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)