UK

A holly sprig is the traditional garnish for a Christmas pudding.

A Brief History of Christmas Pudding, Britain’s Imperial Dessert

Clearing the last of the Christmas dinner plates is a special moment. It means it’s time for the traditional dessert.

T-Glottalization: The Reason Some People Drop Their ‘T’s When Speaking

Dropping that ‘t’ sound is an example of what linguists call glottalization, or replacing a sound with a pause in the vocal cords.

Shrek’s Swamp House in Scotland Is Coming to Airbnb—And It's Free

Shrek's swamp house is in the Scottish Highlands—and you can stay there for free.

Golda Rosheuvel stars as Netflix's 'Queen Charlotte.'

The Real-Life Story Behind Queen Charlotte

Netflix takes several, steamy liberties with the historical record, but there was a real Queen Charlotte—and she was just as complicated as the TV version.

Get Paid $600 to Eat Cake and Watch ‘The Great British Baking Show’

What better way to celebrate a new season of 'The Great British Bake Off' than by sampling 12 classic British baked goods for cash?

Aldi Is Hiring a Professional Beer Taster

Aldi’s official UK beer taster will get to sample drinks for the grocery chain that will be sent directly to their home.

The Reason So Many British Pubs Are Named ‘The Red Lion’

There are more than 500 pubs in the United Kingdom called The Red Lion. It all traces back to King James VI and I.

10 Operatic Facts About Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Nearly a half-century after its release, Queen’s classic “mock opera”—a favorite of Wayne and Garth’s—is still regularly cited as one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

Contestants chasing cheese down Cooper’s Hill during 2022's Cheese-Rolling contest.

Canadian Woman Wins First Prize in Cheese-Rolling Race After Knocking Herself Unconscious

Nineteen-year-old Delaney Irving was unconscious when she crossed the finish line of Gloucester's 2023 cheese-rolling contest.

10 Facts About King James VI and I

James VI and I was the first monarch to rule both Scotland and England. He also spearheaded the Scottish witch trials.

Her reign was short, but her legacy is long.

The Lasting Legacy of Elizabeth Stuart, the ‘Winter Queen’ of Bohemia

The daughter of King James VI and I was Electress Palatine of the Rhine and Queen of Bohemia, and through her grandson, the founder of a new British ruling dynasty.

"Careless Whisper": How George Michael's "Flippantly" Written Song Became a Career-Defining Hit That Still Endures

Although “Careless Whisper” just might be George Michael's most enduring hit, the singer (who also wrote it) wasn’t a huge fan of the song.

8 Ways Queen Victoria’s Coronation Was a Flop

Queen Victoria’s 1838 coronation featured a very small ring and a very big fall.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on the day of her coronation, Buckingham Palace, 1953

Watch Queen Elizabeth II’s History-Making 1953 Coronation

On May 12, 1937, Princess Elizabeth—then just 11 years old—looked on as her father, King George VI, was crowned at Westminster Abbey. Little did she know that just 16 years later, she would be at the center of the exact same ceremony.

The Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair.

7 Facts About the Stone of Scone

The Stone of Scone—also called the Stone of Destiny—may look unassuming, but it’s had a long and colorful history, right up to the present day.

Clockwise from top left: Prince Frederick Louis of Wales, Edward the Black Prince, Edward VII, Edward VIII, George IV.

5 Other Princes of Wales Who Waited a Long Time to Reign

King Charles III spent 70 years as the heir apparent. But some other long-waiting Princes of Wales never even made it to the throne.

King Charles III (then still a prince) at the State Opening of Parliament in May 2022.

Everything We Know About King Charles III’s Coronation So Far

The date of King Charles III’s coronation is set for May 6. But the party doesn’t stop when the day is over.

France's starting lineup with their "mascots" ahead of a match against Poland during the 2022 World Cup.

Why Do Soccer Players Walk Out With Kids?

The pint-sized escorts have been a part of the pregame ceremonies since the mid-1990s.

For Sale: The Hampshire Estate Where Jane Austen Wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and Other Books

The house where Jane Austen grew up is now ritzy enough to suit her wealthier characters.

And so Krypton sent their only son, Kal-El...

Failure to Launch: Why Winston Churchill's ‘Sarcophagus-Like’ Airplane Pod Never Took Off

The UK’s Prime Minister was in poor health but still needed to fly. The solution? Stuff him in a big egg.

7 Surprising Facts about Camilla, Queen Consort

Despite the decades of public attention, there are some aspects of Camilla’s life that have been less well documented.

There's a Good Reason Europeans Think American Chocolate Tastes Like Vomit

There's a scientific explanation for the "vomit" notes some Europeans taste in Hershey's chocolate.

11 Facts About Boudica, Warrior Queen of the Iceni

We take a closer look at the life and demise of the wronged queen who lent her name to a rebellion when she took on the might of—what was at the time—the world’s largest empire.

The Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

8 Facts About The Giant’s Causeway

In Northern Ireland, thousands of hexagonal stone columns of various heights rise out of the North Atlantic Ocean and climb up to the foot of a cliff, as if they had been placed by a massive mythical creature.

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