UK

A Rare, Unaltered Print of ‘Star Wars’ From 1977 Is Coming to the Big Screen

The BFI is showing the 1977 space opera—which has undergone countless post-release changes—‘exactly as experienced’ on opening day.

The UK is stricter about its bottled water than the U.S., as it were.

Why Can’t You Buy Dasani Bottled Water in the UK?

Dasani bottled water was poised to take the UK market by storm, but shortly after it was released in 2004, Coca-Cola yanked it off shelves. Discover the real reasons why here.

A child witnessing the will-o’-the-wisps.

10 Captivating Creatures From Celtic Mythology

Although there are a few distinctive beasts that are place-specific, many ghosts, fairies, and goblins pop up in similar forms across the various Celtic mythologies.

Scotland Has “No Intention” of Banning Cats, First Minister Confirms

The Scottish government won’t be rounding up people’s pets any time soon.

Gibellula pulchra is in the same genus as Gibellula attenboroughii.

Scientists Identify Fungus Turning Spiders Into “Zombies” in Northern Ireland

Researchers discovered a parasitic fungus that controls spiders‘ behavior, akin to the zombie ant fungus.

Newly metamorphosed Darwin’s froglet at London Zoo.

London Zoo Welcomes 33 Endangered Froglets That Emerged From Their Fathers’ Mouths

The Southern Darwin’s frog is unique in the amphibian world, and conservationists are racing to save it from extinction.

The UK and the U.S. have their own go-to slang for the office setting.

The Top 5 Office Slang Terms From the UK and U.S.

“Circle back,” “dodgy,” and “bandwidth” are popular slang terms.

A tugboat on the Thames near Tower Bridge in heavy smog, 1952.

The Great Smog Descended on London More Than 70 Years Ago—And its Cause Took Almost As Long to Discover

Heavy fogs have long been a part of life in London. But the darkness that enveloped the city on December 5, 1952 wasn’t your typical pea-souper.

Scotland knows how to ring in the New Year.

9 Festive Facts about Hogmanay, Scotland’s New Year’s Celebration

Celebrating the New Year is a big deal in Scotland.

America’s Most Popular International Travel Destinations in 2024, Mapped

Some of the destinations might surprise you.

Pubs Fear Guinness Shortage as the Beer Skyrockets in Popularity

Some pubs are rationing the Irish stout ahead of the holidays.

10 UK Christmas Traditions That Confuse Americans

When you’ve been celebrating a holiday one way your entire life, it’s easy to assume that’s the way it’s celebrated everywhere—but things are a bit different across the pond.

The Lord of Misrule overlooking Christmas revelry.

10 Old Christmas Traditions We Don't See Anymore

These lost festive traditions are no longer part of modern Christmas celebrations.

10 Surprising Facts About Wham!’s “Last Christmas”

Over the course of his illustrious career, George Michael gave the world many gifts. One that keeps on giving is “Last Christmas,” the 1984 holiday classic by Wham!, Michael's pop duo with Andrew Ridgeley.

The Tower of London as seen from the River Thames.

7 Formidable Facts About the Tower of London

The Tower of London inspires awe, fear, and intrigue. Here are seven facts you may not know about the iconic British fortress.

Where the World Wants to Travel for Christmas This Year, Mapped

The analysis used data from search and social media posts to determine where people around the world wanted to go for Christmas—and dug deeper to provide American data state by state.

All of these Dubliners are judging your accent.

People in the Northern UK and Ireland Can Flag Your Fake Accent

A new study finds that residents of Dublin, Belfast, and Glasgow were better at detecting fake accents than their counterparts in southern areas of England—possibly as a result of long-ago conflicts.

Just your average stroll with a baby carriage and knight's helmet.

Iron Man: The Weird Wager of Harry Bensley, Who Walked 2400 Miles in a Helmet

In 1908, a playboy made a bet he could walk around the world without being identified. Then things got weird.

A detail of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I painted to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada (depicted in the background).

15 Amazing Facts About Queen Elizabeth I

She spoke multiple languages, defeated Spain’s powerful navy, and never accepted a marriage proposal. Discover more fascinating facts about Queen Elizabeth I and her reign.

Paddington at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Paddington' (2014).

Paddington Just Got His Passport

‘Paddington in Peru’ required a prop passport, but Paddington Bear ended up with a real one.

The UK has more than its share of haunted homes.

28 Historic British Haunted Houses You Can Visit

From grand castles to more humble country manors, the UK’s centuries-old homes have seen plenty of occupants move in over the years. And some never moved out.

The Global Origins of Town Names in Every U.S. State (With Maps!)

There are lots of UK place names—and plenty of surprises in store.

Assault, Robbery, and Murder: The Dark History of “Bedsheet Ghosts”

Pretending to be a ghost was a popular pastime in 19th century England. But in London's neighborhood of Hammersmith, it could also get you killed.

George Joseph Smith was very unlucky in marriage.

The ‘Brides in the Bath’ Murders That Shocked Edwardian London

George Joseph Smith was widower three times over. His wives had a nasty habit of drowning in the bathtub.