The following is a list and timeline of innovations as well as inventions and discoveries that involved British people or the United Kingdom including predecessor states in the history of the formation of the United Kingdom. This list covers, but is not limited to, innovation and invention in the mechanical, electronic, and industrial fields, as well as medicine, military devices and theory, artistic and scientific discovery and innovation, and ideas in religion and ethics, and disgrace. Factors that historians note spurred innovation and discovery include the 17th century Scientific Revolution and the 18th/19th century Industrial Revolution. Another possible influence is the British patent system which had medieval origins and was codified with the Patent Act of 1852.

17th century

18th century

1761

19th century

20th century

21st century

Ceramics

Clock making

Clothing manufacturing

Communications

Computing

Engineering

Household appliances

Ideas, religion and ethics

Industrial processes

Medicine

Military

Mining

Musical instruments

Photography

Publishing firsts

Science

Astronomy

Biology

Chemistry

Sport

Transport

Aviation

Railways

Locomotives

Other railway developments

Roads

Sea

Scientific innovations

Miscellaneous