Icons

British Photo of the Week: Highland Cattle

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!There’s a joke in our house that when we win the lottery (notice I said ‘when’), we are taking our millions and moving to Scotland to raise sheep. (Actually, we Continue Reading →

Britain’s Blue Badge Guides turns 60.

The UK’s Blue Badge tourist guides are professional guides who work in every part of the United Kingdom. The Guild was founded 60 years ago to provide a quality alternative to what the press at the time called ‘the spivs and touts’ who were targeting visitors Continue Reading →

Who was John Constable?

I get a lot of enjoyment from interacting with my readers on Smitten by Britain’s Facebook page. If you haven’t joined yet, be sure to check it out. One of the things I like to do is post bits of trivia from British history and culture. I love trivia. This Continue Reading →

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

Last week a new museum celebrating the life of Scotland’s poet laureate, Robert Burns, opened in Alloway, his birthplace. Enjoy this video tour of the museum. View a photo slide show of Rabbie’s new Birthplace Museum by clicking here or clicking Continue Reading →

Burns Night – Scots Wha Hae

It’s January 25th which means tonight is Burns Night and the Burns Supper, an iconic Scottish tradition. Robert Burns, Scotland’s favorite son, was born two hundred and fifty one years ago and his work continues to stand the test of time. Interested Continue Reading →

What England’s REALLY Like

Last week I posted a feature by Alan Titchmarsh called “England Would Not Be England Without.” I received a lot of great comments both pro and con, along with some suggested additions to the list. One person in particular, Tim Gillett,  founder of Continue Reading →

England Would Not Be England Without

England Would Not Be England Without the Queen allotments picnics bell-ringers cucumber sandwiches (no crusts) daisies in the lawn Miss Marple Morris dancers queuing Jane Austen the National Trust Thomas Rowlandson cream teas grass tennis courts scouting wet bank Continue Reading →

British Icons: New Routemaster Revealed

This has proven to be a timely post. I had planned on writing about my favorite British icon today, the Routemaster, and then I opened the internet and saw that Boris Johnson has introduced a newer, greener model. More on that later, first some history. Many tourists Continue Reading →

Westminster Abbey – British Icon

This image from Wordless Wednesday is of the ceiling of Henry VII’s Lady Chapel located in Westminster Abbey. The abbey was founded in 960. Soak that in for a moment. This building, which still stands in all of its glory and fully functional, is nearly 1000 Continue Reading →

British Icons – Robert Burns

Tomorrow night, January 25th, is Burns Night, when Scotland celebrates the life and works of its poet laureate Robert Burns. Born in 1759, Burns was the son of a poor tenant farmer from Ayreshire. Despite his lack of wealth, William Burnes, Robert’s father, Continue Reading →