London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Oct 19, 2026

The most popular sports in Great Britain in 2020

The most popular sports in Great Britain in 2020

Sport is one of the favourite past times of the Great British public, both watching and playing. Here is a rundown of the most popular sports in Great Britain 2020.
Football


Football is without a doubt one of the most popular sports in Great Britain. The British public loves nothing more than cheering on their team, be it in the home stands or following players around the world. With its traditional league set up, the Premier League is probably the most-watched, as the top 20 teams from Great Britain play for the Cup. The FA Cup is also followed by millions of Brits each year, with a staggering 92 teams all competing to win. Some British teams have gained a global following, and juggernauts like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal regularly sign up the best players from around the world. Despite the global reach of football, many Brits feel very closely tied to their team, be it local or not, and it is this sense of football as a community that inspires Great British fans in 2020.

Tennis


Wimbledon is probably the most famous of all British tennis tournaments and has been a fixture in British sport since 1877. Playing for just two weeks in June, the British obsession with tennis reaches its peak during this fortnight. Along with the French, Australian, and US Open tournaments, Wimbledon is the most-watched grand slam tennis event in the UK. Top British players, such as Tim Henman, Kyle Edmund and Andy Murray, often enjoy high ranking worldwide positions, with Murray himself ranked number 1 in the world back in 2016.

Fast forward to a few years later, and unfortunately, his 2020 position has seen him slip to 111th place. Despite the somewhat inconsistent performance levels of many British tennis players, it is still a spectacular spectator sport that can be enjoyed courtside (if you are lucky enough to get a ticket!), from the views of Murray Mound (once nicknamed Henman Hill), or at home. Female tennis players have also garnered plenty of support from the Great British public too. Sadly, due to the current pandemic, Wimbledon was called off for 2020, but other matches continue to be watched and enjoyed by UK audiences.

Cricket


Great Britain has a long history of participating in cricket matches as well as watching them, and in 2020 it is still one of the nation’s best-loved sports. Created in the UK, cricket was first played way back in the 13th Century and is still just as popular for Great British audiences in 2020. Once synonymous with the upper-middle class, cricket is now enjoyed across the country by fans from all walks of life.

Millions in the UK tune in for world cup fixtures, such as the World Cup and of course the Ashes, where England often goes head to head with their old rivals, Australia. For those wanting to place a bet on cricket, the best providers can be found on www.cricketbettingadvice.com. Not every bookmaker is best suited for cricket betting concerning odds, betting types and bonus offers. Be sure to always compare the most trustworthy cricket sportsbooks with each other and be sure to look at the different betting odds as well.

Badminton


Perhaps one of the less popular sports in the UK compared to others such as football and cricket, badminton still ranks as the most-watched racket sport in Great Britain. Since 1893, badminton matches have been played throughout the UK. Despite this, it often flies under the radar, with not much coverage from the media and hardly any famous names associated with the sport, unlike football or tennis. British badminton players tend to rank lower in the world than other countries, so perhaps this may also contribute to its lower profile.

Rugby


Both Rugby League and Rugby Union are the two most popularised forms of rugby currently enjoyed in Great Britain today. With very different rules, these two leagues are exciting and exhilarating. Established in 1823 by William Webb Ellis, rugby began as a variation on football and has since grown to become one of the most popular sports in its own right. Every four years, audiences can enjoy the World Cup League, along with other international competitions such as the European Cup and the Five Nations Championship.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Surging Cloned Number Plates Severely Complicate Traffic Enforcement and Police Investigations
Mounting Opposition Challenges Planned Rollout of Autonomous Taxis Across London
Influential Think Tank Urges Rejoining European Union to Navigate Geopolitical Crises
Government Review Recommends Slashing Benefits to Fund Youth Employment Initiatives
Senior Minister Shabana Mahmood Seeks New Law Enforcement Pact With European Union
Airbus Executive Warns Britain Risks Losing Crucial Role in European Space Industry
Exorbitant Electricity Costs Push British Steelmakers to Worst Competitive Position in Three Years
British Food and Beverage Exports to European Union Collapse by Over a Third Since Brexit
Up to Twenty English Maternity Units Face Impending Closure Due to Safety and Staffing Crises
Government Declares Severe Drought Across Southern England Following Record Dry Spell
Corporate Profit Warnings Reach Two-Year High Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Costs
International Monetary Fund Warns Chancellor John Healey Against Proposed Bank Tax Raid
Northern Ireland Secures Favorable Agricultural Export Agreement with European Union
Scottish Government Approves Major Offshore Floating Wind Farm Near Aberdeenshire
High Speed Two Rail Project Faces Three Billion Pound Cost Escalation on Initial Phase
National Health Service Warns of Winter Capacity Crisis Across English Hospitals
Tata Steel Confirms Two Thousand Job Cuts at Port Talbot to Fund Green Transition
Global Microchip Developer Announces Three Billion Pound Semiconductor Plant in Cambridge
United Kingdom Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Proposes Mandatory Licensing for Generative Models
United Kingdom Commits Additional Long-Range Weapons and Air Defenses to Ukraine
British Chancellor Overhauls Infrastructure Financing to Bypass Borrowing Constraints
Bank of England Holds Benchmark Interest Rate at Four Point Five Percent
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth Confirms Constitutional Discussions Over Welsh Independence During Initial Bilateral Call with Prime Minister
Labour Party Instructs Local Council Groups to Sever Power-Sharing Accords with Green Party Over New Controversial Policy Positions
Institute for Fiscal Studies Warns of Thirty-Five Billion Pound Fiscal Gap Ahead of Chancellor John Healey Upcoming Autumn Budget
House of Lords Backs Landmark Legislative Amendment to Decriminalize Abortion Across England and Wales
United Kingdom Defence Secretary Wes Streeting Travels to Pentagon for High-Level Strategic Talks Amid Escalating Tensions Over Ukraine and United States Policy Shifts
Bank of England and International Monetary Fund Officials Issue Urgent Warnings Regarding Potential Artificial Intelligence Financial Market Shocks
Reform UK Faces Severe Political Fallout and Scrutiny After Undercover Media Investigations Reveal Systemic Racism Among Candidates
Former Democratic Unionist Party Leader Jeffrey Donaldson Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison Following Landmark Child Sexual Abuse Trial
House of Lords Votes to Amend Schools Bill Implementing Comprehensive Social Media Ban for Children Under Sixteen Years of Age
International Monetary Fund Upgrades United Kingdom Growth Forecast for Two Thousand Twenty-Six While Warning of Energy-Driven Inflation Pressures
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Inquiry Into Corporate Artificial Intelligence Partnerships
Automotive Industry Leaders Urge Westminster to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Rollout
Home Office Expands Digital Border Security Framework With Mandatory Electronic Travel Authorizations Across United Kingdom
Northern Ireland Executive Reaches Final Consensus on Public Sector Pay Reform and Budget Allocations
Welsh First Minister Secures Additional Funding for Rural Agricultural Transition and Sustainable Farming Schemes
Scottish Government Unveils Accelerated Regional Infrastructure Strategy to Boost Clean Energy Manufacturing
National Health Service England Launches Emergency Recruitment Drive to Alleviate Severe Acute Care Winter Backlogs
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Signals Cautious Approach to Interest Rate Reductions Amid Persistent Wage Growth
British Government Finalizes Emergency Energy Support Package to Protect Households From Winter Price Surges
Russell Brand Trial Begins at Southwark Crown Court
UK Parliament to Debate Climate Risks and Council Tax Following Public Petitions
Department for Transport Demands Safety Audits Following Regional Rail Disruptions
House of Lords Scrutinizes Amendments to Armed Forces Bill
Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales Criticize Post-Brexit Funding Framework
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Middle East Military Support Under Parliamentary Scrutiny
NHS Leaders Warn of Severe Pressure on Hospitals from Winter Virus Outbreaks
Retailers and Business Groups Lobby Chancellor for Relief from Rising Employment Taxes
City of London Taskforce Urges Radical Reform to Prevent UK From Becoming "Incubator Nation"
×