In honor of this week’s London themed themed T-shirt: Londoner at Heart – we’ve pulled this article from the archive featuring many words that are unique to London.
One thing you’ll notice when you travel to London are all the strange words they use to describe things. Sometimes they make sense, sometimes they don’t.
Rather than pull together a list of British Slang words (which we’ve done already on Anglotopia) we thought it would be fun to put together a list of words you’ll usually only hear in London.
Now, there will be some words used elsewhere but I tried to capture words that when I hear them – I think of London.
So, here’s your guide to some useful London Lingo or as I like to just say: London Words.
Tube = London Underground Network
The Knowledge = The cumulative knowledge of London’s black cab drivers that they have to learn to be licensed. They have to learn every street in London.
Boris Bus = Boris Johnson’s key platform of replacing the old London Routemaster bus.
Red Ken = The name of London’s former Mayor Ken Livingston who leaned VERY far to the left.
The Standard = What some call the Evening Standard – the evening paper dedicated to London.
The City = The City of London – the square mile bit of central London that goes back 2 thousand years.
Square Mile = The City of London also
Congestion Charge = Tax on all cars entering the central London congestion charge zone.
Silicon Roundabout = Area around Old Street that’s a hub for new media and tech companies.
Council Estate = Public housing
The Blitz = Period in 1940 when London was bombed by the Nazis
M25 = The Orbital Highway that encircles London
Westway = Elevated Highway in West London
Mind the Gap = Watch your step when stepping from a train to a platform.
The Palace = When someone says the Palace they’re almost always referring to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence in London.
Buck House = Buckingham Palace
The Tower = Tower of London
A-Z = A popular London map guide that’s indispensable to locals and long term visitors (extra note – Londoners will say ‘A to Zed’).
GMT = Greenwich Mean Time
Cockney = Someone born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow
Offy = Convenience Store that sells alcohol
Off License = Convenience Store that sells alcohol
Take Away = Cheap to go food.
Crossrail = New cross London underground railway line currently under construction.
Bobby = London Policeman
Clip Joint = A club that claims to be a strip club but usually comes with £100 bottles of water. Avoid.
Zebra Crossing = Pedestrian crossing.
Home Counties = Generic name for the counties around London which are: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.
Nappy Valley = Areas of London with high birthrates like Battersea.
Did we forget something? What word makes you think of London? What’s your favorite one? Let us know in the comments!
Editor’s note: In honor of this week’s exclusive pub themed shirt, we’ve taken this article out of our archive over on Anglotopia to explain to British pub etiquette.
The final post in our Britannia in Brief series is a fantastic article from co-author William Mullins about how to behave in a British pub. I’m glad he decided to write about this as I’ve experienced the confusion of being a pub for the first time. Be sure to check out the rest of the posts for Britannia in Brief Week.
It should be straightforward – I mean, you’ve got bars here in the US – but I’ve always been struck by the trepidation that fills visitors to Britain the first time they have to step up to the bar at the pub and navigate the strange ritual of British pub etiquette. Quite understandably, no one wants to make a public fool of themselves in that inner sanctum of British culture, the public house.
In our book Britannia in Brief my wife Leslie, who blogged here on Anglotopia on Tuesday, and I explain the different kinds of pubs you’ll encounter, what they’ll serve in different parts of the country and how to navigate the culture. Following are a few tips which will help maximize your own pub-roving travels!
Do’s
Go to the bar to order drinks. Only very smart establishments, (i.e. not pubs,) will have table service.
Order beer by the pint (men) or half-pint (women); never by the bottle.
Pay for your drinks when you’re served, and expect to pay in cash.
Offer to buy drinks for all your party rather than just slipping off to bar on the quiet. The British tend to drink in rounds – etiquette of rounds can get complicated,) so if your offer is taken up, don’t be alarmed – you’re off the hook until everyone’s had a turn. (Though if you want a glass of water or a packet of crisps, or some such, as well as a drink go get that yourself.
Don’ts
Tipping will cause confusion. If you must, offer to buy the bartender drink which they may chalk up for later, but most Brits would only go to this extreme if the publican had just single-handedly rescued him and his family from a burning car.
Don’t be afraid to bring a child to the pub during the day, especially in the country. Unlike America, this won’t have social services coming to take your child away!
The pub is not the place to order frou-frou drinks. No self-respecting publican will serve Long Island Ice Tea, Buttery Nipple shots or Espresso Martinis. This isn’t to say there aren’t pubs that will serve these, it’s just that they’re not the sort of pubs any self-respecting tippler should frequent.
Don’t ask for or expect the bar staff to pour you a particuarly large measure of liquor. Though prices vary between pubs, measures do not and are strictly regulated by law. For spirits the standard serving is 25ml, the EU having done away with the wonderful old measures: 1/6th of a gill in England and 1/4th of a gill in Scotland.
Be a little more reticent about drumming up conversation than you would be at home. It’s not that people don’t want to talk to you, it’s just that they’re a little taken aback when someone they’d never laid eyes five minutes before suddenly sticks out their hand and introduces themselves as Tim from Topeka. To the Brits this sort of bumptiousness is annoying and plays to all their stereotypes of the loud American. Break the stereotype, be yourself, be patient, don’t try to hard, go with the flow and you’ll find yourself welcomed and appreciated by the natives!
There’s still a few days left to get our exclusive pub themed design: Britannia Pub.
In honor of our current reprint t-shirt called The World of Tea here’s an article from the Anglotopia archive on how to make the perfect cuppa.
I was raised in a tea drinking house. While most Americans started their day off with a hot cup of coffee, hot tea was the drink of choice in my house. In fact Christmas morning did not officially “start” unless my mother had a cup of tea in hand. Presents were to be left alone until that mug of steamy goodness had reached my mother’s hands. I cannot tell you how many cups I have made in my lifetime. more than I can count. My mother always took her tea the British way, with a bit of milk and sugar. Most Americans drink their tea with honey or lemon, not milk.
As I have had a lifetime of tea-making, I would like to think I have perfected it into an art. Without further ado, here are my tips to make a fabulous cup of British style tea.
Pick a Quality Tea: This is the most important key to making a good tea. After all it is what you are going to be brewing and drinking. We prefer Twinings Tea. They have been selling tea since 1706, what they don’t know about tea is not worth knowing. They offer many types of teas, that come as loose leaf or in a tea bag. No matter the brand you chose, make sure it is a quality British tea.
Choose The Type of Tea Leaf You want: Now that you have a quality tea picked out, you must brew it according to the tea, loose leaf verses tea bag. For loose leaf tea, you will need a strainer or a tea ball. They can be found almost anywhere. They are filled with the loose leaf tea and dropped into the mug to brew. Tea bags can simply be put into a mug.
A Good Boil: Before you boil water for tea, make sure to use new water, pour out any water that has been sitting in the tea kettle. The old water can make tea taste bitter. To get the perfect cup of tea, the water must be very hot. The tea needs some time to brew. While the tea is brewing the water will certainly cool down. If your water is tepid, it will be cold by the time your tea is brewed. You can even fill your tea cup with hot water from the tap to warm the cup.
Give it Time: Once you have poured your steaming hot water into your teacup, drop in your loose leaf tea ball. For a tea bag, I recommend placing it in the teacup before pouring in the water. No matter what method you choose, you must allow the tea to brew before you and anything to it. Follow the directions on the package. It usually takes anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes.
The Perfect Color: When adding milk to milk to your tea, you want to have it come out as a warm tan color. Before you add your milk, make sure to take out the tea ball or tea bag. Add just a bit of milk about 2-3 teaspoons per 8-oz. cup of tea. Then add sugar to taste.
If You are Making a Pot of Tea: Make sure to have a good quality tea, and boiling hot water. I prefer loose leaf tea for making a pot of tea. The general rule is one teaspoon per person drinking from the pot, plus an additional teaspoon for the pot. Tea in the pot generally has to brew a bit longer but is well worth it. Make sure to use a tea leaf catcher to catch the leaves when pouring the tea from the pot. I prefer the models that sit on top of the tea cup.
Have the Proper Tea Tools: Just as important as good tea, having the proper tools to make the perfect cup of tea is equally important. Every kitchen should have the following; a well made tea kettle to boil water, an air tight container for the tea, a nice deep teacup, a teapot with a creamer and sugar bowl, a tea strainer, a tea ball to steep loose leaf tea. I think nice tea set is an essential for every kitchen, it is a wonderful thing to pull out when you feel like having a nice pot of tea for yourself or to enjoy with company.
I probably drink ten times my weight in tea during a single year. I love how it can wake you up in the morning, and calm you at night. Tea has a way of warming you up during a cold, drizzly afternoon like nothing else. I think I will go make a cup right now.
There’s still 72 hours left to get The World of Tea – our exclusive tribute to the afternoon cuppa. Click here to buy now.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally written by John Rabon over on Anglotopia and we’re republishing it here.
The 60s were a transformative time in Britain and the States, from the Space Race to beginning of Doctor Who. One of the biggest cultural changes was the British Invasion of bands from the United Kingdom to the United States. Influenced by the States’ own Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Holly, Elvis, and other musicians, a new era of British Rock n’ Roll exploded over the isles and became so popular, their homeland couldn’t contain them. Many of these bands play on today, either together or as solo acts. Everyone on this list is in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and while this list is only my opinion, here are some of the best artists and their best songs from this time.
In honor of our special reprint run of Britain Rocks 2015 here at Anglotees.com, here is our pick of the top ten bands of the British invasion along with our favorite song for each.
10. The Small Faces – “Tin Soldier”
Founded in 1965 and splitting for the first time in 1969, The Small Faces were one of the most famous mod groups of the period. “Tin Soldier” was released in 1967 at the height of their popularity, and while songs like “Itchycoo Park”, “Lazy Sunday”, and “All or Nothing”, did better in the charts, this song, in my opinion, is the one that rocks out the most. “Lazy Sunday” can be found on the soundtrack for “The Boat that Rocked/Pirate Radio”.
9. The Animals – “The House of the Rising Sun”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl4PlOVTgoo
Originally a rhythm and blues group, The Animals formed when deep-voiced singer Eric Burdon joined in 1963. Their second single, “House of the Rising Sun”, was their first big hit, becoming incredibly popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The traditional folk song tells the story of a young man whose life goes to ruin in the gambling houses of New Orleans. Though it was recorded several times before, The Animals’ cover is the most successful commercial version.
8. The Hollies – “Bus Stop”
Formed in 1962 in Manchester, The Hollies are one of the few groups from the 60s that never split up. Throughout the decade, they spent 231 weeks on the UK charts, the 9th most of any British band. Despite their success, their first hit in the US didn’t happen until 1966 with “Bus Stop”. The song was written by Graham Gouldman, responsible for another hit further down this list.
7. Dusty Springfield – “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”
Born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien in 1939, she began her singing career in 1958 and went solo in 1963. “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” was her top hit, first released in 1966. The melody was based on an Italian song, “Io Che Non Vivo (senza te)” – “I, who can’t live (without you)”, then given English lyrics by Vicki Wickham and Simon Napier-Bell, both of whom lacked much songwriting experience at that point. It reached no. 1 in the UK and no. 4 in the US, and like many songs on this list, was featured in the 2009 film “The Boat that Rocked/Pirate Radio.”
6. The Kinks – “All Day and All of the Night”
The Kinks were formed by brothers Dave and Ray Davies in North London in 1963. Both brothers stuck with the group until the band’s retirement in 1996. Like most bands, they were influenced by American rhythm and blues, but also by British hall music, folk, and some country. Picking their best for this list was a very difficult choice, but ultimately came down to “All Day and All of the Night” for me. It has a distinctive opening riff (much like the runner-up, “You Really Got Me”). It hit no. 1 in the UK and no. 8 in the US.
5. Tom Jones – “It’s Not Unusual”
http://youtu.be/5HoSyGz9_3s
Well before Carlton Banks was nerding up the dance floor to this man’s signature hit, Tom Jones was the biggest vocalist of the 60s. Born Thomas Jones Woodward in Wales, he started with the group Tommy Scott and the Senators in 1963. Later that year, he was discovered by Gordon Mills, who became his new manager, moved the singer to London, and rebranded him as Tom Jones. His first hit, “Chills and Fever”, did not make the charts, but the follow-up, “It’s Not Unusual” more than made up for the dud. It reached no. 1 in the UK charts in 1965 and crossed the pond at no. 10 in America.
4. The Yardbirds – “For Your Love”
The Yardbirds could almost be considered a super group in that three of its guitarists were also famous either when they were with the band or as part of other groups. These men being: Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. Formed in 1963, their name referenced both the hobos hanging around the rail yard and jazz saxophonist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. Clapton was still the guitarist when “For Your Love” was released in 1965, though he left soon after and was replaced by Beck. As mentioned earlier, this is the other song on the list written by Graham Gouldman, and reached no. 1 in Britain and no. 6 in the States.
3. The Who – “My Generation”
Roger Daltry, Pete Townsend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon. These four count amongst the greatest legends in rock for their songs and antics both on and off stage. The four formed the band in 1964, out of an earlier group known as The Detours. Having already cracked the top ten of the UK charts with “I Can’t Explain”, “My Generation” hit a chord with young people in the 60s who felt their more conservative parents didn’t understand them. Daltry’s stutter in the song is inspired by the stuttering blues of John Lee Hooker. Above is their famous performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, when one of the crew overloaded Keith’s drum kit with too much gunpowder.
2. The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Always seeming to come in second place, The Rolling Stones are the single-best group from the 60s still playing today, outlasting the no. 1 entry by forty-four years. The ever-changing group was formed in 1962 and seemingly always anchored by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts. Arguably their biggest hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was almost not released. According to Wyman, the vote to release the single was 3-2, with Wyman, Watts, and Brian Jones voting in favor, and Jagger and Richards voting against. Though Wood would eventually replace Wyman, the band plays on.
1. The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
Was there ever any doubt who would be at the top of this list? It may be clichéd, but there really isn’t much that can be said about this band that hasn’t been already. Instead, we’ll turn to the song. Paul McCartney had once said that the band members told manager Brian Epstein that they didn’t want to go to America until they had a number one record. Once released, it knocked their own “She Loves You” from the no. 1 spot in the UK charts. Later, a few American stations began to play the single and it caught on like wildfire, giving The Beatles the no. 1 record they wanted. What followed was history in the making, as the band’s landing in the States sparked the British Invasion, enabling every other artist on this list to become a hit in America.
To wrap up, I really can’t stress how awesome a film like “The Boat that Rocked” is and how much it puts the British Invasion artists on display. From The Small Faces to The Who, the film shows how pirate radio stations in the 60s helped these bands make waves that turned into a musical tsunami. If you can, I suggest finding the original cut on Blu-Ray from either the UK or Australia as that particular disc is region-free.
For a limited time – in fact just 3 days left – get our t-shirt tribute to the British Invasion called British Rocks! 2015. The British Invasion is an iconic moment in American History when the best bands from Britain came to our shores and rocked. This shirt is dedicated to all the great British music that has crossed the pond over the years. From the Beatles and The Who to the Rolling Stones and Queen, this shirt is dedicated to them all. If there’s one thing all Anglophiles can agree on it’s truly that Britain Rocks! Available in Men’s, Women’s, V-neck, Long Sleeve, hoodie and sweatshirt until Friday Noon CST starting at $16.99. Details here.
Now, inevitably a post like this will be about what we left off the list – so to head that off – what are your favorite songs of the British Invasion? Let us know in the Facebook comments!
Just wanted to let everyone know that after getting in touch directly with the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, we’ve now made our pledged donation based on our sales of Spitfire Jack. It ended up being £100 based on current exchange rates.
Thank you to everyone who bought a Spitfire Jack shirt – you’ve helped out a worthy cause!
In honor of our current t-shirt – Mind the Gap – here are 13 random facts and figures about the London Underground you probably didn’t know.
There are a few days left to buy our limited reprint run of Mind the Gap – our tribute to the London Underground. Available in men’s, women’s, long sleeve, v-neck, hoodie, sweatshirt and tote bag starting at $16.99 and shipping worldwide. Order now before it’s too late!
1. Today the Tube carries 1,107 million passengers each year to 270 stations.
2. London Underground is colloquially known as ‘the Tube’, which originally referred to the deep-level train lines which were used by trains of a smaller and more circular cross-section, as opposed to the less deep “cut-and-cover” lines that were built first and originally used steam locomotives. The term now embraces the whole system.
3. The average speed of a Tube train is 33km per hour/ 20.5 mph
4. The number of miles/km travelled by each Tube train each year is 114,500 miles/184,269km
5. The length of the Tube network is 402km/249 miles
6. Every day over 1000 people accidentally leave something on the Tube. All the items are sent to a basement office in Baker Street that employs 40 full time staff. At any one time it holds 200,000 items of lost property; some of the weirder items in the past have included Samurai swords, false teeth, three dead bats and a 14 foot boat. Items not claimed after 3 months are either sold at auction or given to charity.
7. The disused tube station Aldwych is often seen on screen, and was used as a location for scenes in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Atonement and V for Vendetta
8. The maximum depth of the Tube below ground level is at Holly Bush Hill in Hampstead, where the deep level lines run 68.8 m/221ft under ground
9. The longest escalator is at Angel station: it’s 60m/197ft, with a vertical rise of 27.5m/90ft
10. Baker Street is the station with the most platforms – it has 10
11. London’s busiest Tube station is Waterloo, with 57,000 people entering during the three-hour morning peak. The busiest station in terms of passengers each year is also Waterloo with 82 million
12. During 2011-12 The London Underground carried a record numbers of passengers with 1.171 billion journeys made
13. Albus Dumbledore, a character from the Harry Potter series, has a scar just above his left knee in the shape of the Tube map
There’s still 4 days left to get your exclusive Mind the Gap t-shirt! All orders must be in by January 2nd, 2015.
Now that Spitfire Jack is almost out the door, we can reveal the details of the donation we’ll be making. When we sold the shirt, we pledged to donate $1 from the sale of every shirt to the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, the organization that maintains the memorial to the men who fought the Battle of Britain. They’re raising funds to build a new museum on the site.
We sold a total of 173 shirts, which means we’ll be making a donation of $173 to the Trust.
Thank you so much to everyone who bought a shirt – we’re chuffed to be able to make such a large donation and it will certainly go to a good cause!
This video is so cool that we just had to share it. There are only a few airworthy Spitfires left and back in 2010 to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, they managed to get together 16 of them to do a flypast in Britain. It’s an amazing site – something I wish I’d seen in person!
The planes fly in formation and then after that, they chase each other around like they did in battle – show their power and maneuverability. It will give you goosebumps!
Put some headphones on and then watch this on full screen. You won’t regret it!
There’s still 2 days left to get our Exclusive Spitfire Jack t-shirt during it’s special reprint run. It’s going to make a fantastic Christmas present!
In honor our our latest shirt here at Anglotees, Spitfire Jack, check out this really cool old newsreel footage about the Battle of Britain and the Spitfire.
Such brave men!
We’re donating $1 from the sale of every Spitfire Jack t-shirt to the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, the organization that maintains the Battle of Britain Memorial.
We’ll be sharing more cool stuff about the Battle of Britain as the week goes on.
