Football matches are normally called off if the pitch is waterlogged – except in the Cotswolds. Two teams braved chilly water to take part in the annual Football In The River match in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. The 30-minute game was played out between mixed teams of Bourton Rovers 1st XI and 2nd XI and kicked off at 11 am instead of the usual 4 … [Read more...] about Weird Britain: Annual river football clash goes ahead despite waterlogged pitch in Bourton-on-the-Water Cotswolds
Britishness
Eating British in America: Taste of Britain Shares the UK with Georgia
I’ve visited British stores all over the United States, but despite numerous trips to Georgia, I’d never visited Taste of Britain in Norcross, Georgia, until this year. As soon as I stepped through the door, I realized I’d been missing out on a fantastic Eating British in America experience! This venerable store has been around since 1989, and during that time, the store’s … [Read more...] about Eating British in America: Taste of Britain Shares the UK with Georgia
Feel the burn: Coal carrying championship returns to village in Scotland
Scotland’s coal carrying championship has been held after a five-year hiatus, with former prime minister Gordon Brown on hand to present the prizes. Men, women, and children competed in a series of races to carry coal sacks for a kilometer through the Fife village of Kelty. Competitors in the women’s race (Jane Barlow/PA) Competitors after finishing in the men’s race … [Read more...] about Feel the burn: Coal carrying championship returns to village in Scotland
British Shed of the Year: Colorful cocktail bar beats bra-fitting boutique to shed of the year title
A 1970s-inspired cocktail bar has fought off stiff competition from a bra-fitting boutique and a fairytale castle to be crowned Shed of the year. Creme de Menthe, a mint green entry by social media influencer Danielle Zarb-Cousin, beat more than 300 entries to take the top prize in the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2021 after a public vote. The 29-year-old from Southend-on-Sea, … [Read more...] about British Shed of the Year: Colorful cocktail bar beats bra-fitting boutique to shed of the year title
Great British Houses: Rainham Hall National Trust
Rainham Hall is a charming Grade II* listed Queen Anne house in a London suburb. Now a visitor attraction run by the National Trust, Rainham Hall was built in 1729 as a successful sea merchant's home. It is regarded as one of the finest and best-preserved examples in England of a medium-sized early Georgian merchant’s house. Many National Trust properties have benefitted from … [Read more...] about Great British Houses: Rainham Hall National Trust
Eating British in America: Brit’s Brings a Classic Pub Experience to Minneapolis
I stumbled across Brit’s Pub and Eating Establishment in Minneapolis shortly after it opened in 1990, and right away, I knew it was a special place. It's grown even better with age, and it's always at the top of my "Must Do" list when I'm in town. STEP INTO A CLASSIC Brit's is located on Nicollet Mall, a popular shopping and dining corridor in the heart of downtown … [Read more...] about Eating British in America: Brit’s Brings a Classic Pub Experience to Minneapolis
English Language: British Regional pronunciations could be wiped out in 45 years, according to new study
Regional pronunciations of words are likely to be wiped out in England and overtaken by the southeastern variant within 45 years, according to a new study. Researchers from the universities of Portsmouth and Cambridge found that differing pronunciations of words such as strut and farm will soon merge into the south-eastern version. Traditionally northerners would pronounce … [Read more...] about English Language: British Regional pronunciations could be wiped out in 45 years, according to new study
English Heritage flags support for football team through unique flag made 32,000 surnames
English Heritage’s historic properties will fly a specially designed St George’s flag featuring the surnames of almost every person in the country on Friday to cheer on the national team. More than 32,000 names, including Kane, Sterling, Pickford, and Phillips, will feature in either red or white in locations including Dover Castle in Kent, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, and … [Read more...] about English Heritage flags support for football team through unique flag made 32,000 surnames
A Brit Back Home: When it comes to the crunch, it’s all about the flavo(u)r
Every few years, the subject of crisp sandwiches is topical in the UK. (Readers are reminded that ‘crisps’ in the UK are what Americans call ‘chips.’ Our ‘chips’ (as in fish & chips) are French fries.) A recent poll taken by Walkers Crisps looked at whether Brits prefer a sandwich with crisps on the side or with crisps in the sandwich. And yes, there were hashtags - … [Read more...] about A Brit Back Home: When it comes to the crunch, it’s all about the flavo(u)r
Shed of the Year: Bra-fitting boutique and Catholic oratory among Britain’s Shed of the Year entrants
A bra-fitting boutique, a Catholic oratory, and a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-inspired “inventor’s workshop” are among this year’s Shed of the Year entrants. The “lockdown” category introduced in last year’s competition has been retained, with several DIY bars created as pubs in England remained closed until coronavirus restrictions began to ease in April. This year, 331 entrants … [Read more...] about Shed of the Year: Bra-fitting boutique and Catholic oratory among Britain’s Shed of the Year entrants
£5m stained glass window conservation project under way at York Minster and you can adopt a piece of the window
A £5 million project to conserve one of the largest surviving narrative stained glass windows in the world has begun at York Minster. Experts have started to remove all 152 panels from the St. Cuthbert Window – many of which are nearly 600 years old – to be cleaned and repaired. The five-year program will also see urgent work carried out to replace and repair … [Read more...] about £5m stained glass window conservation project under way at York Minster and you can adopt a piece of the window
Royal Mail to issue new stamps in memory of Prince Philip
Four new stamps are being issued by the Royal Mail in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh. The black and white images show Philip, who died last month at the age of 99, at different stages of his life. (Royal Mail/PA) The first, a portrait of the duke as a young man, was taken by the photographer Baron, while the second is of Philip attending the passing out parade of his … [Read more...] about Royal Mail to issue new stamps in memory of Prince Philip
A Cake Too Far? Fusion of Jaffa Cake and doughnut to hit UK shelves next week
The Jaffa Cake is to hit shelves in doughnut form next week in the latest variation of the 94-year-old British classic. McVitie’s Jaffa Jonut is a doughnut-shaped ring of sponge with the familiar orange-flavored filling and dark chocolate coating. It follows Jaffa Cake bars and mini rolls as well as flavor variations pineapple, cherry, and passion fruit alongside the original … [Read more...] about A Cake Too Far? Fusion of Jaffa Cake and doughnut to hit UK shelves next week
A Brit Back Home: Ticking All The Boxes or Ticking Someone Off?
Recently I’ve noticed quite a few Americans saying something “ticks all the boxes.” As with “gobsmacked,” I sometimes wonder if Americans know exactly what they’re saying when they use British phrases. For example, I know they realize that being “gobsmacked” means to be shocked or left speechless, but I’m not sure everyone knows that a “gob” is slang for “mouth.” (And let’s … [Read more...] about A Brit Back Home: Ticking All The Boxes or Ticking Someone Off?
Colin the Batterpillar: Marks & Spencer cake deep fried by Scottish chip shop
This is not just any deep-fried cake; this is a deep-fried Colin the Caterpillar cake. A chip shop in South Lanarkshire covered the birthday cake in batter and fried it as part of a special promotion. The cake stunt at Emanuel’s in East Kilbride comes after Marks & Spencer started legal action against Aldi over the rival’s Cuthbert the Caterpillar product. Emanuel’s … [Read more...] about Colin the Batterpillar: Marks & Spencer cake deep fried by Scottish chip shop
‘Secret squirrel’ painstakingly restored on 17th century tapestry at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire
A “secret squirrel” has been painstakingly restored on a rare 17th-century Flemish tapestry. The red squirrel was originally woven with wool and silk and hidden in the foliage of the large Enghien tapestry. The tapestry is one of two that resides at the National Trust’s Dyrham Park estate, near Bath. Conservation stitching underway at the National Trust’s Textile … [Read more...] about ‘Secret squirrel’ painstakingly restored on 17th century tapestry at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire
A History of British Cars Driving on the Left
In America (and most of the world), right-hand drive seems a perfectly natural thing to do. This is how many of us learned to drive and still do today. However, a few places on the globe are just a little bit different—and the United Kingdom is one of them. Left-hand drive is the norm for Britain, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, India, and about a dozen or so other nations … [Read more...] about A History of British Cars Driving on the Left
Eating British in America: Exploring the World of Tea at Charleston Tea Garden
As Anglotopia readers know, the British drink a lot of tea. Per capita, tea consumption in the UK averages 4.3 pounds a year, and in Ireland, it averages almost five pounds a year. Last March, I wrote a column called Finding Comfort in a Cup of Tea, which discusses the many forms that tea drinking takes in the UK, from a quick mug of tea during a mid-morning break all the way … [Read more...] about Eating British in America: Exploring the World of Tea at Charleston Tea Garden
A Brit Back Home: The Great Caterpillar Cake Row – Colin or Cuthbert – Where Do You Stand?
There’s a huge legal battle going on in the UK retail world at the moment. Marks & Spencer, that bastion of British High Street shopping (that’s Main Street to Americans) has filed a lawsuit against big-box supermarket Aldi for allegedly ripping off its iconic Colin the Caterpillar cake. Not only are they ticked off that Aldi is copying their 30-year-old cake design, but … [Read more...] about A Brit Back Home: The Great Caterpillar Cake Row – Colin or Cuthbert – Where Do You Stand?
A Brit Back Home: Briticism versus Britishism. Who knew?
The Wall Street Journal often gives style guidance to its writers, and it’s available on the website, under Style & Substance. These monthly bulletins have been compiled by the stylebook editors since 2013, and address a wide variety of topics covered by WSJ writers. Last week I clocked a tweet pointing out something that I’d never really noticed in my 27-year stint in the … [Read more...] about A Brit Back Home: Briticism versus Britishism. Who knew?
Top 10 English Trees for Your Garden
We really can’t get enough of trees. From enjoying their majestic green splendor to the enriching oxygen they provide, trees offer us much and should be a part of any garden. Of course, for the Anglophile, if you want to recreate the majestic splendor of English gardens at your own home, you’ll want to consider an English tree or two. There are plenty of these trees that … [Read more...] about Top 10 English Trees for Your Garden
Ten English Flowers to Make Your Garden a Little More English
England’s gardens are some of the best-known in the world. From naturally growing green spaces to the crafted landscape gardens of Capability Brown, you’ll find many different types of beautiful flora throughout the country. Of course, just because it’s over there doesn’t mean you can’t bring some of it here. Plenty of flowers in England’s gardens do quite well in the United … [Read more...] about Ten English Flowers to Make Your Garden a Little More English
Adventures in Anglotopia: Book Excerpt – The Age of Things (in Britain)
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from my book Adventures in Anglotopia, recently released in paperback. Details on where to buy at the bottom. This is one of my favorite chapters! The small town in Indiana where I live, LaPorte, was founded in 1832. Where I come from, that qualifies as old. My favorite town in England, Shaftesbury, doesn’t have a firm founding date. It’s … [Read more...] about Adventures in Anglotopia: Book Excerpt – The Age of Things (in Britain)
Eating Irish in America: Fiddler’s Hearth, South Bend’s Salute to the Celtic Nations
In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, I'm highlighting one of my favorite Irish-American pubs, Fiddler’s Hearth in South Bend, Indiana. As a Celtic pub, Fiddler’s also celebrates the food, drink, and cultures of Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, and Galicia, which adds to the fun. I’ve visited dozens of Irish pubs across America over the years, and Fiddler’s … [Read more...] about Eating Irish in America: Fiddler’s Hearth, South Bend’s Salute to the Celtic Nations
Eating British in America: The Iconic AGA Cooker
I’ve been dishing up lots of soups, stews, and other cold weather comfort foods lately, and thinking about comfort foods reminded me of one of my favorite British kitchen icons: the AGA cooker. I read a lot of Mills & Boon novels when I was growing up, and I remember being mystified by the occasional references to AGAs. These seemingly magical appliances could roast a … [Read more...] about Eating British in America: The Iconic AGA Cooker
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!
