Archive

Episode 66: From Wedding Gowns to Winston Churchill – The Hidden Stories of Blenheim Palace’s Collections

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Carmen Alvarez, the collections and conservation manager at Blenheim Palace. They discuss the significance of Blenheim Palace, its…
48:10

Sunday Post: Preparing for My Hadrian’s Wall Walk End of Summer Update - Why Was the Wall Built?



This article is part of an irregular ongoing series where I chronicle my plans to walk Hadrian’s Wall in summer 2026. I plan to use these articles to keep everyone…

Episode 65: Lynne Murphy – The American Linguist Who Has Decoded British English For 25 Years


In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Lynne Murphy, a linguistics professor and author, about the fascinating differences between British and American English. Lynne shares…
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Bonus Episode: Great British Telly – Exploring British TV From Monty Python to Downton Abbey and Beyond


Note: In celebration of our book launch this week, we're releasing this special discussion on British TV, but it's not part of our numbered cadence of episodes. It's truly an…
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Sunday Post: Adventures in British TV



This week, I share an excerpt from my first book about how important British TV is in my life and how it made me the Anglophile that I am today…

Episode 64: The Real Hogwarts – The Reality of British Boarding Schools of Expat Naomi Kent


In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews Naomi Kent, a British expat and CEO of the Boardroom Company, about her experiences growing up in British boarding…
53:34

Sunday Post: Behind the Stones - A Journey Through Christ Church, Oxford's Most Storied College



This article chronicles a guided tour through Christ Church that I took while I was there for a course in 2022. We look at how Cardinal Wolsey's ambitious 16th-century vision…

We crossed the finish line on the Sprint to 250 Members - Here’s What’s Next

I’m happy to report that our ‘Sprint to 250 Members’ has now finished! We crossed the line yesterday. As of today, Friends of Anglotopia now has 254 members. Welcome to…

Episode 63: Gone Native – 20+ Years in Horsham – An American’s Very British Life


In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, former Anglotopia Columnist Mike Harling shares his journey as an American expat living in Britain for over 20 years. He discusses the challenges…
48:59

Sunday Post: Returning to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard A Decade Later

This week, I share my experience returning to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard after a 10-year gap in visits. I got to visit during an Oxford Summer Course and communed with HMS…

Monthly Feature Article: Swan Upping - The Bizarre Tradition Where the King Owns All The Swans


Editor's Note: The following is a contribution from Laura Porter that I originally commissioned in 2022, and finally have the perfect opportunity to share, as the annual Swan Upping just…

Episode 62: The Untold Tragic Story of Titanic’s Sister Ship with Owner and Author Simon Mills


In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews Simon Mills, a deep-sea explorer and maritime historian who owns the wreck of the HMHS Britannic, Titanic's lesser-known sister…
36:05

Sunday Post: Birmingham Back to Backs - Stepping Back in Time - A Victorian Adventure in Modern Birmingham

This week we visit one of Britain's largest cities and explore what life was life in the high-Victorian-era slum that is now called the Birmingham Back to Backs, one of…

Episode 61: Jane Austen at 250 – Discussing Jane At Home With Chawton’s Sophie Reynolds


In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Sophie Reynolds, Head of Collections, Interpretation & Engagement at Jane Austen's house in Chawton, Hampshire, about the enduring…
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Sunday Post: Pondering Hadrian's Wall. Again.

This week, I dust off an old goal and some even older guidebooks to talk about something I have been wanting to do for almost fifteen years - walk the…

No New Podcast This Week - But We Have a New Discount for Members Instead!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that we will not be releasing a new podcast episode this week. With the holiday on Friday, we figure there won't be…

Monthly Feature: The History of Television in the UK



Editor's Note: I'm currently working on a book with the working title of 'Great British Telly', which will be compiling a lot of our writings about British TV over the…

Sunday Post: A Personal Tour of Chartwell - With a Surprise Visit to Churchill's Bedroom

For this week's Sunday Post, I've decided to share a personal story that is rather special to me. I was given a tour of Chartwell back in 2017 by the…

Episode 60: Exploring Beatles History With Magical History Tour Guide Charles F. Rosenay


In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Charles Rosenay, a seasoned Beatles tour guide and cultural ambassador for Liverpool. They explore the evolution of Beatles…
47:20

Sunday Post: Exploring England's Pottery History at the Emma Bridgewater Factory

This week, inspired by my favorite mugs, I share details of a special tour we took in 2016 of the Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke-on-Trent. It's a fascinating look at…