirate accent. Films that explored the " Swinging London " phenomenon of the s included, Alfie , Blowup and Bedazzled The James Bond film series began in the early s, with Sean Connery in the leading role.

Bond, portrayed by Connery, was selected as the third-greatest hero in cinema history by the AFI. Adjusted for inflation, David Lean's Doctor Zhivago is among the top ten highest-grossing films. Four of the decade's Academy Award winners for best picture were British productions, including the film musical Oliver! In the s, Ronald Neame directed the festive favourite Scrooge A Clockwork Orange , based on Anthony Burgess ' novella of the same name , starred Malcolm McDowell as Alex , the leader of a gang of thugs in a dystopian Britain.

In the mids, British comedy team Monty Python switched their attention to films, beginning with Monty Python and the Holy Grail , followed by Monty Python's Life of Brian , the latter regularly voted the funniest film of all time by the British public. Hollywood blockbusters filmed at major British studios in —79, include Star Wars featuring Alec Guinness , co-star Anthony Daniels —the only actor to appear in every film in the series—and 'the dean of special effects' John Stears at Elstree Studios , Superman featuring Terence Stamp at Pinewood , and Alien directed by Ridley Scott at Shepperton.

In the s, a wave of visually stylish directors, Ridley Scott , Alan Parker , Tony Scott , Hugh Hudson and Adrian Lyne , were credited for "ushering in a new era of blockbusters using the crowd-pleasing skills they'd honed in advertising. The dystopian fantasy, Brazil , is regarded as one of the best British films of the mids. The black comedy, Withnail and I , has been described as "one of Britain's biggest cult films".

The s saw a large number of traditional British period dramas, including Sense and Sensibility , Restoration , Emma , Mrs. Richard Curtis 's film Four Weddings and a Funeral , starring Hugh Grant in his breakthrough role, set a pattern for British-set romantic comedies, including Sliding Doors and Notting Hill Grant also made headlines for his high-profile relationship with Elizabeth Hurley , which was the focus of much attention in the British and international media.

London visual effects company The Mill produced the computer-generated imagery effects for Ridley Scott's Gladiator ; the film was dedicated to Oliver Reed who died during filming. The Mill created a digital body double for his remaining scenes. At the start of the 21st century, three major international British successes were the romantic comedies Bridget Jones's Diary , sequel Bridget Jones: Set in north-east England, Billy Elliot deals with a boy becoming a ballet dancer. Famous for his creation Mr. Bean , the comedian Rowan Atkinson starred in Johnny English The Curse of the Were-Rabbit They are the two highest-grossing stop motion animated films.

Simon Pegg co-wrote and starred in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy of films: Danny Boyle 's Slumdog Millionaire was the most successful British film of the decade. The horror Eden Lake is among a group of contemporary films dealing with British "hoodies". Acclaimed for his motion capture work , in actor Andy Serkis opened his own motion capture workshop, The Imaginarium Studios in London.

In , the twenty-third James Bond film Skyfall was the highest-grossing film in the UK at that point. In , the film biopics on two British scientists Hawking and Turing , The Theory of Everything and The Imitation Game , both achieved critical and commercial success. Produced and written by Alex Garland , the science fiction films Dredd and Ex Machina have both met critical acclaim. Asif Kapadia 's documentary film Amy — based on the life of Amy Winehouse — broke UK box office records, and also became the highest grossing British documentary. British actors and actresses have always been significant in international cinema.

Hollywood films with a British dimension have had enormous worldwide commercial success. Many of the highest-grossing films worldwide of all time have a British historical, cultural or creative theme.

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British video game Tomb Raider features English archaeologist Lara Croft which has been made into feature films. The UK has been at the forefront of developments in film, radio and television. Broadcasting in the UK has historically been dominated by the taxpayer-funded but independently run British Broadcasting Corporation commonly known as the BBC , although other independent radio and television ITV , Channel 4 , Five and satellite broadcasters especially BSkyB which has over 10 million subscribers have become more important in recent years.

BBC television, and the other three main television channels are public service broadcasters who, as part of their licence allowing them to operate, broadcast a variety of minority interest programming. The BBC and Channel 4 are state-owned, though they operate independently. Popular UK sitcoms and their iconic characters and catchphrases from each of the last four decades of the 20th century include Dad's Army created by Jimmy Perry featuring Captain Mainwaring 's putdown "You stupid boy!

Christmas commercials are screened from early November in the UK, with campaigns including the John Lewis Christmas advert for the department store chain. International football tournaments, such as the World Cup , are historically the most viewed sports events among the public, while Match of the Day is the most popular weekly football show. Regarded as the leading figure of the satire boom, Peter Cook was ranked number one in the Comedians' Comedian poll. Satire also features heavily in the Grand Theft Auto video game series which has been ranked among Britain's most successful exports.

Popular comedy duos in television include The Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise , with both shows featuring memorable sketches. Jeeves and Wooster starred Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster , an airy, nonchalant, gormless, idle young gentleman and Stephen Fry as Jeeves , his calm, well-informed, and talented valet. Created by and starring Rik Mayall as Richie and Adrian Edmondson as Eddie, Bottom features two crude, perverted flatmates with no jobs and little money, which is noted for its chaotic, nihilistic humour and violent comedy slapstick.

Da Ali G Show starred Sacha Baron Cohen as a faux-streetwise poseur Ali G from west London, who would conduct real interviews with unsuspecting people, many of whom are celebrities, during which they are asked absurd and ridiculous questions. Aardman also produce the kid's show Shaun the Sheep. First airing in , Blue Peter is famous for its arts and crafts "makes".

The show has been a staple for generations of British children. The actor David Jason has voiced a number of popular characters in children's animation, including The Wind in the Willows based on the children's book by Kenneth Grahame , Danger Mouse and Count Duckula. Other children's shows include Where's Wally?

Debuting in , The Snowman featuring the festive song " Walking in the Air " is annually screened at Christmas. The pub being a prominent setting in the three major television soap operas reflects the role pubs have as the focal point of the community in many towns and villages across the UK. Espionage and detective shows have long been a staple of British television, such as the s series The Avengers featuring lady spy adventurer and cultural and feminist icon Emma Peel.

The United Kingdom has a large number of national and local radio stations which cover a great variety of programming. The most listened to stations are the five main national BBC radio stations. BBC Radio 1 , a new music station aimed at the 16—24 age group. BBC Radio 2 , a varied popular music and chat station aimed at adults is consistently highest in the ratings. BBC Radio 4 , a varied talk station, is noted for its news, current affairs , drama and comedy output as well as The Archers , its long running soap opera, and other unique programmes, including Desert Island Discs —present , an interview programme in which a famous guest called a " castaway " chooses eight pieces of music, a book and a luxury item that they would take with them to a desert island.

Currently presented by Kirsty Young , it is the longest running music radio programme in British history. The idea for a Christmas message was conceived by one of the founders of the BBC. Delivered annually by the monarch, it was first broadcast on BBC Radio in An alternative Christmas message was first broadcast on Channel 4 in Broadcast from to , radio comedy The Goon Show , starring Peter Sellers , Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe , mixed ludicrous plots with surreal humour, puns, catchphrases and an array of bizarre sound effects.

The show has exerted considerable influence on British comedy and culture. As a film star Sellers in particular became influential to film actors by using different accents and guises and assuming multiple roles in the same film. Panellists must talk for sixty seconds on a given subject, "without hesitation, repetition or deviation".

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in , the science fiction comedy radio series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was innovative in its use of music and sound effects. Rock music station Absolute Radio , and sports station Talksport , are among the biggest commercial radio stations in the UK. Freedom of the press was established in Great Britain in Founded by publisher John Walter in , The Times is the first newspaper to have borne that name, lending it to numerous other papers around the world, and is the originator of the widely used Times Roman typeface, created by Victor Lardent and commissioned by Stanley Morison in Founding The Gentleman's Magazine in , Edward Cave coined the term " magazine " for a periodical, and was the first publisher to successfully fashion a wide-ranging publication.

A pioneer of children's publishing, John Newbery made children's literature a sustainable and profitable part of the literary market. In Horace Walpole published the first gothic novel , The Castle of Otranto , initiating a new literary genre. On 10 November he became involved in an argument over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, and realised that it was impossible to confirm in reference books. Beaver knew that there must be numerous other questions debated throughout the world, but there was no book with which to settle arguments about records.

He realised that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question may prove successful. His idea became reality when an acquaintance of his recommended University friends Norris and Ross McWhirter who were then commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records in August Copyright laws originated in Britain with the Statute of Anne also known as the Copyright Act , which outlined the individual rights of the artist.

A right to benefit financially from the work is articulated, and court rulings and legislation have recognised a right to control the work, such as ensuring that the integrity of it is preserved. From the creation of the United Kingdom, the English school of painting is mainly notable for portraits and landscapes, and indeed portraits in landscapes.

Among the artists of this period are Joshua Reynolds — , George Stubbs — , and Thomas Gainsborough — Pictorial satirist William Hogarth pioneered Western sequential art, and political illustrations in this style are often referred to as "Hogarthian". Following the work of Hogarth, political cartoons developed in England in the latter part of the 18th century under the direction of James Gillray.

Regarded as being one of the two most influential cartoonists the other being Hogarth , Gillray has been referred to as the father of the political cartoon, with his satirical work calling the king George III , prime ministers and generals to account. The late 18th century and the early 19th century was perhaps the most radical period in British art, producing William Blake — , John Constable — and J. Turner — , three of the most influential British artists, each of whom have dedicated spaces allocated for their work at the Tate Britain.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood PRB achieved considerable influence after its foundation in with paintings that concentrated on religious, literary, and genre subjects executed in a colourful and minutely detailed style. Also associated with it was the designer William Morris , whose efforts to make beautiful objects affordable or even free for everyone led to his wallpaper and tile designs to some extent defining the Victorian aesthetic and instigating the Arts and Crafts movement.

Also prominent amongst 20th-century artists was Henry Moore , regarded as the voice of British sculpture, and of British modernism in general. Sir Jacob Epstein was a pioneer of modern sculpture. The auction was revived in 17th- and 18th-century England when auctions by candle began to be used for the sale of goods and leaseholds, some of which were recorded in Samuel Pepys 's diary in Known for his thickly impasted portrait and figure paintings, Lucian Freud was widely considered the pre-eminent British artist of his time.

Slang & dialect humour

Posters have played a significant role in British culture. In the late s, British graphic designer Storm Thorgerson co-founded the English graphic art group Hipgnosis , who have designed many iconic single and album covers for rock bands. His works were notable for their surreal elements, with perhaps the most famous being the cover for Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. The subversive political artwork of Banksy pseudonym of English graffiti artist whose identity is concealed can be found on streets, walls and buildings in the UK and the rest of the world.

A total of , votes were cast with Concorde beating other British design icons such as the Mini , mini skirt , Jaguar E-Type , Tube map and the Supermarine Spitfire. Sir Morien Morgan led research into supersonic transport in that culminated in the Concorde passenger aircraft.

By the late s the Committee had started the process of selecting specific designs for development, and after the forced merger of most UK aviation firms in , selected the Bristol Type , designed by Archibald Russell , as the basis for a transatlantic design.

Large outdoor music festivals in the summer and autumn are popular, such as Glastonbury the largest greenfield festival in the world , V Festival , Reading and Leeds Festivals. The UK was at the forefront of the illegal, free rave movement from the late s, which led to pan-European culture of teknivals mirrored on the UK free festival movement and associated travelling lifestyle. Irish dancing is popular in Northern Ireland and among the Irish diaspora throughout the UK; its costumes feature patterns taken from the medieval Book of Kells.

A staple of British seaside culture, the quarrelsome couple Punch and Judy made their first recorded appearance in Covent Garden, London in We soon changed Punch's name, transformed him from a marionette to a hand puppet, and he became, really, a spirit of Britain - a subversive maverick who defies authority, a kind of puppet equivalent to our political cartoons. The circus is a traditional form of entertainment in the UK. Chipperfield's Circus dates back more than years in Britain, making it one of the oldest family circus dynasties. Philip Astley is regarded as the father of the modern circus.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Joseph Grimaldi , originator of whiteface clown make-up, is considered the father of modern clowning. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world's largest arts festival. Established in , it takes place in Scotland's capital during three weeks every August alongside several other arts and cultural festivals.

The Fringe mostly attracts events from the performing arts , particularly theatre and comedy, although dance and music also feature. Pantomime often referred to as "panto" is a British musical comedy stage production, designed for family entertainment. Pantomime story lines and scripts are almost always based on traditional children's stories: Plot lines are almost always adapted for comic or satirical effect, and characters and situations from other stories are often interpolated into the plot.

For example, Jack and the Beanstalk might include references to English nursery rhymes involving characters called "Jack", such as Jack and Jill. Famous people regularly appear in Pantos, such as Ian McKellen. Music hall is a British theatrical entertainment popular from the early Victorian era to the midth century. The precursor to variety shows of today, music hall involved a mixture of popular songs, comedy, speciality acts and variety entertainment. He just taught us most of it". We in Hollywood owe much to him.

Annually held in December often at the London Palladium and performed infront of members of the British Royal Family , many famous acts have performed at the Royal Variety show over the century, and since one act of the show has been selected by the British public through the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent. The Manchester Arena has the highest indoor capacity in the UK with 21, seats. The world's busiest indoor arena, the O 2 Arena in London, has a 20, capacity. In Led Zeppelin performed a one off concert at the O 2 which saw a world record 20 million online application for tickets.

The Genting Arena in Birmingham has a capacity of 16,; in the venue saw the last ever performance of Black Sabbath. The SSE Hydro in Glasgow has the largest capacity of any indoor arena in Scotland with 13, seats; it was opened in with a concert by Rod Stewart. The Hammersmith Apollo in London opened in and has hosted some noteworthy performances, such as David Bowie 's final concert as Ziggy Stardust in July , while in Kate Bush undertook a 22 date residency at the venue, her first live shows in nearly 35 years.

The architecture of the United Kingdom includes many features that precede the creation of the United Kingdom in , from as early as Skara Brae and Stonehenge to the Giant's Ring , Avebury and Roman ruins. In most towns and villages the parish church is an indication of the age of the settlement. Many castles remain from the medieval period, such as Windsor Castle longest-occupied castle in Europe , [] Stirling Castle one of the largest and most important in Scotland , Bodiam Castle a moated castle , and Warwick Castle.

Over the two centuries following the Norman conquest of England of , and the building of the Tower of London , castles such as Caernarfon Castle in Wales and Carrickfergus Castle in Ireland were built. English Gothic architecture flourished from the 12th to the early 16th century, and famous examples include Westminster Abbey , the traditional place of coronation for the British monarch , which also has a long tradition as a venue for royal weddings ; and was the location of the funeral of Princess Diana , [] Canterbury Cathedral , one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England; Salisbury Cathedral , which has the tallest church spire in the UK; and Winchester Cathedral , which has the longest nave and greatest overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe.

In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance. About half a million buildings in the UK have "listed" status. He was employed to design and rebuild many of the ruined ancient churches of London following the Great Fire of London.

Both St Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace use Portland stone , a limestone from the Jurassic period quarried in the Jurassic Coast in Portland , Dorset, which is famous for its use in British and world architecture. In the early 18th century Baroque architecture — popular in Europe — was introduced, and Blenheim Palace was built in this era. However, Baroque was quickly replaced by a return of the Palladian form.

The Georgian architecture of the 18th century was an evolved form of Palladianism. Many existing buildings such as Woburn Abbey and Kedleston Hall are in this style. Among the many architects of this form of architecture and its successors, neoclassical and romantic , were Robert Adam , Sir William Chambers , and James Wyatt.

The aristocratic stately home continued the tradition of the first large gracious unfortified mansions such as the Elizabethan Montacute House and Hatfield House. Many of these houses are the setting for British period dramas, such as Downton Abbey. During the 18th and 19th centuries in the highest echelons of British society, the English country house was a place for relaxing, hunting in the countryside. Many stately homes have become open to the public: Knebworth House , now a major venue for open air rock and pop concerts — Freddie Mercury 's final live performance with Queen took place at Knebworth on 9 August , [] Alton Towers , the most popular theme park in the UK, and Longleat , the world's first safari park outside Africa.

In the early 19th century the romantic Gothic revival began in England as a reaction to the symmetry of Palladianism. By the middle of the 19th century, as a result of new technology, one could incorporate steel as a building component: Paxton also built such houses as Mentmore Towers , in the still popular retrospective Renaissance styles. In this era of prosperity and development British architecture embraced many new methods of construction, but such architects as August Pugin ensured that traditional styles were retained.

Following the building of the world's first seaside pier in July in Ryde , Isle of Wight off the south coast of England, the pier became fashionable at seaside resorts in the UK during the Victorian era, peaking in the s with 22 being built. At the beginning of the 20th century a new form of design, arts and crafts , became popular; the architectural form of this style, which had evolved from the 19th-century designs of such architects as George Devey , was championed by Edwin Lutyens. Arts and crafts in architecture is characterised by an informal, non-symmetrical form, often with mullioned or lattice windows, multiple gables and tall chimneys.

This style continued to evolve until World War II. After that war, reconstruction went through a variety of phases, but was heavily influenced by Modernism , especially from the late s to the early s. Many bleak town centre redevelopments—criticised for featuring hostile, concrete-lined "windswept plazas"—were the fruit of this interest, as were many equally bleak public buildings, such as the Hayward Gallery.

Many Modernist-inspired town centres are today being redeveloped: Bracknell town centre is an example. However, in the immediate post-War years many thousands perhaps hundreds of thousands of council houses in vernacular style were built, giving working-class people their first experience of private gardens and indoor sanitation. Many towns also feature statues or sculptures dedicated to famous natives. Modernism remains a significant force in UK architecture, although its influence is felt predominantly in commercial buildings.

Described by The Guardian as the 'Queen of the curve', Zaha Hadid liberated architectural geometry with the creation of highly expressive, sweeping fluid forms of multiple perspective points and fragmented geometry that evoke the chaos and flux of modern life.

Modernist architect Nicholas Grimshaw designed the Eden Project in Cornwall, which is the world's largest greenhouse. British comics in the early 20th century typically evolved from illustrated penny dreadfuls of the Victorian era featuring Sweeney Todd , Dick Turpin and Varney the Vampire. A growing consumer culture and an increased capacity for travel throughout the UK via the invention of railway in created both a market for cheap popular literature, and the ability for it to be circulated on a large scale.

By the weekly circulation of both reached two million. In Tiger comics introduced Roy of the Rovers , the hugely popular football based strip recounting the life of Roy Race and the team he played for, Melchester Rovers. The stock media phrase "real 'Roy of the Rovers' stuff" is often used by football writers, commentators and fans when describing displays of great skill, or surprising results that go against the odds, in reference to the dramatic storylines that were the strip's trademark.

Other comic books and graphic novels such as Eagle , Valiant , Warrior , and AD also flourished. Created by Emma Orczy in , the Scarlet Pimpernel is the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who transforms into a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist, establishing the "hero with a secret identity " into popular culture.

In the s, a resurgence of British writers and artists gained prominence in mainstream comic books, which was dubbed the " British Invasion " in comic book history. These writers and artists brought with them their own mature themes and philosophy such as anarchy , controversy and politics common in British media, but were never before seen in American comics.

These elements would pave the way for mature and "darker and edgier" comic books that would jump start the Modern Age of Comics. The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement or service to the United Kingdom. Candidates are identified by public or private bodies or by government departments or are nominated by members of the public. Nominations are reviewed by honours committees , made up of government officials and private citizens from different fields, who meet twice a year to discuss the candidates and make recommendations for appropriate honours to be awarded by the Queen.

Historically a knighthood was conferred upon mounted warriors. By the Late Middle Ages , the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry , a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior. Since the early modern period , the title of knight is purely honorific, usually bestowed by a monarch, often for non-military service to the country. The modern female equivalent in the UK is damehood. The ceremony often takes place at Buckingham Palace , and family members are invited to attend.

A few examples of knights are Sir Nicholas Winton: Much of the folklore of the United Kingdom pre-dates the 18th century. Though some of the characters and stories are present throughout all of the UK, most belong to specific countries or regions. Common folkloric beings include pixies , giants , elves , bogeymen , trolls , goblins and dwarves. While many legends and folk-customs are thought to be ancient, such as the tales of Offa of Angeln and Weyland Smith , others date from after the Norman invasion of England, such as Robin Hood and his Merry Men of Sherwood and their battles with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

During the High Middle Ages tales originated from Brythonic traditions, notably the Arthurian legend. Another early figure from British tradition , King Cole , may have been based on a real figure from Sub-Roman Britain. Many of the tales make up part of the wider Matter of Britain , a collection of shared British folklore.

The legendary monster has been affectionately referred to by the nickname "Nessie" since the s. The leprechaun figures large in Irish folklore.

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A mischievous fairy-type creature in emerald green clothing who when not playing tricks spends all its time busily making shoes, the leprechaun is said to have a pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow , and if ever captured by a human it has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for release. In mythology, English fairy tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Killer helped form the modern perception of giants as stupid and violent, while the dwarf Tom Thumb is a traditional hero in English folklore.

English fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears is one of the most popular fairy tales in the English language. Lady Godiva , for instance, was said to have ridden naked on horseback through Coventry ; the heroic English figure Hereward the Wake resisted the Norman invasion; Herne the Hunter is an equestrian ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park , and Mother Shipton is the archetypal witch.

The Gremlin is part of Royal Air Force folklore dating from the s, with "gremlin" being RAF slang for a mischievous creature that sabotages aircraft, meddling in the plane's equipment. Lovett who sells pies made from Todd's victims , and serial killer Jack the Ripper. On 5 November, people in England make bonfires, set off fireworks and eat toffee apples in commemoration of the foiling of Guy Fawkes ' Gunpowder Plot , which became an annual event after the Thanksgiving Act of was passed. Halloween is a traditional and much celebrated holiday in Scotland and Ireland on the night of 31 October.

Other practices in Ireland include lighting bonfires , and having firework displays. Mass transatlantic Irish and Scottish migration in the 19th century popularised Halloween in North America. Witchcraft has featured in the British Isles for millennia. The use of a crystal ball to foretell the future is attributed to the druids. In medieval folklore King Arthur 's magician, the wizard Merlin , carried around a crystal ball for the same purpose. John Dee , consultant to Elizabeth I , frequently used a crystal ball to communicate with the angels.

The ghost of Anne Boleyn is a frequently reported ghost sighting in the UK. Differing accounts include seeing her ghost ride up to Blickling Hall in a coach drawn by a headless horseman, with her own head on her lap. Contemporary witchcraft began in England in the early 20th century with notable figures such as Aleister Crowley and the father of Wicca Gerald Gardner , before expanding westward in the s.

Crowley the founder of Thelema was described as "the most notorious occultist magician of the 20th century", and he remains an influential figure over Western esotericism and the counter-culture. English Heritage is the government body with a broad remit of managing the historic sites, artefacts and environments of England. It is currently sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Historic Environment Scotland is the executive agency of the Scottish Government , responsible for historic monuments in Scotland, such as Stirling Castle.

Balmoral Castle is the main Scottish residence of the Queen. A statue of Robert the Bruce and a large monument and visitor centre operated by the National Trust for Scotland is located in Bannockburn near the site of the Battle of Bannockburn. Many of Wales' great castles, such as the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd and other monuments, are under the care of Cadw , the historic environment service of the Welsh Government. Tintagel Castle is a popular tourist destination in Cornwall, with the castle associated with the legend of King Arthur since the 12th century.

The British Museum in London with its collection of more than seven million objects, [] is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world, and sourced from every continent, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to the present. On display since , the Rosetta Stone is the most viewed attraction. The Natural History Museum, London was established by Richard Owen who coined the term " dinosaur " to display the national collection of dinosaur fossils and other biological and geological exhibits.

The Titanic Belfast museum, a visitor attraction in the Titanic Quarter , east Belfast, Northern Ireland on the regenerated site of the shipyard where Titanic was built, was opened to the public in The most senior art gallery is the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square , which houses a collection of over 2, paintings dating from the midth century to The Tate galleries house the national collections of British and international modern art; they also host the famously controversial Turner Prize.

The National Museum of Art, Wales, opened in Blue plaques , the oldest historical marker scheme in the world, are permanent signs installed in a public place in the UK to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event. Events commemorated by plaques include John Logie Baird 's first demonstration of television at 22 Frith Street , Westminster, W1, London, the first sub 4-minute mile run by Roger Bannister on 6 May at Oxford University's Iffley Road Track , and a sweet shop in Llandaff , Cardiff that commemorates the mischief by a young Roald Dahl who put a mouse in the gobstoppers jar.

The suffix " shire " is attached to most of the names of English, Scottish and Welsh counties. Shire is a term for a division of land first used in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. This suffix tends not to be found in the names of counties that were pre-existing divisions. Essex , Kent , and Sussex , for example, have never borne a -shire , as each represents a former Anglo-Saxon kingdom.

Similarly Cornwall was a British kingdom before it became an English county. The term "shire" is also not used in the names of the six traditional counties of Northern Ireland. Various things are named after their county of origin, for example Cheshire Cat , Staffordshire Bull Terrier , Yorkshire pudding and Worcestershire Sauce. Worcestershire, the home county of the author J. From the time of the Scientific Revolution , England and Scotland, and thereafter the United Kingdom, have been prominent in world scientific and technological development.

The Royal Society serves as the national academy for sciences, with members drawn from different institutions and disciplines. Formed in , it is one of the oldest learned societies still in existence. Sir Isaac Newton 's publication of the Principia Mathematica ushered in what is recognisable as modern physics. The first edition of and the second edition of framed the scientific context of the foundation of the United Kingdom.

He realised that the same force is responsible for movements of celestial and terrestrial bodies, namely gravity. He is the father of classical mechanics , formulated as his three laws and as the co-inventor with Gottfried Leibniz of differential calculus. He also created the binomial theorem , worked extensively on optics , and created a law of cooling.

Figures from the UK have contributed to the development of most major branches of science. John Napier introduced logarithms in the early 17th century as a means to simplify calculations. Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell unified the electric and magnetic forces in what are now known as Maxwell's equations. Following his publication of A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field in , Maxwell predicted the existence of radio waves in Naturalist Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species and discovered the principle of evolution by natural selection.

James Hutton , founder of modern geology, worked on the age of the Earth deep time which forms a key element of Darwin's theory. Other important geologists include Charles Lyell , author of Principles of Geology , who also coined the term Pleistocene , and Adam Sedgwick , who proposed and coined the name of the Cambrian Period. Paul Dirac was one of the pioneers of quantum mechanics. Botanist Robert Brown discovered the random movement of particles suspended in a fluid Brownian motion. John Stewart Bell created Bell's Theorem.

Harold Kroto discovered buckminsterfullerene. Other 19th- and early 20th-century British pioneers in their field include Joseph Lister antiseptic surgery , Edward Jenner vaccination , Richard Owen palaeontology , coined the term Dinosaur , Florence Nightingale nursing , Sir George Cayley aerodynamics , William Fox Talbot photography , and Howard Carter modern archaeology , discovered Tutankhamun. Scholarly descriptions of dinosaur bones first appeared in the late 17th-century England. Between and , William Buckland discovered fossils of Megalosaurus and became the first person to describe a dinosaur in a scientific journal.

The second dinosaur genus to be identified, Iguanodon , was discovered in by Mary Ann Mantell. In , Gideon Mantell discovered fossils of a third dinosaur, Hylaeosaurus. Owen recognised that the remains of the three new species that had been found so far shared a number of distinctive features.

He decided to present them as a distinct taxonomic group, dinosaurs. John Harrison invented the marine chronometer , a key piece in solving the problem of accurately establishing longitude at sea, thus revolutionising and extending the possibility of safe long-distance sea travel. The aquarium craze began in Victorian England when Philip Henry Gosse created and stocked the first public aquarium at London Zoo in , and coined the term "aquarium" when he published The Aquarium: An Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea in A crucial advance in the development of the flush toilet was the S-trap invented by Alexander Cumming in — it uses the standing water to seal the outlet of the bowl, preventing the escape of foul air from the sewer.

They patented it in May as an alarm system, and it was first successfully demonstrated on 25 July between Euston and Camden Town in London. Postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill is regarded as the creator of the modern postal service and the inventor of the postage stamp Penny Black — with his solution of pre-payment facilitating the safe, speedy and cheap transfer of letters. Forming the mathematical foundations of computing , Boolean logic laid the foundations for the information age.

Historically, many of the UK's greatest scientists have been based at either Oxford or Cambridge University , with laboratories such as the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge and the Clarendon Laboratory in Oxford becoming famous in their own right. In modern times, other institutions such as the Red Brick and New Universities are catching up with Oxbridge. For instance, Lancaster University has a global reputation for work in low temperature physics. Technologically, the UK is also amongst the world's leaders. Historically, it was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution , with innovations especially in textiles, the steam engine , railroads, machine tools and civil engineering.

Maudslay's most influential invention was the screw-cutting lathe , a machine which created uniformity in screws and allowed for the application of interchangeable parts a prerequisite for mass production: The UK has the oldest railway networks in the world, with the Stockton and Darlington Railway , opened in , the first public railway to use steam locomotives.

Opened in , London Underground is the world's first underground railway. Josiah Wedgwood pioneered the industrialisation of pottery manufacture. In , Edgar Purnell Hooley added tar to the mix and named it Tarmac short for tarmacadam. Probably the greatest driver behind the modern use of concrete was Smeaton's Tower built by John Smeaton in the s.

The third Eddystone Lighthouse the world's first open ocean lighthouse , Smeaton pioneered the use of hydraulic lime in concrete. Situated 11 miles off east Scotland, it is the world's oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse.

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Portland cement , the most common type of cement in general use around the world as a basic ingredient of concrete, was developed in England in the 19th century. It was coined by Joseph Aspdin in he named it after Portland stone , and further developed by his son William Aspdin in the s. The UK has produced some of the most famous ships in the world: Since then, the UK has continued this tradition of technical creativity.

Alan Turing leading role in the creation of the modern computer , Scottish inventor Alexander Graham Bell the first practical telephone , John Logie Baird world's first working television system, first electronic colour television , Frank Whittle co-invented the jet engine — powered by Whittle's turbojet engines, the Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only jet aircraft to achieve combat operations during World War II, Charles Babbage devised the idea of the computer , Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

Pioneers of fertility treatment Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards , achieved conception through IVF world's first "test tube baby" in Douglas , is regarded as a contender for the first video game. Dolly the sheep , the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult somatic cell by scientists at Roslin Institute in Edinburgh , became a celebrity in the s. Simpson chloroform as an anaesthetic , Sir Joseph Swan Incandescent light bulb.

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain due to the social, economic and political changes in the country during the previous centuries. The stable political situation in Britain from around following the Glorious Revolution , in contrast to other European countries where absolute monarchy remained the typical form of government, can be said to be a factor in favouring Britain as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Britain also had high quality coal. Historian Jeremy Black states, "an unprecedented explosion of new ideas, and new technological inventions, transformed our use of energy, creating an increasingly industrial and urbanised country.

Roads, railways and canals were built. Scores of factories and mills sprang up. Our landscape would never be the same again. It was a revolution that transformed not only the country, but the world itself. Pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the Industrial Revolution. Meeting the demands of the consumer revolution and growth in wealth of the middle classes that helped drive the Industrial Revolution in Britain, Wedgwood created goods such as soft-paste porcelain tableware bone china , which was starting to become a common feature on dining tables.

With his role in the marketing and manufacturing of James Watt 's steam engine, and invention of modern coinage , Matthew Boulton is regarded as one of the most influential entrepreneurs in history. The United Kingdom was created as an Anglican Christian country, and Anglican churches remain the largest faith group in each country of the UK except Scotland, where Anglicanism is a tiny minority.

William Tyndale 's s translation of the Bible was the first to be printed in English, and was a model for subsequent English translations, notably the King James Version in The Book of Common Prayer of was the first prayer book to include the complete forms of service for daily and Sunday worship in English, and the marriage and burial rites have found their way into those of other denominations and into the English language. In 17th-century England, the Puritans condemned the celebration of Christmas.

The calendar reform became a major point of tension between the Anglicans and Puritans. King Charles I of England directed his noblemen and gentry to return to their landed estates in midwinter to keep up their old-style Christmas generosity. Protests followed as pro-Christmas rioting broke out in several cities; and for weeks Canterbury was controlled by the rioters, who decorated doorways with holly and shouted royalist slogans.

Following the Restoration, Poor Robins Almanack contained the lines:. The diary of James Woodforde, from the latter half of the 18th century, details Christmas observance and celebrations associated with the season over a number of years.

In the early 19th century, writers imagined Tudor Christmas as a time of heartfelt celebration. In , Charles Dickens wrote the novel A Christmas Carol that helped revive the "spirit" of Christmas and seasonal merriment. Dickens repeats the phrase at the end of the story; symbolic of Scrooge's change of heart. In the first commercial Christmas card was produced by Henry Cole , leading to the exchange of festive greeting cards among the public. The movement coincided with the appearance of the Oxford Movement and the growth of Anglo-Catholicism , which led a revival in traditional rituals and religious observances.

In , the future Queen Victoria wrote about her delight at having a Christmas tree, hung with lights , ornaments , and presents placed round it. The oldest and largest youth charity in the world, its aim is to support young people to belong, contribute and thrive in their communities. It seeks to bring salvation to the poor, destitute and hungry. The UK has a parliamentary government based on the Westminster system that has been emulated around the world — a legacy of the British Empire.

It is the ultimate legislative authority in the United Kingdom: The UK's two major political parties are the Labour Party and the Conservative Party , who between them won out of seats in the House of Commons at the most recent general election. The Scottish National Party Scotland only lost 21 of their seats in the House of Commons from the previous election; they remained the third-largest party by seats held, despite the Liberal Democrats making gains.

The United Kingdom has an uncodified constitution , the Constitution of the United Kingdom , consisting mostly of a collection of disparate written sources, including statutes , judge-made case law , and international treaties. As there is no technical difference between ordinary statutes and "constitutional law," the UK Parliament can perform "constitutional reform" simply by passing Acts of Parliament and thus has the political power to change or abolish almost any written or unwritten element of the constitution.

However, no Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change. British constitutional documents include Magna Carta foundation of the "great writ" Habeas corpus — safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary state action , the Bill of Rights one provision granting freedom of speech in Parliament , Petition of Right , Habeas Corpus Act and Parliament Acts and A separate but similar document, the Claim of Right Act , applies in Scotland.

Jurist Albert Venn Dicey wrote that the British Habeas Corpus Acts "declare no principle and define no rights, but they are for practical purposes worth a hundred constitutional articles guaranteeing individual liberty". In Scotland the percentage is higher due to Scotland having a lower population as well having juries made up of fifteen people as opposed to twelve in England and Wales.

The 17th-century English patriot John Hampden was a leading parliamentarian involved in challenging the authority of Charles I when he refused to be taxed for ship money in , and was one of the Five Members whose attempted unconstitutional arrest by the King in the House of Commons in sparked the English Civil War. The wars established the constitutional rights of parliament, a concept legally established as part of the Glorious Revolution in and the subsequent Bill of Rights Since that time, no British monarch has entered the House of Commons when it is sitting.

An influential thinker in the history of liberalism , 19th century philosopher, political economist and politician John Stuart Mill justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state and social control. A member of the Liberal Party , he was also the first Member of Parliament to call for women's suffrage. Robert Walpole is generally regarded as the first British Prime Minister — She became known as the " Iron Lady ", a term coined by a Soviet journalist for her uncompromising politics and leadership style.

He succeeded in his overriding ambition — to see the UK vote to leave the European Union. English poet William Cowper wrote in , "We have no slaves at home — Then why abroad? Slaves cannot breathe in England; if their lungs receive our air, that moment they are free, They touch our country, and their shackles fall. That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud. And jealous of the blessing. Spread it then, And let it circulate through every vein. British cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with the United Kingdom.

Historically, British cuisine meant "unfussy dishes made with quality local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate flavour, rather than disguise it". Anglo-Saxon England developed meat and savoury herb stewing techniques before the practice became common in Europe. Each country within the United Kingdom has its own specialities.

Traditional examples of English cuisine include the Sunday roast ; featuring a roasted joint , usually roast beef a signature English national dish dating back to the ballad " The Roast Beef of Old England " , lamb or chicken, served with assorted boiled vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

The full English breakfast consists of bacon , grilled tomatoes, fried bread, baked beans , fried mushrooms , sausages and eggs. Black pudding and hash browns are often also included. It is usually served with tea or coffee. Fish and chips are also regarded as a national institution: Winston Churchill called them "the good companions", John Lennon smothered them in tomato ketchup, while George Orwell referred to them as a "chief comfort" of the working class. The last of these is consumed cold.

A quintessential British custom, afternoon tea , is a small meal typically eaten between 4 pm and 6 pm. The most popular drink in Britain, tea became more widely drunk due to Catherine of Braganza. It is traditionally accompanied with biscuits , sandwiches , scones , cakes or pastries such as Battenberg cake , fruit cake or Victoria sponge. The first English recipe for ice cream was published in Mrs. Mary Eales's Receipts in London in , and arguably the earliest reference to an edible ice cream cone , "cornet with cream", appears in Agnes Marshall 's cookbook.

When he ordered his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread, others began to order "the same as Sandwich! White's Lemonade sold in Sausages are commonly eaten as bangers and mash , in sausage rolls or as toad in the hole. Lancashire hotpot is a well-known stew. Popular cheeses include Cheddar and Wensleydale. Sweet British dishes include scones, apple pie , mince pies , spotted dick , Eccles cakes , pancakes , sponge cake , trifle , jelly , custard , sticky toffee pudding , Tunnock's teacake , and Jaffa cakes ; the best-selling cake in the UK.

Marmalade is a popular British spread for toast or sandwich: Home baking has always been a significant part of British home cooking. A popular cake to bake, Victoria sponge named after Queen Victoria who enjoyed a slice with her tea , was created following the discovery of baking powder by English food manufacturer Alfred Bird in , which enabled the sponge to rise higher in cakes. The hot cross bun is a popular British sweet bun traditionally eaten on Good Friday, but are now eaten all year round.

With its logo and green-and-gold packaging having remained almost unchanged since then, Lyle's Golden Syrup was listed by Guinness World Records as having the world's oldest branding and packaging. Brown sauce is a traditional British condiment, with its best known variety HP Sauce named after and featuring an image of the Houses of Parliament on the label a popular spread on chicken and Bacon sandwiches. Scotland's Angus cattle is the UK's most popular native beef breed. The pub is an important aspect of British culture, and is often the focal point of local communities. Referred to as their "local" by regulars, pubs are typically chosen for their proximity to home or work, the availability of a particular beer or ale or a good selection, good food, a social atmosphere, the presence of friends and acquaintances, and the availability of pub games such as darts or snooker.

The pub quiz was established in the UK in the s. In , Richard II introduced a law that pubs had to display a sign outdoors to make them easily visible for passing ale tasters who would assess the quality of ale sold. The owner or tenant licensee is known as the pub landlord or publican, while barmaids are a common feature in pubs.