British Culture: London Landmarks & York’s Rich History
Why ‘Britain’?
It’s called Britain for a reason: it includes the Scots and the Welsh as well.
British Pub Culture
Most pubs in Britain close relatively early, often around 11:00 PM. In contrast, some bars in Spain don’t even open until 11:00 PM. Perhaps this contributes to the perception that British people drink quickly!
The British Tearoom Tradition
A typical British tearoom might be full of people sitting at tables, drinking tea, and talking quietly. Common accompaniments include small cucumber sandwiches, cake, and scones.
What are Scones?
Scones are a type of slightly sweet bread, traditionally served with jam and clotted cream, though other toppings can be used.
London Landmarks and Traditions
New Year’s Eve at Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is the traditional heart of New Year’s Eve celebrations in London. It’s an enormous area located quite near Big Ben, the world’s most famous clock. On New Year’s Eve, it can host more than 20,000 people.
London’s World-Class Theatre Scene
One of London’s greatest traditions is its theatre production, considered among the best globally. The West End, London’s famous theatre district, boasts 52 theatres.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre: History
The original Globe Theatre, where most of Shakespeare’s plays premiered, was built in 1599. Unfortunately, it burned down in the mid-17th century and was destroyed again 30 years later. The modern reconstruction, Shakespeare’s Globe, was completed relatively recently – about 300 years after the original’s demise!
The Modern Globe Experience
The reconstructed Globe retains the iconic O-shape. Plays are typically performed only during the warmer months (May to mid-September) because the central area (the ‘pit’) is open to the sky. If it rains, audience members standing there get wet!
The theatre accommodates 1,000 seated patrons, with space for another 500 standing in the central pit. These standing audience members are known as groundlings.
Globe Theatre: Then and Now
- Casting: Today, women play female roles. In Shakespeare’s time, women weren’t allowed to be actresses, so female roles were performed by teenage boys.
- Audience Behaviour: A significant difference between Shakespeare’s time and now lies in audience conduct. Back then, groundlings often ate, drank, and talked throughout the performance. If displeased with an actor, they might shout or even throw food!
London’s Diverse Culture and Cuisine
The Popularity of Indian Food
Perhaps surprisingly to some, Indian food is considered a staple and hugely popular part of modern British cuisine.
Exploring London’s Chinatown
Located right in the heart of the theatre district, London’s Chinatown offers a vibrant cultural shift just by crossing a street. It features numerous excellent Chinese restaurants and many Asian supermarkets.
Notting Hill Carnival: A Caribbean Celebration
London hosts a vibrant Caribbean carnival, one of the largest street festivals in Europe. This huge annual event takes place over the last weekend in August in the Notting Hill area.
Notting Hill has a significant West Indian population, and thousands flock to the carnival each year to enjoy West Indian food and dance to infectious Caribbean music.
Discovering Historic York
York: A Microcosm of English History
King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth II, famously stated that “the history of York is the history of England.” This reflects the city’s rich past, having been occupied by the Romans, the Saxons, and the Normans.
Viking History at Coppergate
The Jorvik Viking Centre, located in the Coppergate area, recreates Viking-age York. Visitors experience reconstructed old streets and scenes featuring models, complete with a soundtrack of ambient sounds like shouting, laughing, and talking, bringing the era to life. (Note: The original text seems to describe the Jorvik Centre experience rather than the market itself).
The Majestic York Minster
York Minster stands as the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and is truly impressive. Its construction spanned over 250 years, completed around 1480. The cathedral is renowned for its stunning stained glass windows, with the Great East Window being particularly famous.
York’s Walled City Centre
The city centre of York is relatively compact and notably still enclosed by well-preserved medieval walls, similar in concept to cities like Ávila in Spain.
Ghostly Tales at York Castle Museum
At the York Castle Museum, housed in former prison buildings, guides sometimes share spooky tales. It’s said that at night, one might hear the ghostly sounds of former prisoners crying or dragging chains across the stone floors.