The culture of England is sometimes difficult to separate clearly from the culture of the United Kingdom, so influential has English culture been on the cultures of the British Isles and, on the other hand, given the extent to which other cultures have influenced life in England. The culture of the United Kingdom is rich and varied, and has been influential on culture on a worldwide scale. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... Location of the British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands off the north west coast of continental Europe comprising Great Britain, Ireland and a number of smaller islands. ...

Art

The Hay Wain by John Constable is considered an archetypal English painting

Main article: English art

English art is the body of art originating from England. Nikolaus Pevsner attempted a definition in his 1956 book The Englishness of English Art. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1456, 288 KB) Description: Title: de: Der Heuwagen Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 130,5 × 185,5 cm Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: London Current location (gallery): de: National Gallery Other notes: de: Landschaftsmalerei... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1456, 288 KB) Description: Title: de: Der Heuwagen Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 130,5 × 185,5 cm Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: London Current location (gallery): de: National Gallery Other notes: de: Landschaftsmalerei... A self portrait by John Constable John Constable (June 11, 1776 – March 31, 1837) was a British Romantic artist. ... English art is a term referring to a body of the visual arts originating from the nation of England, in the form of a continuous tradition. ... English art is a term referring to a body of the visual arts originating from the nation of England, in the form of a continuous tradition. ... Sir Nikolaus Pevsner CBE (January 30, 1902 – August 18, 1983) was a German-born British historian of art and, especially, architecture. ...

It has developed over several millennia, to recent movements such as Brit Art, and now encompasses a variety of forms — painting, photography, sculpture and performance art. Young British Artists or YBAs is the name given to a group of conceptual artists, painters, sculptors and installation artists based in the United Kingdom, most (though not all) of whom attended Goldsmiths College in London. ... For building painting, see painter and decorator. ... Fine art photography, sometimes simply called art photography, refers to high-quality archival photographic prints of pictures that are created to fulfill the creative vision of an individual professional. ... A sculpture is a three-dimensional object, which for the purposes of this article is man-made and selected for special recognition as art. ... This article is about Performance art. ...

It is often considered that English landscape painting typifies the tradition of English art, mirroring as it does the development of the country house and its landscaping. Landscape art depicts scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests. ...

Cuisine

Main article: English cuisine

England being the first industrialised country in the world, urbanised workers were in many cases cut off from regional food traditions. Some consider that English cuisine has consequently suffered from a widespread image of blandness and lack of distinctiveness. The openness of English diners to exotic dishes has also meant that English cooking does not enjoy as high a profile as other nations' culinary traditions. More recently, a new style of cooking called Modern British has emerged that combines traditional British ingredients with foreign culinary influences. Once thought to be an oxymoron by the culinary minded, British cuisine used to have a reputation as being take-away food or the unfashionable meat and two veg. ... Modern British (or New British) cuisine is a style of British cooking that emerged in the late 1970s, and has gained increasing popularity more recently. ...

The Full English breakfast remains an enduring tradition for many, despite the increasing popularity of the continental-style breakfast, or no breakfast at all, for busy workers. Tea and beer are typical drinks. Cider is produced in the West Country, and the south of England has seen the reintroduction of vineyards producing high quality white wine on a comparatively small scale. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Tea leaves in a Chinese gaiwan. ... English beer has a long history, and is quite distinct traditions from most other beer brewing countries. ... Cider in a pint glass Cider (or cyder) is an alcoholic beverage made primarily from the juices of specially grown varieties of apples. ... A glass of red wine This article is about the alcoholic beverage. ...

England produces a range of cheeses in various regions, including:

• Stilton cheese
• Wensleydale cheese
• Lancashire cheese
• Dorset Blue Vinney cheese
• Cheshire cheese
• Double Gloucester cheese
• Red Leicester
• Blue cheese
• Lincolnshire Poacher

Other foods associated with England include: Stilton cheese is a cheese of England. ... Wensleydale cheese is a cheese produced in Wensleydale, Yorkshire. ... Lancashire cheese, a crumbly British cows-milk cheese, is considered one of the premier products of that county. ... Dorset blue vinney is a traditional blue cheese made in Dorset, England, from skimmed cows milk. ... Country of origin England Region, town Cheshire Source of milk Cows Pasteurized Frequently Texture hard crumbly Aging time 4-8 weeks depending on variety Certification No Cheshire [] (IPA) cheese is a dense and crumbly cheese produced in Cheshire, England, and the neighbouring counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire. ... Double Gloucester cheese is a cheese created using a mixture of morning and evening milk, hence the name, Double Gloucester. ... Leicester cheese, often called Red Leicester, is an English cheese, made in a similar manner to cheddar cheese, but is crumblier; it is coloured orange by adding annatto extract during manufacture. ... Bleu cheese, or blue cheese is a general classification of cows milk, sheeps milk and/or goats milk cheeses that has had Penicillium cultures added so that the final product is spotted or veined throughout with blue or blue-green mould. ... The Lincolnshire Poacher is a traditional English folksong associated with the county of Lincolnshire. ...

• Sunday roast
• Lancashire Hotpot
• Cornish pasty
• Spotted Dick
• Mince Pies
• Fish and chips (and mushy peas)
• Tomato Ketchup
• Clotted cream from Devon and Cornwall
• Yorkshire pudding
• Sausage and mash
• Eccles cake
• Scones
• Shepherd's Pie
• Cumberland sausage
• British Curries
  • Balti
  • Chicken Tikka Masala
• Other typical British dishes

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sunday dinner. ... Wikibooks Cookbook has an article on Lancashire hotpot Lancashire hotpot is a culinary dish consisting essentially of meat, onion and potatoes left to bake in the oven all day in a heavy pot and on a low heat. ... A pasty from Cornwall A pasty (Cornish: Pasti, Hoggan, incorrectly written as pastie) is a type of pie, originally from Cornwall, United Kingdom. ... Spotted Dick and custard A can of Spotted Dick sponge pudding. ... A mince pie is a traditional British sweet pastry, usually consumed during the Christmas and New Year period. ... Although widely available, fish and chips have become particularly popular in seaside towns, for example here in Hunstanton, UK. The example shows modern packaging: traditionally, vendors sold fish and chips wrapped in newspaper — a practice now largely discontinued. ... Mushy peas Mushy peas are dried marrowfat peas which are first soaked overnight and then simmered until they form a bright green paste. ... This article is about the condiment; for the singers, see Las Ketchup. ... Clotted cream on scones with jam, also called Cream Tea. ... “Devonshire” redirects here. ... Sunday roast consisting of roast beef, roast potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding Wikibooks Cookbook has an article on Yorkshire Pudding Yorkshire pudding is an English savoury dish similar to the American popover, and made from batter. ... Bangers and mash Look up bangers and mash in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An Eccles cake is a small, round cake filled with currants. ... For the foodstuff see Scone (bread). ... Shepherds Pie with ground beef. ... Cumberland Sausages are a type of traditional sausage that originated in the traditional county of Cumberland, England. ... Chicken tikka jalfrezi, pilau rice and a cucumber rhaita. ... Balti is the name for a style of food probably first devised and served in Birmingham, England. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Folklore

Morris dancing is one of the more visible English folk traditions, with many differing regional variations.

Main article: English folklore

English folklore is the folk tradition which has evolved in England over a number of centuries. Some English legends can be traced back to their roots, even as far as before the Roman invasion of Britain, while the origin of others is fairly uncertain or disputed. England abounds with folklore, in all forms, from such obvious manifestations as the traditional semi-mystical Arthurian legends and semi-historical Robin Hood tales, to contemporary urban myths and facets of cryptozoology such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor. Cotswold Morris dance with handkerchiefs, Oxford, 2004-05-01. ... Cotswold Morris dance with handkerchiefs, Oxford, 2004-05-01. ... English folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in England over a number of centuries. ... Robin Hood memorial statue in Nottingham. ... The Beast of Bodmin is a phantom wild cat (or possibly a number of them) which ranges in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. ...

Morris dance and related practices such as the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance preserve old English folk traditions, as do Mummers Plays. The utopian vision of a traditional England is sometimes referred to as Merry England. Cotswold morris with handkerchiefs A morris dance is a form of English folk dance. ... The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is a remarkable folk survival, taking place each year in Abbots Bromley, a small village in Staffordshire, England. ... Mummers Plays (also known as mumming) are seasonal folk plays performed by troupes of actors known as mummers or guisers (or by local names such as rhymers, pace-eggers, soulers, tipteerers, galoshins and so on), originally in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (see wrenboys), but later in other parts of... The term Merry England, or in more jocular, half-timbered spelling Merrie England, refers to a semi-mythological, idyllic, and pastoral way of life that the inhabitants of England allegedly enjoyed at some poorly-defined point between the Middle Ages and the onset of the Industrial Revolution. ...

Heritage

In recent years, Stonehenge has become a focus for modern summer solstice celebrations

Though it pre-dates the existence of England as a nation, Stonehenge is believed by many English people to hold an iconic place in the culture of England. Other built structures like cathedrals and parish churches are associated with a sense of Englishness. The English country house and the lifestyle associated for centuries with an élite minority now forms an interest among many people in England as typified by visits to properties managed by English Heritage or the National Trust. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 138 KB) Stonehenge on the night before the summer solstice, with groups of people surrounding the floodlit stones, waiting for the dawn to arrive. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 138 KB) Stonehenge on the night before the summer solstice, with groups of people surrounding the floodlit stones, waiting for the dawn to arrive. ... For other meanings of Stonehenge, see: Stonehenge (disambiguation) Stonehenge is a Neolithic and Bronze Age megalithic monument located near Amesbury in the English county of Wiltshire, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. ... A Cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, which serves as the central church of a bishopric. ... A parish is a type of administrative subdivision. ... St. ... English Heritage is a United Kingdom government body with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ...

Landscape gardening as developed by Capability Brown set an international trend for the English garden. Gardening and visiting gardens are also a facet of the culture of England for many people. In many places, people gather for festials in May to celebrate "the awakening of the flowers". Capability Brown, by Nathaniel Dance, ca. ...

• Historic houses in England
• English Heritage Properties in England
• List of National Trust properties in England

Historic houses in England is a link page for any stately home, country house or other historic house in England. ... English Heritage Properties in England is a link page for any stately home, historic house, castle, abbey, museum or other property in the care of English Heritage. ... National Trust Properties in England is a link page for any stately home, historic house, castle, abbey, museum or other property in the care of the National Trust in England. ...

Literature

William Hogarth's depiction of a scene from Shakespeare's The Tempest is an example of how English literature influenced English painting in the 18th century

Main article: English literature

The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, or literature composed in English by writers who are not necessarily from England. Writers noted for expressing Englishness, or associated particularly with regions of England, include William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy (Wessex), A. E. Housman (Shropshire), Rupert Brooke, Jane Austen, Arnold Bennett and the Lake Poets (Lake District). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1534, 220 KB) Description: Title: de: Gemälde nach Shakespeares Â»Sturm«, Szene: Prospero und Miranda Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 80 × 101,5 cm Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: Wakefield Current location (gallery): de... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2024x1534, 220 KB) Description: Title: de: Gemälde nach Shakespeares Â»Sturm«, Szene: Prospero und Miranda Technique: de: Öl auf Leinwand Dimensions: de: 80 × 101,5 cm Country of origin: de: Großbritanien Current location (city): de: Wakefield Current location (gallery): de... William Hogarth (November 10, 1697 – October 26, 1764) was a major English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, and editorial cartoonist who has been credited as a pioneer in western sequential art. ... The Tempest is a play written by William Shakespeare. ... The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; Joseph Conrad was Polish, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, Salman Rushdie is Indian, V.S... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Dickens redirects here. ... Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy, OM (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) — an English novelist, short story writer, and poet of the naturalist movement — delineated characters struggling against their passions and circumstances. ... Alfred Edward Housman (March 26, 1859 – April 30, 1936), usually known as A.E. Housman, was an English poet and classical scholar, now best known for his cycle of poems A Shropshire Lad. ... A statue of Rupert Brooke in Rugby Rupert Chawner Brooke (August 3, 1887 – April 23, 1915) was an English poet known for his idealistic War Sonnets written during the First World War (especially The Soldier), as well as for his poetry written outside of war, especially The Old Vicarage, Grantchester... Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose works include Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Emma, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. ... Arnold Bennett, British novelist Enoch Arnold Bennett (May 27, 1867-March 27, 1931) was a British novelist. ... The Lake Poets all lived in the Lake District of England at the turn of the nineteenth century. ...

But Joseph Conrad was Polish, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Edgar Allan Poe was American, Salman Rushdie is Indian: all have enriched English literature. Joseph Conrad. ... Robert Burns, foremost Scottish poet Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. ... James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (Irish Séamus Seoighe; 2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish writer and poet, widely considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. ... Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short story writer, editor, critic and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

• List of English novelists
• Anglo-Saxon literature
• Elizabethan theatre
• Big six in the romantic literature of England

This is a list of novelists from England. ... The initial page of the Peterborough Chronicle, likely scribed around 1150, is one of the major sources of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. ... Elizabethan theatre is a general term covering the plays written and performed publicly in England during the reign (1558 - 1603) of Queen Elizabeth I. The term can be used more broadly to also include theatre of Elizabeths immediate successors, James I and Charles I, until the closure of public... The Big Six Citation needed of English romantic literature pertains to the six figures who contributed to the Romantic movement of late 18th-19th century England. ...

Music

Main article: Music of England

England has a long and rich musical history. The United Kingdom has, like most European countries, undergone a roots revival in the last half of the 20th century. English music has been an instrumental and leading part of this phenomenon, which peaked at the end of the 1960s and into the 1970s. The Music of England has a long history. ...

The achievements of the Anglican choral tradition following on from 16th century composers such as Thomas Tallis, John Taverner and William Byrd have tended to overshadow instrumental composition. The semi-operatic innovations of Henry Purcell did not lead to a native operatic tradition, but George Frederick Handel found important royal patrons and enthusiastic public support in England. The rapturous receptions afforded by audiences to visiting musical celebrities such as Haydn often contrasted with the lack of recognition for home-grown talent. However, the emergence of figures such as Edward Elgar and Arthur Sullivan in the 19th century showed a new vitality in English music. In the 20th century, Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett emerged as internationally-recognised opera composers, and Ralph Vaughan Williams and others collected English folk tunes and adapted them to the concert hall. Cecil Sharp was a leading figure in the English folk revival. Anglican church music is music that is performed in Anglican church services. ... Thomas Tallis Thomas Tallis (c 1505–23 November 1585) was an English composer. ... John Taverner (around 1490 – October 18, 1545) is regarded as the most important English composer of his era. ... William Byrd William Byrd (c. ... Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (IPA: [1]; September 10 (?) [2], 1659–November 21, 1695), a Baroque composer, is generally considered to be one of Englands greatest composers. ... George Frideric Handel (German Georg Friedrich Händel), (February 23, 1685 – April 14, 1759) was a German-born British Baroque music composer. ... (Franz) Joseph Haydn (in German, Josef; he never used the Franz) (March 31, 1732 – May 31, 1809) was a leading composer of the classical period. ... Sir Edward Elgar Sir Edward Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 â€“ 23 February 1934) was an English Romantic composer. ... Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (May 13, 1842 – November 22, 1900) was an English composer best known for his operatic collaborations with librettist W. S. Gilbert. ... Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH (November 22, 1913 Lowestoft, Suffolk - December 4, 1976 Aldeburgh, Suffolk) was a British composer, conductor, and pianist. ... Sir Michael Kemp Tippett, O.M. (2 January 1905 – 8 January 1998) was one of the foremost English composers of the 20th century. ... The New Opera in Oslo, Norway The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... Ralph Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, OM (October 12, 1872 – August 26, 1958) was an influential English composer. ... Cecil James Sharp (1859-1924) was the founding father of the folklore revival in England in the early twentieth century, and many of Englands traditional dances and music owe their continuing existence to his work in recording and publishing them. ...

Finally, a new beat out of Liverpool emerged in 1962. The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, became the world's most popular musicians of all time. The "Fab Four" opened the doors for British acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to the globe. The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... Sir James Paul McCartney MBE (born June 18, 1942) is an iconic Grammy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940 in Liverpool),[1] known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer and actor, best known as the drummer of the Beatles. ... This article is about the rock band. ... The Who are an English rock band who first emerged in 1964. ... Queen are an English rock band, formed in 1970 in London by Brian May, Freddie Mercury, and Roger Taylor, with John Deacon joining the following year. ... Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from east London. ... For the bands 1969 self-titled debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... Pink Floyd are a British rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde progressive rock music. ...

Some of the leading contemporary artists include McFly, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Radiohead, David Bowie, Coldplay and Muse. McFly can refer to: McFly (band) Marty McFly, fictional character from the Back to the Future film trilogy, and his family, the McFly family. ... Kaiser Chiefs are an English new wave rock band from Leeds, formed early in 1997. ... Arctic Monkeys are an English four-piece indie rock/post-punk revival band originating from High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. ... Robbie Williams (born Robert Peter Williams on February 13, 1974) is a Grammy Award-nominated, fifteen time BRIT Award-winning English singer/songwriter. ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991. ... Radiohead are an English rock band from Oxfordshire, initially formed in the mid-1980s under the name On a Friday. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... Coldplay are an English rock band from London. ... Muse are an award-winning English rock band formed in Teignmouth, Devon in 1997, comprised of Matthew Bellamy (lead vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (backing vocals, bass guitar, keyboards) and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion). ...

Religion

The Church of England functions as the established church in England. Other churches which have started in England include the Methodist church, the Quakers and the Salvation Army. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[1] in England, and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... Nations with state religions:  Buddhism  Islam  Shia Islam  Sunni Islam  Orthodox Christianity  Protestantism  Roman Catholic Church A state religion (also called an official religion, established church or state church) is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state. ... For the Methodist school of ancient Greek medicine, see Methodism (history of medicine) Methodism or the Methodist movement is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ... Shield of The Salvation Army The Salvation Army is a non-military evangelical Christian organization founded in 1865 by one time Methodist minister William Booth. ...

Sport and leisure

See also: Rugby union in England and Rugby league in England

Association football, cricket, rugby union and rugby league are considered to be the national sports of England. The rose that appears on the English national jersey. ... Rugby league is a popular team sport played in England. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ... A rugby union scrum. ... Rugby league football is a full-contact team sport played by two teams of thirteen on a rectangular grass field. ...

Football maintains a consistent popularity across the country and is often indicative of trends across wider culture in England, such as in clothing and music. The increase in hooliganism amongst football fans in the 1970s and 1980s can be in part attributed to a parallel rise in unemployment. As England, and the United Kingdom as a whole, returned to a more affluent and stable financial position in the late 1990s, violent football culture was transformed in to a culture where families were welcome, and nationalism lost its aggressive edge. Association football is the national sport of England, and as such has an important place within English national life. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ...

Different sports directly represent the different social classes within England. Rugby league, for instance, is generally seen as the sport of the Northern working class, whereas cricket and rugby union have their origins in the private schools of the 18th and 19th centuries respectively.

However, since the English Rugby World Cup victory in 2003, the sport has seen a revival in widespread popularity across the class system. Likewise, after the Ashes victory of 2005, cricket has regained much of the popularity it had lost throughout the 1990s. For the world cup that is contested in rugby league, see Rugby League World Cup. ...

Tennis is also one of Englands major sports, this can be see through one of the most prestigious tournaments in Tennis, Wimbledon being held in England.

See also

• Museums in England

Museums in England is a link page for any museum in England. ...

External links

• All Info-About English Culture
• Cultural icons of England