What it means to be British is something that has evolved over thousands of years. Once, the Angles and Saxons weren't British. Then, the Danes who settled in England weren't British. Then the Normans weren't British. Over time, groups become British by dint of cultural exposure and contributing to Britain in their unique way. "John Bull" may be a cultural icon, but what said John should look like is open to debate.

What is Britishness now? Is it inventive like Brunel or Dyson? Is it creative genius, as with Shakespeare and Damien Hirst? Is it seeking to learn new things and explore the world, as with Darwin and Shackleton? Is it in our unique form of government? Perhaps Britishness is encoded into our environment; after all, despite our moaning about the weather, it is seldom as hot or cold as the truly hot or cold places in the world. Is it in the centers of productivity, as with The Weald as it made canon for Henry VIII, or London as it generates art and financial instruments for the world?

Perhaps Britishness is all of these things, but then maybe it is none of them, as these are qualities shared with other peoples. To find out how British you are, take this quiz, and we will do the hard work for you.