As I write this, on the rare occasions I get out of the house, while driving, my Dad and I are listening to a big boxed set (technically, two JSP boxed sets) of recordings by Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. He was discovered in Louisiana's Angola State Penitentiary by John and Alan Lomax while scouting for some interesting folk music. They found a man with a 12-string guitar, a … [Read more...] about Criminal Records: the record label based out of a prison
Scotland
Top 10 UK: Top Ten Things to Do in the Shetland Islands
Known for more than just a crime drama series, Shetland (also referred to as the Shetland Islands) is an archipelago north of mainland Scotland. Modern settlement of the islands began around the 8th Century due to Viking expansion, and eventually, the islands were absorbed into the Kingdom of Scotland. Today the islands are known for their beauty, textiles, and a breed of … [Read more...] about Top 10 UK: Top Ten Things to Do in the Shetland Islands
Top 10 Britain: Top Ten Things to Do in Perth, Scotland
No no, not Australia, the one in Scotland. Just north of Edinburgh and sitting on the banks of the River Tay, Perth was once known as St. John’s Toun or Johnstoun before the name “Perth Shire” for the area saw more common usage and the “shire” part of the name was dropped. After Sir Walter Scott wrote a story called “Fair Maid of Perth”, this bustling metropolis earned the … [Read more...] about Top 10 Britain: Top Ten Things to Do in Perth, Scotland
10 Interesting Facts and Figures About the Castle of Mey – The Queen Mother’s Scottish Castle
On our drive from Land's End to John O'Groats last year, one of our final stops was Castle of Mey in Caithness (in fact it's what we did after going to John O'Groats). Castle of Mey was the Queen Mother's private Scottish castle, which she bought after the death of her husband King George VI. The castle is not a grand home, it’s compact but classy and it’s a very intimate … [Read more...] about 10 Interesting Facts and Figures About the Castle of Mey – The Queen Mother’s Scottish Castle
Top 10 Britain: Top Ten Things to Do in Aberdeen, Scotland
Often overlooked in favor of Edinburgh or Glasgow, Aberdeen is Scotland’s third-most populous city with about 196,000 people. What’s more, people have called Aberdeen home for over 8,000 years and the city was given its first charter in 1179 AD by the Scottish King William I. Since that time, the city has experienced war, industry, depression, and resurgence. Today, Aberdeen … [Read more...] about Top 10 Britain: Top Ten Things to Do in Aberdeen, Scotland
Top 10 Britain: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Inverness, Scotland
Known as “The Mouth of the River Ness”, the City of Inverness Scotland is a lovely place to visit not just for its connection to the river, but for the many things to do in the area. Ancient castles, epic battlefields, mysterious creatures, and great shopping are only some of what you can experience while visiting Inverness. While you may need to venture out to find some of … [Read more...] about Top 10 Britain: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Inverness, Scotland
What’s On Around Britain in April 2019 – Easter Celebrations, St George’s Day, Queen’s Birthday, Flower and Garden Shows and More!
I hope you enjoyed the March 2019 recommendations as I've got plenty more ideas for April. There's so much to see and do, we hope you can incorporate some of these into your upcoming trips (or plan for next year)! This month moves us properly into spring so nature is bringing us more colourful flowers and those well known 'April showers' will keep them well watered. Easter … [Read more...] about What’s On Around Britain in April 2019 – Easter Celebrations, St George’s Day, Queen’s Birthday, Flower and Garden Shows and More!
Anglophile Life: A Lament for Ackergill Castle, Fanny’s Your Aunt, Best Place to Live, The Abuse of the Duchesses, What I read and Watched
In this week's column, I write about the sad news that Ackergill Tower is now closed to paying guests, an amusing transatlantic British slang snafu, the abuse the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex are getting on social media plus what I read and watched this past week. This is now the fifth edition of Anglophile Life, have you enjoyed it so far? Please leave a comment if you … [Read more...] about Anglophile Life: A Lament for Ackergill Castle, Fanny’s Your Aunt, Best Place to Live, The Abuse of the Duchesses, What I read and Watched
Great British Buildings – The Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh
Counting among Queen Elizabeth II’s many royal residences, the Palace of Holyrood House (also called Holyrood Palace) is the monarch’s home when she visits Edinburgh. Of course, long before it was the home of a British monarch, it was the palace of the kings and queens of Scotland going back to the 16th Century. What’s more, located at the other end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile … [Read more...] about Great British Buildings – The Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh
Top Ten Britain: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Glasgow
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, so you can believe that it has plenty to offer. The city has had an interesting history as it has been settled by ancient peoples, Romans, Celts, and more. Glasgow has been a major shipping port, shipbuilding center, and industrial hub for Scotland, and today it celebrates that history while finding new ways to distinguish itself in the … [Read more...] about Top Ten Britain: Top 10 Things to See and Do in Glasgow
Guest Post: Top Ten Tips for a Driving Tour in the Scottish Highlands, by adeo Travel
Written by Darryl Walters, Product Manager at adeo Travel, Britain. I recently attended an annual travel conference in Glasgow, Scotland; the contracting, logistics and financials of the travel industry aren’t incredibly glamourous but one of the great advantages of working in travel is that when we do attend such events, it makes sense to take the opportunity to get out and … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Top Ten Tips for a Driving Tour in the Scottish Highlands, by adeo Travel
One Anglophile’s Take on T2: Trainspotting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsozpEE543w Well, this took a lot longer than expected, didn't it? This requires some explanation. And if it doesn't, it'll at least feel good to vent about the whole situation. You see, when I wrote my original Trainspotting review, I wrote it knowing that the sequel had already been released in England (and, indeed, was winding down its … [Read more...] about One Anglophile’s Take on T2: Trainspotting
Ten Interesting Facts about Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia
In service to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II from 1953 until 1997, HMY Britannia was the royal yacht and the second to bear the name. Since it’s retirement from service, it has been moored at Ocean Terminal, Leith, in Edinburgh where it is a major tourist attraction for the Scottish city. It’s forty-four-year service time and nearly twenty years as a living exhibit have … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia
Telly Travels: Ten Places to Visit from Hit Show Outlander
Based on the novel series by Diana Galdabon, the Starz programme from Ronald D. Moore finds 1945 nurse Claire Randall transported back to 1743 Scotland during the Jacobite Uprisings. Claire falls in love with a Highlander named Jamie Frasier and attempts to prevent the rebellion. As one might imagine, a heavy amount of the show takes places in Scotland and is full of … [Read more...] about Telly Travels: Ten Places to Visit from Hit Show Outlander
Lost in the Pond: 11 American States that Are Larger than the UK
Your favourite British host, Laurence Brown, reveals 11 American states that are bigger than England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland combined. But which ones made the list? … [Read more...] about Lost in the Pond: 11 American States that Are Larger than the UK
The Travel Fiver: Five Things to Do in Glasgow Scotland
Settlements in Glasgow date back to before Roman times and over the centuries, the City of Glasgow has cemented itself as a powerhouse for industry and trade. As such, the Great Depression hit the city worse than other parts of Britain, but Glasgow ultimately recovered and currently possesses the largest economy in Scotland. Today, Glasgow is a city of culture, due in part to … [Read more...] about The Travel Fiver: Five Things to Do in Glasgow Scotland
The hunt for the Scottish Barry Manilow
When Steven Worbey got into an Edinburgh cab one January night, he expected the basics of the British Cabbie experience, a middle-aged man with an encyclopedic knowledge of the geography of the city and likely some very abrasive views on modern culture. But something happened that he didn't expect: he started singing a Barry Manilow song, and very well at that. When he heard … [Read more...] about The hunt for the Scottish Barry Manilow
Great British Buildings – Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
Long the symbol of power for the Kings and Queens of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle sits at the highest point of the city, a position that, at its construction was both a great defensive position and forcing others to look up to the crown. The reason for the castle’s high position is that Castle Rock is the plug of a long-extinct volcano that hasn’t been active for over 340 … [Read more...] about Great British Buildings – Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
The Caledonia Fiver: Top Five Romantic Ruins in Scotland To Visit On Your Next Trip
No matter where you go in Britain, you can find testaments to Britain’s past. In Scotland, ancient churches and castles, long-abandoned, provide a romantic backdrop for tourists and residents alike. From the courts of the Scottish kings to the cloisters once inhabited by monks, there are plenty of fantastic ruins to visit in Scotland whether you’re traveling with a new love … [Read more...] about The Caledonia Fiver: Top Five Romantic Ruins in Scotland To Visit On Your Next Trip
Paranormal Britain 2015: Ghosts, Haunted Houses, Monster Clowns and Death Cafes
As I write this column, All Hallows' Eve is approaching. And, since a recent poll has shown that 68% of Britons claim to have personally experienced the supernatural, it only stands to reason that there are some interesting stories that have come in just in time for this year's Halloween. Clown Girl stalks Kent's schoolchildren. As those of us who remember the days when I … [Read more...] about Paranormal Britain 2015: Ghosts, Haunted Houses, Monster Clowns and Death Cafes
Great British Houses: Abbotsford – The Ancestral Home of Sir Walter Scott
The ancestral home of Scotland’s most famous literary son, Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford is a popular tourist attraction in the Scottish borders. Abbotsford grew from humble beginnings into a grand, romantic mansion, an icon of 19th century Scottish Baronial architecture. Once Sir Walter Scott’s most cherished possession, his ‘conundrum castle’, Abbotsford is now a museum and … [Read more...] about Great British Houses: Abbotsford – The Ancestral Home of Sir Walter Scott
Weird Britain: When Gulls Attack!
I just got back from a two week vacation in Door County, Wisconsin, a little part of the Midwest that's largely surrounded by water. For most of the two weeks, I was much less than a mile away from the water, whether it was Lake Michigan or Green Bay. I saw quite a few seagulls near the shore, but didn't get hassled by any of them. Honestly, I wouldn't think that this would … [Read more...] about Weird Britain: When Gulls Attack!
The Caledonia Fiver – Five of Scotland’s Most Interesting Pubs
Ah, for the love of a good pub. Whether it’s old wood, copper, brick, stone, or any other interior look, it’s great to be able to sit down at the bar, at a table, or in a booth and sip on a nice, cold pint. Britain certainly has some of the best pubs in the entire world, and as a part of that, Scotland possesses its fair share of great drinking establishments. While these five … [Read more...] about The Caledonia Fiver – Five of Scotland’s Most Interesting Pubs
Weird Englishmen Abroad: Strange occurrences that happened on holiday
As I write this, I'm on my annual fortnight in Door County, Wisconsin. In commemoration of this, I've decided to cover a bunch of stories about what some other Brits did or happened to them while on their holidays. Woman goes halfway around the world for school reunion; school demolished before she gets there. Marie Burdett from Strood, Kent, saw an invitation from developers … [Read more...] about Weird Englishmen Abroad: Strange occurrences that happened on holiday
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Edinburgh Castle
Dominating the Edinburgh skyline, Edinburgh Castle is not only an icon of the city, but of Scotland itself. An ancient fortress sitting on a hill, Roman records describe a settlement on Castle Rock as early as the 2nd Century and the first castle there is attributed to King Ebraucus as early as 989 B.C. The Castle as it is now was begun in the 11th Century and its … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures about Edinburgh Castle
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!
