From Bingo to Tea Time, Britain’s favourite pastimes

As a culture, we have a number of markers that just stand out as being quintessentially British. This is an excellent point of our population, as we do a number of things that just set us apart. From forming an orderly queue to sticking on the kettle at the first sign of trouble, here are our favourite examples of this phenomenon.

Hobbies are important, especially for those that have trouble with mental health or depression. With a record number of Brits experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues, these activities are turning out to be more important than ever. It’s not always possible for people to go out and interact with those in their community and this is where hobbies can come in handy.

Drinking Tea

The first of these activities is drinking tea, something that we Brits have the rest of the world beat on. On average, we're drinking 165 million cups a day as a nation and have been doing so for centuries. While you may not think consciously about popping the kettle on, the average Brit does so many times per day.

Bingo

The other great national pastime that we think of when we think of Britain is a good game of bingo. Bingo halls sprung up in the 50s and 60s, offering a place for people to get their bingo fix. The way we tend to play has changed, moving from these halls to new bingo sites to play online. Even the bingo games that we play are slightly different, as players prefer new games and ways for them to win.

Knitting and Crocheting

What goes along perfectly with our image of bingo? Well knitting and crocheting, of course. These are actually picking up steam with younger enthusiasts, as crafts in general experience a resurgence. These are catching on with a younger audience who historically have more disposable income to spend.

Gardening

Getting out for a walk is also catching on but we’re still a nation that enjoys some time in the garden. The trend within this hobby seems to be changing to more exotic, hardy plants that look good but don’t require huge amounts of upkeep. The trend overall seems to be that hobbies we associate with older Brits are actually catching on with younger ones too.

Rambling

With changes to laws including the right to roam and opening up of the countryside, rambling is also more accessible. People are slowly realising that they don’t need to chart a route and buy expensive gear, they can simply walk through the countryside. This is causing a bit of a backlash with farmers though, as they accuse walkers and their animals of bothering their livestock.

Even bird watching is getting popular too, as this ties in with the conservation efforts being made by the younger population. Statistically speaking, those in their twenties have the highest affinity with the environment and the creatures therein. If they are spending time protecting these creatures then it makes sense that they would also want to see them thrive.

To put it in simple terms, the hobbies of those in the UK are exactly what you would expect from this very traditional nation. We’re quirky and changeable, but we’ll always love tea, bingo and the great outdoors. It’s brilliant to see these also being passed through the generations and these will most likely continue to stay popular.