I Heart Britain

The Brits around here may be a bit mystified by this post, but bear with us because it's a topic that comes up from time to time in emails and our Facebook groups. If you've travelled in the UK or watched a lot of British television, you may have encounte

If you spend much time around Scottish TV and culture, you'll eventually hear of a holiday called Hogmanay. If you're not sure what it is, the short answer is this: It's the Scottish celebration of the last day of the year. Bigger, more ebullient, and a l

How is Halloween different in the UK vs. the US? One of the things many Americans find quite surprising about the UK is the fact that Halloween, as a general rule, isn't as big of a deal as it is in the United States. Before we go any further, I should ma

Anyone who knows much about British country life will know about Wellington boots (aka "wellies") - if not by name, then by sight. They were originally made of leather, with the design inspired by Hessian boots and the name inspired when they were popular

Stonehenge at sunset Whilst planning a 15-day tour of England and Scotland for my parents, one of the highlights of their trip was stone circle access at Stonehenge. Unlike most visitors, they were able to go beyond the ropes and walk around inside the ci

One of my favourite things to do in any city is to track down independent bookshops and buy something at each one. Aside from the fact that it helps keep bookshops open for future readers to enjoy, you can write a few notes inside the cover and have a muc

Clearly, this lady is pleased about her hospital grapes… Anyone who's watched much British TV will have, at some point, seen a person bringing grapes to a friend or loved one in hospital. The first time you see it, it might just seem a bit odd - but when

Editor's Note: This guest post comes to us from David and Debra Rixon, creators and hosts of the Footloose Travel series. Together, they create delightfully lengthy, in-depth European travel videos full of great scenery and invaluable travel tips. You can

If you've watched much British television, you've no doubt seen electric kettles on more than a few countertops. You may have even wondered why people have them. After all, can't you just boil water on the stove or heat it in the microwave? You can, of co

Watch enough British TV, and you'll eventually hear someone talking about Lucozade. If you haven't spent much time in UK hospitals or supermarkets, you might find yourself wondering about the mystery beverage. What is Lucozade? Lucozade is a British soft