British Bulldog

One player in the middle tags 'runners' as they try to cross from one safe zone to the other.

🌤outdoor

What is British Bulldog?

British Bulldog is a rough playground game popular in British and Commonwealth schools since Victorian times. One or two players stand in the middle of a play area (the 'bulldogs'); the rest are 'runners' who try to cross from one safe zone to the other without being tagged. Tagged players join the bulldogs. Last runner uncaught wins. Banned in many modern British schools for injury risk but persists in youth clubs and camps.

Quick facts

Category

Playground Games

Type

Team sport

Players

4–30

Where played

outdoor

Country of origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Estimated origin

Victorian British schools

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified