Numerical Facts

Every date, age, count and measurement worth memorising, in one place.

Key dates timeline

The Norman Conquest, the last successful invasion of England: 1066
The Magna Carta, first putting the king below the law: 1215
The Act of Union joining England and Scotland into Great Britain: 1707
The First World War: 1914 to 1918
The Second World War: 1939 to 1945
The NHS founded, three years after the war ended: 1948
The UK joins the EEC in 1973, votes to leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and exits in 2020

Each date moves power somewhere new: to the law in 1215, to Great Britain in 1707, to the people in 1918, to the NHS in 1948.

8 questions

Vote, or stand for most public offices: from 18
Drive a car: from 17, a year before you can vote
A car driving licence stays valid until 70, then must be renewed
Buy alcohol or play the National Lottery: from 18
Youth Courts deal with defendants aged 10 to 17; from 18 cases move to adult courts

18 is the UK's default adult threshold; driving at 17 is the one exception that comes early.

7 questions

UK population is about 67 million, up from just over 4 million in 1600
England holds about 84% of the population; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland share the other 16%
The Commonwealth has 56 member states, the Council of Europe 47, and the EU 27
Small claims: disputes under £10,000 in England and Wales, or £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Over 61,000 volunteers help the National Trust preserve buildings, coastline and countryside
Sir Steve Redgrave won rowing gold at five consecutive Olympic Games
Sir Chris Hoy won six Olympic gold medals and one silver, in cycling

56, 47, 27: Commonwealth, Council of Europe, EU, each smaller than the last.

8 questions