Besides Big Ben, the Beatles, the royal family, and of course tea the British are also pretty famous for their humor. It is a very unique type of humor that combines satire, sarcasm, self-deprecation, wits, and puns. Some people can't quite understand all the jokes and others find themselves rolling over in hysterics whenever their British friends are around. Whether or not you are a fan of the United Kingdom, this list will convince you that there is truly nothing quite like good old British humor.
Careful, the Queen Can Move in Any Direction
Whoever captured this photo of the Queen of England was truly brilliant in their timing. But the person who captioned it is the real comedian. The Queen is positioned on a checkerboard floor, much like a chess board. Next to her is a priest (or should you say bishop). It almost looks like they were trying to set up the background for the perfect joke. If so, they were very successful!
Do you think the Queen knew how comical her placement was and all the jokes that would ensue as a result of this picture? She doesn't seem to notice in the photo.
Choo Choo
Everything about this photo looks like it comes right out of a children's book. The bright yellow bus with the title "The Big Lemon" is combined with the comical wording at the top saying "Rail Service, I am a train choo choo". It would be funny enough without the addition of the "choo choo" at the end as if people do not already know exactly what sound a train makes.
The best part is that this is not a train at all. It is very clearly just a bus that possibly takes you to the train line, hence the name.
The Tastiest Spoon
Who doesn't love some yummy ice cream on a hot summer's day? Just about everyone would gladly go for the tasty treat, adults and children alike. However, there is one version of this treat that everyone is quite familiar with and that people somewhat dread at the same time. Although this ice cream in and of itself is quite tasty, the spoon given along with it is all that people can remember.
That wooden spoon (and the feeling of it on your teeth) is by far more memorable than this ice cream. No one, not even in the UK, can forget that wooden feeling against their bare teeth.
You Have to Sing It
Who wouldn't vote for Rick Astley for Prime Minister? Although you may know nothing about his actual credentials, he is at least quite funny and puts a song in your mind. There are very few people who can read this post and not immediately start singing the song. People enjoy humor and nice promises (even if politicians are known not to keep them), so it looks like this guy is going to get lots of votes.
Even if people aren't going to vote for someone based solely on a poster like this one, it'll definitely pique their interest and they will most likely go and research the man...great advertising!
Ahh... The British Museum
It is no secret that most of the artifacts that can be found in the British Museum were essentially stolen or looted goods from around the world. They took some of the most precious items from cultures around the globe and combined them into a museum in Britain. These young men are mocking the British Museum by pretending to bag the Leaning Tower of Pisa and take it home with them.
Do you think these young men are British themselves or are they simply making fun of the British and their custom of looting and showing off to the world?
Mum Vs Dad
Most people would have to admit that getting a call from your mother versus getting a call from your father is two very different things. Obviously, you cannot expect the same reaction and response from both of your parents, as is exemplified perfectly in this photo. This young Brit was playing PlayStation in his room very loudly when he received a few message requests to quiet down - one from his father and one from his mother.
The difference in tone between the two parents is quite comical. Mum is trying to keep her cool and ask nicely while dad has lost every little bit of his patience.
Just Get Over It
This is a very blunt and straight-to-the-point billboard (or bus board should you say) that was found in Britain. Someone was pretty sick of there being homophobic people and so they came up with this sign which says "Some people are gay. Get over it". It's both funny and true as people really should learn to just get over it and accept all people, regardless of their differences or sexual orientations.
The funniest part would be if this came from someone on the governmental level. It may not be the most official, formal PSA, but it is at least pretty successful.
The Perfect Piece of Toast
Bread is a very simple staple in everyday life. People oftentimes eat it multiple times a day. Toast is an entirely different category somehow, but an even tastier one, especially for breakfast. Sometimes it can be quite the challenge, however, to toast your bread to the perfect amount. This person created (toasted you could say) the perfect piece of toast and they had to share the image with the world.
It is perfectly crispy, golden, and not burnt at all on the edges. And it is clearly the perfect temperature as the butter melted the perfect amount. In short...perfection.
The Fastest Duck in the World
Straight from the pages of a comic book or from a child's cartoon, this duck seems to have made quite an entrance. Instead of just flying in, this picture makes it look like he was running very, very fast towards these geese when he had to come to a very sudden stop. Although it is clear that these are actually just tire marks, you can't help but laugh at this good old British humor.
The funniest part of this is that there are multiple birds here in this photo and yet only this duck appears to have been particularly active and running around.
The Craziest Part of the Pandemic
The Corona pandemic was truly a crazy time. The world went into lockdown, people were social distancing from family and friends, weddings were canceled, international borders were closed...craziness across the globe. But perhaps the entire time period (and all of its insanity) can be best summed up by this photo right here. It is a picture of a priest baptizing a young child by shooting water at it with a toy water gun.
They were technically social distancing, but maybe it would have been better to just wait to baptize the baby. It looks like this priest is trying to shoot the baby dead instead of baptize it.
Nothing Can Disturb Him and His Beer
Hopefully, this man was not sitting at this table when the blue car came ramming through, destroying his seating. If he chose to remain seated there despite it all, that would be a pretty impressive feat. It may be hard to phase the British people, but this is taking that to a whole new level. He is not ready to let anything stop him from enjoying his beer in the spot that he chose.
The look on his face says it all. He is fully aware of the disaster that is laid out in front of him, but he has no energy to deal with it at the current time and will be sitting there enjoying his beer instead.
Different Perspectives Entirely
It is pretty funny to think of how differently entire societies of people view you. In the United States, the British are viewed as well-dressed, posh, somewhat formal, and with fancy accents. In the eyes of Europeans, the British are viewed almost as wreckless partiers, and well...whatever else is being portrayed in the bottom half of this picture. Although both of them are probably accurate to some extent, it is funny to see the difference.
Maybe the bottom half of the picture is just young Brits and the top half is when they grow up and have to dress up and put themselves together. Or it is just different sectors of society.
The Thrill of the Chase
There is nothing more exciting than seeing an exciting chase take place on the road. In this case, there appears to be a shortage of pallets, as can be seen, by the "Pallets Wanted" sign on the back of the second truck. While driving down the road, this truck spotted another truck carrying a huge load of none other than....pallets. And so the chase began. How did it end? You may never know.
Maybe the truck finally caught up to the pallet-full vehicle ahead of them and stole some of the pallets...or even offered to buy them. It would depend on how desperate they were for those pallets.
The Never Ending Shoe Shopping Experience
It is no secret that men all around the world "suffer" when they are "forced" to join their partners on shopping trips. Although there are some exceptions, most men do not enjoy the shopping spree endevours. One such man who suffered through endless shopping trips to Chester decided to dedicate a bench to all the other men who have similarly suffered. At least now they all have a place to sit and rest.
The men who found this bench while their partners were shoe shopping nearby must have been pretty happy to see that there were other men who came before them who suffered in the same way.
The Best or the Worst Match?
It is up for debate whether this is a match made in heaven or a match made in hell. On the one hand, it is very clear that these two have a similar sense of humor and are both witty and snarky. On the other hand, this could be a recipe for disaster and a huge potential for clashing personalities. Regardless, Billy should really think of a new pickup line.
Who in their right mind thinks it is a good idea to start a conversation with a girl by telling her that her name is a boy's name. It isn't even funny, just rude. At least Alex gave him a response that he deserved.
The Fighting Cones
Have you ever dreamed of dressing up as a caution cone and fighting with your friend? Maybe you never knew it was your dream until you got a few drinks into you. That's when you and your friend decide to pick up the caution cones that are on the street, put them on your heads, and start to duel it out. It is unlikely that either side will win in this situation.
Was there a sober friend around who was documenting this entire thing, or was this photo captured by a complete stranger? Regardless, it is an artistic masterpiece, to say the least.
Your Package Was Delivered
Imagine arriving home to find that your package was delivered to your house. Everything sounds fine and dandy until you add that the package was delivered right to your bed...and you live alone. While you are wondering how that was possible, you find the note from the delivery man. "Your top window was wide open, I threw it there". You don't know if you should be surprised, disturbed, or impressed.
Hopefully, there was nothing fragile or breakable in the package. This is one of the many reasons that all packages need clear labeling whenever there is a fragile item inside!
He at Least Made a Poster
Either this is the prime example of British humor or it is the prime example of pure laziness. This man asked his friend to create and design a poster for their music night that was coming up. He asked for the details and once they were all written down, he said that he would happily make the poster for them. He did indeed make the poster, but maybe not the version they had in mind.
Although it is a little bit wordy, the screenshot design does at least include all of the necessary information. It may not grab the right person's attention but it is at least intriguing.
Pregnant Parking or BBQ?
Everything is just a matter of perspective. Although most people would see this sign on the parking space and think that it was reserved for a pregnant woman or a woman with a baby. Some people however seem to project and see something entirely different. This man saw an overweight man at a BBQ and was thrilled that there was a parking space reserved for his type of person.
Now that you have heard that this could possibly be a man enjoying a BBQ, it is almost hard to unsee this. It's even more difficult to see the pregnant woman and the stroller.
The Perfect Prank
IKEA is famous for many things. Cheap furniture that you have to build yourself is just one of the many things on this list. Perhaps the number one thing IKEA is famous for is the confusing setup of the store that causes you to get lost and go around in endless circles for hours. This man decided to prank the already confused store goers by setting up fake social distancing arrows in the store leading nowhere.
People thought that they were following an organized path. Goodness, they were probably happy to finally have some direction while roaming around. But in the end, there was no exit or real way out. It almost sounds like the start of a horror film.
He Is Sofa King Happy
Although the name "The Sofa King" seems pretty harmless and innocent at first, leave it to the British to make an inappropriate joke out of it. It is pretty brilliant when you think about it as it is not technically inappropriate or wrong, but it leaves the conclusion-drawing up to you and your mind. If you get a sofa from The Sofa King, you can guaranteed to be Sofa King happy.
It almost makes you want to get a sofa from them, just so you can get a good laugh out of their slogan and congratulate them for being so creative.
It Kind of Works
Not everyone happens to have a pride flag sitting around their house in time for Pride month. This household either didn't have one at all or couldn't find it in time, but they still wanted to show their solidarity. Instead of doing nothing, they chose to pull out the mat from the game of Twister. It is multi-colored and in the same general shape as a flag, so why not?
At the end of the day, it's the thought that counts. It's clear that these people are trying to show their solidarity which is better than not doing anything at all. So kudos to them!
Max Is a Very Good Boy
The news can oftentimes be a dark and depressing place. People watch it day after day and yet they still focus only on the bad things. For once, it looks like the news channel decided to switch things up a bit. As can be seen, the star of the show is currently Max, a very cute dog who is known as being "a very good boy". The world needs more of this content.
Max doesn't seem to be thrilled about his debut television experience and only seems to be interested in getting some love and attention from his owner who is sitting next to him.
Avoid the Goose on Platform 5
Geese can be lovely creatures that are also quite beautiful. They have long elegant necks and interesting coloring. However, not all geese are friendly, as can be seen by this sign here. Apparently, a very cranky goose has landed on Platform 5 and is causing chaos on the platform. Things have reached a Level 5 Goose Warning...which means that you should stay clear. The goose has claimed the place as his own and you should avoid it at all costs.
That goose must have parked himself on Platform 5 for quite some time, considering there were people who had the time to create an entire sign warning other people of its existence.
Peak Societal Regression
The red phone box has been a symbol of Britain for countless years, bringing in tourists from all around the world to photograph in front of them. They were cute and colorful, bringing character and life to the otherwise dreary backgrounds that Britain has to offer. Although phone booths are hardly relevant anymore, the UK decided to "upgrade" the traditional phone booths into something more modern. The result was the biggest downgrade in UK history.
How could anyone think that the telephone box on the right was a better option than the one on the left? Not everything new is better...as can be seen here!
Sarcasm With Every Meal
Just in case you were thinking of ever ordering food on your trip to the UK, be warned that the delivery people tend to be a little bit snarky and sarcastic. There is a good chance that you will get a nice little dose of sarcasm along with your food order. This person had the "audacity" to ask if the delivery person was at the main entrance. Instead of answering normally, they sent a snarky response that included a helicopter.
It would be hard to even have the energy to reply with such sarcasm to all the people. A simple "yes" would have saved him some time but he would have missed out on some laughs.
No Guarantee Against the Seagulls
Seagulls make their own rules in life, there is no doubt about that. You may think that they are innocent birds flying around the beach, but that is simply not the case. If you have even the slightest bit of food, you should protect it with your life if there are seagulls around. They will stop at nothing to steal your food from you. This place had enough of disgruntled guests requesting money back for food that seagulls stole from them.
Can you imagine having the audacity to ask for your money back after a seagull took your food? As the sign says. the seagulls do not work for them and they cannot be held responsible.
The Never Ending Interview
Just from the looks of it, it appears that these two men have been sitting and talking in that exact position for a very, very long time. One could even say that this was the longest interview in history judging just by the amount of aging that was done between the time the two pictures were taken. Everything seemed to stay the same, the clothes, the outfits, the looks, only the two men got older.
They look like they even coordinated their outfits to match the exact same way that they did in the first interview many years ago. Some things never change.
After Hours Criminals
Did you know that in some places there is a time limit to when you can commit a crime? On this portion of the beach in the UK, they have limited crime to only being before 8 am or after 6 pm. During the day, criminals stay away and people can walk free. But once that 6 pm bell rings, you never know what can happen so try to stay safe as the criminals are coming out.
It seems that they combined two very unrelated signs and put them into one that ended up making no sense. Maybe it was meant to be no parking between those hours?
To the Spanish Senorita
This looks like it's the beginning of a very interesting rom-com about an old British man who is trying to woo a young Spanish lady with slightly offensive but also hilariously embarrassing gestures. He starts out with a humiliating dance with castanets made from discarded burger cartons and then continues to print an ad like this one in the paper, admitting how embarrassed he is by his actions.
Despite how embarrassed he was about potentially offending her and her culture, he continued to write that he would like to make up for it "over tapas or paella or whatever". Things don't seem to be improving.
He Is Social Distancing
In a time when everyone was supposed to be socially distancing to prevent the spread of corona, most people did not adhere to the guidelines. However, there was one "ideal" citizen who took these instructions very seriously. He stood on the social distancing footprints, exactly in the correct spot, waiting for his owner to come out of the store. He did much better than most other people during these times.
Although there aren't really any other people (or animals) around that he needs to distance himself from, he is still doing a really good job and his efforts must be appreciated.
Too Scared to Leave the House
Some people took the coronavirus very seriously and ended up being terrified to even leave their houses. No one wanted to get sick and they thought that even the shortest trip outside of their homes would result in them catching the virus and becoming deathly ill. This woman claimed to be one of those who were too scared to leave her house and yet there was something ironic and hypocritical about her words.
She is standing there on TV telling the world how she is too scared to leave her house and yet she is standing outside of her house, in the middle of the town center.
Right on the Border
In case you ever wondered what the border between Scotland and the rest of the UK looked like, now is your chance to find out. The Scottish landscaper clearly was not going to waste his time making the other part of the border look nicer. That was not his job and maybe he wanted the world to see that the Scottish side was better maintained and perfectly well-kept.
This is the perfect and humorous welcome to Scotland that you could expect. They are showing off in a comical way and putting a smile on every passerby's face (at least the Scottish ones).
Not Only for Kids
You can't blame a guy for wanting to have his birthday party at a kid's venue, even if he is 36 years old. Kids parties are oftentimes much more fun than adult parties anyway and maybe Tony just wanted to relive his youth a little bit as it was rushing away from him. Legoland Windsor welcomes parties of all sizes and for people of all ages. No age discrimination there!
Maybe this was a surprise party for Tony and even a prank from his friends. They knew that he loved Legoland and decided to set him up a surprise party at the place.
Curry Covered Seagull
At first glance, this bird looks extremely exotic and beautiful. It has a stunning bright orange color that looks like it came right out of the movie Aladdin. Researchers in the UK were baffled by its existence and did not know how to explain its origins. After studying it for a long while they finally came to conclusion. This exotic bird was actually just a seagull that was covered in curry.
This sounds like the perfect backdrop for a children's book of some sort or even the backstory for one of the Disney character's sidekicks. The seagull covered in curry that disguised himself as an exotic bird...fooled millions.
The Best Place to Stand in an Earthquake
Have you ever wondered where the best place would be to stand during an earthquake? You may have been taught to seek a safe place, maybe under a doorpost or something sturdy. However, this person has a different theory altogether. They want to stand right by the Coin Pusher game. Maybe their big break will come and the coins will actually finally come out. If an earthquake can't make it happen, nothing can.
Do you think an earthquake is powerful enough to make those coins drop? It seems unlikely, at least to those who have ever played the game before.
Unintentional Dark Humor?
During the first and second corona lockdowns, most people and businesses put up signs on their doors saying "Thank you NHS" (NHS is the National Health Service) for all of their hard work. This company took things a little bit to the dark side by putting the same sign up on their door...except that their door leads to a funeral home. For lovers of dark humor, this is for you.
It looks like such a harmless sign at first, but once you understand the meaning it is quite disturbing.
Someone Stole His Tuxedo
What appears to any average person to just be a simple hanger left on the side of the road became something entirely different in the eyes of this onlooker. He saw the shape of a small penguin skeleton and decided to joke about finding a penguin skeleton on the side of the road. Some even say that he lost his jacket and tuxedo in the process, leaving himself naked there.
This hanger really does look like a penguin somehow, the resemblance is quite uncanny, but leave it to the British to make the connection.