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75 Times British People Proved Their Sense Of Humor Is In A League Of Its Own
The Tower of London keeps at least six ravens on site, thanks to an old legend claiming the kingdom will fall if they ever leave. But one of them, a bird named George, was actually dismissed from royal service in 1986 for repeatedly eating TV antennas. According to his official record, his conduct was “unsatisfactory.”
That should tell you just about everything you need to know about the British sense of humor. It finds its way into all sorts of situations, from casual chats to royal affairs. The Facebook page British Moments is full of great examples, so we’ve rounded up some of its funniest memes and posts. Scroll down to take a look!
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The UK is famous for plenty of things, but its sense of humor certainly deserves a place near the top of the list. After all, few can rival the Brits when it comes to sarcasm, wit, and the ability to laugh at themselves. And they’re pretty proud of it, too.
In fact, a 2026 survey by Comic Relief found that 68% of Brits consider self-deprecation a defining part of British humor. Another 72% agreed that making fun of themselves in everyday conversation is simply part of being British.
#5
0mg.
nottheactualphoto 6 hours ago
In these dark times, I don't expect my physician to be literate enough not to say "has ran."
Sometimes, that humor is so subtle that people from other countries completely miss it. A 2019 YouGov survey found that 68% of Brits understood the phrase “with the greatest respect” as a polite way of calling someone an idiot. Meanwhile, only 40% of Americans interpreted it that way.
So, if a Brit is being unusually polite to you, it might be worth paying attention to what they’re really saying. You could be on the receiving end of an insult without even realizing it.
The British love of a good joke might just be in their blood, considering how long they’ve been at it. Take the Dunmow Flitch Trials, an English tradition believed to date back to the 12th century.
In the town of Great Dunmow in Essex, married couples could win a flitch, or an entire side of bacon, if they convinced a jury that they hadn’t once regretted getting married for a year and a day.
According to the organizers, the tradition is still going strong today, complete with a judge, lawyers, and a jury of six unmarried men and six unmarried women.
#10
Guilty.
Brits have also been known to use their wit to get themselves out of tricky situations, at least according to some old stories. One English legend tells of the Wise Men of Gotham, villagers from Nottinghamshire who supposedly managed to outsmart King John.
When they heard the king planned to pass through their village and turn their land into a public highway, they decided to act like fools. So, when his messengers arrived, they found the villagers doing ridiculous things, including trying to trap a cuckoo inside a hedge.
The trick supposedly worked, and the king decided to stay away from Gotham altogether.
#15
Basically.
Even today, Brits are still finding clever ways to use humor to their advantage. For instance, in 2018, a woman named Jayne Parsons from Salisbury received a parking ticket after leaving her car on double yellow lines while she rushed to the toilet.
Hoping to get out of paying the fine, she sent Wiltshire Council a humorous poem explaining her situation. To her surprise, the council responded with a poem of its own and agreed to cancel the ticket.
The British government has a sense of humor of its own, as you can tell from one of its longest-serving residents. In 2011, a cat named Larry was brought into 10 Downing Street to tackle a rodent problem and given the official title “Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office.”
Since then, he has watched several prime ministers come and go while keeping his position. He’s also become quite the celebrity, with fans following his adventures and an unofficial social media account sharing jokes about British politics.
During life’s most difficult moments, Brits still find something to laugh about. According to Co-op Funeralcare’s 2025 research, which covered more than 90,000 funerals, some families have chosen rather unexpected music for their loved ones’ services.
These included the theme from Jaws and even Psy’s “Gangnam Style.” Talk about taking the idea of going out with a bang to a whole new level.
#23
Only in the UK.
Elladine DesIsles 11 hours ago
Only? In Toronto, this can happen in well under 24 hours. In fact, if my sister's family weren't very scrupulous about sunscreen (that's sun cream, for the Brits), they would have had this happen twice in just over two years. As it is, healthy tans all around, but a twice-flooded basement from supposed "100-year" storms.
With examples like these, it’s easy to see why the British sense of humor has earned such a reputation. They can find something to laugh about in almost any situation, whether they’re dealing with the authorities or going about their everyday lives.
And judging by how often their jokes spread around the internet, plenty of other people enjoy them, too.
#26
Wild.
#27
Why do they do it.
Oskar vanZandt 10 hours ago (edited)
I reported a delivery driver for this to Amazon... They gave me a £15.- voucher as a gesture of good faith. I met the same guy outside when he sent me a text the next time: I knew it was him from the "warning heads-up" text he sends asking for pets to be kept inside and to put lights on... Interception completed successfully.
#33
That’s a new one.
Bill Swallow 10 hours ago
... They must have read your email and figured that 'Expletive' (@#$%^&*) was your native tongue.
#35
Straight to the window.
#36
#38
UK weather.
UKGrandad 10 hours ago
There is a simple explanation. An extended dry and hot period bakes the soil hard, so when it does eventually rain, the soil can't soak up the water quickly. The water has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is downhill to the rivers, which can't cope with the sudden excess and burst their banks. Couple that with an overloaded drainage system and suddenly the streets and fields are under a couple of feet of water.
#39
It’s June.
#42
When a Brit goes to America.
#44
Blimey.
#45
Much more pleasant.
#49
Bad timing.
#50
18p.
#51
A Tunnocks selection box.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 4 hours ago
My mom complained that Grandma had everything. Christmas shopping was difficult.... My eight year old self was reading a novelty catalog, specifically the ad for the belly button brush. The ad read "for the person who has everything".... For some reason, Mom didn't appreciate my suggestion.
#52
Baffling.
#58
Honestly.
#59
Makes no sense.
Elladine DesIsles 11 hours ago
Is this really so surprising in the UK? Heatwaves produce thunderstorms, thunderstorms produce torrential rain, heavy rain leads to flooding. This is what we call "summer" in Southern Ontario.
#60
???
Bill Swallow 10 hours ago
The difference between pub grub and what you make at home is that the pub measures the calorie count. At home, you don't. You just ignore it and pretend the calories don't exist.
#72
It’s too hot.
Nikole [8647] 10 hours ago
I like that people don't want to go outside. I've taken many a satisfying winter walk.
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