The Culture of the United Kingdom: Influences, Customs, and Significance

The culture of the United Kingdom is influenced by the UK's history.

As a developed island country, a liberal democracy and a major power, it has a predominantly Christian religious life. It is composed of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, each of which has distinct customs, cultures, and symbolism. The wider culture of Europe has also influenced British culture, including Humanism, Protestantism, and representative democracy developed from broader Western culture.

British literature, music, cinema, art, theatre, comedy, media, television, philosophy, architecture, and education are important aspects of British culture. The United Kingdom is also prominent in science and technology, producing world-leading scientists (e.g. Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin) and inventions. Sport is an important part of British culture, with numerous sports originating in the country, including football.

The United Kingdom has been described as a "cultural superpower," and London has been described as a world cultural capital. The Industrial Revolution, which started in the UK, had a profound effect on the socio-economic and cultural conditions of the world. As a result of the British Empire, significant British influence can be observed in the language, law, culture, and institutions of a geographically wide assortment of countries, including Australia, Canada, India, and others. In turn, the empire also influenced British culture, particularly British cuisine.

The cultures of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are diverse and have varying degrees of overlap and distinctiveness.