Editor’s Note: The world is on pause right now. No one is going anywhere. This site was founded in 2007 during a dark time when we were unable to travel to Britain and now, 13 years later, we - and along with the rest of the world - find ourselves in the same position. This is a huge time of uncertainty and the travel industry is going to be devastated, we’re all terrified and … [Read more...] about Anglophile Vignettes: A Secret Place Where Time Stands Still – Calke Abbey in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
A Secret Place Where Time Stands Still: Exploring Calke Abbey – A Photo Tour
I've visited a lot of places in Britain in my years of exploring this beautiful country but by far my favorite place so far is Calke Abbey. On the surface it looks like a fairly unremarkable Stately Home - it looks like many others in a similar architectural style that you would find all over Britain. But the real treasure is what's on the inside. The house has been left in … [Read more...] about A Secret Place Where Time Stands Still: Exploring Calke Abbey – A Photo Tour
King of Stately Homes: A Visit to Chatsworth – A Photo Tour – Chatsworth Reopens After £32 Million Renovation
Chatsworth has been a work in progress for the last ten years. A survey at the beginning of the century found that Chatsworth was in urgent need of repairs and renovations to preserve the house for future generations. Chatsworth, to us, is the King of Stately Homes. You've seen it in countless TV shows and movies - most famously in Pride & Prejudice. For many of us, it will … [Read more...] about King of Stately Homes: A Visit to Chatsworth – A Photo Tour – Chatsworth Reopens After £32 Million Renovation
Paranormal Britain 2016: The Black Monk of Pontefract and the Clown Wars.
As I write this, Halloween is slipping by fast. And, odds are, in Britain, it's already gone. But we can all keep the spirit in our hearts by reading these spooky tales of strangeness from Britain. Woman reads news, finds out she's dead. It's certainly a startling opening line, to quote Brendan Gleeson. But, sure enough, when Candace Haines of Birmingham browsed Daily Records … [Read more...] about Paranormal Britain 2016: The Black Monk of Pontefract and the Clown Wars.
Britain’s Least Wanted XVI: The Grand Return!
For reasons not entirely clear to me, I wound up taking a long break from researching Weird Britain. I don't know why, except that I wound up forgetting to do it for a couple weeks and, as the weeks piled up, I decided it would take too long for me to go through it all, but, on Sunday, I managed to pull it off. What inspired this turn of events? Well, I found this … [Read more...] about Britain’s Least Wanted XVI: The Grand Return!
Attraction Review: Our Journey to Chatsworth House and Gardens – Is It Worth a Visit? Yes.
Every Anglophile has a list of places they want to see at least once in their lives. My list is longer than I’d like to admit but that’s what comes with the territory of loving England so much. But one of the things at the top of my list is Chatsworth and this past spring we finally had the opportunity to visit it. In fact, we went out of our way to see it and it was very much … [Read more...] about Attraction Review: Our Journey to Chatsworth House and Gardens – Is It Worth a Visit? Yes.
Great British Houses: Kedleston Hall – The Temple of the Arts in Derbyshire
The partnership of the wealthy and esteemed 5th Baronet Sir Nathanial Curzon and innovative architect, Robert Adam, was always going to result in something spectacular. In 1758, on the occasion of his inheritance, Curzon set out to build an elegant house in the height of fashion, sparing no expense. Robert Adam made his dreams come true, creating in Kedleston Hall a … [Read more...] about Great British Houses: Kedleston Hall – The Temple of the Arts in Derbyshire
All For a Weird Cause: Brits doing weird things for charity
Sometimes, people do things that can only be called bizarre just to raise awareness for a cause that may only be tangentially related to their actions. Case in point: The Ice Bucket Challenge. What exactly does throwing ice water over your head have to do with Lou Gehrig's Disease? Well, nothing, really. But, for whatever reason, it looks like there's been a rise in stunts like … [Read more...] about All For a Weird Cause: Brits doing weird things for charity
Great British Houses: Bolsover Castle – A Stunning Castle in Derbyshire That Played a Key Role in the English Civil War
Part 12th century medieval palace ruins and part 17th century Elizabethan renaissance mansion, Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire is a unique and internationally important structure. Once home to Cavalier playboy Sir William Cavendish who entertained King Charles I within its walls, Bolsover Castle has an intriguing past and earned its place in history with its role during the … [Read more...] about Great British Houses: Bolsover Castle – A Stunning Castle in Derbyshire That Played a Key Role in the English Civil War
Paranormal Britain 2014: More spooky goings-on in the UK
Unfortunately, for whatever reason, there aren't that many spooky Halloween-themed strange news items this year, so forgive me if I include a few old news pieces. A Tale of Two Aliens Is there life on other planets? That question has a lot of varied answers depending on just what you mean by that. If you mean "is there some living thing that lives somewhere other than Earth … [Read more...] about Paranormal Britain 2014: More spooky goings-on in the UK
Great British Houses: Hardwick Hall – Everything You Need to Know about this Elizabethan Marvel
There are many grand and architecturally significant houses in England. However, there is one in particular that stands out from the rest. Hardwick Hall, which is located in Derbyshire, is the former home of Elizabeth Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick. It was built between 1590 and 1597 and designed by architect Robert Smythson. Key Facts about Hardwick … [Read more...] about Great British Houses: Hardwick Hall – Everything You Need to Know about this Elizabethan Marvel
Great British Houses – Everything You Need to Know about Chatsworth House in Derbyshire
The are many grand and remarkable houses in England that have been a part of British history for years. They are a must-see in any tourist itinerary or for those who wish to get away from the normal bustle of their daily life. Located along the eastern bank of the River Derwent, in Derbyshire, is a beautiful estate known as Chatsworth House. Key Facts about Chatsworth … [Read more...] about Great British Houses – Everything You Need to Know about Chatsworth House in Derbyshire
Photo: A Lovely Photo of Alport Village in the Peak District for Your Desktop Wallpaper
Alport is a small, quiet and attractive Derbyshire and Peak District village. The stone houses with pretty gardens date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The River Lathkill cascades down through the village in a series of weirs and meets the river Bradford coming from Youlgrave. There are no pubs, cafes or shops but from Alport you can walk the 5 miles north … [Read more...] about Photo: A Lovely Photo of Alport Village in the Peak District for Your Desktop Wallpaper
Weird British Food News II: Cadbury Castles and Christmas dinner in a can
Well, I've got several more food articles to cover, so I'll just cover them for now, and, in two weeks, I'll cover some Christmas-related news. And, this time, it won't just be about burgers. Man finds six double-yolk eggs in a row. John Winfield (no relation to Jules) of Breadsall, Derbyshire was making sausage, eggs, and chips for his wife Angela's dinner. When he … [Read more...] about Weird British Food News II: Cadbury Castles and Christmas dinner in a can
Guest Post: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Travel in Britain
Editor's Note: The following is an excellent guest post from the folks at Visit Britain - the British Tourist authority - about some common things that many people may not know about traveling in Britain. It reads a little like publicity material but that's because it's a freely distributed article they've put together that bloggers like us can reuse. That doesn't make it any … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Travel in Britain
Anglophile Travel: Guest Post – Exploring the East Midlands With Beautiful Pictures
Editor's Note: The following is a guest post from Ben Walker who had posted in the forum recently about the area in which he lives and how there is actually plenty to do there. So, we invited him to turn his forum post into a blog post to share it with all of you. Enjoy exploring the East Midlands! Thanks Ben! OK, so the East Midlands might not sound very exotic, but I'm … [Read more...] about Anglophile Travel: Guest Post – Exploring the East Midlands With Beautiful Pictures
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!
