Classic British kit
Stylish, timeless and without equal the world over: welcome to the home of classic British kit. Here are some essential pieces of Britain that will make your life better.
Hackett and Aquascutum's Wardrobe
For a stylish, built-to-last wardrobe, head to these two Regent Street emporiums for all that's classy in British 'clobber'. Effortlessly modern with a nod to a glorious past, expect clean lines, immaculate tailoring and a flash of unexpected colour to rev everything up.
The Jokes of Monty Python
British comedy at its anarchic best, the Python's prove that if something is funny it'll travel anywhere. Spend a while in Britain and you'll understand where the inspiration for silly walks, the Lumberjack Song and The Holy Grail's politicised peasants came from.
Stephen Fry's Wit
Something of a national treasure, Stephen Fry sums up British wit like no other. Whether writing, presenting TV shows or wrapping his tongue around the curiosities of his beloved English language, Fry follows in the tradition of PG Wodehouse and Peter Cook, ever-ready with a quip and apposite observation.
The Revving Engine of a Morgan
British motoring marques ooze class. But while Jaguar's racing green and James Bond's Aston Martin has evolved to excite modern speed-freaks, one car remains blissfully classic in its outlook. Morgan cars are hand-built in Malvern, Worcestershire, with only a few hundred a year rolling off the production line. The latest model, the Aero8, offers the merest nod towards a more modern future for this top-down, two-seater legend of motoring.
Marmite On Your Toast
British cuisine is sprinkled with ingredients loved and loathed with equal passion, now embraced, reluctantly or otherwise, as true home-grown classics. Marmite still divides a nation and perplexes first-time breakfasters. Fans will insist its sharp, smooth flavour is unbeatable - and Marmite's century-old place in British larders suggest they've got a point.
An Unexpected Fizz
Britain is not well known - yet - for its viticulture, but English wines are starting to make a splash on the world stage. The wine world is awash with rumours of Champagne houses establishing vineyards in Britain, and existing bottles reward adventurous palates. Wine makes a great gift, too: nothing's more likely to surprise family back home than a boastworthy bottle of British brut or rosé.
Alexander McCall Smith's Books
The warm words and gentle thrills of Alexander McCall Smith's books prove that while he may set his stories in far-off lands as well as his native Scotland, he's a fine companion for a journey round Britain. His stories are perfect for curling up in a cosy B&B on a rainy day, or lounging by a rural river at the height of summer.
And of course - Some Very British Pluck
Nobody does it better than James Bond, and, 50 years on, Ian Fleming' secret agent is still the ultimate Brit icon. Daniel Craig's muscular reinvention of the hero has seen Bond cement his place at the heart of British culture. There are many ways to get closer to Bond in Britain, none better than strolling through London's Mayfair or taking that Aston Martin out for a ride in the country before saving the world - again.