The Great British Vacation

This may sound a little cliché, but Great Britain always has a special place in my heart.

It’s not because I’m an Anglophile or a big fan of the Royal family, but more because of my dad and connections to my family. My dad grew up in England, so I was exposed to the history and culture of the land more times than I can count.

I will be going on a trip to England and Scotland in the latter part of March with my older sister. This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been there, as I’ve been to England a few times over the years. The last time, I went to Stratford-Upon-Avon, home to the famous bard, William Shakespeare. I also went to Whitby, whose abbey features in the Bram Stoker classic, Dracula.

This is the first time I’ll be going to England without my dad and the first vacation I’ll be taking with just my sister. While we’re there, we will visit family members, go sightseeing, and have a good time eating the local cuisine.

My sister went full steam ahead on planning this trip (funny to me since she booked a lot of train tickets), which involves making our way from England to Edinburgh, Scotland, and back to England. We have plans to visit York (did you know there was a Viking settlement there?), Oxford (unsurprisingly, I want to visit the University Library), the City of Bath, and The Real Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh.

 

 

 

Fun Literary Facts!

• The City of Bath is home to real Roman Baths. It’s mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales since one of the main characters is from there: the aptly named The Wife of Bath.

• The Real Mary King’s Close has a reputation for being haunted. It has also been mentioned in multiple novels, like City of Ghosts by V.E. Schwab and The Revolving Door of Life by Alexander McCall Smith.

If you ever need some help planning a trip like this, the Mercer County Library System has plenty of guidebooks. I looked at a few to get ideas churning in my head. I like using Lonely Planet guides, like Experience Great Britain, as they have the format I like best, but you can never go wrong with the Pocket Rough Guide Edinburgh or Rick Steves’ Best of England.

Moving onto other business…as we all know, Great Britain is known for meat pies, fish and chips, and hearty pub grub that will warm your bones on a rainy evening. It is that, and more. Trust me, Britain has great food - please don’t believe the jokes and stereotypes. For our trip, I made a reservation at a restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland that specializes in proteins and mashed potatoes (I know, sounds like a stereotype). Additionally, England came up with a “Yorkshire Burrito,” which contains all the components of a traditional Sunday roast wrapped in a Yorkshire pudding (a British turnover).

If you wanted to try British food without leaving home, you can find a sampling of the well-known varieties in Jamie Oliver’s Great Britain. Mr. Oliver’s book has some classic meat dishes, puddings and scones, and a sprinkling of immigrant fusion cuisine. If a plant-based diet is more your thing, try Aimee Ryan’s Great British Vegan. This cookbook offers vegan versions of British staples and classics.

Other MCLS resources you can access with your library card include AtoZ World Food, which gives you recipes, reference articles, and information related to food history and culture. For other cultural insights, take a look at World Geography and Culture Online, which has maps, flags, news articles, and statistics.

For a look at medieval and ancient Britain, you can take a look at Ancient and Medieval History Online, where researchers can investigate history in depth or compare Britain to other civilizations, or Modern World History Online, which covers the 1500s onwards and has videos, maps, charts, and tons of primary sources.

For some cultural experiences that are a bit more fun, try Kanopy! You can get access to plenty of British television and movies with your library card, including loads of BBC originals including Father Brown and Are You Being Served?

I hope you enjoyed this little romp around British culture and history and a simple introduction to my trip. Ta-ta for now!

- Jamie, Robbinsville Branch

Some Very British Recommendations for History Buffs, Anglophiles, Royal Fans, and Literature Nerds

Kings & Queens of Great Britain: Every Question Answered

The Royal Stuarts: A History of the Family that Shaped Britain

Charles III: A King and His Queen

Tudor: Passion, Manipulation, Murder: The Story of England’s Most Notorious Royal Family

The Story of Britain: A History of Great Ages: From Romans to the Present

British Food: An Extraordinary Thousand Years of History

A Feast of Folklore: The Bizarre Stories Behind British Food

Shakespeare: His Life and Works

Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year

Dracula