Guidelines to Britain Blog

Selfridges & Co. is one of London’s most prominent and fashionable department stores. There are other Selfridges throughout the United Kingdom, but the most important is the flagship store which opened in March 1909. It was founded by American-born Harry Gordon Selfridge, who was instrumental in the shop becoming the grand store it is today. The shop’s importance cannot be overstated as there is even a TV series that details the early history of Selfridges.  With that in mind, below are ten facts about the history of the Selfridges department store in London.

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Fortnum’s & Mason’s department store in London, often called Fortnum’s, has been around since 1707. It has had a colourful continuous history and has often been centre stage at some of London and UK’s important historical moments. Today, it’s a department store that specializes in all sorts of goods. Everything from food, ordinary and essential goods, and even unique exotic products are offered at this historic store on Piccadilly. There are several other stores nowadays, but the main one has remained the most important one. With that in mind, below are 10 facts related to the history of Fortnum & Mason department store in London.

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The Avebury Stone Circle is an architectural marvel that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1986. Today, tourists from all over the world visit the Avebury Village in Wiltshire, a county in southwest England, just to see this ancient structure. Below are 10 facts about the Avebury Stone Circle which we include as part of our Big One Tour to the English countryside!

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While it’s true that Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I never met in real life as they appear to in Josie Rourke’s film Mary Queen of Scots, today you can visit their burial sites under the same roof in London’s glorious Gothic church Westminster Abbey.  Often confused with Elizabeth’s half-sister, who was known as Bloody Mary and reigned as Mary I, Mary Queen of Scots was the granddaughter of Henry VIII’s sister Margaret Tudor, making her a first cousin once removed to Henry’s daughters.

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This year, Leeds Castle in picturesque Kent is celebrating its 900th anniversary, and with celebrations in full swing, it’s a perfect opportunity to visit and to enjoy its many attractions. Below you’ll learn all about the history of Leeds Castle and what activities you can experience during your visit.

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