I didnt read all way thru but I may be the first one to state it was Lady Diana! Been a fan since her wedding day in 1981. It escalated from there over the years.....London of course being my favorite city but love all of the UK and Ireland as an irish pub in my city got me hooked on Guinness and Smithwicks. I have acquired many treasures now thanks to the web....but my Mom's family thru my grandather comes from England so I was born to it right? Have a penpal about 100 miles north of Manchester which is cool. So I am a big royal family fan as well as all of the UK. Right down to trying to cook british dishes.
Totally Agatha Christie’s fault! 😄 Then my son served in the Air Force there and I got to visit. Didn’t hurt that I met my (now) husband there either. It’s good to be an Anglophile!
When i was 19 i was sent to England to do work for my church. I was sent to Carlisle, Hull, Gateshead, and Newcastle. Learned to love the English People. I was there for 2 years before returning to the states. Married a girl whos mom is from Burnley near Manchester. Still trying to make it back to England.
Hard to say. It's increased over the years. I was really close to my grand father who died when I was a child and he was Scottish - born in Canada but he grew up in the UK. Also have some English on my mother's side but haven't been able to trace that history to England yet as it wasn't a recent immigration.
My first trip to the UK was when I was stationed in Germany in the late 80's. While it was a fun trip, I actually found late 80's London dirty and pretty grim so didn't plan to go back. 1990 I traveled to Scotland and fell in love with it. Some years ago I started communicating with some distant family members who live in the UK and I arranged a trip back to London and nearby areas. I had an amazing time! Modern London is SOOOO much nicer than it was back in the late 80's. It was like night and day for me. Really become a bigger Anglophile since that trip and went to London again last year.
@Dodie They're more British than I am too! If I were to praise one thing about the UK I think it would be how close everything is and how easy it is to get from one place to another. I have been obsessed with trains (specifically GWR for no particular reason) and always begged my mum and dad to take me on a train somewhere every free moment I had.
I was born and raised in Coventry and moved to California when I was 16. It was a great adventure then, but as I grew older I realized all the things I had and did miss from UK. Even though I now live in beautiful British Columbia, I still miss Britain, it's beauty ,it's history, the food and the British sensibilities.
When I was 7 years old my mom set me up in front of our 10" tv to watch the CORONATION of Queen Elizabeth....since then I always was interested in anything English, like Disney's WHEN KNIGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER; SHERLOCK HOLMES with Jeremy Brett, Upstairs Downstairs and many more and epecially DOWNTON ABBEY...now I have Acorn TV....
I became an Anglophile after living in England for just over two and one half years (US military assignment.) Absolutely fell in love with the culture! I even learned to drive a British spec car, and driving on the left side of the road was a challenge at first but I loved it. Even got pretty good with the roundabouts! Lol. My hubs and I went back in 2012 to stay in London and it was such fun. Hopefully we can go back someday. 🇺🇸🇬🇧
It’s genetic! Awaiting my Ancestry DNA but paternal grandfather English stonemason who traveled to the US for work( St John the Divine and the Empire State Building among others. He met my Scottish (Orkney) grandmother in the boarding house the both lived in in NYC. They travelled back and forth to England with my father and his brother. Maternal grandmother born here but grew up in England as her family returned to England then later immigrated back again. Some of Maternal grandfather’s family here to fight the Revolutionary war but came from England(and France). My father travelled to Britain many times as a New York international banker bringing back no end of British goodies from a little kilt for me, marionettes, 2 dogs digestives and kippers! I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve visited Britain. I’ve sung in York Minster and Ely Catherdral with my Episcopal church choir and should have been back at Ely and Exeter this summer. Be back when we’re vaccinated!
A common thread for anglophilia seems to be heritage, and for me it is the same. All of my DNA--from both parents--sprouted from the British Isles. When I was young, a Carswell cousin spent decades decoding our ancestry then binding it in a book we could buy. When we received our copy I was enthralled by the history he documented of our family and dreamt of one day walking the land of my ancestors. I was 18 when I first set foot on British soil and haven't looked back. I go as often as I can and am still feeling a bit salty that COVID clipped my plans for 2020. Perhaps my most satisfying moment of English obsession was when I first took my children to Britain and witnessed them feeling the thrill as well. Anglophiles begetting anglophiles who share the fascination is so satisfying!
Hi! I am new here 😊 I love reading everyone’s responses! My ancestors are English and Scottish, but our family has been stateside for a long time (another DAR, over here!). My mom was a Beatlemaniac, and became obsessed with Britain as a teenager. She and my dad raised my sisters and me with hot tea, Beatrix Potter, picnic hampers, Christmas crackers, Jane Austen, etc etc We watched mostly British films (I have never seen Karate Kid, but have seen A Room with a View more times that I can count!). I have visited England, Scotland and Ireland, and studied abroad in Galway, Ireland. Nice to find this little corner of the internet!
I love the Cathedral of St. John the Divine! When I was living in New York and missing home (UK) I would go have a walk through the beautiful gardens with the peacocks. I hope it will soon be safe to return. Thank you for sharing
It began long ago with reading - D. E. Stevenson, Elizabeth Goudge, Anya Seton, Mary Stewart. Then much later, a trip to the UK, followed almost ten years later, a month in Scotland.
My mother and father were from Surrey. They were married after WWII and found that much of England was in ruins and there were few homes to buy or rent so they emigrated to Canberra Australia. I was born there. My parents then returned to England via Sea and we were supposed to settle there but a relative talked up Canada so my parents emigrated to Canada. We had frequent trips back to England and I got to see a lot of the countryside. I loved England because everything was so beautiful and in a short amount of travelling time you could be in a completely different county and see radically different scenery. Canada is a good country but I have always felt half English. You can emigrate but when your relatives and entire family history are in another country you always feel as if you have one foot in each door. I had a British passport. It has expired but I am still entitled to one and I plan to get another one w and spend more time in England during my retirement. A British passport comes with "the right to abode". In the meantime I will just have to keep watching British shows, eating British food, observing British customs and reading Anglotopia
I’ve always been a British history fan. My father was stationed in England during World War II and always had wonderful things to say about the country and the people. Years later, I met some lovely ladies from various parts of England, and we are now friends. When I go to England, I stay with them, when they come to California, they stay with me. I feel like I've met a new family. When there, I spend most of my time in museums and churches and cathedrals, just drinking in the pure history of it all.
It's genetic: 86% British Isles (59% English, 16% Scot, 6% Welsh, 5% Irish) with a smattering of German and Norwegian. I often wondered why I love hobnobs, kippers, and sardines (and obviously the Oxford comma).
Although I admired many things British from afar, I didn’t become a true Anglophile until I was stationed at the former RAF Bentwaters air base from 1986-1978 (There’s a neat Cold War Museum with static aircraft displays, a plethora of historical objects and information and a cafe you can visit after Covid-19 are lifted!). I lived off-base in Felixstowe, bought my first horse and learned to ride properly, ran the sound board for an all-American military member pop band, and generally had a bloody good time! It was the best assignment of my 24 year career!
I absolutely love these comments! As a Brit, I think my love for my home country (or countries, in that my ancestry is English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish) began when I started traveling. I've lived and worked in a fair few different places, and it helped me to appreciate where I come from, traditions, culture, etc, and has become a point of pride when I speak to colleagues about little known foibles of us Brits! The Cooper's Hill cheese roll never fails to get gasps of surprise when I explain it!
I blame Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie!!! My mom's family came to the US via Newfoundland and Nova Scotia but have their roots in the British Isles. Although I am not a "pure" Brit I have always felt a strong attachment to things British. Never been able to travel there so I satisfy my Anglophile leanings by watching anything I can that is British and reading about British history and current events. It is a dream of mine to be able to travel to Britain, but knowing that it isn't possible, I "live" there by proxy!
Wow, thank you all for such wonderful sentiments. I think knowing ones roots and having a feeling of belonging are very important. I feel it deeply, but I am rather surprised and heartened that others share it too.
I am an American who has been an almost life long Anglophile. It all started back in 2011 with the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I was in Middle School at the time and just out of the blue fell in love with anything to do with British Culture and so on. I would collect every magazine possible that was focused on the Royal Wedding or England in general. Then I gradually started studying the United Kingdom as a whole. Ive watched so many British tv shows and movies. I even go to my local British goods store here in the US. I also had a best friend growing up who's mother was from West Midlands of England. She was practically a second mother to me and taught me everything about the English Culture. It only added to my obsession since my discovery of the Royal Wedding years before. I would be around all of their relatives who would come over across the pond to visit and I was involved so much in their family. Sadly, my friends mother passed away. You will be shocked, I haven't made it over to the UK before. Trust me I am in disbelief too. A lot of things have occurred in my life which has prevented me taking time to go and visit. On a positive note, I am planning a trip very very soon. Covid doesn't help but I am finding and waiting for a safe way to do so. I recently just celebrated my 10 year anniversary of being an Anglophile back in April, which was exciting! I have the most upright respect for brits and their culture. I have also recently found out I have some British and Welsh roots in my family tree!
My Mother was a British WWII war bride she met my Father who was in the US Army and was stationed at the first American airbase that was built in England. They married and she immigrated to the States with my brother after the war was over. My Father followed after being being discharged from the service. She became a United States citizen in 1958. The first time I visited England was in 1962, I was 5 (now I am giving away my age!) the first time my Mother went back "home" to visit her family, 16 years after she left. I have visited many times since then and have been there for some great events. William & Kate's wedding, my God-daughters wedding, and most recently 2019, my husband and I spent Christmas, first time for all of us! It was wonderful! The UK has a very special place in my heart!!
Wow! That’s quite a question. I’ve loved England for as long as I can remember, from the time I was a wee one. I love the music from an early age, thanks to one of my uncles and childhood friends (Elton, Queen, Bowie). The foods, the manners, the fashions (I’ve never seen a good tweed I didn’t like). Even the weather. Say what you want about rain, I’ve always found it comforting. A little spooky, but I found myself, from the very first visits to England, knowing exactly where and how to get to places I’ve wanted to go with little to no instruction or review, and feeling as if I’ve been to some of them in some long ago period. Some odd feeling of deja vu, I guess. I was told by someone who used to dabble in reading past lives that I should consider getting a reading of this kind. But I rather think it’s better NOT knowing.
My grandparents on both sides are British born, my father was British born and that afforded me my British Citizenship so I am dual with Canada. I lived in England for about 2 years in the 80's and I loved it - loved it - loved it. I came home for a visit and was guilted into staying ... worst decision I ever made. I miss England and everything about it ... even the rain. I felt 'at home' in England in a way that I never felt in Canada even though I was born here.
I disagree with the American Colonists rebelling against their Government The Crown of England. I think they should have been grateful colonists and not rebellious and that their Independence could have been won over time without bloodshed.
I would be a Tory or a Monarchist. I think Governments should be run by intelligent, mannered, elitists (that anyone could aspire to).
The grown-up, reserved culture as opposed to the junior-high, game show culture of America
Formal British English both speaking and writing.
Intelligence
The countryside
The manners
The bookish culture
Women are still wearing dresses and being ladylike.
My mother was born in Whitechapel. She moved to the States where one of my aunts had already found a job. After a few years she met my father, and they stayed here. Life in England in the 50s was still hard, blitzed buildings, rations. In any event I don't remember of course but I was 2 months old when she took me to England to meet my grandparents and all the family. On the Queen Mary. Just about every other summer we went there, on the QEI and the QE2.
I'm an Anglophile because I miss my mother, I suppose.
Comments
I didnt read all way thru but I may be the first one to state it was Lady Diana! Been a fan since her wedding day in 1981. It escalated from there over the years.....London of course being my favorite city but love all of the UK and Ireland as an irish pub in my city got me hooked on Guinness and Smithwicks. I have acquired many treasures now thanks to the web....but my Mom's family thru my grandather comes from England so I was born to it right? Have a penpal about 100 miles north of Manchester which is cool. So I am a big royal family fan as well as all of the UK. Right down to trying to cook british dishes.
Totally Agatha Christie’s fault! 😄 Then my son served in the Air Force there and I got to visit. Didn’t hurt that I met my (now) husband there either. It’s good to be an Anglophile!
When i was 19 i was sent to England to do work for my church. I was sent to Carlisle, Hull, Gateshead, and Newcastle. Learned to love the English People. I was there for 2 years before returning to the states. Married a girl whos mom is from Burnley near Manchester. Still trying to make it back to England.
Hard to say. It's increased over the years. I was really close to my grand father who died when I was a child and he was Scottish - born in Canada but he grew up in the UK. Also have some English on my mother's side but haven't been able to trace that history to England yet as it wasn't a recent immigration.
My first trip to the UK was when I was stationed in Germany in the late 80's. While it was a fun trip, I actually found late 80's London dirty and pretty grim so didn't plan to go back. 1990 I traveled to Scotland and fell in love with it. Some years ago I started communicating with some distant family members who live in the UK and I arranged a trip back to London and nearby areas. I had an amazing time! Modern London is SOOOO much nicer than it was back in the late 80's. It was like night and day for me. Really become a bigger Anglophile since that trip and went to London again last year.
@Dodie They're more British than I am too! If I were to praise one thing about the UK I think it would be how close everything is and how easy it is to get from one place to another. I have been obsessed with trains (specifically GWR for no particular reason) and always begged my mum and dad to take me on a train somewhere every free moment I had.
I was born and raised in Coventry and moved to California when I was 16. It was a great adventure then, but as I grew older I realized all the things I had and did miss from UK. Even though I now live in beautiful British Columbia, I still miss Britain, it's beauty ,it's history, the food and the British sensibilities.
When I was 7 years old my mom set me up in front of our 10" tv to watch the CORONATION of Queen Elizabeth....since then I always was interested in anything English, like Disney's WHEN KNIGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER; SHERLOCK HOLMES with Jeremy Brett, Upstairs Downstairs and many more and epecially DOWNTON ABBEY...now I have Acorn TV....
I am an anglophile because I can trace my ancestry back to King Edward I, and I love all things British.
Danny Dyer, i presume? 😁
I became an Anglophile after living in England for just over two and one half years (US military assignment.) Absolutely fell in love with the culture! I even learned to drive a British spec car, and driving on the left side of the road was a challenge at first but I loved it. Even got pretty good with the roundabouts! Lol. My hubs and I went back in 2012 to stay in London and it was such fun. Hopefully we can go back someday. 🇺🇸🇬🇧
It’s genetic! Awaiting my Ancestry DNA but paternal grandfather English stonemason who traveled to the US for work( St John the Divine and the Empire State Building among others. He met my Scottish (Orkney) grandmother in the boarding house the both lived in in NYC. They travelled back and forth to England with my father and his brother. Maternal grandmother born here but grew up in England as her family returned to England then later immigrated back again. Some of Maternal grandfather’s family here to fight the Revolutionary war but came from England(and France). My father travelled to Britain many times as a New York international banker bringing back no end of British goodies from a little kilt for me, marionettes, 2 dogs digestives and kippers! I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve visited Britain. I’ve sung in York Minster and Ely Catherdral with my Episcopal church choir and should have been back at Ely and Exeter this summer. Be back when we’re vaccinated!
A common thread for anglophilia seems to be heritage, and for me it is the same. All of my DNA--from both parents--sprouted from the British Isles. When I was young, a Carswell cousin spent decades decoding our ancestry then binding it in a book we could buy. When we received our copy I was enthralled by the history he documented of our family and dreamt of one day walking the land of my ancestors. I was 18 when I first set foot on British soil and haven't looked back. I go as often as I can and am still feeling a bit salty that COVID clipped my plans for 2020. Perhaps my most satisfying moment of English obsession was when I first took my children to Britain and witnessed them feeling the thrill as well. Anglophiles begetting anglophiles who share the fascination is so satisfying!
Hi! I am new here 😊 I love reading everyone’s responses! My ancestors are English and Scottish, but our family has been stateside for a long time (another DAR, over here!). My mom was a Beatlemaniac, and became obsessed with Britain as a teenager. She and my dad raised my sisters and me with hot tea, Beatrix Potter, picnic hampers, Christmas crackers, Jane Austen, etc etc We watched mostly British films (I have never seen Karate Kid, but have seen A Room with a View more times that I can count!). I have visited England, Scotland and Ireland, and studied abroad in Galway, Ireland. Nice to find this little corner of the internet!
I love the Cathedral of St. John the Divine! When I was living in New York and missing home (UK) I would go have a walk through the beautiful gardens with the peacocks. I hope it will soon be safe to return. Thank you for sharing
It began long ago with reading - D. E. Stevenson, Elizabeth Goudge, Anya Seton, Mary Stewart. Then much later, a trip to the UK, followed almost ten years later, a month in Scotland.
My mother and father were from Surrey. They were married after WWII and found that much of England was in ruins and there were few homes to buy or rent so they emigrated to Canberra Australia. I was born there. My parents then returned to England via Sea and we were supposed to settle there but a relative talked up Canada so my parents emigrated to Canada. We had frequent trips back to England and I got to see a lot of the countryside. I loved England because everything was so beautiful and in a short amount of travelling time you could be in a completely different county and see radically different scenery. Canada is a good country but I have always felt half English. You can emigrate but when your relatives and entire family history are in another country you always feel as if you have one foot in each door. I had a British passport. It has expired but I am still entitled to one and I plan to get another one w and spend more time in England during my retirement. A British passport comes with "the right to abode". In the meantime I will just have to keep watching British shows, eating British food, observing British customs and reading Anglotopia
I’ve always been a British history fan. My father was stationed in England during World War II and always had wonderful things to say about the country and the people. Years later, I met some lovely ladies from various parts of England, and we are now friends. When I go to England, I stay with them, when they come to California, they stay with me. I feel like I've met a new family. When there, I spend most of my time in museums and churches and cathedrals, just drinking in the pure history of it all.
It's genetic: 86% British Isles (59% English, 16% Scot, 6% Welsh, 5% Irish) with a smattering of German and Norwegian. I often wondered why I love hobnobs, kippers, and sardines (and obviously the Oxford comma).
Yes, I weep at "Jerusalem" during The Proms.
Although I admired many things British from afar, I didn’t become a true Anglophile until I was stationed at the former RAF Bentwaters air base from 1986-1978 (There’s a neat Cold War Museum with static aircraft displays, a plethora of historical objects and information and a cafe you can visit after Covid-19 are lifted!). I lived off-base in Felixstowe, bought my first horse and learned to ride properly, ran the sound board for an all-American military member pop band, and generally had a bloody good time! It was the best assignment of my 24 year career!
I absolutely love these comments! As a Brit, I think my love for my home country (or countries, in that my ancestry is English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish) began when I started traveling. I've lived and worked in a fair few different places, and it helped me to appreciate where I come from, traditions, culture, etc, and has become a point of pride when I speak to colleagues about little known foibles of us Brits! The Cooper's Hill cheese roll never fails to get gasps of surprise when I explain it!
I blame Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie!!! My mom's family came to the US via Newfoundland and Nova Scotia but have their roots in the British Isles. Although I am not a "pure" Brit I have always felt a strong attachment to things British. Never been able to travel there so I satisfy my Anglophile leanings by watching anything I can that is British and reading about British history and current events. It is a dream of mine to be able to travel to Britain, but knowing that it isn't possible, I "live" there by proxy!
Wow, thank you all for such wonderful sentiments. I think knowing ones roots and having a feeling of belonging are very important. I feel it deeply, but I am rather surprised and heartened that others share it too.
I am an American who has been an almost life long Anglophile. It all started back in 2011 with the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I was in Middle School at the time and just out of the blue fell in love with anything to do with British Culture and so on. I would collect every magazine possible that was focused on the Royal Wedding or England in general. Then I gradually started studying the United Kingdom as a whole. Ive watched so many British tv shows and movies. I even go to my local British goods store here in the US. I also had a best friend growing up who's mother was from West Midlands of England. She was practically a second mother to me and taught me everything about the English Culture. It only added to my obsession since my discovery of the Royal Wedding years before. I would be around all of their relatives who would come over across the pond to visit and I was involved so much in their family. Sadly, my friends mother passed away. You will be shocked, I haven't made it over to the UK before. Trust me I am in disbelief too. A lot of things have occurred in my life which has prevented me taking time to go and visit. On a positive note, I am planning a trip very very soon. Covid doesn't help but I am finding and waiting for a safe way to do so. I recently just celebrated my 10 year anniversary of being an Anglophile back in April, which was exciting! I have the most upright respect for brits and their culture. I have also recently found out I have some British and Welsh roots in my family tree!
Great to hear! Congrats on your 10 year anniversary of anglophilia, and on discovering some Welsh roots - Llongyfarchiadau!! ☺️
Yes, me too....I'll always be Brit even though I live in the US.
My Mother was a British WWII war bride she met my Father who was in the US Army and was stationed at the first American airbase that was built in England. They married and she immigrated to the States with my brother after the war was over. My Father followed after being being discharged from the service. She became a United States citizen in 1958. The first time I visited England was in 1962, I was 5 (now I am giving away my age!) the first time my Mother went back "home" to visit her family, 16 years after she left. I have visited many times since then and have been there for some great events. William & Kate's wedding, my God-daughters wedding, and most recently 2019, my husband and I spent Christmas, first time for all of us! It was wonderful! The UK has a very special place in my heart!!
Wow! That’s quite a question. I’ve loved England for as long as I can remember, from the time I was a wee one. I love the music from an early age, thanks to one of my uncles and childhood friends (Elton, Queen, Bowie). The foods, the manners, the fashions (I’ve never seen a good tweed I didn’t like). Even the weather. Say what you want about rain, I’ve always found it comforting. A little spooky, but I found myself, from the very first visits to England, knowing exactly where and how to get to places I’ve wanted to go with little to no instruction or review, and feeling as if I’ve been to some of them in some long ago period. Some odd feeling of deja vu, I guess. I was told by someone who used to dabble in reading past lives that I should consider getting a reading of this kind. But I rather think it’s better NOT knowing.
My grandparents on both sides are British born, my father was British born and that afforded me my British Citizenship so I am dual with Canada. I lived in England for about 2 years in the 80's and I loved it - loved it - loved it. I came home for a visit and was guilted into staying ... worst decision I ever made. I miss England and everything about it ... even the rain. I felt 'at home' in England in a way that I never felt in Canada even though I was born here.
I'm an Anglophile for lots of reasons.
My mother was born in Whitechapel. She moved to the States where one of my aunts had already found a job. After a few years she met my father, and they stayed here. Life in England in the 50s was still hard, blitzed buildings, rations. In any event I don't remember of course but I was 2 months old when she took me to England to meet my grandparents and all the family. On the Queen Mary. Just about every other summer we went there, on the QEI and the QE2.
I'm an Anglophile because I miss my mother, I suppose.