Culture of the United Kingdom information

The culture of the United Kingdom is influenced by its combined nations' history; its historically Christian religious life, its interaction with the cultures of Europe, the individual cultures of England, Wales and Scotland and the impact of the British Empire. The culture of the United Kingdom may also colloquially be referred to as British culture; Northern Ireland, though not geographically part of Great Britain, may still be considered as having a place within British culture. Although British culture is a distinct entity, the individual cultures of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are diverse. There have been varying degrees of overlap and distinctiveness between these four cultures.^[1]

British literature is particularly esteemed. The modern novel was developed in Britain, and playwrights, poets, and authors are among its most prominent cultural figures.^[2] Britain has also made notable contributions to music, cinema, art, architecture and television. The UK is also the home of the Church of England, the state church and mother church of the Anglican Communion, the third-largest Christian denomination. Britain contains some of the world's oldest universities, has made many contributions to philosophy, science, technology and medicine, and is the birthplace of many prominent scientists and inventions. The Industrial Revolution began in the UK and had a profound effect on socio-economic and cultural conditions around the world.

British culture has been influenced by historical and modern migration, the historical invasions of Great Britain, and the British Empire. As a result of the British Empire, significant British influence can be observed in the language, law, culture and institutions of its former colonies, most of which are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. A subset of these states form the Anglosphere, and are among Britain's closest allies.^[3]^[4] British colonies and dominions influenced British culture in turn, particularly British cuisine.^[5]

Sport is an important part of British culture, and numerous sports originated in the country including cricket, football, tennis and rugby.^[6] The UK has been described as a "cultural superpower",^[7]^[8] and London has been described as a world cultural capital.^[9]^[10] A global opinion poll for the BBC saw the UK ranked the third most positively viewed nation in the world (behind Germany and Canada) in 2013 and 2014.^[11]^[12]

^ Little, Allan (6 June 2018). "Scotland and Britain 'cannot be mistaken for each other'". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
^ "The rise of the novel". The British Library. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
^ Swaine, Jon (13 January 2009) Barack Obama presidency will strengthen special relationship, says Gordon Brown The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
^ E. J. Kirchner and J. Sperling, Global Security Governance: Competing Perceptions of Security in the 21st Century (London: Taylor & Francis, 2007), p. 100.
^ "Jeremy Paxman: what empire did for Britain". The Telegraph. London. 2 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
^ "Sport and the British". www.dmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ "The cultural superpower: British cultural projection abroad" Archived 16 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Journal of the British Politics Society, Norway. Volume 6. No. 1. Winter 2011
^ Sheridan, Greg (15 May 2010). "Cameron has chance to make UK great again". The Australian. Sydney. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
^ "London is the world capital of the 21st century... says New York | News". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
^ Calder, Simon (22 December 2007). "London, capital of the world". The Independent. London.
^ "BBC poll: Germany most popular country in the world". BBC. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^ "World Service Global Poll: Negative views of Russia on the rise". BBC. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

[1] Little, Allan (6 June 2018). "Scotland and Britain 'cannot be mistaken for each other'". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

[2] "The rise of the novel". The British Library. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2019.

[3] Swaine, Jon (13 January 2009) Barack Obama presidency will strengthen special relationship, says Gordon Brown The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2010.

[4] E. J. Kirchner and J. Sperling, Global Security Governance: Competing Perceptions of Security in the 21st Century (London: Taylor & Francis, 2007), p. 100.

[5] "Jeremy Paxman: what empire did for Britain". The Telegraph. London. 2 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2011.

[6] "Sport and the British". www.dmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

[7] "The cultural superpower: British cultural projection abroad" Archived 16 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Journal of the British Politics Society, Norway. Volume 6. No. 1. Winter 2011

[8] Sheridan, Greg (15 May 2010). "Cameron has chance to make UK great again". The Australian. Sydney. Retrieved 20 May 2012.

[9] "London is the world capital of the 21st century... says New York | News". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.

[10] Calder, Simon (22 December 2007). "London, capital of the world". The Independent. London.

[11] "BBC poll: Germany most popular country in the world". BBC. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

[12] "World Service Global Poll: Negative views of Russia on the rise". BBC. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

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