1981 in England
  | |||||
| Centuries: | 
  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decades: | 
  | ||||
| See also: | 1980–81 in English football 1981–82 in English football 1981 in the United Kingdom Other events of 1981  | ||||
Events from 1981 in England
Incumbent
Further information: Politics of England
Events
- March 29 – The first London Marathon starts, with 7,500 runners.
 - April 11 – 1981 Brixton riot: Rioters in south London, UK, throw petrol bombs, attack police and loot shops.
 - May 22 – Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe is found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment on 13 counts of murder and 7 of attempted murder in England.
 - November 12 – The Church of England General Synod votes to admit women to holy orders.
 
Births
- 9 February – Tom Hiddleston, actor
 
Deaths
- 16 January – Bernard Lee, actor (born 1908)
 - 12 February – Bruce Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of North Cape, British admiral (born 1888)
 - 23 March – Mike Hailwood, motorcycle racer and racing driver (born 1950)
 - 29 September – Bill Shankly, football manager (born 1913)