Looking for the perfect pub quiz questions? You've come to the right place. Below you'll find 100 carefully selected pub quiz questions and answers across 10 classic categories, covering everything from general knowledge and science to music and movies. Whether you're hosting a pub quiz night, a family quiz, or a school quiz, this collection has you covered.
All questions are verified for accuracy and include the correct answer clearly marked. We've mixed easy, medium and hard questions so there's something for everyone — from quiz beginners to trivia obsessives.
Want to test yourself live?
Play an interactive quiz with a timer, scoring and instant results.
Play Pub Quiz Now →
Play an interactive quiz with a timer, scoring and instant results.
Play Pub Quiz Now →
General Knowledge (Questions 1–10)
1. What is the capital city of Australia?
✓ Canberra
💡 Many people guess Sydney, but Canberra has been the capital since 1913. It was purpose-built to resolve the Sydney vs Melbourne rivalry.
2. How many sides does a heptagon have?
✓ 7
💡 The UK's 50p and 20p coins are heptagons — their seven curved sides allow vending machines to recognise them even when rolling.
3. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
✓ Mars
💡 Mars appears red because its surface is covered in iron oxide — essentially rust.
4. What is the world's longest river?
✓ The Nile
💡 The Nile stretches 6,650 km through north-east Africa. Some argue the Amazon is longer depending on measurement — but the Nile is the traditional answer.
5. In which year did the Berlin Wall fall?
✓ 1989
💡 The wall fell on 9 November 1989 after the East German government announced its citizens could cross freely.
6. What gas do plants absorb during photosynthesis?
✓ Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
💡 Plants absorb CO₂ and water and use sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen — the reverse of what animals do when they breathe.
7. Who painted the Mona Lisa?
✓ Leonardo da Vinci
💡 Da Vinci is believed to have worked on the Mona Lisa from 1503 to 1519. It now hangs in the Louvre in Paris.
8. What is the chemical symbol for gold?
✓ Au
💡 Au comes from the Latin word 'aurum', the ancient name for gold.
9. How many bones are in the adult human body?
✓ 206
💡 Babies are born with around 270–300 bones, but many fuse together as we grow up, leaving 206 in adults.
10. What is the largest ocean on Earth?
✓ The Pacific Ocean
💡 The Pacific Ocean covers over 165 million km² — larger than all the world's landmasses combined.
Science & Nature (Questions 11–20)
11. What is the speed of light in a vacuum (approximately)?
✓ 300,000 km/s
💡 The exact speed is 299,792,458 metres per second. Nothing with mass can travel this fast.
12. Which animal has the largest brain relative to its body size?
✓ The shrew
💡 Despite being tiny, the Etruscan shrew has one of the largest brain-to-body ratios of any mammal.
13. What element has the atomic number 1?
✓ Hydrogen
💡 Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, making up about 75% of all normal matter.
14. What is the powerhouse of the cell?
✓ The mitochondria
💡 The mitochondria produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the molecule that powers most cellular functions.
15. At what temperature does water boil at sea level?
✓ 100°C (212°F)
💡 At higher altitudes, water boils at lower temperatures because atmospheric pressure is reduced.
16. Which bird has the largest wingspan of any living bird?
✓ The wandering albatross
💡 The wandering albatross can have a wingspan of up to 3.7 metres — wider than a small car is long.
17. How many chromosomes do humans typically have?
✓ 46
💡 Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes — 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes (XX or XY).
18. What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?
✓ Nitrogen
💡 Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere. Oxygen is around 21%, with the remaining 1% being argon, CO₂ and other gases.
19. What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
✓ Diamond
💡 Diamond scores 10 on the Mohs scale — the highest possible rating. It can only be scratched by another diamond.
20. Which scientist developed the theory of general relativity?
✓ Albert Einstein
💡 Einstein published his general theory of relativity in 1915, fundamentally changing our understanding of gravity and space-time.
History (Questions 21–30)
21. Who was the first man to walk on the Moon?
✓ Neil Armstrong
💡 Armstrong stepped onto the Moon on 21 July 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission, followed shortly by Buzz Aldrin.
22. In which year did World War I begin?
✓ 1914
💡 WWI began on 28 July 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo.
23. Which ancient wonder of the world still stands today?
✓ The Great Pyramid of Giza
💡 The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still largely intact, built around 2560 BC.
24. Who was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century?
✓ Margaret Thatcher
💡 Thatcher served as PM for 11 years from 1979–1990, making her the longest-serving PM since Robert Walpole.
25. What ship sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912?
✓ The Titanic
💡 RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Over 1,500 people died.
26. Which empire was ruled by Genghis Khan?
✓ The Mongol Empire
💡 At its height, the Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history, stretching from China to Eastern Europe.
27. In which country was Nelson Mandela born?
✓ South Africa
💡 Mandela was born in 1918 in Mvezo, Cape Province. He served as South Africa's first democratically elected president from 1994 to 1999.
28. What was the name of the first artificial satellite launched into space?
✓ Sputnik 1
💡 Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957, beginning the Space Age.
29. The Great Fire of London occurred in which year?
✓ 1666
💡 The fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane on 2 September 1666 and burned for four days, destroying 13,200 houses.
30. Which explorer is credited with completing the first circumnavigation of the globe?
✓ Ferdinand Magellan (expedition)
💡 Magellan led the expedition but died in the Philippines. Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the voyage in 1522.
Geography (Questions 31–40)
31. What is the capital of Canada?
✓ Ottawa
💡 Ottawa was chosen as the capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria as a compromise between the rival cities of Toronto and Montreal.
32. Which country has the most natural lakes?
✓ Canada
💡 Canada has around 879,000 lakes — more than all other countries combined, covering about 9% of its total area.
33. What is the smallest country in the world by area?
✓ Vatican City
💡 Vatican City covers just 0.44 km² — smaller than many city parks. It has its own post office, radio station and newspaper.
34. The Amazon rainforest is primarily located in which country?
✓ Brazil
💡 About 60% of the Amazon rainforest lies within Brazil. The remaining 40% spans eight other countries.
35. What is the tallest mountain in Africa?
✓ Mount Kilimanjaro
💡 Kilimanjaro in Tanzania rises to 5,895 metres. It is a dormant volcano and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.
36. Through how many countries does the River Nile flow?
✓ 11 countries
💡 The Nile passes through Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan and Egypt.
37. What is the most populated city in the world?
✓ Tokyo
💡 Tokyo's greater metropolitan area has over 37 million people — more than the entire population of Canada.
38. Which country is home to the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
✓ Italy
💡 Italy has 58 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the most of any country. China is a close second.
39. What is the longest mountain range in the world?
✓ The Andes
💡 The Andes stretch 7,000 km along the western coast of South America through seven countries.
40. Which sea is the world's saltiest?
✓ The Dead Sea
💡 The Dead Sea is about 10 times saltier than the ocean. Its high salt content makes it impossible for most organisms to survive there.
Music (Questions 41–50)
41. How many strings does a standard guitar have?
✓ 6
💡 A standard guitar has 6 strings tuned to E, A, D, G, B and E from low to high. Bass guitars typically have 4.
42. Which band released the album 'Dark Side of the Moon'?
✓ Pink Floyd
💡 Released in 1973, Dark Side of the Moon stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for over 950 weeks.
43. Who is known as the 'Queen of Pop'?
✓ Madonna
💡 Madonna has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making her the best-selling female music artist of all time.
44. Which instrument is Yo-Yo Ma famous for playing?
✓ Cello
💡 Yo-Yo Ma is widely considered the greatest cellist alive today. He began playing at age 4.
45. In which city is the famous Carnegie Hall located?
✓ New York City
💡 Carnegie Hall opened in 1891 and was funded by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. It remains one of the most prestigious concert venues in the world.
46. What nationality was composer Ludwig van Beethoven?
✓ German
💡 Beethoven was born in Bonn in 1770. He composed some of his greatest works, including his 9th Symphony, after becoming completely deaf.
47. Which iconic music festival was held in Woodstock, New York in 1969?
✓ Woodstock
💡 Woodstock was attended by an estimated 400,000 people over four days. Jimi Hendrix closed the festival with a legendary performance.
48. What was the first music video ever played on MTV?
✓ 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles
💡 MTV launched on 1 August 1981 with this prescient choice. The Buggles' 1979 song was played at midnight to mark the channel's debut.
49. Which British singer's real name is Robyn Fenty?
✓ Rihanna
💡 Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in Barbados in 1988. She's now also a billionaire businesswoman through her Fenty brands.
50. How many keys does a standard piano have?
✓ 88
💡 A standard piano has 52 white keys and 36 black keys. The range spans over 7 octaves.
Sport (Questions 51–60)
51. How many players are on a rugby union team?
✓ 15
💡 Rugby union has 15 players per side: 8 forwards and 7 backs. Rugby league has 13.
52. In which year was the first FIFA World Cup held?
✓ 1930
💡 The first World Cup was held in Uruguay, which also won it. Only 13 teams competed.
53. What is the diameter of a basketball hoop in inches?
✓ 18 inches
💡 An NBA basketball is 9.4 inches in diameter — meaning two balls could theoretically fit through the hoop at once.
54. Who has won the most Grand Slam singles titles in tennis?
✓ Novak Djokovic
💡 Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles as of 2024, surpassing Rafael Nadal's previous record of 22.
55. How many gold medals did Usain Bolt win across three Olympic Games?
✓ 8
💡 Bolt won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. One relay gold was later stripped.
56. In golf, what is the term for two strokes under par on a hole?
✓ Eagle
💡 An eagle is 2 under par. An albatross (or double eagle) is 3 under par — incredibly rare in professional golf.
57. Which country has won the most cricket World Cups?
✓ Australia
💡 Australia have won the ODI Cricket World Cup 6 times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023).
58. How long is an Olympic swimming pool?
✓ 50 metres
💡 Olympic pools are 50m long, 25m wide and at least 2m deep. The water is kept between 25–28°C.
59. What sport takes place at Epsom Racecourse?
✓ Horse racing
💡 Epsom hosts The Derby — the most prestigious flat race in British horse racing, first run in 1780.
60. Which country hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
✓ Qatar
💡 Qatar 2022 was the first World Cup held in the Middle East. Argentina won, beating France in a penalty shootout.
Food & Drink (Questions 61–70)
61. From which country does feta cheese originate?
✓ Greece
💡 Feta has EU protected designation of origin status. Only cheese made in specific regions of Greece can legally be called feta.
62. What is the main ingredient in guacamole?
✓ Avocado
💡 Guacamole originates from the Aztecs of central Mexico. The name comes from the Nahuatl word 'ahuacamolli' meaning avocado sauce.
63. Which spirit is used in a classic Martini?
✓ Gin (or vodka)
💡 A classic Martini uses gin and dry vermouth. A vodka Martini became popularised by James Bond's preference for it 'shaken, not stirred'.
64. What type of pasta is shaped like small rice grains?
✓ Orzo
💡 Orzo means 'barley' in Italian, referencing its grain-like shape. It's popular in soups and Mediterranean salads.
65. Scoville units measure the spiciness of what?
✓ Chilli peppers
💡 The Scoville scale was developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. Pure capsaicin rates 15–16 million Scoville units.
66. What is the Japanese dish 'sashimi'?
✓ Thinly sliced raw fish or meat
💡 Unlike sushi, sashimi is served without rice. The word means 'pierced body' in Japanese.
67. Which country invented champagne?
✓ France
💡 True champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France. Dom Pérignon is often (incorrectly) credited with inventing it.
68. What are the two main ingredients in a classic Hollandaise sauce?
✓ Butter and egg yolks
💡 Hollandaise is an emulsion sauce made from clarified butter, egg yolks and lemon juice — one of the five French 'mother sauces'.
69. In which country did the dish 'Wiener Schnitzel' originate?
✓ Austria
💡 Wiener means 'Viennese' in German. Authentic Wiener Schnitzel must be made from veal and cooked in lard.
70. What vegetable is used to make kimchi?
✓ Cabbage
💡 Traditional kimchi uses fermented napa cabbage seasoned with chilli, garlic and ginger. It's a cornerstone of Korean cuisine.
Movies & TV (Questions 71–80)
71. Which film won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture?
✓ Wings (1927)
💡 Wings won at the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony in 1929 (for films from 1927–28). It's a WWI aerial combat film.
72. What is the highest-grossing film of all time (adjusted for inflation)?
✓ Gone with the Wind (1939)
💡 Adjusted for inflation, Gone with the Wind's box office is estimated at over $3.7 billion — significantly ahead of Avatar.
73. In Breaking Bad, what is Walter White's chemistry teacher nickname?
✓ Heisenberg
💡 Walter White adopts the pseudonym 'Heisenberg', a reference to physicist Werner Heisenberg and his uncertainty principle.
74. How many episodes are in the complete series of The Wire?
✓ 60
💡 The Wire ran for 5 seasons on HBO (2002–2008). Despite modest ratings during its run, it's now widely considered one of the greatest TV shows ever made.
75. Which actor played James Bond in the most films?
✓ Roger Moore
💡 Roger Moore played Bond in 7 films from 1973–1985. Daniel Craig and Sean Connery each played the role 6 times.
76. In Friends, what is the name of Chandler Bing's job?
✓ Statistical analysis and data reconfiguration (IT procurement)
💡 None of Chandler's friends (or viewers) could ever quite explain what he did, which became a running joke throughout the show's 10 seasons.
77. What language is Yoda speaking when he says, 'Do or do not, there is no try'?
✓ English (Basic in Star Wars universe)
💡 The quote is from The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Yoda's inverted speech style is a deliberate character quirk, not a different language.
78. Who directed Pulp Fiction?
✓ Quentin Tarantino
💡 Pulp Fiction (1994) won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. It's famous for its non-linear narrative and sharp dialogue.
79. Which Netflix series features the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company?
✓ The Office (US)
💡 The Office US ran for 9 seasons (2005–2013) and was based on Ricky Gervais's UK original. It's consistently one of Netflix's most-watched shows.
80. What is the name of the pub in the TV show EastEnders?
✓ The Queen Vic
💡 The Queen Victoria public house is the central meeting point in Albert Square, Walford. It's been a fixture since EastEnders first aired in 1985.
Pop Culture (Questions 81–90)
81. What year did Instagram launch?
✓ 2010
💡 Instagram launched on 6 October 2010. Within two months it had 1 million users. Facebook (now Meta) acquired it in 2012 for $1 billion.
82. Taylor Swift's album 'Fearless' won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards in which year?
✓ 2010
💡 At the 2010 Grammys, Fearless made Taylor Swift the youngest artist ever to win Album of the Year at age 20.
83. Which video game character is known for the phrase 'It's-a me, Mario!'?
✓ Mario
💡 Nintendo's Mario has appeared in over 200 games since his debut in Donkey Kong (1981), making him gaming's most recognisable character.
84. What colour is SpongeBob SquarePants?
✓ Yellow
💡 SpongeBob SquarePants first aired in 1999 and has become Nickelodeon's longest-running animated series, spanning 14 seasons.
85. Which British royal married Meghan Markle in 2018?
✓ Prince Harry
💡 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on 19 May 2018 at Windsor Castle. The ceremony was watched by around 1.9 billion people worldwide.
86. What is the name of Batman's butler?
✓ Alfred Pennyworth
💡 Alfred has been Batman's loyal butler since 1943. He's been played by Michael Gough, Jeremy Irons and Andy Serkis in film adaptations.
87. In which decade did the Nintendo Game Boy first launch?
✓ 1980s (1989)
💡 The original Game Boy launched in Japan on 21 April 1989. It sold 118 million units across all models.
88. Who plays Tony Stark / Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
✓ Robert Downey Jr.
💡 RDJ first played Tony Stark in Iron Man (2008), which kicked off the MCU. He appeared in 11 Marvel films.
89. What is the most followed account on Instagram?
✓ Instagram's official account
💡 Instagram (@instagram) has over 650 million followers. Cristiano Ronaldo is the most-followed individual with over 600 million followers.
90. 'The Shining' was written by which author?
✓ Stephen King
💡 Stephen King published The Shining in 1977. Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation with Jack Nicholson is considered a horror masterpiece, though King famously disliked it.
Language & Literature (Questions 91–100)
91. How many plays did Shakespeare write?
✓ 37 (or 38 including The Two Noble Kinsmen)
💡 Shakespeare's works include 37 widely accepted plays. He also wrote 154 sonnets and several longer poems.
92. What is the longest word in the English language?
✓ Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
💡 At 45 letters, this word describes a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust from volcanoes. It was coined in 1935.
93. Who wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'?
✓ Jane Austen
💡 Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813. Its opening line — 'It is a truth universally acknowledged…' — is one of the most famous in English literature.
94. Which fictional detective lives at 221B Baker Street?
✓ Sherlock Holmes
💡 Sherlock Holmes was created by Arthur Conan Doyle. The Museum at 221B Baker Street London receives hundreds of letters addressed to Holmes every year.
95. The Hobbit was written by which author?
✓ J.R.R. Tolkien
💡 The Hobbit was published in 1937 and followed by the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien invented the elvish languages Quenya and Sindarin.
96. In which language was the Bible originally written (Old Testament)?
✓ Hebrew
💡 The Old Testament was primarily written in Biblical Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.
97. Who is the author of the Harry Potter series?
✓ J.K. Rowling
💡 J.K. Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book while a single mother in Edinburgh, partly in cafes. The series has sold over 600 million copies worldwide.
98. What does the 'S' stand for in 'RSPCA'?
✓ Society
💡 The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1824, making it the world's first animal welfare organisation.
99. Which Dickens novel features Ebenezer Scrooge?
✓ A Christmas Carol
💡 A Christmas Carol was written in just six weeks and published in December 1843. Dickens wrote it partly to highlight the plight of England's poor.
100. The phrase 'et tu, Brute?' is from which Shakespeare play?
✓ Julius Caesar
💡 Caesar utters these words ('And you, Brutus?') as he is stabbed by his friend Brutus. It's among the most quoted lines in English literature.
How well did you do?
Play an interactive pub quiz now — live timer, instant scoring, no signup needed.
Play Interactive Pub Quiz →
Play an interactive pub quiz now — live timer, instant scoring, no signup needed.
Play Interactive Pub Quiz →