UK

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke Of Edinburgh on their coronation day.

A Rundown on English and British Royal Eras

Since 1485 English (and later British) cultural periods have been named after the monarch or group of monarchs who occupied the throne.

An 1858 cartoon shows Death rowing down the polluted River Thames.

How London's Great Stink Turned the Tide of Victorian Pollution

In 1858, Londoners were overwhelmed with the stench rising from the River Thames. Joseph Bazalgette built an entire sewer system to get rid of of the smell.

Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's Most Successful—And Least Known—Wife

Anne of Cleves escaped a joyless family, avoided an unhappy marriage, and jumped at the chance to live her best life.

Albert Victor and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck.

10 Royal Heirs Who Died Before They Reigned

These are some of the least fortunate royal heirs in English history—those who waited in vain and died before they could ever reign.

The Panagyurishte Treasure's gold phiale is on display in a Bulgarian museum.

11 of the Most Dazzling Hoards Ever Discovered

Stuffed with gold, silver, and precious jewels, these fabulous hoards were buried by people who forgot to retrieve them.

The Real Reason Kate Middleton Isn’t Known as “Princess Catherine”

When Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot, she didn’t become “Princess Kate.” Here’s why not.

Mr M Evison, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

Britain's Smallest House Has 16 Square Feet of Floor Space

Taking a peek inside the smallest house in Great Britain may make you feel better about your current living situation.

Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, and Rik Mayall perform the Band Aid's "Do They Know it's Christmas?" in London.

Christmas Number One: Behind the Battle To Have the UK's Top Song On Christmas Day

If you’ve ever seen 'Love Actually,' you know that for a musician, being at the top of the UK charts on Christmas Day is a coveted place to be.

15 Great Gifts for the British History Buff On Your List

Whether they're homesick for Old Blighty or just fans of 'Bridgerton,' the British history buffs on your list will appreciate these thoughtful gifts.

Queen Victoria visits the HMS Resolute, a British naval ship used for Arctic exploration, in December 1856.

When Exactly Was the Victorian Era?

The Victorian era brought changes that reached far beyond England’s borders. In fact, England’s borders also reached far beyond what we now know as England’s borders.

Snap-dragon was just one unusual Victorian Christmas tradition.

11 Odd Victorian Christmas Traditions

Many Victorian Christmas traditions inspired our holiday rituals today. But some odd ones, like playing snap-dragon and other dangerous parlor games, are no longer common.

The Singing Ringing Tree in England plays a haunting melody.

The Singing Ringing Tree, a Steel Sound Sculpture in the English Countryside, Is Straight Out of a Horror Movie

The 10-foot-tall sculpture in England is an aerolian harp, playing haunting music as the wind blows through it.

8 Cool Bookstores and Libraries You Can Spend the Night In

Paris’s Shakespeare and Company has hosted some 30,000 “Tumbleweeds” passing through town. Want to be the next one?

David Clark, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

Don’t Smell the Flowers: How Alnwick Castle’s Poison Garden Finds Beauty in the World’s Deadliest Plants

Smelling or touching the plants in the Poison Garden at the UK's Alnwick Castle could send you to the hospital.

The Tay Bridge Disaster: William McGonagall and the Worst Poem Ever Written

Is William McGonagall the best poet ever? Absolutely not. Is he the best bad poet ever? Quite possibly yes.

Napoleon Sarony, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

9 Fascinating Facts About Oscar Wilde

'My own business bores me to death; I prefer other people's,' Oscar Wilde once said. Read on for more about this master wit, poet, and playwright.

10 Facts About King Arthur, the Legendary Ruler of Camelot

The legend of King Arthur has continued to evolve across generations. Though there’s little evidence to suggest the man existed, the world is still enthralled by the myth and the world of Camelot.

August in Edinburgh can only mean one thing.

8 Facts About the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

For three weeks each August, Edinburgh buzzes with activity as people pour into the Scottish capital for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Castle Combe, where time evidently stopped about 400 years ago.

The 20 Most Idyllic Towns and Villages in the UK

The best vacation spots aren’t always the biggest. Here are the most idyllic small towns and villages the United Kingdom has to offer.

American kids are starting to speak like a certain posh pig.

American Kids Are Talking Like Brits Again Because of Peppa Pig and the Pandemic

During the pandemic, some parents in the U.S. have reported that their children have picked up a British accent and vocabulary from the cartoon 'Peppa Pig.'

An aerial view of the river Thames at sunset.

11 Facts About the River Thames

The river Thames snakes its way through the center of London, continuing to waylay whales, inspire artists, sink ships, and occasionally flood areas of the British capital

Frederick James Havell's painting, "The Double Lock and East Entrance to the Islington Tunnel, Regent's Canal" (1827), shows two horse-drawn canal boats passing through the lock, approaching the tunnel. Construction of the Regent's Canal began in 1812.

Blasts on the Barges: The Dangerous Lives of England’s Early Canal Workers

England's canal system powered the Industrial Revolution and Victorian prosperity—but it had a dangerous side.

Threads (1984) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

'Threads'—the 1984 Made-for-TV Movie That Shook BBC Viewers to Their Core

The 1984 made-for-television movie 'Threads' depicted a post-nuclear wasteland that forced some viewers to look away from the screen.

Princess Diana's wedding attire captivated both England and the world.

Royal Event: Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress to Go On Display at Kensington Palace

Princess Diana's famous royal wedding dress—with its 25-foot train and 10,000 pearls—isn't often seen by the public, but a new exhibition at Kensington Palace promises to change that.

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