Sport

Sport plays an important role in British life — as a pastime, as a social activity, and as a source of national pride. Many of the world's most popular sports were invented in Britain and first codified here before spreading across the globe.

Football (known in some countries as soccer) is the most popular sport in the UK. It is played at amateur and professional levels across the country, attracting millions of fans.

Key facts about football in the UK:

• The rules of Association Football were first codified in England in 1863 by the Football Association (FA)
• The Football Association Challenge Cup (the FA Cup) is the oldest football competition in the world, first held in 1872
• The Premier League is the top professional league in England and one of the most watched football leagues in the world
• The home nations — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — each have their own national football team and compete separately in international competitions
• The FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship are the major international tournaments

Cricket is played throughout the UK and is particularly associated with England. The sport originated in England and its rules were formalised in the 18th century.

Key facts about cricket:

• The main governing body is the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
• Test matches are the traditional, longest form of the game, played over up to five days
• The Ashes is a famous series of Test matches between England and Australia, first played in 1882. The name comes from a satirical obituary that declared English cricket had died and its ashes were to be taken to Australia
• Lord's Cricket Ground in London is known as the "home of cricket"
• Cricket is also popular in South Asia, the Caribbean, and Australia — largely due to the spread of the game during the era of the British Empire

Rugby Union — 15 players per side; popular across the UK, particularly in Wales, Scotland, and the south of England; the Six Nations Championship (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy) is the main annual international competition; the Rugby World Cup is the global tournament.

Rugby League — 13 players per side; particularly popular in the north of England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The rules of rugby were developed at Rugby School in Warwickshire in the 19th century.

Tennis is a popular sport in the UK. The most famous tennis tournament in the world is Wimbledon — officially the Championships, Wimbledon — held every summer at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, south-west London.

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, first held in 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and is famed for its grass courts and the tradition of serving strawberries and cream to spectators.

Golf was developed in Scotland and is widely believed to have originated there in the 15th century. Scotland remains a world centre for golf, and it is one of the most popular participation sports in the UK.

The most famous golf course in the world is the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland — often called the "home of golf". The Open Championship (also known as the British Open) is the oldest golf tournament in the world and one of the four major golf championships.

Horse racing is one of the oldest and most popular spectator sports in the UK, sometimes called the "sport of kings" due to its long association with the monarchy.

Famous racing events include:

• Royal Ascot — a prestigious five-day flat racing festival held in June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, attended by members of the Royal Family
• The Grand National — a famous steeplechase held each year at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool; one of the most recognised horse races in the world
• The Epsom Derby — a flat race held at Epsom Downs in Surrey, first run in 1780

Other sports popular across the UK include:

• Athletics — track and field events; the UK has produced many world-class athletes
• Boxing — has a long history in Britain; many world champions have come from the UK
• Cycling — grown significantly in popularity; British cyclists have won multiple Tour de France victories and Olympic gold medals
• Motor racing — the UK is home to several Formula 1 teams; the British Grand Prix is held at Silverstone in Northamptonshire

Up next: Arts and culture — from Shakespeare and the Turner Prize to the BBC and British cinema, explore the rich artistic heritage of the United Kingdom.