Game On, Britain! Exploring the UK’s Most Iconic Sports Events and Activities

The United Kingdom has some of the oldest sporting traditions in the entire world, as it’s the place where forms of competition like association football, rugby, horseback racing, golf and cricket—between them, some of the most popular sports in the world—took their current form. With that rich history comes a strong sense of tradition, whether it’s the Royal Family’s involvement at the Ascot races, the links courses along the coast of Scotland where golf took root, or the little quirks that give each Premier League club an enduring fanbase.

There’s too much to choose from, but I’ll give it my best shot. Here are some of the most iconic sporting events and traditions the UK has to offer.

Premier League Tradition

One of my favorite things about the Premier League is the deep-seated roots that many of the clubs enjoy. It’s one thing to have a rivalry with another club, to have a fight song or a specific method of cheering, but those quirks become even more special when you know that they’ve been going on for more than a century, carried out dutifully for generations before yourself by millions of fans all over the world.

That knowledge of history applies to every facet of the game, passed down from parent to child as an inseparable element of fandom, and trash talking can get hilarious when you have fans born in the 21st century reminding their rivals of wins that took place before World War 2.

One of my personal favorite rivalries is that between Newcastle United F.C. and Sunderland A.F.C., collectively known as the Tyne-Wear Derby. It’s been several years since it was played on a regular basis, as Sunderland has languished in the Championship League, the second flight of English football, for much of the past decade… although we did get a 3-0 win by Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup to start this year. A rivalry so notorious that the powers that have mandated it start no later than 12:45 pm GMT in an attempt to prevent fans from hitting the pubs—and thus, becoming more likely to get drunk and start fights—this rivalry is one you won’t want to bring your kids to.

Once again, history plays a massive role in this rivalry, which stems back to the 1600s: King Charles I gave Newcastle a near monopoly on coal trading rights in the east of England, fostering their economy and crippling Sunderland’s… and the two cities have hated one another ever since. Be sure to stay tuned if Sunderland ever makes it back to the Premier League, because even betting sites in the UK can’t create the sort of tension that this rivalry provides.

An Authentic Golfing Experience

If there’s one thing, I love more than watching sports, it’s enjoying the natural beauty that our world has to offer. These two interests collide with the coastal links courses in Scotland, where golf got its start.

Instead of the carefully manicured and designed manmade abominations you’ll find in the United States, links courses put authenticity above all else, with natural terrain shaped by the wind, rain and sea. The coastal location makes for an entirely different playing strategy, with low trajectory shots taking precedence so the ball doesn’t get caught in the wind and blown off course, and any traps like sandpits and thick coastal gorse are entirely natural.

Take in the stark yet beautiful surroundings as you test your mettle on these challenging courses, and don’t expect to shoot a record low.

A Day at the Races

The first organized sport in the United Kingdom, well before cricket or football took precedence, no sporting list would be complete without a mention of horse racing. The races are as much about the culture as the actual competition, with the fancy outfits, bets placed and a general air of pageantry all adding to the fun. Major events include the five Classic races, although they’re far from the end-all, be-all. If you’re looking for jumps, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National are two of the most prestigious events, and there are dozens of lower grade stakes throughout the year, each with their own sense of history and tradition.

Make sure to do plenty of research ahead of attending, as there are plenty of unwritten rules to keep in mind: you don’t want to make a fool of yourself, especially if you’re at one of the more exclusive events.