Icons

Westminster Abbey – British Icon

Written on March 12, 2010 by

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 →

England, Icons, London, Travel1 Comment

British Icons – Robert Burns

Written on January 24, 2010 by

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 →

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London’s Underground – Today in History

Written on January 10, 2010 by

The world’s oldest metro system, The London Underground, opened on this day in 1863. One hundred and forty-seven years later, The Tube is one of London’s most well known icons and the Tube map is recognized all over the world. The Underground even Continue Reading →

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British Icons: Irn-Bru

Written on December 31, 2009 by

A soft drink as an icon? Absolutely. We know that tea is the national drink of Britain, followed closely by a friendly pint, but Irn-Bru is a popular drink in Scotland and the third best selling soda in the U.K. In fact, it’s so popular in Scotland, it gives Continue Reading →

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British Icons: The Falkirk Wheel

Written on November 20, 2009 by

When the Millennium Commission decided to restore the long abandoned canals of central Scotland, they faced a dilemma. The Forth Clyde Canal and the Union Canal have a difference in height of about 24 meters(79 ft) and a lock was needed to link the canals. The Continue Reading →

Icons, Scotland, TravelComment

British Icons – Devonshire Cream Tea

Written on November 9, 2009 by

The following is a guest post from Gavin Sheppard who is sharing with us his expertise on the Devonshire Cream Tea. Welcome Gavin! The history associated with these most delicious and World Famous of Afternoon Teas is both long and interesting. It wasn’t until Continue Reading →

Food & Drink, Icons, Tea, Traditional British RecipesComment

Punch & Judy – British Icons

Written on October 16, 2009 by

Punch & Judy Originally uploaded by alexbrn If you’re an American older than thirty five, you might remember “Kukla, Fran and Ollie”. It was an American TV show featuring puppets and it was entirely ad-libbed. Initially targeted toward children, Continue Reading →

Icons, TraditionsComment

British Icons: Happy Birthday, Big Ben!

Written on May 31, 2009 by

Big Ben is probably Britain’s most recognizable icon and today celebrates its 150th birthday. It is the world’s largest four-faced chiming clock which began ticking on 31 May, 1859. The clock tower stands at the north-eastern end of Westminster Palace Continue Reading →

England, Icons, London, TravelComment

British Icons: The Archers and the Shipping Forecast

Written on March 6, 2009 by

It made sense to lump these two icons together since they are both heard on BBC Radio 4 and truth be told, I couldn’t settle for blogging about one and not the other. Each icon has a distinctive place in British culture and is the subject of a great deal Continue Reading →

Culture, Icons, Traditions1 Comment

British Icon: The English Bulldog

Written on January 15, 2009 by

Britain is a nation of dog lovers so it’s not surprising that one might be chosen as a national icon. The English Bulldog symbolizes what it means to be British: strong, tenacious and unshakably loyal. But the breed standard has recently come under threat Continue Reading →

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