Exploring England through Words, Screens, and Sounds: Your Ultimate Guide

Welcome to the latest in my Read, Watch, Listen series.
​This instalment is my guide to exploring England! From the picturesque countryside to the bustling cities, England offers an enchanting blend of history, culture, and literary treasures. In this blog post, I will take you on a journey through the pages of captivating books, the screens of must-watch TV shows, and the sounds of engaging podcasts that beautifully portray the essence of England. Whether you're an avid reader, a TV enthusiast, or a podcast lover, get ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of this fascinating country.

Read

"Notes from a Small Island" by Bill Bryson
A travel memoir that offers a humorous and insightful perspective on the quirks and charms of Britain. His keen observations and vivid storytelling make this book a great choice for anyone interested in British culture and travel. Oh, and be prepared to laugh out loud!

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"The Book Lovers Bucket List: A tour of Great British Literature" by Caroline Taggart
Maybe this is a bit of a cop out, instead of choosing 1 or 2 English classics I have opted for a book that instead explores over 100 literary sites and landscapes. Through vivid descriptions  and beautiful colour photographs and illustrations sourced from the British Library collections, you'll be guided around the UK and perhaps inspired to read the source material!

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​"English Journey" by J.B.Priestley
 The subtitle of this book is "Being a Rambling but Truthful Account of What One Man Saw and Heard and Felt and Thought During a Journey Through England During the Autumn of the Year 1933" , which pretty much sums it up!
According to radio and tv presenter Stuart Maconie this is "The finest book ever written about England and the English"; it certainly is well written, insightful and worth a read!

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Watch

​"Gavin and Stacey." TV series
A British sitcom that follows the long-distance relationship of Gavin from Billericay, Essex and Stacey from Barry, Wales. Endearing, hilarious and a British institution.
3 series and 2 Christmas specials of pure gold.

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​ "The Great British Bake off" TV series
The original TV baking competition now in it's 14th series. Yes, there really is no prize for the winner other than a cake stand and the honour! Gentle television with irreverent humour.

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"The Inbetweeners" TV series and 2 movies
A coming of age sitcom that follows a group of middle-class adolescent boys through the trials and tribulations of their Sixth Form years. Not for the prudish! ​

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Honourable Mentions:
All the Harry Potter books and films
Wolf Hall - novel by Hilary Mantel and tv adaptation
A History of Britain - Simon Schama (TV)

Listen

​"The History of England" by David Crowther
An extensive catalogue of podcasts beginning with the end of Roman Britain. For the history lover!

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​"Pod save the UK" hosted by Nish Kumar and Coco Khan.
A weekly dose of political news, big ideas and a shot of inspiration. Each week the hosts are joined by politicians, experts, and famous friends to unpick the latest news, look for solutions, and inspire action. 

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​"Irreplaceable: A history of England in 100 places" produced by Historic Britain
Through ten different categories, they have compiled a list of 100 historic places that have helped to make England the country it is today.
This podcast series explores each of the 100 places in detail and provides a unique history of England told by the people that live there. You can dip into the areas that interest you and there is even a book to accompany the series.

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Honourable mention:
"No such thing as a fish"