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There are many theories of how tipping came to be, but the most prevalent story goes back several hundred years to England. When people traveled by stagecoach, they often sent a servant ahead to make arrangements for their arrival. The servant would give the service providers money “to ensure promptness,” which was shortened by initials to be “tip.”

St. Swithin's Day, July 15: During the 900s, the Bishop of Winchester was named Swithin. Some years after his death, Bishop Swithin's remains were transferred to Winchester Cathedral on July 15, 971. That same day, there was a tremendous rainstorm. Legend has it that Bishop Swithin was so angry about the move from his final resting place that he caused the storm. According to old English folklore, if it should now rain on July 15th, St. Swithin will make it rain for 40 days thereafter.

Residential, economic, or educational qualification gave half a million Englishmen more than one vote in England in 1885. A university graduate who also owned a business in the City of London voted three times — once at his home, once for his university, and once in the City.

During his midnight ride on April 18, 1775, Paul Revere did NOT shout "The British are coming." Instead, his call was "The regulars are coming." The regulars were the British Troops.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. In old England, when customers became unruly, the bartender would yell at them to mind their own "pints and quarts" and settle down. From that, we got the abbreviated phrase "mind your P's and Q's."

During the bubonic plague of London, the city was sealed off to avoid contamination. This meant no food was permitted in. The only people willing to trade with London were the Dutch, who left food on jetties and then would take the money left there. They used to steel their nerves with liquor before landing on the plague-infested shores, hence "Dutch courage." To this day, the Dutch still have the freedom of the river Thames, which was granted as a reward for their courage and kindness.

English naval hero Viscount Horatio Nelson chose to be buried in St. Paul's Church in London rather than in the national shrine of Westminster Abbey because he had heard that Westminster was sinking into the Thames River.

Englishmen of the 16th and 17th centuries believed that no one who lay upon feathers could die in peace. Therefore, when death approached, the pillow was withdrawn from under the dying person's head to ease the passing.

Dinner guests in medieval England were expected to bring their own knives to table – hosts did not provide them. The fork did not appear until the sixteenth century, and fork-and-knife pairs were not in general use in England until the seventeenth century.

The shoestring was invented in England in 1790. Prior to this time, all shoes were fastened with buckles.

The keep at Bridgnorth Castle, located in England, leans at 17 degrees, three times further than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

When the Black Death swept across England one theory was that cats caused the plague. Thousands were slaughtered. Ironically, those that kept their cats were less affected, because they kept their houses clear of the real culprits, rats.