Here’s a Guest Post from a reader who wants to bring you the weirdness of Great Britain…there’s plenty!
What springs to mind when you think of Great Britain? Probably the Royal Family, afternoon tea, cricket and all things eccentric. Whether you’re exploring the UK from foreign shores or a fellow Brit looking to get to know your native land a bit better, forget long queues and busy tourist traps and explore the eccentric side of the UK.
Here’s our pick of the weird and wonderful…
Dennis Severs’ House
Set foot inside the former home of the late artist Dennis Severs and step back in time to the 18th century. The artist died at the end of the twentieth century but chose to live his life as residents would have done 200 years before. Each room is lit by fire and candlelight, beds are left unmade and food half eaten. This is a sensory experience designed to challenge visitors and by taking the tour, you become part of Severs’ art. An experience definitely not to be missed when in London.
Zorbing in the Lakes
The Lake District is famous for its jaw-dropping scenery and as you’d expect attracts tourists in their droves year after year. But instead of lacing up your walking boots or taking a boat tour, why not choose a zorb? Imagine yourself trying to keep upright in a huge, inflatable hamster ball as you race across Derwent Water. You’ll end up falling down more times than you’ll be able to count but that’s half the fun and what better way than to appreciate the beauty of the Lakes than from your unique position on the water? Have a look at the Sykes Holiday Cottages website for great places to stay in the Lake District.
Worm Charming
The World Championships for this bizarre sport take place in June each year near Nantwich in Chester. Competitors have thirty minutes to charm as many worms as possible from their designated three metre square plot using just a gardening fork. The fork is vibrated to encourage worms to the surface and competitors are banned from using drugs such as water! Some competitors use music or even tap dance to encourage the worms to the surface. The world record was set in 2009 and currently stands at 567 worms. Be sure to catch this year’s championships if you’re in Cheshire over the summer.
Shell Grotto
If you find yourself at the good old British seaside on a dreary day, sitting on the sand with picnic won’t be most people’s idea of fun. Good news if you’re in Margate though where you’ll find 70 feet of underground corridors decorated with more than four and a half million shells. The grotto was discovered by accident in the 1830s and stories abound as to its origins; was it the brainchild of local wealthy man, the home of a religious sect or a smuggler’s cave? While no one knows for sure, the local stories only add to the mystery of this unusual place. Hopefully by the time you resurface, the weather will have improved and you can enjoy Margate’s lovely beach.
Photo Attribution
Derwent Water: http://www.flickr.com/photos/steinsky/3577088874/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Shell Grotto: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kotomi-jewelry/8097302425/sizes/z/in/photostream/
