As you may have heard, this year marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th year on the throne, and like in 2012 and previous Jubilees, Britain is throwing a big party for her. Most of the big celebrations will take place in June but there’s a year-long series of events and commemorations. Anglotopia has decided to release a special publication in celebration of this milestone. … [Read more...] about BIG NEWS! Announcing a Special Publication in Celebration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Please Pre-Order!
Anglotopia Magazine
Anglotopia Magazine Issue 18 Cover and Article Reveal – Please Pre-order Now!
We’re going to press on Issue 18 of the Anglotopia print magazine next week, so I wanted to let everyone know about it. Now is the time to place your order for a copy, as we do not get many extras printed anymore. Issue 18 features a great line-up of original writing about Britain including a big huge feature on Dundee Scotland, the latest in a series of articles about Queen’s … [Read more...] about Anglotopia Magazine Issue 18 Cover and Article Reveal – Please Pre-order Now!
Exploring Norfolk: Your Guide to This Seaside County – Norwich, Cromer, and more!
We’ve looked at cities so far in my Anglotopia magazine articles so this time I wanted to show you something more of the country. East Anglia is the bit that sticks out on the east of England and at the top is Norfolk. I managed to combine a city break with a seaside stay too, which makes it a perfect summer destination. When you live on an island – Great British has thousands … [Read more...] about Exploring Norfolk: Your Guide to This Seaside County – Norwich, Cromer, and more!
The Monarchs: Richard II – The Tragic Boy King
Richard II succeeded to the English throne at the age of ten and by the age of fourteen was playing a major role in English politics, particularly the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. But his reign was blighted by the ambitions of his powerful uncles, most notably John of Gaunt who constantly threatened Richard with rebellion. More interested in art and culture than war and … [Read more...] about The Monarchs: Richard II – The Tragic Boy King
Great Events in British History: Operation Chastise – The Dambusters Raid
Few airborne missions in the history of the Second World War have taken on such an iconic status as that of Operation Chastise, otherwise known as the Dambusters Raid. On the night of 16 May 1943, Royal Air Force Squadron 617 launched a surprise attack on a number of strategic German sites, featuring the pioneering use of new ‘bouncing bombs’, codenamed ‘Upkeeps’. This surprise … [Read more...] about Great Events in British History: Operation Chastise – The Dambusters Raid
Cadgwith: A Photo Essay – Exploring a Perfect Cornish Seaside Village
Until we visited this lovely Cornish seaside village on our drive from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2018, I had never heard of it. Our hosts who were showing us around Cornwall we’re quick to inform us that this village was quite famous with most Britons. It is known as a ‘typical’ seaside Cornish village, and scenes of its boats in the harbour adorn calendars all over … [Read more...] about Cadgwith: A Photo Essay – Exploring a Perfect Cornish Seaside Village
The Life of a Queen: The Coronation of Elizabeth II
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 14 of the Anglotopia Print Magazine in 2019. When Princess Elizabeth and Margaret’s father was unexpectedly crowned George VI in 1936, after King Edward VIII’s abdication, Margaret asked if her sister would now have to be Queen. “Yes, someday,” Lilibet responded. “Poor you,” Margaret said. Elizabeth’s Coronation would … [Read more...] about The Life of a Queen: The Coronation of Elizabeth II
Great British Icons: The Hawker Hurricane
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 14 of the Anglotopia Print Magazine in 2019. When a teenage Sydney Camm was building gliders near his home in Windsor, he had no idea that his career as an airplane designer would be instrumental in winning World War II. He designed the Hawker Hurricane, a prop-driven monoplane fighter, that would be the ‘workhorse’ of … [Read more...] about Great British Icons: The Hawker Hurricane
The Life of a Queen: Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Wedding
Most of us will remember the excitement surrounding Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding in 2011, and a lot of us will remember watching Charles and Diana’s fairy tale wedding on TV when we were kids. Compared to those lavish affairs, Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding was fairly restrained. It was, after all, only a few years since the end of the war and the country … [Read more...] about The Life of a Queen: Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Wedding
BESS AND HER HALL: The Story Bess of Hardwick and Her Amazing House
Hardwick Hall is unique among National Trust properties. Most are monuments to the men of British history (the good ones and the bad ones). Hardwick Hall is a monument to a woman and a very formidable woman at that. Elizabeth Shrewsbury, colloquially known as Bess of Hardwick, wielded power in an age when women did not have that much. Sure, England was ruled by a woman, but … [Read more...] about BESS AND HER HALL: The Story Bess of Hardwick and Her Amazing House
You Really Got Me: The 1960s British Music Invasion
The rise of the 1960s American counter-culture owes much to the British. Throughout this turbulent and eventful decade, British music groups and cultural icons migrated in waves to the United States, bringing with them new ideas and influences that would help create the defining culture of the age. Music in the 1960s is inextricably associated with the cultural and political … [Read more...] about You Really Got Me: The 1960s British Music Invasion
Great Britons: Virginia Woolf – Author, Activist, Icon
The end of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th were times of great social upheaval. Virginia Woolf lived her life during those times, and her writing helped bring the modern world into existence. Sufficiently privileged to almost always have the ‘money and a room of her own’ to write, Virginia Woolf is often credited with conceiving the modern novel, … [Read more...] about Great Britons: Virginia Woolf – Author, Activist, Icon
Great British Icons: McVitie’s Digestive Biscuits – The Best Biscuits?
When surveys are taken of the most popular sweet biscuits in the UK, several names vie for the top position. The usual winners are chocolate digestives and Jaffa cakes, with Hobnobs and plain digestive biscuits close behind. All these brands are made by United Biscuits, once known as McVitie & Price, a manufacturer with roots in the narrow streets of 19th century Edinburgh. … [Read more...] about Great British Icons: McVitie’s Digestive Biscuits – The Best Biscuits?
THE MONARCHS: EDWARD VII – The Short Reign That Defined An Era
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Issue #13 of the Anglotopia Print Magazine in 2019. Support great long-form writing about British History, Culture, and travel by subscribing to the Anglotopia Magazine. Every subscription helps keep Anglotopia running and provides us to the opportunity to produce articles like this. You can subscribe here. Known as both the … [Read more...] about THE MONARCHS: EDWARD VII – The Short Reign That Defined An Era
Anglotopia News: Please Subscribe to the Anglotopia Magazine – Issue #16 Cover Reveal – Free Calendar With Subscription For A Limited Time!
Issue #15 is off into the mail system, if you haven’t received your copy yet, it will be with you any day now. It was much later than we planned. 2018 was a year of big problems and changes for Anglotopia. But now that I’ve started my new full-time job outside of Anglotopia, things are starting to get back on track. That means getting the magazine back on track and on a more … [Read more...] about Anglotopia News: Please Subscribe to the Anglotopia Magazine – Issue #16 Cover Reveal – Free Calendar With Subscription For A Limited Time!
HOGMANAY: Your Guide to Scottish New Year’s
In Scotland, Christmas isn’t the most important holiday on the calendar. That honor goes to Hogmanay, or Scotland’s version of New Year’s Eve. Multiple traditions take place during the day, including the giving of gifts, the singing of the classic New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne,” and numerous local traditions such as bonfires, fireworks, and special feasts. Hundreds of … [Read more...] about HOGMANAY: Your Guide to Scottish New Year’s
British Art: Stunning Faces and Pre-Raphaelite Places
By Kirsty Stonell Walker There has been renewed interest in the art of the Pre-Raphaelites over the last few years including some high profile exhibitions currently touring America. The paintings of this group of nineteenth-century young art rebels, who valued truth to nature in their highly detailed, vividly color paintings, inspire a fascination in the artists themselves: … [Read more...] about British Art: Stunning Faces and Pre-Raphaelite Places
EXPLORING COVENTRY: Your Complete Guide to This Jewel of the Midlands
When it was suggested I should write a feature about somewhere in The Midlands, I could have kept it simple and gone to Birmingham. But I opted for the less obvious choice of Coventry (and not only so I could say I was ‘sent to Coventry’!) If you’ve heard anything about the city, it’s most likely the damage caused during the Blitz in 1940. I was told ‘You won’t find any old … [Read more...] about EXPLORING COVENTRY: Your Complete Guide to This Jewel of the Midlands
Great British Icons: THE AA – Britain’s Automobile association
With their distinctive patrol vehicles and motoring guides, the Automobile Association is a British institution dating back to the earliest days of motor cars in the UK. Early drivers faced many hazards – uncertain mechanical reliability, a lack of road signs, poorly built roads, and police eager to catch speeding drivers for the revenue it brought in to their town. Beginning … [Read more...] about Great British Icons: THE AA – Britain’s Automobile association
The Monarchs: Edward II – The King Betrayed By His Wife
Ultimately a failure as a king, Edward II spent the majority of his reign battling with the baronial lords of the time who constantly rebelled and sought to gain power over the king and control of the country. Edward II incurred large debts during his years as King and oversaw the Scots’ famous victory at Bannockburn by Robert the Bruce. Criticized for his habit of taking close … [Read more...] about The Monarchs: Edward II – The King Betrayed By His Wife
Britain at Christmas: Top 10 British Christmas Carols – Which is your favorite?
One of the best parts of the holiday season (or the worst, depending on your perspective), is the singing of Christmas carols. Carols have a very specific definition of being a song or hymn that related to Christmas, and there are many out there both religious and secular. Their themes range from retelling the story of the nativity to espousing the goodwill of the season. … [Read more...] about Britain at Christmas: Top 10 British Christmas Carols – Which is your favorite?
Great Events in British History: The Great Exhibition of 1851 – Showcasing Empire
On 1 May 1851, the newly erected Crystal Palace flung open its doors for the very first time, revealing its casket of wonders to the 25,000 people that had gathered outside the doors. The Great Exhibition was an unprecedented event in British society, as for the first time in history, Britain’s treasures, from both home and abroad, were placed on display for all to see. The … [Read more...] about Great Events in British History: The Great Exhibition of 1851 – Showcasing Empire
Great Britons: William Waldorf Astor – The American Anglophile That Became a Lord
Inheriting the vast fortunes of the Astor family was just the beginning for William Waldorf Astor. Educated and raised in Europe, he found the rough-and-tumble of life in America too much, so he moved to England in 1893. He bought several properties, most notably Cliveden, from the Duke of Westminster, and Hever Castle, once the home of Ann Boleyn. He extensively renovated the … [Read more...] about Great Britons: William Waldorf Astor – The American Anglophile That Became a Lord
Great British Icons: British Rail
The early history of rail transport in Britain was one of private enterprise. Using a network largely created during the stock-market bubble of railway companies in the 1840s, many private lines developed. By the 1920s these were merged into the Big Four – regional networks that monopolized the railways. At the end of WWII, a socialist government under Clement Attlee brought … [Read more...] about Great British Icons: British Rail
From the Anglotopia Magazine: THE LIFE OF A QUEEN – The Princess Elizabeth During Wartime
Editor’s Note: This is the second in an ongoing series about the entire life of Queen Elizabeth II that will be published in the Anglotopia Print Magazine. Each issue of this magazine will feature an article about every aspect of her life. This was the first, published in Issue #12 in 2018. To keep up with the series, please subscribe to the Anglotopia Print Magazine. When … [Read more...] about From the Anglotopia Magazine: THE LIFE OF A QUEEN – The Princess Elizabeth During Wartime
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
