A recent survey of the most ridiculous British laws has revealed that the pinnacle of legal absurdity, according to 4,000 viewers of a popular legal drama series, is the law that renders it an offense to die in Parliament. Perhaps everyone was left wondering how the law could actually be enforced, as the perpetrator wouldn’t exactly be able to feel the full brunt of the punitory ramifications!

According to the participants of the UKTV Gold television survey, it was also deemed ridiculous that it is considered treason to place a postage stamp upside down if it features the British monarch, or that the head of any dead whale found on the British coast becomes the property of the king, whilst the tail belongs to the Queen.

For anyone who has studied at a general English or business English course in the United Kingdom and knows something about English culture, it would also come as a surprise to discover that it’s actually illegal to eat the traditional festive treat of mince pies on Christmas Day. Just try and enforce that one! As you’ll learn at any English course London, mince pies are as typically British as tea, scones, crumpets, mushy peas and fish and chips! However, this ban dates back to the 17th century rule of the Puritan Oliver Cromwell in an effort to combat gluttony, and it’s no longer observed today!

Other funny favorites include that it’s illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool ‘except as a clerk in a tropical fish store’, that a pregnant woman is allowed to urinate in a policeman’s helmet and that whilst it’s permissible to murder a bow-and-arrow wielding Scotsman in York, it’s not allowed to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armor!

A sign of things to come for your next holiday to England? Of course not! Study English in Central London for the best general and business English training. Unlike the archaic laws, your English course is bound to be up-to-date, relevant and practical for modern-day application to the workplace!