Three Traditionally Unique British Pastimes
After this year’s World Cup excitement, Britain has returned to its everyday pursuits. Yet while many people living abroad think they know what occupies the British mind, usually the weather, on this fair isle we have some unique hobbies overlooked by other nations. Below, we discuss three unique British pastimes
Bingo
Bingo started as a lottery game in 16th-century Italy. Since then, it has spread across the globe and became extremely popular in the UK. This is partly down to the social club culture of the fifties and sixties, where people would gather after work to play games for cash prizes. Now, the game has a wide appeal as halls act as a social hub for many, allowing them to play games for a low cost but with the possibility to win big. It is now estimated that around 3.5 million people play the game regularly with the number increasing every year. To cater to this, over 600 bingo halls now operate in the United Kingdom along with many online offerings.
If you want to brush up on how to play before you visit a hall, then Paddy Power bingo for free is a way to start by playing online from the comfort of your home. While you can’t play for the biggest cash prizes, you can get used to the pace of a game. Soon, you will be ready for a night out trying the most British of hobbies.
Gardening
The British have always had a culture of preferring houses to apartment accommodation, and that is for one reason: the garden. The country is a very good place to grow all kinds of greenery. With plenty of rain and a little sunshine, many species of plants and flowers thrive here. That makes it easy to get quite beautiful pieces of land with very little effort, simply by purchasing low-cost plants from the local garden centre.
Even for those who don’t have their own land, the obsession with the allotment is still good and strong in the country. This is a community garden that can be rented for non-commercial purposes, which many people use to grow fruit and vegetables. Typically, they also have a small shed on them to keep tools and items in. You can find more information on how to run them or find your local ones at the British Allotment Society website.
Finally, even when they don’t have access to a garden or allotment, the British are still obsessed with visiting them. From the botanical gardens of cities to the well-kept grounds of stately homes, many of these are well worth a day out. Many have cafes attached, you can even sample another British delicacy, the cream tea, while you are there.
Lawn Bowling
Most European cultures have their own form of bowling, be it boules in France or the winter version using polished stone called curling. Yet the UK version, overseen by the British Crown Green Bowling Association, occupies a unique place in the country’s culture. Even the smallest of towns will have a green, made from well-kept natural or artificial turf.
The aim of the game is to get your set of bowls as close to the jack bowl as possible. The teams with the closest balls score points from their allocated number of rolls. All balls played must land within the boundary, known as the mat. It’s a very gentle pursuit, but one that can get extremely competitive.
Of course, there are plenty more eccentric pursuits to take part in. Cheese rolling only just missed the list, because of the element of danger involved.