Explore 7 verified weird and obscure laws from United Kingdom, each fact-checked and sourced.
The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 prohibits making or using "any slide upon ice or snow in any street or other thoroughfare, to the common danger of the passengers." This targeted the practice of street urchins polishing patches of ice to create slides.
The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 prohibits "wilfully and wantonly disturbing any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any door-bell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse." This confirms that the prank known as "Knock Down Ginger" or "Ding Dong Ditch" was a sufficiently widespread social plague in 1839 to warrant parliamentary intervention.
The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 explicitly penalizes any person who "shall fly any kite or play at any game to the annoyance of the inhabitants or passengers" in London thoroughfares. This Victorian-era law remains technically in force today.
The Statute forbidding Bearing of Armour decrees that no person may come to Parliament or any other Assembly in the Realm of England wearing any "Force and Armour." The statute applies to all members and visitors to Parliament and makes wearing a full suit of armor an offense.
It is illegal to beat or shake any carpet, rug, or mat (other than a doormat) on any street in the Metropolitan Police District before 8 AM. The law explicitly allows doormat shaking before 8 AM, but all other carpet beating is prohibited.
MYTH! The UK Law Commission explicitly states no such law exists. They also found no law stating that dying in a royal palace entitles anyone to a state funeral.
TRUE! It is an offense to receive or dispose of salmon "in circumstances where you believe, or could reasonably believe, that the salmon has been illegally fished."
