Popular UK pastimes

There are plenty of quirky customs and pastimes that can be found in the UK. Many are a legacy of centuries of tradition while others are simply built into the fabric of our society.

If you’re keen to find out what many Brits enjoy doing in their spare time, read on. Here’s a roundup of some of the go-to activities and events that you’ll find in the UK.

Cheese rolling and caber tossing

There are some annual events that are very specific to parts of the UK. If you head to Gloucester during the spring bank holiday, you’ll find a group of people chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper’s Hill. Cheese rolling dates to the 1800s and is an event that attracts people from around the world. The cheese can never be caught, but plenty of people join the race to see if they can be the first.

Football

Football is the most popular sport in the UK. The Saturday fixtures have become part of the weekly routine for many, with fans travelling across the map in support of their team. From grassroots sport, where young people play in local leagues, right up to the Premier League, this is the game that brings sports fans together.

Tea drinking

Nothing beats a good cuppa. We’re a nation of tea drinkers, thanks to King Charles II’s wife, Princess Catherine of Braganza, setting the tea-drinking trend in the 17th century when the East India Company brought it to the UK.

But there’s an art to getting it just right. In fact, according to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, the steps we take to making a brew will depend on factors such as whether the water is hard or soft and how hot the water is.

Bingo

Bingo has been enjoyed by Brits for centuries, with the version we know and love first being played in Italy in the 1500s. It arrived in Great Britain in the 18th century, but it was the 1960s when bingo halls popped up across the country.While in-person bingo has retained its popularity, online versions have made the game even more accessible. The different variations on the classic 90-ball setup make the digital version just as fun for players.

Music

Some of the world’s most legendary musicians are from the UK and Brits are passionate about homegrown talent. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are perhaps the biggest bands to come from the UK, with thousands visiting The Beatles Story annually and The Rolling Stones still performing live.

But there are many other artists that Brits follow, with gigs, festivals and tours all featuring heavily in our regular pastimes. Glastonbury is one of the most iconic festivals in the summer lineup, but music lovers flock to different events throughout the country.