25 WEIRD British Laws You Won’t Believe Actually Exist

Who doesn’t love to make fun of these weird British laws you won’t believe actually exist? While we have shared with you many times the crazy laws that we have here in the US, for this list we travel across the pond to see some absolutely CRAZY laws. Get ready for some of the most strange English laws you can imagine, from obsolete laws to royal laws, we have everything you could want. Sip your tea and dip some crumpets because here come 25 Weird British Laws You Won’t Believe Actually Exist!

When most people think of England, they think of people who are proper, organized, and love tea. This list however will humanize these brilliant Brits for you by sharing some of the most funny laws that are still on the books in England. Covering everything from fish to eggs, these strange laws are equal parts funny and shocking. Think you know all there is to know about British law? Check out this list of 25 Weird British Laws and leave us a comment letting us know which law you think is the absolute weirdest!

Follow us on:

See more Top 25 lists on our website:

Did you know that all whales, sturgeons, and unmarked swans found in the UK belong to the Royal family? Or that it’s illegal to air dry your laundry across a street or break an egg on the “sharp” end? The British have also outlawed a bunch of childish behavior, including knocking on a door and walking away, annoying others with a kite, asking someone for spare change, singing an obscene song in public or jumping the ticket line in a subway. Crazier still, the government has passed laws regarding what costumes you can wear to a party (no soldiers or seamen!), how you build your house (no wood planks carried over pavement), and how you handle salmon! Think you know all the weird laws out there? Watch this list all the way to the end to see what crazy British laws make our top 10!

Music Credit: Cameras by ALBIS

[WarriorCats]

'It's illegal to handle fish in a suspicious circumstance'. I would love to know what constitutes a 'suspicious

[simonwest]

The law against dressing as a member of the armed forces is quite logical. (Unless it is blatantly obvious that it's a costume). It can be classed as impersonation and can be used for fraudulent purposes.

[limeycheesehead]

I'm an American who has lived in the UK almost 28 years. I have never heard most of these! Another brilliant episode, people of List25!

[Niko-rtwi]

Way to make the streets safe from those rugs, kites, planks, birthday songs, and line skippers britain!

[madcyclist]

The law concerning sturgeon was tested as recently as 2004, when a fisherman named Robert Davies caught a 9lb sturgeon off the coast of Wales. He duly offered it to the Queen, only to receive a reply that she was happy for him to “dispose of the fish as he saw fit”.

[SINTD_]

Strangest thing I got in trouble for was being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

I drove to a pub to meet friends and asked permission from the pub landlord to leave the car in the car park overnight. One of the friends I met there was our designated driver for the night and was going to provide us all with a lift home.

A few pints later and the evening drawing to a close, the designated driver was nowhere to be found. My other 2 friends opted to risk the drive home. I chose not to risk the drive or a ride home and decided to sleep in the gated car park that was locked overnight. I covered myself in the blanket I used to hide the tools in my boot and went to sleep.

The local police came by, ducked under the locked gate, knocked on the window and proceeded to take a sample of breath. I was obviously over the legal limit. They asked me where the car keys were and I told them they were in my pocket. I was immediately arrested and taken to the police station, gave more samples and was charged with being in control of the vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

I was not driving and was asleep when they found me so obviously had no intention of driving. I wasn’t even in the drivers seat.

In the morning a higher ranking officer doing the handover from night to dayshift opened my cell door and informed me that I was being de-arrested and driven back to my car.

Just proves that sometimes common sense trumps the law.

[HikaruKatayamma]

The Happy Birthday copyright is no longer valid. It waa overturned.

[spencersfarm]

The flag used at the beginning is 117 years out of date! You showed the flag of Great Britain, not the United Kingdom, which includes the cross of St Patrick

[brianartillery]

Odd Law #22 - This is why, for many years, Black London Taxis had, instead of a front passenger seat, an open area with a flat deck next to the driver. It was often used for bulky luggage, but it's dimensions were that of a standard UK hay bale. I have also read that London Taxis also carried a spare seat cushion in the boot, which was got out, and placed upright against the rear bumper of a stationary Cab, to indicate to other Cabdrivers that the vehicle had broken down. It was a law that inhabitants of Chester could legally shoot Welshmen with a bow and arrows if they encountered them inside the city walls after dark. There's nasty, look you.

[abcdefghigklmnopqrstuvwxyz]

Person: * gets drunk in pub *
Cops: ARESST HIM!
Sober friend of the drunk person: The whole point of a pub is to get drunk....

[Michelle_Schu-blacka]

If by chance I know when I'm going to die, I'm definitely making sure I visit Parliament that day.

[TheSpyGuy]

I’m from England, so this will definitely be interesting...

[deanwinchester]

You mean it’s illegal to play knock a door run

[generic-george]

I'm such a child,
"don't dress up as seamen"
Me: huehuehuehue

[themetalfan]

I hear that in Britain, a license is required to keep a lunatic.

[visualartsbyjr]

I thought happy birthday song was now public domain, or is the illegal only in England now?

Where I live; on the books is that you are to be fined two pence if your horse dedicates on public roads... I live on Vancouver Island (BC, Canada).... I carry around a pound coin, and plan on asking for change if I am fined 😛
another one, it’s illegal for a gentleman to escort a lady on public streets without being armed with an sword (Victoria, BC, Canada).

[EarlOfMaladyCrescent]

I'm British and have never heard of most of these laws. A few I have heard of, but I don't think these are very common. I imagine the only scenario where someone would be punished for one of these "Crimes", would be if a bent copper took a dislike to them, and wanted an excuse to punish them. Maybe that's how these laws came about in the first place.

[Countryboy]

My parents are licenced publicans. The law on getting drunk in pubs does still exist. This is complicated when locals in their village pub regularly do. However, if somebody left and got injured/killed you are technically still responsible and can lose you're licence

[SupportMensMentalHealth]

A law still valid today is that it is legal to shoot a Welshman within the city walls of Chester after dark as long as it's with a long bow, there is little love between the English and Welsh so thankfully this is not practiced but it is still technically legal

[googleplususer]

The issue of dying in Parliament
appears to arise from the idea that
anyone who dies in a Royal Palace is
eligible for a state funeral. No such law,
has been traced. Under the
Coroners Act 1988, the coroner of the
Queen's household has jurisdiction
over an inquest into a death in a royal
palace. However, state funerals are
not mandatory.

There have been at least four deaths
in the grounds of the Palace of
Westminster:
- Guy Fawkes and Sir Walter
Raleigh were both executed in
the Old Palace yard (the
present buildings being the
New Palace, built after the fire
of 1834).
- Spencer Perceval, the only
British Prime Minister to be
assassinated, was shot and
died in the lobby of the House
of Commons in 1812.
- Sir Alfred Billson collapsed
and died in the House of
Commons ‘Aye’ lobby in 1907,
while casting his vote on a
sugar duty Bill.

None of these men received a state
funeral. Spencer Perceval's was a
private funeral at his widow's request.