Hay-on-Wye, in southeastern Wales, proudly claims to be the World’s First Book Town, and Richard Booth was its self-proclaimed king.
Category: UK Culture / Language
Churches, Yews, Hobbits, and Devils in the Cotswolds
In England, if you see a church, there is a yew tree close at hand. But in the Cotswolds, there are two yew-sporting churchyards that are quite special…
Alice in Wonderland… and Oxford… and Llandudno
Finding Alice in Wonderland in Oxford and Llandudno, North Wales…
Is Tea the Solution to Your Sticky Situation?
I’ll admit it, I love tea. But can it really solve all my problems…?
Frankenstein in Bath, England
This lovely Georgian city which was Jane Austen’s residence was also home to a darker, scarier giant of literature: Frankenstein’s monster.
Tea, Afternoon Tea, and High Tea: What’s the Difference?
The British love their tea, but what is tea anyway? The word tea might refer to a drink, a light afternoon meal, or a dinner…
King Arthur’s Round Table and the Winchester One
King Arthur’s Round Table is legendary. But maybe it wasn’t Arthur’s idea at all and maybe it wasn’t to show equality either…
Jane Austen: Prescription for a Troubled Soul
Could reading Jane Austen calm a troubled soul? Maybe. After World War I, her books were prescribed for solders suffering from PTSD…
Glastonbury Myths and Legends: Holy Grail, Thorn Tree, and More
Glastonbury’s story is a mixture of history, myth, and legend. Mixed all together, they make a rousing tale about the Holy Grail, the Holy Thorn, and more…
King Arthur was Buried in Glastonbury
Was King Arthur real? Modern historians dismiss him as a myth, but in 1191 monks at Glastonbury Abbey seemed to prove otherwise when they found his tomb.
Bowlers, City Gents, and Stereotypes: History of the Bowler Hat
The bowler was a gamekeeper’s hat that moved into all social classes. Later, it became the trademark of the City Gent and part of the British stereotype.
St. George: England's Dragon-Slaying Patron Saint
St. George, England’s patron saint, is represented as an English knight who kills a dragon. But was George really British, and did he really fight dragons?
Bunny With a Bag Inspires Lewis Carroll
An unusual carved rabbit in northern England might be the inspiration for the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, but he also has his own story.
British Crop Circles: Their Mystery and History
Crop circles have fascinated us for years. While some people are convinced they are supernaturally constructed, others claim they are all manmade hoaxes…
Bladud: Legendary Founder of Bath, England Was the First King to Spread his Wings and Fly
King Bladud, the 9th King of the Britons, is known for two very different things: First, he (and his pigs) discovered the healing powers of
Looking for Fairies Among the Bluebells
Bluebells have a long association with fairies…
Dickens and His Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens might just be the best known Christmas story out there. Find out the story behind the story…
Hats and Horse Races: Royal Ascot
When you’re in the train station and see lots of women wearing fancy hats and men in top hats and tails, it can mean only one thing: It’s time for the Royal Ascot horse races…
7 Royal Wedding Traditions
In case you haven’t yet had your fill of wedding news, here are seven curious royal wedding traditions that you might not know about…
From Tomb to Telephone Box, This British Icon Adapts
How a tomb inspired a British icon – and how it must adapt to remain relevant.
Mayday! Mayday! Help, it’s May Day.
What does the month of May have to do with the call of distress? Nothing really, it’s just an example of how words slip from one language into another. The distress call actually came from the French phrase, “m’aidez”…
More Mixed-up English
The English Language, still causing confusion After the last post, I received some funny stories, some from the British point of view, so I thought
Divided by a Common Language
When we moved to England from America, I didn’t expect any problems with the language. After all, English is my mother tongue…